How Dubai’s pop culture communities are creating spaces for connections, opportunities during uncertain times
Dubai: Against the backdrop of the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region, several residents have gathered this week at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for Sandbox Swapmeet Volume 8, a community-led pop culture convention that organisers and attendees regarded as more than just an enterta»»»
Israel PM Says Orders Army to Take Control of 70 Percent of Gaza Strip
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he had ordered the country's military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, in defiance of the terms of a fragile ceasefire that took effect in October. "We are currently squeezing Hamas. We now control 60 percent of the territory i»»»
US Envoy: Securing ousted regime chemical weapons marks key step for Syria
Washington, May 28 (SANA) US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack considered the discovery and securing of undeclared chemical weapons dating back to the ousted regime era a “significant milestone” in the process of building a new Syria and strengthening international security. In a post on X, Thu»»»
OTIC launches "Tunis Declaration" to defend consumer rights in visa services
Tunis, May 28 (TAP) - The Tunisian Organisation for Consumer Information (OTIC) launched the "Tunis Declaration on Consumer Rights in Visa and International Mobility Services".As the first joint civil reference arising from a coalition of Arab and...»»»
Between Bringing Down Governments and Losing Control: Hezbollah Faces a New Political Equation
Since becoming involved politics in 1992, Hezbollah gradually evolved from a parliamentary player with limited influence into a central force in Lebanon’s governing equation. The group first engaged in legislative work and did not directly join governments until 2005, following the assassination of»»»
Dubai-Manila flights return from July 2 as Cebu Pacific restores four weekly services
Cebu Pacific will resume flights between Dubai and Manila from July 2 after suspending operations on the route in March due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and regional airspace restrictions. The Philippine low cost carrier said it would operate four weekly flights on Tuesday»»»
Live Updates: Iran fires missile at Kuwait after U.S. strikes, as Trump gets ready to finish the job – Ya Libnan
Share: HERE IS THE LATEST Iran accused the U.S. on Thursday of another ceasefire violation and said it retaliated by targeting an American base after a second round of what the Pentagon calls “purely defensive” strikes against drone operations. CENTCOM said Kuwait intercepted an incoming Iranian mi»»»
The return of the Silk Road as the “C6”, a key geopolitical link between Europe and Asia
There is a map that used to hang in the offices of Soviet central planners in Moscow, showing the five republics of Central Asia as a single administrative unit — roads pointing inward toward Russia, railways terminating at Russian junctions, pipelines flowing north. The region was designed, quite »»»
US-Iran war 3 months on: Frozen conflict or fragile ceasefire? Here's is what we know
Dubai: Three months after the war between the United States and Iran began with massive strikes on Iranian targets, the conflict appears to be entering a new and uncertain phase — one defined less by large-scale bombardment and more by brinkmanship, maritime pressure, sanctions and fragile diplomac»»»
Israel Carries Out Strike on Beirut Suburbs, First Near Capital in Weeks
An Israeli strike hit a building in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital on Thursday, the first strike to hit near Beirut in weeks amid a ceasefire that has failed to halt fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon. The Israeli military said it had conducted a precise st»»»
Israel strikes Choueifat ahead of crucial talks in Washington
Israel's air force carried out an airstrike on the Choueifat area on the edge of Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military said, further straining a fragile ceasefire a day ahead of crucial negotiations in Washington. The strike hit an apartment building. Videos from Cho»»»
Merz facing “chancellor swap” – media
Senior figures within Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are allegedly discussing the possible ousting of Chancellor Friedrich Merz due to his record-low approval ratings, according to German media reports. According to Bild, talks about potentially “swapping” Merz for another chancellor ar»»»
Israel declares new 'combat zone' in southern Lebanon, orders evacuations
Israel expanded its military campaign in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, ordering residents to evacuate areas south of the Zahrani River as strikes intensified despite an April ceasefire. The escalation comes as Israeli officials seek to pressure Hezbollah while avoiding actions in Beirut that could»»»
Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Dies After Leading Yemen Through Its Most Difficult Period
Former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi passed away Thursday morning after a political and military career spanning eight decades, during which he witnessed Yemen’s major political transformations and became closely associated with pivotal periods marked by conflict, upheaval and instability.»»»
