BELGRADE- Aleksandar Vucic, who heads the Aleksandar Vucic-United Serbia electoral list for the October 25 early parliamentary polls in Serbia, said on Friday he expected more than four million voters to cast their ballots, taking the turnout to 63-64 pct. The higher the turnout, the higher the sup»»»

Indian authorities on Friday detained Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the satirical youth movement "Cockroach Janta Party", ahead of a new protest in New Delhi, live images from the group showed. Police earlier closed a central New Delhi park in an attempt to stifle near-daily demonstrations ca»»»

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a mass at Rome's Gemelli hospital Friday after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, photos released by the Vatican showed. Doctors said his recovery was progressing normally but that further tests would show whether the cancer had spread. Pope»»»

Storm clouds bring hail to eastern UAE as the NCM monitors rainfall and changing weather. Abu Dhabi: Heavy rain and hail have swept across parts of the UAE, including Al Ain, Hatta, Kalba and Ras Al Khaimah, as towering thunderstorm clouds developed over eastern areas of the country. Hail was repor»»»

MOSCOW: Russia has seized local assets of four companies from France, Germany, Sweden and Belgium, according to a decree by President Vladimir Putin, in retaliation for Europe’s wartime support for Ukraine. Thursday’s decree listed assets belonging to French flooring maker Tarkett, German packaging»»»

PARIS: After weeks of student protests, France is set to be swept by broader, nationwide demonstrations Saturday over the cost of living, setting up a potentially fraught period ahead of presidential elections next year. The prospect of the two movements merging, perhaps with outbreaks of violence,»»»

BAGHDAD: Iraq has lost around $60 billion during the Middle East war, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Thursday, with Iran blockading a waterway that is crucial to global energy flows. OPEC member Iraq was producing about four million barrels of oil per day before the conflict, exporting about»»»

Interactive exhibition highlights progress in integrative medicine practices Al Shifaa Summit for Integrative Medicine, an initiative of the UAE Integrative Medicine Council, will return for its second edition from 20 to 22 October 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, as part of Abu Dhabi Future Health »»»

Bangkok, Oct. 16 (SANA) Syria and Lebanon have agreed to establish a joint technical team to address financial and banking challenges and propose solutions to strengthen economic, investment and trade ties. The agreement was reached during a meeting on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the In»»»

KALEMIE, DR Congo: US businessman Erik Prince and his mercenaries have emerged as key players in the war-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), fighting for its government as Washington vies for strategic minerals in the country, researchers and local sources told AFP. Numerous foreign parami»»»

Global law enforcement unites to tackle digital crime and financial networks Dubai: Artificial intelligence (AI), intelligence-led policing and the fight against money laundering took centre stage at a preparatory dialogue for the World Police Summit (WPS) in Dubai on Friday, bringing together amba»»»

Abu Dhabi Police urge drivers to slow down as rain, fog and dusty winds are forecast here Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have urged motorists to exercise caution as rain, fog and dusty winds are forecast across parts of the UAE over the coming days, warning of reduced visibility and slippery roads dur»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker and Acting President of the Republic Ana Brnabic said on Friday the Security Information Agency (BIA) was one of the pillars supporting the state, the Republic of Serbia. At a ceremony that marked the BIA Day, Brnabic thanked the BIA personnel for the years of »»»

Nearly 14,000 unemployed people started work in September with the assistance of labour offices, while vacancies reported by employers rose by 12% from the previous month, the National Employment Agency said on Friday. A total of 10,800 vacancies were announced on the primary labour market, 1,141 m»»»

The Ministry of Education and Science has received a letter from Miroslav Dachev, Rector of Sofia's National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA), which includes a roadmap drawn up in accordance with September 18 recommendations of an interdepartmental working group to address students' and le»»»

JOHANNESBURG: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has lifted the suspension of the country’s national police chief, Fannie Masemola, his office announced on Friday. Masemola is expected to resume his duties on Monday after he was suspended in April when he was charged with breaking finance laws»»»

