US President Donald Trump was evacuated from a high-profile media event in Washington after a gunman opened fire outside the venue, triggering panic among more than 2,500 attendees.

The incident unfolded overnight at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, held at the Washington Hilton. Guests, including senior government officials, journalists and business leaders, were seated in the ballroom when shots rang out near an entrance checkpoint.

According to the president, a man described as a “lone wolf” rushed past security before opening fire at a law enforcement officer. Secret Service agents responded immediately, neutralising the suspect within moments.

“One officer was shot but was wearing a bulletproof vest and is doing great,” Trump said in a press briefing shortly after the incident. He added that the attacker appeared to be acting alone and described him as a “very sick person”.

Witnesses reported scenes of confusion as attendees took cover under tables, while others formed makeshift barricades using chairs. Media reports, citing law enforcement officials, said the suspect was armed with a shotgun and was apprehended at the scene.

High-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance, were present at the event, which is considered one of Washington’s most prominent gatherings of political and media elites.

Despite the disruption, Trump signalled his intention to proceed with the event at a later date. “We’re going to do it again,” he said. “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society.”

The incident marks the latest in a series of security threats involving the president, following two assassination attempts during the 2024 election cycle.

Authorities said the situation was quickly contained, with no fatalities reported. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack.

ENOC Group and Emirates Petroleum Company (Emarat) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a joint business continuity planning framework.

The agreement focuses on strengthening coordination between the two firms to ensure reliable delivery of Jet A-1 fuel, particularly during disruptions.

It outlines processes for managing fuel supply chains, including pipeline transfers and truck loading operations, to support uninterrupted services at key aviation hubs.

The initiative reflects broader efforts in the UAE to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure and maintain its position as a global aviation centre.

“As a vital contributor to the UAE’s energy ecosystem, ENOC recognises the importance of maintaining uninterrupted fuel supplies for the aviation sector,” said Hussain Sultan Lootah, CEO of ENOC Group.

He added that the partnership would enhance preparedness through advanced logistics solutions and coordinated emergency response strategies.

ENOC-Emarat agreement formalises cooperation for routine and emergency scenarios

Burhan Al Hashemi, CEO of Emarat, said the agreement formalises cooperation between the two entities in both routine and emergency scenarios. “By aligning our preparedness, our people, and our procedures in advance, we are strengthening operational resilience and ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability when it counts,” he said.

The business continuity plan will provide documented procedures to guide the response, recovery, resumption, and restoration of operations of the two organisations.

The plan also will involve regular tests, exercises, and training of personnel, alongside equipment and connectivity testing to maintain peak operational readiness.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has launched a daily oral treatment option for obesity under its Personalised Weight Management Programme, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).

The programme combines medical treatment, behavioural support and continuous digital monitoring, aiming to improve long-term health outcomes and quality of life, a WAM report said.

Focus on adherence and patient-centred care

The new oral option is designed to address one of the key challenges in obesity management: long-term treatment adherence. It offers a more flexible and convenient alternative to traditional therapies, supporting sustained care continuity for patients.

Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, under-secretary of DoH, said the initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to integrated, patient-centred healthcare.

Read more-New weight-loss pill lands in UAE: Here’s what you need to know

“The initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s approach to advancing integrated, patient-centred care that responds to real-life challenges, particularly adherence,” she said.

She added that expanding access to innovative therapies supports better outcomes and long-term quality of life.

Global milestone in obesity treatment access

The UAE is now the second country globally, after the US, to approve this treatment for adults living with obesity or those overweight with related conditions, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position in healthcare innovation.

As part of the rollout, Imperial College London Diabetes and Endocrine Centre (ICLDC) will deliver the treatment to eligible patients through a structured programme that combines digital monitoring, personalised clinical care and integrated coverage.

New GLP-1 therapy and coverage model

The treatment, Foundayo (orforglipron), is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite and food intake, supporting weight management outcomes.

Rashid Alsuwaidi, director-general of ADPHC, said the initiative also focuses on behavioural change and sustainable lifestyle support.

“The programme focuses on addressing behavioural challenges and enabling individuals to adopt sustainable healthy habits through practical and flexible solutions,” he said.

The treatment will be covered for eligible adults under the programme, expanding access to comprehensive obesity care in the emirate.

Diamonds have always carried stories. They sit quietly in velvet boxes until the moment they are called into life, a daughter’s first pair of earrings, a graduation tennis bracelet, the trembling sparkle of an engagement ring, or the quiet confidence of a mother who finally buys something just for herself.

They are not just stones. They are milestones made visible.

And in a world increasingly defined by conscious choices, a new question is reshaping that tradition: what if beauty didn’t have to cost the earth?

