BRASILIA — Polls opened across Brazil on Sunday as more than 150 million registered voters prepared to cast their ballots in a closely contested presidential runoff between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Voting began at 8 a.m. local time, with the election entering its final stage amid a statistical dead heat between the two candidates. Lula, 80, of the Workers’ Party, is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive presidential term against Bolsonaro, 45, the eldest son and political heir of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The runoff follows a competitive first-round election on October 4, when…
Author: Editorial Team
ABU DHABI, 25th October, 2026 (WAM) — Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed today between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Benin is expected to increase UAE exports to Benin by more than USD 1 billion by 2033, while boosting Benin’s exports to the UAE by more than USD 100 million over the same period. This will create new opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), he explained that the agreement provides for…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will raise the minimum monthly wage required for Saudi private-sector employees to be counted as full-time workers under the Nitaqat Saudization program to SR5,000 in April 2027 and SR6,000 in April 2028. According to details released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the decision will be implemented in two phases, beginning six months after its announcement on October 25, 2026. The first phase will take effect on April 25, 2027, raising the minimum monthly wage threshold for full inclusion in Saudization calculations to SR5,000. The second phase will begin on April 25, 2028,…
ABU DHABI, 25th October, 2026 (WAM) — UFC 333: VOLKANOVSKI vs EVLOEV made history at Etihad Arena on Saturday night, recording the highest attendance and highest gate for a UFC event in Abu Dhabi to date, as thousands of fans packed the sold-out venue for two thrilling title fights. UFC CEO Dana White highlighted the record-breaking success and international appeal of the event, while outlining his ambitions to continue bringing major UFC events to Abu Dhabi. “Tonight was the highest attendance for a UFC event in Abu Dhabi history. Highest gate,” White said. “And over 50 per cent of the…
RIYADH — The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen intercepted and destroyed 10 ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward the southern region. Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson of the coalition, said that the coalition also intercepted a Houthi cruise missile fired toward Khamis Mushait in the southern Asir region. Al-Maliki also stated that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh. “A UAV was also intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region,” he said. Source: Saudi Gazette
ABU DHABI, 25th October, 2026 (WAM) — Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade, in charge of Industry and Private Investment Promotion for the Republic of Benin, said that the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Benin and the United Arab Emirates today marks an important milestone for both countries and opens new avenues for strengthening their trade and investment relations. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), he said that trade relations between the two countries are growing by more than 30% annually, emphasising that the agreement will take these relations to…
Nayef Bou Chaaya, Vice President, Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, AVEVA. Nayef Bou Chaaya explains how connected industrial data, predictive analytics and digital twins can help energy and marine companies improve reliability, optimise operations and advance decarbonisation.Industrial digital transformation depends on more than deploying new technology. Connecting engineering, operations and maintenance data gives organisations a clearer understanding of their assets, helping teams make informed decisions and measure the business value of their investments. Nayef Bou Chaaya, Vice President, Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia at AVEVA, spoke to Tahawultech on why trusted, contextualised data provides the foundation for improving industrial…
RIYADH — The General Directorate of Civil Defense said two people were injured on Sunday when debris from two ballistic missiles fired by the terrorist Houthi militia fell in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah governorates in the southern Asir region after the missiles were intercepted and destroyed. The debris injured a Saudi citizen and an Asian resident and damaged three residential buildings and seven vehicles. The Civil Defense teams responded to the incident and followed standard procedures, the directorate said in a statement. Source: Saudi Gazette
PARIS — French authorities arrested 1,314 people during nationwide demonstrations Saturday, while 53 security personnel were injured, the Interior Ministry announced Sunday, reporting a sharp decline in violence compared with protests a week earlier. The figures represent a significant decrease from the first day of mobilization on October 17, when 2,628 people were arrested and 1,144 security personnel were injured, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. The Interior Ministry estimated that 410,000 people participated in Saturday’s demonstrations across France, including 110,000 in Paris. Trade unions disputed the official figures, estimating nationwide turnout at nearly 800,000, including 250,000 demonstrators in the capital.…
ABU DHABI, 25th October, 2026 (WAM) — UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Romuald Wadagni, President of the Republic of Benin, witnessed the exchange of the UAE-Benin Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement opens a more ambitious phase of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries and will support stronger trade and investment flows, expand opportunities for collaboration between their business communities, and advance mutual economic growth. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that the agreement represents a milestone in relations between the UAE and Benin, embodying their shared…