Global Pulse

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  • Dubai’s RTA to auction 300 premium vehicle number plates on Feb 9

    Dubai’s RTA to auction 300 premium vehicle number plates on Feb 9

    Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its 82nd exclusive online auction featuring 300 premium vehicle number plates, scheduled to commence on February 9, 2026. The highly anticipated event will offer distinctive 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-digit combinations for private vehicles, classic cars, and motorcycles under multiple code series including H, I, K, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.

    Registration for prospective bidders opens on February 2, with the auction running for a limited seven-day period exclusively through digital platforms. Participation requires a Dubai traffic file and involves submitting a security cheque of Dh5,000 made payable to RTA alongside a non-refundable Dh120 registration fee. Registration can be completed either at designated Customer Happiness Centres in Umm Ramool, Al Barsha, and Deira, or digitally via the official RTA website (www.rta.ae) using credit card facilities.

    Successful bidders must settle their payments within ten business days following the auction’s conclusion. Payment modalities include cash transactions for amounts up to Dh50,000, while higher valuations require manager’s cheques or credit card payments. All transactions will be subject to a standard 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) implementation.

    The auction continues Dubai’s tradition of premium plate sales, which have previously generated record-breaking revenues, including the notable sale of plate ‘BB 88′ for Dh14 million in recent history. This event provides vehicle enthusiasts with opportunities to acquire distinctive identifiers that have become status symbols within the Emirates’ automotive culture.

  • Dubai Police take part in Haq Al Laila celebrations with people of determination

    Dubai Police take part in Haq Al Laila celebrations with people of determination

    In a vibrant display of community inclusion, Dubai Police actively participated in the Haq Al Laila festivities organized by the Dubai Club for People of Determination this Saturday. The event, timed to coincide with the approaching mid-Shaaban night observance, created a festive heritage atmosphere emphasizing core Emirati values of tolerance, generosity, and social solidarity.

    The celebration saw significant attendance from community leaders including Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of the Dubai Club for People of Determination, and Fatima Bohjair, Chairperson of the Positive Spirit Council. Numerous club members and children participated enthusiastically in the activities, receiving gifts and enjoying various entertainment options.

    A highlight of the event featured students from Hemaya Schools for Education performing traditional folk dances, adding cultural richness to the occasion. This participation forms part of the broader Season of Wulfa initiative, which focuses on strengthening social inclusion and empowering people of determination within community settings.

    The initiative specifically aims to promote values of tolerance, giving, and community cohesion by ensuring people of determination can actively engage in cultural and social occasions within fully inclusive environments. This approach reflects Dubai’s ongoing commitment to creating an accessible and welcoming society for all citizens regardless of abilities.

  • Grammys 2026: Bruno Mars to perform at event, joins star-studded lineup

    Grammys 2026: Bruno Mars to perform at event, joins star-studded lineup

    The Recording Academy has officially announced that 16-time Grammy winner Bruno Mars will take the stage at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking a significant addition to an already spectacular performance roster. The revelation came through the Grammys’ official Instagram channel, generating substantial buzz among music enthusiasts worldwide.

    Mars enters this year’s ceremony with three prestigious nominations: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for his collaborative track ‘APT’ with BLACKPINK member Rose. This recognition continues his remarkable Grammy legacy, which includes four awards won as part of Silk Sonic in 2022, plus previous triumphs in 2016 and 2018 where he secured both Album and Record of the Year honors.

    The performance announcement coincides with Mars’ preparation for his highly anticipated solo album ‘The Romantic,’ scheduled for release on February 27, 2026. The artist will subsequently embark on an extensive seven-month global tour beginning in April, demonstrating his continued dominance in the music industry.

    This year’s ceremony, hosted for the final time by Trevor Noah, will broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026. The event will feature an impressive array of performers including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rose, and Sabrina Carpenter. Additionally, the show will include a special ‘In Memoriam’ segment honoring recently departed music icons Ozzy Osbourne and Roberta Flack.