Read more-Dubai Gold District launched: What buyers, retailers need to know

That is where Astrea London steps in, not just as a jewellery house, but as a reimagining of what luxury itself means. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Nathalie Morrison and shaped creatively under the influence of global icon Sarah Jessica Parker as global creative director, Astrea London is not simply participating in the diamond industry. It is attempting to redefine it.

The house of Astrea: Where science meets storytelling

Astrea London positions itself at a rare intersection, where high jewellery craftsmanship meets advanced scientific precision. The brand curates what it describes as the world’s finest lab-grown diamonds, selected from the top 1 per cent of global quality. These stones are graded D–E in colour and VVS+ in clarity, certified by leading institutions such as GIA, IGI, and GCAL.

But certification is only part of the story. Each diamond is also evaluated beyond the traditional 4Cs, incorporating advanced measures like Light Performance and Hearts & Arrows precision, indicators of optical symmetry and brilliance that elevate the stone from beautiful to extraordinary.

At Astrea, nothing is left to chance. Every diamond is hand-selected by expert gemologists, PhD-level specialists, and designers who treat precision as both science and art.

The result is jewellery that doesn’t simply sparkle, it performs. And yet, for all its technical mastery, the brand’s philosophy remains deeply human. Luxury, for Astrea London, is not excess. It is intention.

Nathalie Morrison: From Cambridge to conscious luxury

Behind the brand is Nathalie Morrison, Cambridge-educated, multi-award-winning entrepreneur, and a founder whose career reflects reinvention at every stage. Raised in Saint-Tropez in the south of France, where her family was involved in winemaking, she later studied at Cambridge before entering the world of mergers and acquisitions. From there, she went on to build and sell two wealth management firms to private equity.

By most standards, she had already succeeded. But success, she has often suggested, is not the same as alignment. After exiting her businesses, she shifted focus, not just professionally, but personally. She became involved in philanthropy, founding a charity in Africa called San Mandila, supporting education for underprivileged children.

The work was transformative. More than a hundred children have been supported through education, many now graduating into professions such as law and accounting. But alongside impact came awareness. Seeing the realities of inequality, combined with a deeper understanding of environmental harm linked to traditional mining industries, led her to a decisive pivot. Lab-grown diamonds, for her, were not a trend. They were a responsibility.

A diamond without compromise

Astrea London operates at the very top of the lab-grown diamond segment, a space that is rapidly reshaping the global jewellery market. Once representing just 1% of diamonds in 2015, lab-grown stones have surged to nearly 40 per cent of the market in recent years, signalling a structural shift in consumer behaviour.

The reasons are both ethical and practical. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to mined diamonds. They are not imitations, they are real diamonds, created through controlled technological processes rather than extracted through mining. For many consumers, this difference is no longer theoretical. It is emotional, environmental, and economic all at once.

Astrea’s answer is to remove compromise entirely. Its diamonds are produced with sustainability at the core, offering what the brand calls “conscious luxury”, a fusion of aesthetics, ethics, and precision engineering. The goal is simple but ambitious: to make the highest quality diamonds in the world without the environmental cost that has historically defined the industry.

Sarah Jessica Parker: The creative force behind modern elegance

If Nathalie Morrison provides the vision, Sarah Jessica Parker brings the language of style. As global creative director and shareholder, Parker contributes not just celebrity influence but creative direction rooted in decades of engagement with fashion, storytelling, and cultural expression. Her appointment signals more than endorsement. It signals authorship.

Parker’s design philosophy aligns closely with Astrea’s mission, luxury that is modern, meaningful, and responsible. Her forthcoming SJP signature collection will debut with 12 designs, each intended not only to be worn but to be experienced. Jewellery that reflects identity, emotion, and intention rather than decoration alone.

As she has noted: “I have always believed in sustainability and innovation in design. Joining Astrea London feels like a natural step, together, we are embracing the future of diamonds in a way that is both responsible and beautiful.”

In many ways, her role expands Astrea’s identity beyond product into cultural expression, jewellery that lives within lifestyle, not outside it.

The rise of men in diamonds: A quiet revolution

One of the most unexpected evolutions in Astrea’s journey has been the growing demand from men. Traditionally, diamonds have been positioned within feminine-coded luxury, engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, but that boundary is beginning to shift.

A conversation with rugby player Maro Itoje sparked a new design direction. The idea was simple: men should also have access to expressive luxury beyond watches. That conversation led to the creation of Astrea’s black diamond bracelets, a collection that immediately challenged expectations.

Launched in Dubai, the initial drop of ten pieces, offered in white gold, rhodium, and platinum settings, sold out within a single day. There was no long campaign or gradual rollout. Just immediate demand. It marked not only a product success but a cultural signal: men are increasingly open to jewellery as self-expression.

Astrea’s men’s line is still emerging, but it is already reshaping internal expectations of what the category can become.

