DCT Abu Dhabi chairman on expanding the country's art collection to boost global cultural influence

In this episode of The Agenda, Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, discusses how Abu Dhabi's expanding...

Argentina bids farewell to Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff

The death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a key figure of the Catholic Church in the 21st century, generated reactions around the world.

Po...

China vows retaliation against countries supporting US-led trade isolation

Beijing has vowed to retaliate if other countries strike trade deals with the United States at the expense of China’s interests, in response to news that the Trum...

Demonstration in favour of cannabis legalisation takes place in Budapest

The event was held by Hungarian political party 'Two-Tailed Dog', with participants pointing out that alcohol has a far more serious negative effect and causes gr...

Israeli military probe into killing of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza finds 'professional failures'

Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defence workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on 23 March by troops conducting operations in Te...

Iran and US conclude nuclear talks in Rome and agree on another round next week

Rome has become 'the capital of peace and dialogue' Italian Foreign Minister Tajani claimed. The talks were mediated by Oman.

Iran and the United States conclude...

Netanyahu says Israel has 'no choice' but to continue fighting in Gaza

At least 92 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 others were injured over the past two days as Israel intensifies its operations across the enclave.

Israel...

Harvard University sues Trump administration to halt freeze of federal grants

The Trump administration announced it would freeze more than $2.2 billion (€2bn) in grants and contracts after the Ivy League school refused to comply with its de...

Rosary prayer for late Pope Francis led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti in St Peter’s Square

The rosary ended with a long round of applause followed by people chanting “long live Pope Francis”.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basil...

Pope Francis died of stroke and subsequent irreversable heart failure, says Vatican

Pope Francis decreed he would be buried in a simple underground tomb — with only “Franciscus” written on it — at St. Mary Major Basilica.

The Vatican has confirm...

Asian scam operations worth €35 billion spreading across the world, UN warns

New online markets, money laundering networks, stolen data products, malware, artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies are laying the ground for the rise...

US and Philippine forces launch joint annual combat drills amid tensions with China

The United States and the Philippines launched their annual joint military drills on Monday, involving around 14,000 troops in full-scale combat scenarios designe...

Pakistan begins second national polio vaccination drive to protect 45mln children

Health workers are often attacked by militants who falsely claim that vaccination efforts are part of a Western plot to sterilise Muslim children.

Pakistan has b...

New papal burial rites established at Pope Francis' request

Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis has chosen not to be buried in the Vatican Grottoes but in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he frequently p...

Thai-Chinese company denies ignoring safety after quake caused block to collapse

The collapse sparked questions about the enforcement of construction safety and the state-run Chinese contractor, China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, leading ...

Indonesia and China pledge maritime cooperation amid South China Sea tensions

Indonesia and China vow to strengthen maritime cooperation, including joint security efforts in the South China Sea, amid ongoing tensions over Beijing's activiti...

More than 100 Easter bombing victims in Sri Lanka named 'witnesses of faith' by Vatican

The Vatican has recognised 167 Sri Lankan Catholics killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings as 'witnesses of faith', six years after the attacks that killed ove...

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 1936-2025

"Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta," the Vatican said in a statement posted ...

At least 12 killed in fresh US air strikes on Yemen's capital, Houthi rebel group says

The US says it is targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel.

At least 12 peopl...

Pete Hegseth shared details of Yemen strike in second Signal chat, media report

Citing sources close to the matter, multiple media have reported US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth created a Signal group chat where he shared details of a March ...

Investors flee US assets as Trump attacks Fed’s Powell and calls for rate cuts

Investors continued offloading US assets as the Trump administration seeks a way to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump has demanded rate cuts, ref...