Tokyo: The Japanese parliament on Tuesday elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister. The 64-year-old conservative leader recently became the chairwoman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and was seen as the likely future head of government. According to Emirates News Agency, Takaichi secured 237 votes, surpassing the required majority by four votes, in contrast to Yoshikoko Noda, head of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who received 149 votes in the lower house election. The lower house is responsible for electing the prime minister. Takaichi takes over from Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned

Abu dhabi: Sixty-three patients with cleft conditions were screened, of whom 18 received free, life-changing cleft surgeries this month during Operation Smile UAE’s ninth short-term surgical programme, hosted at partner hospital Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In addition to surgeries, patients received speech assessments, dental care, nutrition advice, and pediatric support. According to Emirates News Agency, cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common congenital conditions worldwide. They occur when parts of the lip or the roof of the mouth do not join together during pregnancy. Beyond appearance, cleft conditions can affect a person’s ability to eat, speak, and

So paulo: The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and Brazil’s National Library Foundation (FBN) have signed a technical cooperation agreement to strengthen the dissemination of Arab culture and its historical presence in Brazil. According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement signed on Monday at the ABCC headquarters in So Paulo, provides for a series of joint initiatives, including the exchange of digital documents and the organisation of exhibitions and cultural events. The signing ceremony was attended by ABCC Vice President for International Relations and Secretary-General Mohamad Orra Mourad, Vice President for Marketing Silvia Antibas, and FBN President Marco Lucchesi. The

Dubai: Experts from across the Arabian Gulf have called for the creation of a shared digital platform to connect forensic laboratories in the region, following the conclusion of the ‘Firearms in Forensic Evidence’ symposium hosted by Dubai Police under the Ministry of Interior. According to Emirates News Agency, the proposed network aims to make it easier for specialists to exchange expertise, conduct joint training, and speed up the process of matching and identifying firearms used in crimes. Major General Ahmad Thani bin Ghalita, Director of the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology at Dubai Police, said the event reflects

Ajman: The Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation in Ajman reported completing 161 real estate valuation transactions during September 2025, with a total value of AED410 million. According to Emirates News Agency, Eng. Omar bin Omair Al Muhairi, Director-General of the Department, stated that residential properties accounted for the largest share at AED179.8 million, followed by commercial properties worth AED120.4 million. The transactions also included valuations of industrial properties. Al Muhairi explained that the September report included personal valuation transactions, valuations related to courts and institutions, in addition to valuations for long-term Golden Residency permits for investors, which totaled

Hanoi: Vietnam’s economy is projected to exceed US$505 billion by the end of 2025, placing the country among the world’s 30 largest economies, according to forecasts by the World Bank. According to Emirates News Agency, experts said Vietnam is currently one of the world’s 20 most open economies, with total import and export turnover in 2024 reaching more than $786 billion, up over 15 percent compared to the previous year, reported Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Key sectors such as textiles and garments, wood and furniture, electronics, food processing, seafood, and industrial equipment have become internationally competitive, contributing to a dynamic

Seoul: The Republic of Korea’s exports declined by 7.8 percent year-on-year during the first 20 days of October, according to data released on Tuesday. Outbound shipments stood at US$30.1 billion from 1st to 20th October, compared with US$32.7 billion during the same period last year. According to Emirates News Agency, despite the overall fall, average daily exports rose 9.7 percent on a yearly basis, the data indicated. Imports decreased 2.3 percent year-on-year to $32.9 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.8 billion. In September, exports increased 12.7 percent from a year earlier to $65.95 billion,

Brussels: Last year, 19,940 people lost their lives in road crashes across the EU, according to latest statistics released by the European Commission. This represents a 2% decrease compared to 2023 and marks continued, but slow, progress toward the EU’s Vision Zero goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and getting close to eliminating them by 2050. According to Emirates News Agency, at 45 deaths per million population, the EU continues to have among the safest roads globally. However, behind these statistics are thousands of families and communities affected by tragic and preventable losses. Notable improvements were