    The 2026 Grammys will also feature prominent presenters such as Harry Styles, Charli XCX, and Queen Latifah. Notably, this ceremony represents the final broadcast on CBS before the prestigious awards show transitions to Disney platforms starting in 2027, marking the end of an era in Grammy television history.

  • Lantern Festival lights bring the Dunhuang grottoes to life

    Lantern Festival lights bring the Dunhuang grottoes to life

    The ancient Buddhist cave art of Dunhuang is experiencing a spectacular revival through modern illumination technology as part of China’s Lantern Festival celebrations. Thousands of intricately designed lanterns are transforming the night sky into a living canvas, creating an immersive experience where historical mural artistry converges with contemporary light installations.

    This extraordinary visual spectacle offers visitors a multisensory journey through time, allowing them to witness how traditional motifs from the UNESCO World Heritage site can be reimagined through modern interpretive techniques. The event represents a innovative approach to cultural preservation, making ancient artistic traditions accessible to contemporary audiences through dramatic nighttime displays.

    China Daily is providing exclusive coverage of this cultural phenomenon, with a scheduled live broadcast set for Monday at 8 pm local time. The program promises to guide viewers through this unique fusion of historical artistry and modern illumination technology, showcasing how traditional Chinese festival customs can serve as a bridge between ancient cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression.

    The Dunhuang caves, located along the historic Silk Road, contain some of China’s most significant Buddhist art spanning multiple dynasties. This Lantern Festival event represents a continuing effort to make this cultural treasure more engaging to both domestic and international audiences through innovative presentation methods.

  • Boy, 5, and father detained by ICE return to Minnesota after release

    Boy, 5, and father detained by ICE return to Minnesota after release

    A five-year-old migrant child and his father have returned to Minnesota following their controversial detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), culminating in a federal judge’s scathing condemnation of immigration enforcement practices. Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias were released from the Dilley detention center in Texas after U.S. District Judge Fred Biery granted an emergency request for their freedom.

    Judge Biery, a Clinton appointee, delivered a blistering critique in his ruling, characterizing the detention as driven by a ‘perfidious lust for unbridled power’ and criticizing what he called an ‘ill-conceived and incompetently implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas.’ The judge emphasized that deportations should occur through a more orderly and humane immigration policy than currently exists.

    The case has ignited national controversy and exposed conflicting narratives about immigration enforcement. While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that ‘ICE did NOT target or arrest a child’ and that the father ‘abandoned his child as he fled from ICE officers,’ family representatives present a dramatically different account.

    Attorney Marc Prokosch asserted that the family ‘did everything right’ in their asylum pursuit, having entered through a port of entry, used the CBP One app, made appointments, and fully complied with all established protocols. ‘This family was not eluding ICE in any way,’ Prokosch emphasized. ‘They were following all established protocols pursuing their claim for asylum, showing up for their court hearings and pose no safety, no flight risk.’

    The detention sparked protests outside the Texas facility and drew intervention from multiple Democratic lawmakers. Congressman Joaquin Castro accompanied the family back to Minneapolis and announced their release, while Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar welcomed their return, expressing gratitude for Castro’s involvement.

    The incident reveals ongoing tensions between the Trump administration’s immigration policies and judicial oversight, with the administration maintaining its commitment to ‘restoring the rule of law and common sense to our immigration system’ through the ‘arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who have no right to be in this country.’

  • African leader urges rapid industrialization at Africa Trade Summit 2026

    African leader urges rapid industrialization at Africa Trade Summit 2026

    ACCRA, Ghana – At the pivotal Africa Trade Summit 2026, a powerful consensus emerged among continental leaders that Africa must urgently accelerate its industrial transformation to secure economic sovereignty and break from colonial-era trade patterns.

    Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama delivered a keynote address challenging governments, financial institutions, and private enterprises to prioritize value addition and manufacturing. ‘We can no longer accept an economic model that consigns Africa to exporting raw materials and importing finished goods,’ President Mahama declared before delegates. ‘Manufacturing and agro-processing create jobs, raise incomes, deepen skills, and anchor inclusive growth.’

