BLOOMBERG President Vladimir Putin approved a new Russian foreign policy concept that set out to confront the US and its allies, claiming an “era of revolutionary changes” was under way in international relations. The US is “the source of fundamental risks to the security of the Russian Federation” and most European states are pursuing an “aggressive policy” aimed at undermining ...

BLOOMBERG Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, were arrested by security officials in recent weeks, escalating political tension ahead of national elections this year. The police have detained more than 2,100 party workers, according to Fawad Chaudhry, Khan’s aide. He said the whereabouts of many are unknown. Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party Khan founded, ...

BLOOMBERG Japan and China finished setting up a military hotline aimed at reducing tensions between the two largest economies in Asia, just ahead of a rare meeting of their foreign ministers in Beijing. The installation of equipment and lines has been completed, Japan’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday in a statement, calling it a “linking mechanism” that will build ...

BLOOMBERG The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is calling on its wealthier member nations to contribute to a trust for the poorest countries that is short billions of dollars at a time of rising demand from economies in debt distress. The IMF needs about $6.3 billion to meet its fundraising target for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, its main vehicle ...

LUCKNOW (INDIA) / WAM At least 35 people were killed and 16 were injured after the roof of a stepwell in a temple complex collapsed in central India, Reuters quoted a local government official as saying on Friday. The incident occurred in the central Indian city of Indore after a concrete slab covering the roof of a stepwell in a ...

ABU DHABI/ GULF TIME Chaired by Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed in presence of Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, as Vice-Chairman, 7th edition of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Programme for Excellence and Societal Intelligence has launched in Abu Dhabi, supporting leadership in social development. The annual programme awards winners in 17 categories across individual excellence, teamwork, and supporting entities areas, ...

DUBAI / WAM In conjunction with the UAE Reading Month, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL) launched “A World Reads” initiative, in collaboration with local publishers, special-publication institutions, and a select group of authors and writers, to support and enrich school libraries, Readers’ clubs, cafés and government departments. Dr Mohammed Salem Al Mazrooei, Board Member of the MBRL Foundation, said, “The ...

ABU DHABI / WAM AD Ports group is to implement a state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) across its UAE operations, as the company continues to invest in innovative solutions to drive safety, security and efficiency. The new technology is set to be installed across Khalifa Port, Zayed Port, Free Port, Musaffah Port, and Al Dhafra region ports. The ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM His Highness Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has received Faiq Zidan, President of the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq, and his accompanying delegation in Abu Dhabi on Friday. During the meeting, they discussed methods to strengthen judicial cooperation between the UAE and Iraq, as well as a variety of other issues of interest. The ...

DUBAI / WAM The National Biosecurity Committee, chaired by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, convened its first meeting in 2023 to discuss topics aimed at strengthening biosecurity. The session reviewed, with members receiving updates on the national campaign to combat mosquitoes, discussing the mechanism for implementing the National Biosecurity Framework, examining the registry of ...