NEW YORK — Lionel Messi shared the stage with some of the biggest names in global sport on Friday as anticipation built for Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Durant joined Messi during a special FIFA event at Fanatics Fest in New York, with the sporting icons posing for a group selfie after the appearance. The event served as FIFA’s official media preview for the World Cup final, replacing the traditional pre-match news conference with a public session featuring questions from fellow athletes rather than journalists. “We will give it our all,”…
Author: Editorial Team
MOSCOW — At least eight people were killed and more than 60 others were wounded in overnight Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia, Russian officials said on Saturday. Among the sites hit were two warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries in the Tambov and Moscow regions. Both facilities caught fire after being struck by drones, authorities said. Tambov regional governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said seven workers were killed and 25 others injured in the attack on the warehouse in Kotovsk, about 360 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. In the Moscow region, a drone strike ignited an oil depot in Noginsk, prompting…
In living rooms across the UAE, sofas are being rearranged, snacks are being prepared, and allegiances are being declared. The World Cup 2026 final is here and for millions of residents, it’s personal. While some are gathering at homes and fan zones, others prefer to watch the match alone, nursing their superstitions in private. Abu Dhabi resident Hanan will be hosting over 40 of her family members at her home. Her 14-year-old son Khalid and nephew Abdul Rahman are the ones spearheading the entire logistics of inviting people, finalizing the menu and keeping the headcount. “For the semi-finals, we had…
As summer holidays get underway, many children across the UAE are spending more hours indoors, often turning to smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices for entertainment. While screens have become an unavoidable part of modern childhood — supporting learning, communication and recreation — doctors are warning that prolonged device use during the break could be quietly affecting children’s posture, flexibility and spinal health. Paediatricians say they are increasingly seeing children with early signs of posture-related problems, including neck and shoulder discomfort, headaches, stiffness and reduced mobility. While these symptoms may appear minor initially, ignoring them could lead to long-term musculoskeletal…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s land, sea and air customs ports foiled 1,131 smuggling attempts, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced. The seizures included 118 types of narcotic substances, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine (shabu), Captagon pills and other illicit drugs. Authorities also intercepted 402 prohibited materials. ZATCA said customs officers also thwarted the smuggling of 2,478 tobacco and tobacco-related products, in addition to 25 cases involving undeclared cash and nine cases involving weapons and related equipment. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to tightening customs controls over the Kingdom’s imports and exports in coordination with relevant government agencies to…
NEW YORK — FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared the 2026 World Cup a success on Friday, saying the expanded tournament had united people around the world as it heads into Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain. Standing alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Infantino credited the United States for helping deliver what he described as the biggest and most successful World Cup in history. “The American dream, Mr. President, came to reality,” Infantino said. “We united the world.” Trump hosted Infantino and international football figures ahead of the World Cup final and praised the tournament…
What starts as a temporary financial support can become a family business. That is the idea behind the Community Market launched by the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (ADSS), where 21 beneficiary families are showcasing everything from handmade Emirati crafts and crochet creations to stuffed vine leaves, chocolates and specialty coffee in a bid to build sustainable incomes instead of relying solely on financial assistance. The three-day market, which opened on Friday at Nabdh Al Falah Centre and runs until July 19, is the first edition of what ADSS says will become a recurring initiative as part of its wider…
NEW YORK — Spain captain Rodri believes his side must produce its best performance yet to defeat defending champion Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, saying La Roja has steadily built toward this moment over the past five years. Spain enters the final after winning the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and the European Championship in 2024, achievements Rodri said laid the foundation for the team’s run to its second World Cup final. “We’ve been gradually growing,” Rodri said Friday. “We have to keep doing the same things we’re doing because it has been a process for all five years.”…
NEW YORK — FIFA will award championship rings to World Cup winners for the first time, introducing a North American sporting tradition to international football ahead of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain. In addition to the traditional gold medals and the World Cup trophy, members of the winning team will receive customized championship rings to commemorate their triumph. The captain and coach of the victorious team will be presented with temporary rings immediately after the final, with the full collection delivered later. FIFA said the winning squad will receive **30 custom-designed gold rings**, featuring the World Cup trophy on…
The UAE Lottery has announced the results of its latest Lucky Day Draw on Saturday night, with three participants winning Dh50,000 each through the Lucky Chance raffle. The winning numbers for Draw No. 260718, held on Saturday, July 18, were 13, 8, 10, 30, 31 and 22, while the Lucky Number was 2. The three Lucky Chance winners, who can each claim Dh50,000, held the IDs CD5467064, CS6980871 and CZ7657185. Lucky Day Draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 9.30pm, giving participants the opportunity to win the Dh30 million Grand Prize, the Dh5 million Second Prize and three guaranteed…