    The two-day summit, convened by the African Trade Chamber from January 28-29, served as a critical private sector platform to advance the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation. President Mahama emphasized that achieving industrialization requires more than government action alone, highlighting the essential pillars of policy stability, reliable infrastructure, skills development, and long-term financing solutions.

    Echoing this urgency, Sam Jonah, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Africa Trade Chamber, advocated for a deliberately ‘selfish’ economic strategy focused on building domestic industrial capacity. ‘Industrialization is both Africa’s shield and sword,’ Jonah stated, warning that failure to industrialize would marginalize the continent in a rapidly changing global order shaped by protectionism and geopolitical rivalry.

    The summit highlighted Africa’s paradoxical position: despite producing the bulk of the world’s cocoa and possessing vast mineral wealth, the continent captures only a fraction of global value. This imbalance, leaders argued, perpetuates poverty and leaves African economies vulnerable to external shocks.

    United Nations Industrial Development Organization Deputy Director-General Fatou Haidara reinforced that trade liberalization through AfCFTA must advance alongside industrial production. She emphasized the necessity of transitioning from commodity exports to value-added goods through integrated regional value chains supported by energy infrastructure and investment-ready projects.

    The conclave concluded with a resolute call for reforms in global financial architecture to improve Africa’s access to affordable capital, alongside practical measures to reduce non-tariff barriers, simplify customs procedures, and invest in digital trade infrastructure.

  • Ramadan 2026 likely to begin on February 19 in UAE, astronomers say

    Ramadan 2026 likely to begin on February 19 in UAE, astronomers say

    Astronomical experts at the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre have projected that Ramadan 1447 AH will commence on Thursday, February 19, 2026, across most Arab nations including the United Arab Emirates. This determination follows sophisticated scientific analysis indicating the lunar crescent marking the beginning of the holy month will not be visible on February 17th from any region within the Islamic world.

    Engineer Muhammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomy Centre, provided detailed technical explanations confirming the impossibility of crescent sighting on Tuesday, February 17th. According to astronomical data, the moon will set either before or simultaneously with the sun across most regions, with minimal separation angles making visual detection impossible even using advanced telescopic technology. In the UAE specifically, calculations show the moon’s lower edge will disappear below the horizon one minute before sunset.

    The scientific assessment receives additional validation from an annular solar eclipse occurring on February 17th, visible across southern Africa and Antarctica. This celestial event demonstrates the moon’s positional alignment with the sun, providing conclusive evidence that the crescent cannot form until later.

    For nations adhering to confirmed crescent sightings, Wednesday, February 18th will consequently complete the 30-day cycle of Shaban, making Thursday the logical starting point for Ramadan. While most Arab countries will follow this timeline, some non-Arab Islamic nations including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Morocco, and Mauritania may commence observations on February 18th, with their Ramadan beginning either February 19th or 20th depending on local weather conditions and sighting methodologies.

    Astronomers have issued warnings regarding potential false sightings on February 17th, emphasizing that any claims of visual detection would be scientifically impossible according to established astronomical parameters. The Centre has provided detailed visibility maps indicating that crescent observation remains impossible from regions colored red on their charts, while only minimal visibility using optical instruments might occur in limited blue-zoned areas under perfect atmospheric conditions.

  • France’s Capgemini to sell subsidiary working with ICE during anger at US immigration crackdown

    France’s Capgemini to sell subsidiary working with ICE during anger at US immigration crackdown

    PARIS — In a significant corporate move, French technology consulting giant Capgemini has announced the immediate divestiture of its U.S. federal government subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions. This decision comes amid intensifying global scrutiny of the subsidiary’s contractual relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly regarding the agency’s enforcement tactics during the previous administration’s immigration initiatives.

    The announcement follows sustained pressure from the French government, which had demanded greater transparency regarding the company’s engagements with ICE. Recent operations conducted by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, which resulted in the fatal shootings of two American citizens, had generated particular concern in European diplomatic circles.

