New york: The UAE has reaffirmed the critical role of women empowerment and gender equality in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda during the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York. The UAE delegation highlighted the nation’s model for women empowerment, gender equality, and its focus on motherhood and childhood as the basis for inclusive and sustainable growth. The UAE built this model through the comprehensive empowerment system that it provides for women and families, who form the nucleus of society and guarantee the sustainability of human, social, and economic development. According to Emirates News Agency,

Brussels: The European Commission and the High Representative expressed their approval of the European Council’s recent decision to authorize negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). According to Emirates News Agency, the SPAs aim to establish a modern and comprehensive framework for cooperation, aligned with the shared priorities of the EU and each GCC partner. This initiative supports the objectives outlined in the 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and the upcoming 2024 EU-GCC Summit in Brussels. The negotiation frameworks will cover diverse topics, such as

Abu dhabi: China has witnessed significant growth in trade and investment with nations involved in the Belt and Road initiative over recent years, Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang announced during a press conference on Friday. According to Emirates News Agency, the trade volume between China and participating countries surged from US$2.7 trillion in 2021 to US$3.1 trillion last year, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.7 percent. This trade volume represented 50.7 percent of China’s total foreign trade in 2024, marking an increase from 45.3 percent in 2021. From 2021 through the first half of the current year, two-way

London: Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office (NMO) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Media Council, recently met with Tom Hudson, a specialist in tech investment and legal and government affairs, in London. The meeting focused on exploring avenues for high-impact partnerships and leveraging global best practices to develop and future-proof the UAE’s media infrastructure. According to Emirates News Agency, both parties discussed the significance of integrating legal and regulatory frameworks with technological innovation to establish an advanced and sustainable media ecosystem. Al Hamed listened to Hudson’s insights on

Rafah: At least 25 Palestinians were killed and more than 70 others injured on Saturday after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of starving civilians north of Rafah, in southern Gaza, WAFA News Agency reported. Local sources reported that Israeli troops unleashed heavy gunfire on desperate residents gathered near a food aid distribution centre in the north of the city. According to Emirates News Agency, the incident has intensified the already tense situation in the region. The civilians were reportedly gathered at the distribution centre to receive much-needed food aid when the violence erupted. The attack has drawn international

Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio early Saturday to discuss tensions in southern Syria, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. Fidan emphasized the urgent need to end the Syrian conflict and uphold the ceasefire agreement previously reached between the fighting parties. According to Emirates News Agency, both officials agreed on the importance of restoring stability in the region. They reiterated their commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace. The conversation comes amid growing concerns over recent escalations in southern Syria, which have threatened to undermine the fragile

Damascus: Amid the critical conditions the country is passing through, and in commitment to prevent the bloodshed of the Syrians, preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and in response to the national and humanitarian responsibility, the Syrian Arab Republic announced a complete and immediate ceasefire in the country. According to Emirates News Agency, in an official statement today, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic urged all citizens to pave the way for the Syrian State, its institutions and forces, to apply that ceasefire with responsibility, in a way that ensures stabilisation and stops the bloodshed. The Presidency