Dubai and the UAE: A global stage for future luxury

For Astrea London, the UAE is not just a market, it is a mindset. Dubai in particular represents a rare convergence of ambition, innovation, and luxury consumption that aligns closely with the brand’s philosophy.

The region’s openness to lab-grown diamonds reflects a broader willingness to rethink tradition without abandoning value. It is not about replacing heritage, but about expanding it to include sustainability and technology. For Astrea, this makes the UAE not only commercially important, but ideologically aligned.

It is also a place where women entrepreneurs, designers, and leaders are visibly shaping industries. That cultural openness has made a tangible difference in how the brand has been received, not just as a product, but as a perspective.

Redefining luxury for a new generation

At its core, Astrea London is not simply selling diamonds. It is selling a shift in thinking. What does luxury mean when environmental responsibility is no longer optional? What does beauty mean when transparency is expected rather than exceptional?

For some, luxury will always be rooted in natural rarity and geological time. For others, it will be defined by innovation, precision, and sustainability. Astrea does not force a choice between the two. Instead, it proposes a third path, one where brilliance is created responsibly, and meaning is embedded in process as much as product.

Luxury, in this view, is not what is taken from the earth. It is what is created with care.

A future without compromise

From Saint-Tropez vineyards to Cambridge lecture halls, from private equity boardrooms to diamond ateliers in London and Dubai, Nathalie Morrison’s journey reflects a broader transformation in global luxury: from ownership to intention, from extraction to creation.

With Sarah Jessica Parker shaping its creative language and a rapidly growing global audience embracing lab-grown diamonds, Astrea London stands at the edge of a category it is actively redefining rather than simply entering.

Diamonds have always been symbols of permanence. Astrea London simply asks a modern question: what if permanence could also be responsible?

And in that question lies its answer, a new kind of brilliance, designed not just to shine, but to endure.

Ras Al Khaimah’s residential real estate market recorded a moderation in transaction activity in 2025, even as prices and rents continued to rise, reflecting resilient underlying demand, according to a new report by Cavendish Maxwell.

The emirate registered approximately 6,600 residential sales transactions during the year, marking a 17.4 per cent year-on-year decline from around 8,000 deals in 2024. Total transaction value also fell sharply by 24.7 per cent to Dhs12.4bn, largely due to fewer off-plan project launches and a more selective investment environment.

Despite the slowdown in volumes, price growth remained strong across both major segments. Apartment sales prices rose by 13.4 per cent year-on-year, while villa prices increased by 9.7 per cent. Rental rates also recorded notable growth, with apartment rents rising 10.2 per cent and villa rents up 8.7 per cent over the same period.

The report highlighted that off-plan transactions continued to dominate the market, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of total sales activity. However, off-plan volumes declined by 17.2 per cent to around 5,600 transactions, while ready property deals dropped by 18.7 per cent to about 1,000 transactions.

Yousir Habib, associate director at Cavendish Maxwell, said: “Despite this moderation, RAK’s underlying fundamentals stayed strong, with prices rising for both sales and rentals, reflecting continued investor and end-user interest in the emirate’s expanding portfolio of waterfront developments, branded residences, lifestyle offerings and competitive pricing.

“The outlook for 2026 is positive, thanks to macroeconomic conditions, population growth, and sustained buyer demand, subject to external factors including geopolitical developments, which could influence investor sentiment.

“With 8,400 new properties on the way between now and 2028, RAK’s ability to attract and retain residents, alongside continued enhancement of infrastructure, connectivity and amenities will be key to absorption. The Wynn Al Marjan Island, scheduled to open in spring 2027, is expected to be key to demand by boosting tourism, creating new jobs and generating additional demand for housing,” he added.

On the supply side, the market remained relatively constrained in 2025, with only around 1,200 residential units delivered. However, the pipeline is expected to accelerate in the coming years, with approximately 1,300 units scheduled for completion in 2026 and 1,900 units in 2027, before a more significant increase to 5,200 units by 2028.

The broader macroeconomic backdrop in Ras Al Khaimah remained supportive, with the emirate’s GDP estimated to have grown by 4.3 per cent in 2025, underpinned by a diversified economic base including tourism, real estate, manufacturing, and logistics . Business activity also strengthened, with new business licences rising by 31.5 per cent and total active licences reaching nearly 22,000 by year-end, while Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) recorded a 44 per cent increase in new company registrations.

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains positive, supported by population growth, continued investor interest, and economic expansion. The anticipated opening of major tourism-led developments, including Wynn Al Marjan Island, is expected to act as a key demand driver for the residential sector.

However, the report cautioned that geopolitical tensions in the region could pose risks to investor sentiment and inbound demand, requiring close monitoring in the near term.

Industry experts noted that the market is entering a more mature phase, with sustainability increasingly dependent on balancing supply and demand, disciplined pricing, and continued infrastructure and tourism-led growth