    In an official statement released Sunday, Capgemini cited regulatory constraints that limited parental oversight as the primary rationale for the divestiture. “The rules for working with U.S. federal government agencies did not allow the group to exercise appropriate control over certain aspects of the operations of this subsidiary to ensure alignment with the group’s objectives,” the company stated.

    Chief Executive Officer Aiman Ezzat revealed he had only recently become aware of the subsidiary’s contractual arrangements with ICE. Through a LinkedIn post, Ezzat acknowledged that “the nature and scope of this work has raised questions compared to what we typically do as a business and technology firm.”

    The divestment decision emerged shortly after French Finance Minister Roland Lescure publicly urged Capgemini to provide complete transparency regarding its activities and reconsider their nature. While the Minister’s office declined to comment on the specific decision, the company’s announcement represents a direct response to governmental concerns.

    According to reports from the non-governmental organization Multinationals Observatory, the subsidiary provided ICE with technical tools designed to assist in locating targets for immigration enforcement operations. Capgemini did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding these specific technologies.

    The financial impact appears minimal, with the subsidiary representing merely 0.4% of Capgemini’s projected 2025 revenue. Capgemini, which employs over 340,000 professionals across more than 50 countries, continues to position itself as a global leader in technology services and consulting.

  • Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’ if US attacks Iran

    Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’ if US attacks Iran

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning on Sunday, declaring that any American military action against Iran would trigger a full-scale regional conflict. This statement comes amid significant US naval deployments to the Persian Gulf region.

    The heightened tensions follow President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of military intervention unless Iran accepts nuclear agreement terms and ceases its suppression of domestic protests. Khamenei, speaking through state media channels, emphasized that while Iran does not seek conflict, it would deliver a ‘strong blow’ against any aggressor.

    Current US naval presence in the region includes six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships—a force characterized by Trump as a ‘massive armada.’ Despite this show of force, Khamenei asserted that such displays would neither intimidate Iran nor sway its political resolve.

    The protests referenced by both nations began in late December amid severe economic pressures including rampant inflation and rising living costs. Iranian authorities have characterized the demonstrations as attempted ‘sedition’ aimed at undermining governmental institutions.

    Casualty figures remain disputed, with official Iranian sources reporting 3,117 deaths while independent monitoring groups verify nearly 6,713 fatalities. This crackdown prompted the European Union to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, met by reciprocal measures from Iranian lawmakers against European military forces.

    Despite escalating rhetoric, diplomatic channels remain active. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, confirmed that negotiation frameworks are progressing, while Trump acknowledged ongoing dialogue without retracting previous threats. Both nations appear to maintain parallel tracks of military posturing and diplomatic engagement.

  • South Africa beat England in series decider

    South Africa beat England in series decider

    South Africa’s national netball team delivered a commanding performance to secure a 65-50 victory over England in the series decider at Johannesburg on Sunday. The Proteas demonstrated exceptional court dominance from the opening whistle, maintaining consistent leads throughout the match in what marked both teams’ final international test before the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

    England captain Fran Williams offered a candid assessment of her team’s performance, stating: “We’re really disappointed with how we showed up today. We weren’t good enough right from the start of the game. Credit to the Proteas, they were better than us today in both defence and attack.”

    The three-match series had developed into a compelling contest after England recovered from an initial defeat to level the competition on Saturday, setting the stage for Sunday’s winner-takes-all finale. However, the visitors struggled to match South Africa’s clinical execution and strategic precision throughout the decisive match.

    With the international fixture concluded, both squads will now disperse to resume domestic commitments. England’s players return to their clubs ahead of the Netball Super League season, which commences on February 21st, providing valuable competitive opportunities ahead of the Commonwealth Games where these nations are expected to meet again.

    The result provides significant momentum for South African netball while giving England’s coaching staff, led by Jess Thirlby, clear areas for improvement before the multi-sport event this summer.