The fading art of traditional photography in a modern world A portrait studio is a small room where time learns to linger. People step before the camera for only a heartbeat, yet what they carry away can outlive fashions, addresses and even the cityscape beyond the door. For the generation now, the»»»

Ministry alerts public to dangers of drifting containers in Musandam waters Oman has issued a maritime safety warning to fishermen and seafarers after containers began drifting in waters off Musandam Governorate following the sinking of a cargo ship, with authorities cautioning that some of the con»»»

A historic monastery complex in southern Slovakia, purchased with Hungarian public money under the former Orbán government, remains unusable despite HUF hundreds of millions of being spent on its renovation. The Orbán administration paid approximately EUR 219,000 for the properties in Šahy (Ipolysá»»»

Information Services, Bulgaria's national system integrator, publicly demonstrated the computer system that will process voting data for Bulgaria's October 25 presidential election. At the Parliament building on Friday, the company explained how the election process works, from voting and vote coun»»»

NAIROBI: Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has named a caretaker government to stabilize the northern Tigray region and prepare for an election within six months, after fighting erupted between a rebel alliance and federal troops. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led an offensive last»»»

Following US President Donald Trump's October 9 announcement of an agreement signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel into the United States, a number of pro-Russian social media accounts began claiming that a Russian oil tanker was already carrying thousands of barrels»»»

Critically acclaimed Irish novelist Sally Rooney's announcement that her books could no longer be sold in the UK due to her support for proscribed group Palestine Action has left British booksellers rushing to stock up on her works before distributors run out. The British government's ban on the gr»»»

Bulgaria marked Aviation and Air Force Day on Friday with the laying of wreaths and flowers at the Monument to the Aviator in Sofia. In 2026, Bulgarian military aviation marks the 114th anniversary of its first combat flight. President Iliana Iotova inspected the guard of honour and laid a wreath i»»»

More UAE expats are staying longer, prompting a rethink of retirement, savings For many professionals, a move to the UAE begins with a two- or three-year plan: advance a career, build savings and return home in a stronger financial position. As careers develop and families settle, that departure da»»»

SOFIA: A string of drone attacks on at least seven cargo vessels in the Black Sea this month, off the coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, has some members of the alliance wondering if Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking escalation to test their support for Ukraine in its war agains»»»

DP World says an east coast gateway could give cargo owners faster, alternative routes Dubai: Fujairah’s location on the UAE’s east coast could give cargo owners an alternative gateway to global markets and cut sailing times on some Indian Ocean services by up to five days, according to DP World. T»»»

DAMASCUS/LONDON: Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said. Tehran has in recent weeks been concealing such cargoes among a growing volume of ship-to-ship transfers »»»

Beirut: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has reaffirmed the State of Qatar's full support for the Lebanese Republic in any measures it takes in response to Israeli occupation actions. Speaking to journalists at the Baabda Palace i»»»

The Pink October event takes place on Saturday, October 17 Dubai: Dubai Miracle Garden, the world’s largest natural flower garden, will open its gates at 6am on Saturday, 17 October, ahead of regular visiting hours, for a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Run starting at 6:30 AM, in support of Pink »»»

Joint European action is needed to safeguard the Black Sea and build consensus on turning it into an area of shared security, Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova said, as quoted by the Bulgarian Parliament on Friday. She was speaking at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliam»»»

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s prime minister completed his cabinet line-up by appointing a US-designated terrorist after receiving Washington’s approval, in a bid to advance efforts to disarm Iran-backed groups in the country, diplomatic sources told AFP. On Thursday night, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi announced »»»

Brussels: France and Germany confirmed Friday that they had reached a deal aimed at protecting Europe's struggling automotive sector, with agreements on the flashpoint issues of EU car emissions and "made in Europe" components. The pact, which is likely to shape EU policy going forward, envisages a»»»

RIYADH: The restraint shown by Saudi Arabia to prevent escalation is highly appreciated and demonstrates the Saudi leadership’s commitment to a return to normalcy in the region, the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom has said. In an interview with Arab News, Shri Vipul said: “India has consistently c»»»

