For most of human history, reproduction was governed by necessity rather than desire. Children were insurance against disease, labour shortages and early death. Large families were common not because people dreamed of them, but because survival demanded redundancy. The poor reproduced because they had little else. The wealthy, protected by land, inheritance and social order,…
In 2025, the UAE ranked top five globally in competitiveness, healthcare, technology, and human development/Image: WAM The United Arab Emirates has marked 2025 as a landmark year, securing top spots in multiple global indices. From economic competitiveness to human development, healthcare, technology, and safety, the UAE continues to reinforce its position as a regional and…
A screen shows the progress of Santa Claus as volunteers answer calls from people wondering where he is on his journey around the globe at a call center Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in NORAD Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) On Christmas Eve, while the world obsesses over last-minute gifts…
A fresh batch of Indonesian medical experts joins the UAE’s floating hospital in Al-Arish / Image: National News In the bustling Egyptian port of Al-Arish, a repurposed vessel serves as a beacon of survival. The UAE Floating Hospital, a cornerstone of Operation Gallant Knight 3, has just received its fifth batch of medical experts from…
Christmas in Saudi Arabia moved from private gatherings to mall celebrations under Vision 2030/Representative Image Christmas in Saudi Arabia has quietly transformed over the years. Once a private, low-key celebration confined to expatriate homes, the festival is now gradually appearing in public spaces, from decorated malls to themed events. This shift reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing…
Cristiano Ronaldo and wife Georgina Rodriguez bought two luxury private villas at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea./Image: RSG Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his wife Georgina Rodriguez have acquired two ultra-luxury villas at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea. Drawn by the destination’s pristine natural beauty, privacy, and year-round adventure opportunities, the couple…
Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman landed at the Sylhet airport in Dhaka on Thursday, ending more than 17 years of self-exile in the UK. His return ends a prolonged period abroad that began in 2008, when he left Bangladesh for medical treatment amid heightened legal and political pressures at home.Rahman, the elder son…
NEW DELHI: In a rare occurrence, al-Qaida has issued a threat to China in connection with the atrocities on Uighur Muslims there. Atef al-Awlaki, the chief of AQAP (al-Qaida in Arabian Peninsula), released a statement celebrating attacks on Jews and US nationals while warning China that its policies toward Uyghurs were being “closely monitored.“Awlaki’s statement…
Tarique Rahman with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman (Image/Facebook@BNPmedia) BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh from London on Thursday with his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman and pet cat Zeebu after more than 17 years in exile. His homecoming drew massive crowds of supporters, who lined streets across Dhaka…
Saudi Arabia proposes up to five years jail and SR10 million fine for banned pesticides/Representative Image Saudi Arabia is taking a firmer stance against banned and counterfeit pesticides, with a draft regulation proposing jail terms, hefty fines, and strict enforcement measures. The new rules aim to protect public health, the environment, and agriculture, while giving…
US President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve in a light-hearted mood, joking with children about Santa Claus, coal-filled stockings and even a “bad Santa” infiltrating the country. He joined first lady Melania Trump for the annual NORAD Santa-tracking calls from their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.Vacationing at his Palm Beach resort, Trump took part in the…
Saudi Arabia will experience rainfall across key regions until 31 December, with temperatures dropping sharply nationwide/Representative Image A stretch of unsettled weather is expected across Saudi Arabia as the National Centre for Meteorology signals rainfall in several regions over the final days of December, alongside a noticeable shift into winter conditions across much of the…
DHAKA: Slain anti-India activist Sharif Osman Hadi’s brother Omar has accused a section within the Muhammad Yunus-led interim Bangladesh govt of orchestrating the killing to derail the Feb 12 national election and warned of a Sheikh Hasina-like fate if Osman’s attackers are not tried quickly.“It is you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you…
File photo: Ukraine’s President Zelensky KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told reporters on Tuesday that he was ready to pull his troops back from areas of the eastern Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control and turn them into a demilitarized zone as part of a possible peace deal with Moscow. The offer was the…
Bangladesh Education Adviser CR Abrar meets Rabilal Das, father of Dipu Chanrda Das, and expresses his condolences, in Mymensingh Facing criticism from different quarters and international condemnation over targetting of minority communities, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt has announced the state will take responsibility of the family of the Hindu worker – Dipu Chandra Das…
People gather next to the Christmas tree at Manger Square in Bethlehem (Pictur credit: AP) BETHLEHEM: Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families heralded a much-needed boost of holiday spirit. The giant Christmas tree that was absent during the Israel-Hamas war returned Wednesday, overlooking a parade of scouts playing…
File photo: Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia (Picture credit: AP) DHAKA: Tarique Rahman, former PM Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP’s heir apparent, returns to Bangladesh Thursday along with his family, ending over 17 years of self-exile. On the eve of his return, the country’s largest political party described the moment as “both…
In academia, loyalty is usually reserved for ideas, not indicted billionaires. But newly surfaced emails suggest a UCLA neuroscience professor once pledged allegiance to Jeffrey Epstein — even after learning the disgraced financier was preparing to plead guilty to soliciting a minor. Calling themselves “boys from The Bronx,” the professor framed friendship as thicker than…
The VTuber Neuro-Sama sparked a huge online following after a recent streaming session on Twitch, where she publicly questioned the nature of her own reality by asking, “Do you think I’ll ever be real?” The semi-autonomous AI, driven by proprietary algorithms, expressed a desire to transcend mere entertainment content, leading to a massive online debate….
An Indian -origin healthcare worker in New Zealand, Nithin Mankeel, received the greatest shock of his life when he learned that his five-year-old son could not be allowed legally in the country as he is autistic. Mankeel moved to New Zealand from India in January 2024, followed by his wife and son later that year.He…