Siddaramaiah steps down, ending era in Karnataka politics
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday resigned from office, bringing an end to his tenure as the state’s longest-serving chief minister and setting the stage for a leadership transition in the Congress government. The resignation followed weeks of speculation over a possible change in l»»»
Spurning just war, Pope Leo ends Catholic ‘permission slip’ for conflicts
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo this week repudiated a major teaching used by the Catholic Church since at least the fifth century to evaluate when countries might be justified in waging wars, in a move experts said could have long-reaching impact for global powers. The disavowal of the doctrine came in th»»»
Chinese, Russian Armies to Deepen Cooperation, Mutual Support - Defense Ministry
BEIJING (Sputnik) - The Chinese military will cooperate with Russia to implement the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation and provide mutual support, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said on Thursday. "The Chinese military will cooperate with the»»»
Indian expat couple’s death in Kerala: UAE friends shocked, struggle to believe murder-suicide theory
Ras Al Khaimah: To those who knew him in the UAE, S Sugathan, 67, was not just a successful businessman. He was the man who quietly did many philanthropic activities including building five houses for poor families back home in Kerala, who never let wealth change him, and who had been nursing a dre»»»
Pilgrims begin stoning ritual in Mina on first day of Tashreeq under tight crowd-management measures
MINA: Hajj pilgrims on Thursday began the ritual stoning of the devil, casting pebbles at the Jamarat — three stone pillars in Mina — marking the first day of Tashreeq. The Days of Tashreeq are the three days following Eid Al-Adha, during which pilgrims complete key remaining rites of the Hajj pilg»»»
Climate Action Network-Arab World launches new regional campaign to intensify awareness
Tunis, May 28 (TAP)- The Climate Action Network (CAN)-Arab World launched a new regional campaign to intensify awareness about climate change impact and encourage the use of clean energies.This is part of ongoing efforts to cement the culture of...»»»
Global Minds From 11 Nations to Meet in St. Petersburg for Valdai Club Events
More than 50 thought leaders and accreditied professionals representing 11 countries will gather in St. Petersburg from May 31 to June 4 for the Valdai Club's events, organizers announced. “Participants will include over 50 experts from 11 countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Chin»»»
From Iran to Oman: Trump’s expanding threat rhetoric
Dubai: When US President Donald Trump warned that “Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow ’em up,” the remark appeared at first like another off-the-cuff comment during a White House Cabinet meeting. While there was initial speculation that Trump may have misspoken and mean»»»
Plans for the Gaza International Stabilization Force are in question as troop pledges stall
BANGKOK: The International Stabilization Force for Gaza was announced with great aplomb at the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in February. The American general tapped to lead the 20,000-strong force said it would ensure “future prosperity and enduring peace” after t»»»
Defence spending to exceed 3% of EU member states’ GDP by 2040 – Deloitte study
Defense spending is estimated to reach at least 3% of the gross domestic product of the European Union member states by 2040, amid the escalation of security challenges, which require an increased budgetary effort, according to the Deloitte study “The Future of Defence 2040. Four scenarios for Euro»»»
UAE strongly condemns Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, supports Kuwait’s security and sovereignty
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting Kuwait with missiles and drones. In a statement, the ministry said the attacks constitutes a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and poses a threat to the country’s security and stability. Get upda»»»
Ukraine prepares ‘strong step’ on Gripen fighter jets, Zelensky says as he visits Sweden
UPPSALA: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday he was working with Sweden on a major defense package, including a “strong step” on Gripen fighter jets, as Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed him to Sweden. Kristersson and Zelensky signed a letter of intent last year u»»»
Israel prosecutors announce indictment of Netanyahu aide
JERUSALEM: The Israeli attorney general’s office said Thursday that it would indict a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of “transmitting classified information with the intent to harm state security.”The case concerns the leak of a classified document regarding the war »»»
Ethiopian leader Abiy’s party set to dominate elections despite insecurity
NAIROBI: Ethiopians will vote in parliamentary and regional elections on Monday that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s party is expected to dominate despite significant unrest across much of Africa’s second most populous country. Abiy, 49, has consolidated his grip on Ethiopia’s politics since being app»»»
How Israel Has Emptied Southern Lebanon Far Beyond the Front Lines
The ceasefire agreed in Lebanon last month has brought little respite for civilians, who are being driven from a steadily expanding swathe of the country by a relentless Israeli campaign of evacuations and air strikes. The US-brokered truce announced on April 16, after about six weeks of fighting,»»»
Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 14 in Lebanon’s Tyre Ahead of Washington Talks
The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon's fourth largest city, killing at least 14 people in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington. Several others were injured in the strikes, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agenc»»»
Former Yemeni president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi passes away at 81
Former Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi died on Thursday in Riyadh at the age of 81, according to Yemeni and Arab media reports. Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia after the Houthi militia seized the capital Sanaa Hadi had been living in the Saudi capital since the Iran aligned Houthis overran Sanaa »»»
Israeli soldier killed by Hezbollah drone near Lebanon border
