At 8:47 pm in the lawns of Rajasthan Polo Club, the polo is over but the conversation isn’t. Sawai Padmanabh Singh, the Maharaja of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, is still in his match kit—the multicolour Jaipur jersey, white breeches scuffed with dirt and the happiness of finishing a successful match. For someone born into 300 years of history, he is remarkably grounded. At Khaleej Times, we asked him what this moment means for Jaipur, a city built by his ancestors, which is now reclaiming its place on the world polo map. Jaipur is also the capital of the…
Author: Editorial Team
DUBAI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — The Endowment and Minors’ Trust Foundation in Dubai (Awqaf Dubai) has launched an AED73 million endowment shopping centre project in Hind City, in collaboration with Voco Investments. Scheduled for completion within two years, the project will generate proceeds to support mosque affairs across Dubai. The shopping centre will be developed on a 90,400-square-foot plot and will comprise two floors housing 40 retail outlets. The project aims to generate sustainable returns to support designated endowment purposes, with construction costs estimated at AED50 million and the land valued at AED23 million. Ali Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General…
WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday during an unannounced visit, the Axios news site reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the meeting. The meeting between the hawkish ally of President Donald Trump and the Israeli premier came eight days before knife-edge Knesset elections and coincided with discussions between the US and Israel about the possibility of resuming major combat operations against Iran, according to Axios. Israel’s Army Radio reported his meeting with Netanyahu took place at an air force base in Israel’s southern desert. Shortly after the…
Rahul Arya, CEO and Managing Partner, SAPMENA and India, Artefact. Rahul Arya of Artefact explains how GCC organisations can turn connected data into clearer insights, more responsive planning and better-informed business decisions. AI is expanding the way businesses understand customer demand, assess opportunities and plan for growth. For GCC organisations, its value increasingly lies in bringing information together and helping leaders decide where to focus resources, improve operations and invest. Rahul Arya, CEO and Managing Partner of Artefact for SAPMENA and India, brings more than 20 years of international experience in data, AI and digital transformation. A member of Artefact’s…
MADRID — Storm Adam began to ease on Tuesday after leaving at least five people dead and causing severe flooding in eastern Spain, authorities said. In the Valencia region, the Civil Guard evacuated more than 2,100 people and rescued almost 500 since the start of the storm, according to the latest update released by the force. The downpour, which started on Saturday, dumped as much as 700 liters of rain (185 gallons) per square meter in 24 hours in some areas of the Valencia region. Floodwaters have since isolated several towns along the Mediterranean coast, while rivers have burst their…
TOKYO, 19th October, 2026 (WAM) — A Japanese spacecraft rocketed towards Mars on Tuesday on a quest to explore its mysterious moons and bring back samples. Five of the world’s space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector plus a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two pint-sized moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is leading the bold sampling effort, launched the spacecraft before dawn from the country’s main spaceport on Tanegashima Island. Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, have attended the UAE-France Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. The event formed part of joint efforts to strengthen the UAE-France economic and investment partnership and explore new opportunities for cooperation in priority strategic sectors, particularly energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology. In the opening remarks, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the French President and the accompanying delegation. H.H. Sheikh Khaled noted that the…
FREELANDER hosted FREELANDER Nightfall at the Hengli Hotel in Wuhu on 19 October as part of the 2026 Chery International User Summit. At the brand evening, the brand displayed the international five-seat version of FREELANDER 8 for the first time, announced its AI Voice Assistant, confirmed that FREELANDER 8 is expected to launch in the UAE in the first quarter of 2027 and signed partnership agreements with new partners in Bahrain and Oman. The evening followed the first test drive of the international variant of FREELANDER 8, held earlier that day at Tuju Campground. Guests were welcomed by Mornine, an…
ROME — Truckers’ protests over rising fuel costs spread across southern Italy on Monday as road and port blockades disrupted deliveries and left some supermarket shelves empty, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Truckers blocked access to Naples’ commercial port, while road blockades and demonstrations also affected Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily. The disruption has slowed the distribution of goods, particularly fresh produce, with shortages reported in parts of Campania, Sicily and Calabria. The protests have reportedly affected the collection and delivery of agricultural products, raising concerns among producers about potential losses. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said he was confident…
DUBAI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — The global water equation is evolving, driven by climate change, urban growth and rising demand. Water security is no longer solely about increasing supply; it also depends on cities’ ability to diversify water sources, recover and reuse water, reduce losses and operate networks efficiently under growing climatic and operational pressures. The World Bank warned that, under current water management policies and projected climate scenarios, urban water availability could decline by up to two-thirds by 2050, compared with 2015 levels. This underscores the urgent need for alternative water sources and more resilient infrastructure. Against this…