• Entertainment
    Al Arabiya English

    Actress Lindsay Lohan announces engagement to Dubai resident Bader Shammas

    Actress Lindsay Lohan has told her followers on Instagram that she’s engaged to Dubai resident Bader Shammas. Lohan announced her engagement to boyfriend Shammas and showed off a traditional oval diamond ring with a photo of the couple looking happy, locked in an embrace. My love.

  • Health
    Al Jazeera

    'Don't freak out' about Omicron, says BioNTech CEO

    The CEO of COVID-19 vaccine maker BioNTech has a message for those who are worried about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus: keep your cool. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal (paywall) on Tuesday, Ugur Sahin, who co-founded BioNTech and invented one of the first COVID-19 vaccines, said that while the Omicron variant could lead to more vaccinated people becoming infected, they will likely remain projected against severe illness.

  • Politics
    Al Arabiya English

    UAE to send delegation to Iran soon, says senior Emirati official

    A senior Emirati official said on Tuesday the United Arab Emirates would soon send a delegation to Iran as part of efforts to improve ties with rival Tehran and that Abu Dhabi was keeping its Gulf allies in the loop. The sooner the better,” Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told reporters when asked when a UAE delegation would hold talks in Tehran. There is a recognition by the Iranians to rebuild bridges with the Gulf.

  • Entertainment
    Al Arabiya English

    Barbados declares 'diamond' Rihanna a national hero during republican celebrations

    Barbados declared hit singer Rihanna a national hero at its republican celebrations in her hometown of Bridgetown. Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the 33-year-old would be conferred with the honor of National Hero of Barbados to cheers. Rihanna was called up before the crowds to be congratulated by Mottley.

  • News
    Al Arabiya English

    UAE eases drug laws: No more jail for those bringing in THC

    The United Arab Emirates has eased some of its drug laws, relaxing penalties for travelers who arrive in the country with products containing THC, the main intoxicating chemical in cannabis. The new law, published Sunday in the UAE’s official gazette, says people caught carrying food, drinks and other items with cannabis into the country will no longer land in prison if it’s their first time. Instead, authorities will confiscate and destroy the products.

  • Politics
    Arab News

    Iran's nuclear program 'has military element,' admits ex-atomic energy chief

    LONDON: The former head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization has revealed that Tehran’s nuclear program has military objectives, in the clearest admission to date of Iran’s nuclear bomb ambitions. In an interview with state media, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, former head of the IAEO, admitted to the existence of a “system” with military capabilities. The existence of a military research branch within Iran’s nuclear program would directly contravene the state line on nuclear weapons.

  • Health
    Al Jazeera

    Omicron was in the Netherlands before South Africa alert

    The Omicron variant was already in the Netherlands when South Africa alerted the World Health Organization about it last week, Dutch health authorities say. It remains unclear where or when the variant first emerged — but that has not stopped wary nations from rushing to impose travel restrictions, especially on visitors coming from southern Africa. Those moves have been criticised by South Africa and the WHO has urged against them, noting their limited effect.