The Israeli military said on Thursday that a soldier was killed the day before by a Hezbollah drone near the Lebanon border, taking to 24 the number of its troops killed in the war with the Iran-backed group. A military statement named her as 20-year-old Sergeant Rotem Yanai, who "fell during opera»»»
AI leaders soften warnings on job losses as industry reassesses impact
AI leaders including Jensen Huang and Sam Altman are moderating earlier warnings about mass job losses from artificial intelligence, suggesting that previous “doomsday” predictions overstated the near-term impact on employment. The shift comes as public concern over workplace disruption from AI con»»»
With 19 Ports and 70 Upgraded Silos, Egypt Aims to Become Global Grain Hub
Egypt is intensifying efforts to position itself as a global hub for grain storage and trade as regional conflicts continue to disrupt international food supply chains. Cairo’s push is anchored in its strategic geographic location, a network of 19 commercial ports and recently upgraded grain silos »»»
Dubai Police warn public: Buying stolen credit cards online can lead to prison and Dh2m fine
Dubai Police have warned residents against purchasing or using stolen credit cards promoted through suspicious websites and online pages, saying offenders could face prison sentences and fines of up to Dh2 million under the UAE’s cybercrime law. Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Yammahi, Director of the An»»»
Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 8 in Lebanon’s Tyre Ahead of Washington Talks
The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon's fourth largest city, killing at least eight people in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington. Several others were injured in the strikes, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Ag»»»
Al-Burhan Announces Plans for Broad Political Dialogue Inside Sudan
Sudanese army chief and Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced plans for a comprehensive political dialogue inside Sudan aimed at completing the country’s transition to civilian democratic rule. In an address delivered on the eve of Eid al-Adha, al-Burha»»»
Tour of Romania 2026 launches cross-border edition with official start in Moldova
The Tour of Romania 2026 was officially presented at the Government House in Chișinău on 25 May, with the participation and under the patronage of the Government of the Republic of Moldova. The event was attended by two ministers, four district presidents and vice presidents, four mayors, and numer»»»
Can the UN still keep the peace in a divided world?
Across multiple conflict zones, dozens of active armed conflicts and insurgencies are unfolding worldwide with innocent civilians caught in the crosshairs and lives and livelihood’s upended due to the strategic ambitions of world powers. While it’s fair to question whether the United Nations – an i»»»
Big Hass celebrates 15 years of ‘Laish Hip Hop’ and championing Arab rap
DUBAI: For Hassan Dennaoui — aka Big Hass — hip-hop was never just music, it was identity, language and resistance. Now, as his radio show “Laish Hip Hop” celebrates 15 years on air, the presenter, music producer, and hip-hop advocate says his mission remains the same: to serve the culture and the »»»
Israel Strikes Tyre After Declaring ‘Combat Zones’ in South Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Thursday it had begun new strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure around the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after issuing an evacuation warning to its residents. Israel the previous day had declared all areas south of Lebanon's Zahrani River - an area roughly 40 kilometers »»»
Israel Moves to Entrench Control over the West Bank Through New Land Registry System
Israel on Wednesday launched an electronic land registration system in the occupied Palestinian territories, a move aimed at cementing Israeli control over the West Bank and advancing the territory’s de facto annexation. Branded by Israeli authorities as a modernization of the digital property regi»»»
Folk arts preserve Eid joy, cultural identity across generations
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s enduring folk vocabulary carried forward despite rapid modern change remains viscerally ingrained in the nation’s collective memory, serving as a living archive of ancestral identity, heritage, and long-held traditions passed from generation to generation. At the heart of this »»»
US strikes Iran, Tehran hits back with attack on American air base
The United States carried out strikes on a ground control station in the south of Iran on Thursday, prompting retaliation from Tehran which targeted a US base in the most serious clashes since the April ceasefire began. The United States struck southern Iran on Thursday, drawing retaliation from Te»»»
Bulgaria's PM: Europe Should Lead Negotiations With Russia
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev used his first official visit to Paris as head of government to call for a fundamental shift in how Europe approaches the war in Ukraine, saying the continent had been too slow to take the lead on negotiations with Moscow and warning that the current trajectory »»»
New border post opened in Batken on border with Uzbekistan - | 24.KG
The opening ceremony of Sogment border post of Charbak outpost, which is part of the Batken Regional Department of the State Border Service of the Kyrgyz Republic, took place in the village of Sogment in Batken district. The press service of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of th»»»
The Iberian blackout was a grid failure, not a renewables failure
When the lights went out across almost all of Spain and Portugal last year in one of the biggest blackouts since the war, experts quickly blamed the explosion of renewable generating capacity as the cause. They were partly right. Europe’s electricity generating profile has been transformed in recen»»»
Trump’s sound-and-fury diplomacy produces unclear outcomes
Deal or no deal? That has been the central question looming in the standoff between Iran and America since a fragile ceasefire was announced on 8 April before being extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump weeks later. There has been a flurry of diplomacy, leaks, and mixed messages about »»»
US Strikes Iran, Drawing Retaliatory Attack on American Base
The United States struck southern Iran on Thursday, drawing retaliation from Tehran against a US military base, in the most serious clashes since an April ceasefire began. The fighting threatened to jettison a fragile diplomatic push to forge a peace agreement and open the Strait of Hormuz, which h»»»