Russia has agreed to release nearly 100 whales which have been held for months in cramped pens by firms hoping to sell them in China.
A petition signed by nearly 1.5 million people helped to raise awareness of the plight of the whales, which will now be freed with the help of international scientists.
Lucy Taylor reports from Moscow:
Britain's Prince William calls for optimism on environment at EarthShot Prize event
Britain's Prince William expressed optimism on Wednesday about tackling global environmental challenges at a star-studded event in Rio de Janeiro for the fifth edition of his EarthShot Prize.
Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll hits 114 in Philippines; heads to Vietnam
The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Kalmaegi rose to 114 with another 127 people still missing, the disaster agency said on Thursday, as the storm that devastated the country's central regions regained strength as it headed towards Vietnam.
Investigators find 'black boxes' from UPS plane crash that killed at least 12
US federal safety investigators have located the "black box" recorders from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff from the airport at Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least 12 people, officials said on Wednesday.
Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race, capping meteoric rise
Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday, capping a meteoric rise from a little-known state lawmaker to one of the country's most visible Democratic figures, and the first Muslim mayor of the largest US city.
Death toll rises to 11 in fire at Bosnian retirement home
The death toll in a fire at a retirement home in Tuzla in northern Bosnia rose to 11 on Wednesday and about 30 people were injured, police and prosecutors said.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reviewed updates on key national initiatives that aim to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in future-oriented sectors.
The UAE has reaffirmed its support for regional and international efforts towards an immediate humanitarian truce and comprehensive ceasefire in Sudan to enhance aid deliveries to those impacted by the devastating conflict.
The UAE has announced a AED 170 billion package of national transport and road projects to be completed by 2030, aimed at easing congestion and improving mobility across the country.