Singapore: Singapore said on Friday it would issue warnings to seven companies in Indonesia it identified as responsible for fires that have sent toxic smoke across Southeast Asia, warning the worst may be yet to come. The city-state has beefed up measures to combat the months-long fires and had vo»»»

Abu Dhabi launches TAMM Global to take its AI-powered government services around the world Abu Dhabi: The Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) has announced the establishment of Abu Dhabi Digital Services Company TAMM Global. The move follows the directives of Sheikh Khaled bin Moh»»»

Damascus, Oct. 16 (SANA) The foreign ministers of Syria and 18 other Arab and Islamic nations strongly condemned on Friday Colombia’s opening of an embassy in occupied Jerusalem, saying the move contradicts relevant UN Security Council resolutions and undermines international efforts to achieve a j»»»

US: The United States is making an unprecedented attempt to revive three shuttered nuclear plants to meet rising energy demand, including from large-scale data centers. No commercial nuclear reactor is known to have resumed generating electricity after beginning the decommissioning process that tak»»»

Tunis, Oct. 16 (TAP)- The draft finance law for 2027 provides for new energy and ecological transition measures.This includes exemption from customs duties and the value added tax on electricity storage batteries, along with a 10% reduction on...»»»

The United Nations in Albania has expressed concern over acts of violence and escalating tensions during four consecutive days of protests in the capital, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue. In a statement, the UN emphasized the importance of protecting»»»

Beirut: President of the Lebanese Republic HE Joseph Aoun has welcomed Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani in Beirut to discuss bilateral relations and efforts to reduce regional tensions. During the meeting on Friday, HE Sheikh Moha»»»

The Ministry of Defence has received emails in October reporting alleged explosive devices, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Friday in response to a question from Vazrazhdane MP Ivelin Parvanov about threats made against public buildings and institutions. The emails were sent to official c»»»

Bangkok: The State of Qatar has participated in a meeting of Arab central bank governors with World Bank Group President HE Ajay Banga, held on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand. Minister of Finance HE Ali bin»»»

RTA plans to expand Dubai's vehicle testing network from 30 to 35 centres by the year 2030 Dubai: More than 196,000 new vehicles were registered in Dubai during the first half of 2026, averaging over 1,000 a day, as population growth, urban expansion and economic activity continued to drive demand »»»

Sharjah says it diverts 93 per cent of waste from landfills, with plans to double capacity Sharjah: The UAE plans to produce half of its crops locally as part of efforts to strengthen food security, while Sharjah is preparing to double the capacity of a waste-to-energy plant after diverting 93 per »»»

Crammed with beds and stretchers, the dilapidated Al Jumhuri hospital in Yemen's besieged city of Taiz is running so low on fuel and medicine that it may have to close, officials warn. With pro-Iran Houthi fighters surrounding Taiz and blocking all supplies, the facility is symptomatic of a collaps»»»

Iraq's prime minister completed his cabinet line-up by appointing a U.S.-designated terrorist after receiving Washington's approval, in a bid to advance efforts to disarm Iran-backed groups in the country, diplomatic sources told AFP. On Thursday night, Zaidi announced the completion of his governm»»»

Only 400 million jobs are forecast for 1.2 billion new workers, leaving a major shortfall Abu Dhabi: The world faces a potential shortfall of nearly 800 million jobs over the next 10 to 15 years, with 1.2 billion young people expected to enter the labour market but only 400 million jobs projected t»»»

Vienna: Fruit and vegetable harvests are down 30 and 40 percent respectively in Austria this year due to prolonged heat and drought over the summer, the Chamber of Agriculture said Friday. Onions and carrots are down 25 percent compared to the previous year, while some crops such as white cabbage a»»»

Eastern UAE sees heavy downpours with convective cloud alert in place Dubai: Rain is falling across parts of the UAE on Friday afternoon. Showers continue in the Eastern Region and heavy downpours are hitting Al Ain as convective clouds keep building over the country. Rain is coming down on Wadi Al»»»