Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Lebanon have issued a joint statement during the official visit of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the UAE. The statement highlights the commitment of both nations to enhance their bilateral relations, with President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan receiving President Aoun at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi for talks aimed at boosting cooperation across various sectors. According to Emirates News Agency, President Sheikh Mohamed warmly welcomed President Aoun and expressed optimism that the visit would fortify the fraternal relations between the two countries and further their

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) has reaffirmed the Arabic language’s role as a leading platform for knowledge production and cultural exchange, showcasing initiatives that preserve the memory of civilisations and celebrate intellectual achievement. According to Emirates News Agency, a flagship initiative is the ‘Kalima’ project affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), which has advanced translation efforts across the Arab world and strengthened Arabic’s presence on the global cultural stage. Since its launch, Kalima has translated over 1,300 titles from 24 languages across more than 10 fields, in collaboration with 800 translators and major

Wellington: Schools were closed and flights cancelled as New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, was hit by its strongest winds in over a decade on Thursday, while a state of emergency was declared in parts of the South Island after 24 hours of heavy rain. According to Emirates News Agency, average wind speeds reached up to 87 kilometres an hour (54mph) in Wellington, marking the strongest winds since 2013. Gusts south of the capital in coastal Baring Head reached 160 kilometres an hour, as reported by the government forecaster. The severe weather conditions forced the closure of educational institutions and led to

Sharjah: The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced that the Emirate of Sharjah welcomed approximately 1.6 million hotel guests in 2024, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2023. According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement was made during a press conference held on Wednesday with the participation of SCTDA and over 25 government and private entities at the Sharjah Pavilion during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The authority unveiled key tourism statistics for 2024, revealing that Russian guests topped the list with over 270,000 visitors, reflecting an 18 percent rise from 2023. Indian guests ranked second

Sharjah: The Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation has initiated its first introductory tour for the “Prophet’s Neighbours Endowment” project at the Sharjah International Airport Authority. This move is part of the foundation’s promotional strategy aimed at engaging with department employees and visitors. According to Emirates News Agency, the interactive pavilion hosted by the foundation at the airport’s headquarters attracted a significant number of attendees. Participants were informed about the project’s objectives, which include supporting and empowering orphans. The initiative has garnered attention from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Ali Salim

Dubai: The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is hosting the Egyptian Board of Children’s Books (EBBY) as the Guest of Honour at the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), which runs until the evening of 4th May at Expo Centre Sharjah. The UAEBBY continues to consolidate its role in building bridges of cultural communication between peoples by hosting the EBBY. This hosting marks a new milestone in Arab cooperation within the children’s literature sector. According to Emirates News Agency, the Egyptian Board of Children’s Books, as an active branch of the International Board on Books for Young

Moscow: Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, engaged in discussions with Igor Krasnov, Russian Prosecutor General, during his visit to the Russian Federation. The meeting focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Russia, especially in the areas of security and policing. According to Emirates News Agency, the leaders exchanged views on the robust ties between their countries’ leadership and officials. They explored avenues to advance security and judicial cooperation and shared insights on best practices. The dialogue aimed to bolster joint coordination, aligning with the

Abu Dhabi: A panel discussion titled ‘Heritage for Peace: Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones’ was held at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025, with the participation of Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, and Dr. Ghassan Salam©, Lebanon’s Minister of Culture. The session focused on the vital role of cultural heritage in promoting peace and rebuilding societies affected by conflict. Both speakers emphasised that preserving heritage serves as a bridge for peace and a pillar for identity preservation in war-torn communities. According to Emirates News Agency, Al Kaabi highlighted UAE-led initiatives that demonstrate how safeguarding cultural sites can