Author: Editor

British comedian and actor Russell Brand was found guilty in a London court on Thursday of rape and sexual assault and told he faces jail.Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile broadcasters and the former husband of US singer Katy Perry, had denied the accusations, saying the incidents had either been consensual, reinvented or re-imagined.Prosecutors had described the 51-year-old, who starred in the films ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and ‘Arthur’, as a ruthless, sexual predator.He was convicted at London’s Southwark Crown Court of one count of rape and three sexual assaults. He was acquitted of two other rapes and…

DUBAI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — The Emirates Group today announced its half-year financial results, posting a profit before tax of AED 4.1 billion ($ 1.1 billion) for the first six months of 2026-27, a remarkable performance against the disruption and high fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. After accounting for income tax charges, the Group’s profit after tax is AED 3.6 billion (US$ 1.0 billion), down 66% from last year. Illustrating its strong operating performance, the Group achieved an EBITDA of AED 12.5 billion (US$ 3.4 billion), 41% lower than the AED 21.1 billion…

DUBAI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) and Al Ghurair PCS Switchgear Manufacturing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at WETEX 2026 to pilot ETAP digital twin technology at one of EtihadWE’s substations. The collaboration will assess the technology’s potential to enhance network visibility, support operational decision-making and improve operational efficiency. The MoU was signed by Eng. Abdulla AlKhemeiri, Chief Operating Officer of EtihadWE, and Ammar Hamdan, Senior Vice President of Al Ghurair PCS. The pilot will cover a 132/11 kV substation selected by EtihadWE. Al Ghurair PCS will develop a digital model of the substation…

ABU DHABI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the sole representative and unified voice of UAE banks, has emphasised the importance of strengthening resilience, responsible innovation, and governance to enhance the stability, growth, and competitiveness of the financial sector, to fulfil its role in socio-economic development and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading global financial centre. During his participation in the UAE Financial Sector Supervisory Roundtable, organised by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) in Abu Dhabi, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UBF, highlighted that strengthening financial resilience, embedding the principles of responsible…

ABU DHABI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE will join the Syrian community in celebrating Syria’s history and culture at a public event at Zabeel Park in Dubai on Saturday, 7th November. Now in its second year, the celebration brings together music, art, food and heritage, offering a rich picture of Syrian culture while strengthening the community’s place in UAE society. Organised by the Emirates Loves Syria initiative, the event celebrates Syrians living in the UAE, strengthens ties within the community, and highlights the friendship and cooperation that unite the Emirati and Syrian peoples. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al…

There is a moment in Ramayana: Part 1 when the narrative shifts from the dark, imposing kingdom of Lanka to the sunlit splendour of Ayodhya. The frames become lighter, flowers burst into full bloom and an almost palpable sense of peace takes over. It is a beautiful transition, one that captures what director Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious retelling of the Indian epic does best. It creates a world of spectacular cinematic beauty, unlike anything Indian audiences have experienced on this scale before.But as the film progresses, another question comes to the fore. In bringing one of India’s most revered spiritual stories…

ABU DHABI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — Mubadala Energy aims to double its production over the next decade, with natural gas accounting for about 70 percent of its portfolio, Acting Chief Executive Officer Adnan Bu Fateem said. In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2026, Bu Fateem said the company’s priority was to translate its strategy into disciplined growth and reliable operational performance to meet rising energy demand responsibly and deliver sustainable value to its shareholders and the countries in which it operates. He said Mubadala Energy was exploring investment opportunities across the natural…

As Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana Part 1 arrived in cinemas on November 5, several Indian celebrities have shared their thoughts on the film, praising its scale, performances and portrayal of Indian culture.Among those showing their support are Allu Arjun, Rishab Shetty and Anupam Kher, who took to social media to congratulate the team behind the film.Allu Arjun shared a message on Instagram ahead of the release, describing the film as an important moment for Indian cinema.”It’s not just a movie. It’s a representation of our culture and an attempt to raise the bar of Indian films,” he wrote.The Pushpa actor also encouraged fans to support…

ABU DHABI, 5th November, 2026 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, in partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), has launched the second edition of the Balanced Arabic Readability Evaluation Corpus (BAREC) project. In collaboration with MBZUAI and Zayed University, the BAREC project provides AI-powered tools to rewrite Arabic texts according to different readability levels, alongside explanatory feedback that helps users understand how texts and their readability levels are classified. An agreement supporting the project was signed earlier and announced during the fifth edition of…

Pope Leo XIV met renowned American singer-songwriter and Nobel laureate Bob Dylan at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, where the two exchanged gifts during a brief meeting, Vatican News reported.The 85-year-old musician, whose real name is Robert Allen Zimmerman, is currently in Italy as part of the autumn leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. He is scheduled to perform at Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport on Thursday, November 5, with the tour also including stops in Milan and Bologna.According to Vatican News, the meeting involved greetings and a few lighthearted exchanges. Dylan, who wore a black hooded sweatshirt,…