Honouring those who protect the UAE - through music
When a nation faces a threat, it is tested not only in its defences but also in its character. In recent weeks, the UAE has shown both. Faced with unprovoked missile and drone attacks against its territory, the country’s armed forces have responded with capability, precision and composure. The inte»»»
Syria accuses Hezbollah-linked cells of plotting attacks. Several arrested – Ya Libnan
Share: A worker tears down the pictures of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, Lebanon’s late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a gas station in Nubl, in rural Aleppo, Syria, December 11, 2024.(photo credit: UMIT BEKTA»»»
US considers suspending Spain from NATO – Reuters
The US is allegedly weighing unprecedented measures to punish NATO members it believes failed to support its war against Iran, Reuters reported on Friday, citing an internal Pentagon email. The options are said to include the possible suspension of Spain from the bloc, according to the outlet. The »»»
Trump orders Navy to kill boats in Strait of Hormuz, claims US control
US President Donald Trump has threatened lethal force against any Iranian boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that Washington now has “total control” over the key waterway until Tehran agrees to a deal. The warning comes amid a maritime standoff in the Strait of Hormuz»»»
Chile's Kast launches 40-measure reform package with staged corporate tax cut
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has formally filed the Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development Bill in the Chamber of Deputies, a 40-plus measure package including a staged reduction in corporate tax from 27% to 23% aimed at reviving growth and cutting unemployment, El Mercurio repor»»»
The World This Week - Iran: Neither war nor Peace, Ukraine’s Lifeline, Starmer: “Just a Scratch”?
In a week where a stalemate appears to have developed after nearly two months of asymmetric conflict between the US and Iran, President Trump’s Truth Social posts have swung between belligerent maximalism and breezy deal-making—one minute suggesting a within-reach deal, and that Iranian forces woul»»»
US still delivering weapons to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says, as Prince Harry visits Kyiv
KYIV: US weapons deliveries to Ukraine haven’t stopped despite the Iran war, and Ukrainian long-range strikes continue to hammer Russian oil production and manufacturing plants, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday. “Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is v»»»
Abha in bloom: Jacaranda season boosts tourism in Asir highlands
ABHA: The southwestern city of Abha is witnessing the peak of its annual jacaranda bloom, as streets and parks turn into sweeping landscapes of vibrant purple, underscoring the distinctive mountain environment of the Asir region and reinforcing the city’s growing appeal as a seasonal tourism destin»»»
Justice Department ends death penalty moratorium, rescinds Biden-era commutations - UPI.com
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the Department of Justice is ending it moratorium on seeking the death penalty in federal capital cases, reinstating the use of single-chemical lethal injection and adding firing squad to methods of execution. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | »»»
Pakistan says Iranian delegation to hold meetings with senior leadership
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement confirming the arrival of the Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad. The delegation will meet Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, and o»»»
Wounded Lebanese journalist recounts hours of agony after Israeli strike killed colleague Amal Khalil
BEIRUT: A Lebanese journalist who was wounded in an Israeli airstrike that killed her colleague this week described hours of agony as they waited for help to arrive, in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. Zeinab Faraj, a young freelance photographer and video journalist, frequently mo»»»
Is Israel silencing witnesses? Rising journalist deaths raise accountability concerns
DUBAI: The killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday has renewed scrutiny over the rising number of media workers killed in conflicts involving Israel, with press freedom groups questioning accountability and transparency. Khalil, a correspondent for Al-Akhbar, was reportedly shelteri»»»
Is Israel’s ‘buffer zone’ expansion a bid to control Lebanon’s offshore gas?
BEIRUT: Lebanon faces growing concern over what officials describe as potential Israeli encroachment onto its offshore energy resources, after the Israeli military published a map extending its buffer zone into the Mediterranean, raising questions about the fate of the Qana gas field. The map, rele»»»
Trump administration reclassifies medical marijuana as a 'less-dangerous drug'
President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, easing research barriers and granting tax relief. The change falls short of federal legalisation but marks a major shift in US cannabis policy. President Donald Trump's acting»»»
US soldier bet on Maduro capture on Polymarket
A US Special Forces soldier involved in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with multiple crimes, including unlawful use of classified government information, after allegedly using insider knowledge to place bets on Polymarket that earned him over $400,000.»»»
Sanchez brushes off reported Pentagon email mulling suspending Spain's NATO membership
Spain's centre-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday declined to comment on a reported Pentagon email written by top policy adviser Elbridge Colby raising the possibility of suspending Madrid from the NATO military alliance. The note reportedly also suggested reconsidering US suppor»»»
Turkiye joins global push to shield children from harmful online content
LONDON: Turkiye has become the latest country to restrict children’s access to social media, passing legislation this week that prevents under-15s from opening accounts on major platforms and requires stricter controls on harmful content. The bill, now awaiting final approval from President Recep T»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have»»»
Israeli fire kills five in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday, while in a separate incident in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a 15-year-old was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during an army raid, according to Palestinian health officials. Caroline Baum reports.»»»
Lebanon - Israel: Truce extended by three weeks
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire for three weeks, according to the White House, which hosted ambassadors from both countries, but fighting persists as Hezbollah, absent from the talks, has launched new waves of rockets and drones, while Israeli forces continue operations in sout»»»
Tête à tête - 'The world bailed out the banks, no one is bailing out the children,' UNICEF says
In an interview with FRANCE 24, UNICEF global spokesperson James Elder discussed the situation in Lebanon, where "critical infrastructure that girls and boys rely on" have been targeted, giving Lebanese people "a sense that there really is nowhere safe". He also declared that humanitarian groups li»»»
Spotlight - Trump's favourite field marshall: A profile of Asim Munir
One of the notable aspects of Pakistan being the centre of peace talks is just how the country positioned itself as the mediator, or facilitator, between the US and Iran. Analysts point to a number of key moments that made Islamabad the go-to for President Trump. First, after the US mediated talks »»»
Spotlight - Retired US Army Colonel discusses naval strategy in Hormuz
Joe Buccino is the former communications director of US Central Command, CentCom, which directs and commands American military operations in the Middle East, Central and Sout Asia. He’s a retired US Army Colonel. And the author of ‘When Every Word Counts: How to Earn Trust, Command Attention, and C»»»
Focus - Fleeing war in Sudan, refugees flock to Libya's Kufra province
For the past three years, war has been raging in Sudan betwe en the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to more than 11 million Sudanese being displaced. After Chad, Libya is the largest host country of Sudanese refugees. In the southeastern Kufra province, 250 kilo»»»
Syrian Agriculture Minister visits Italy’s Perugia University for cooperation talks
Rome,,April 24 (SANA) Syria’s Minister of Agriculture, Amjad Badr, and the accompanying delegation visited the University of Perugia in Italy, one of Europe’s oldest and most distinguished academic institutions, particularly renowned for its scientific and agricultural research. The delegation tour»»»
62,000 Somalis displaced by drought since beginning of year UN says
Geneva: The United Nations revealed Friday that the drought plaguing Somalia since the beginning of the year has displaced approximately 62,000 people across five regions. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), in its latest report, anticipates that the total number of displaced p»»»
Ex-Philippine president Duterte to stand trial at ICC over deadly ‘war on drugs’
The International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, paving the way for a landmark trial. Duterte is accused of murder and attempted murder linked to his anti-drugs campaign, in a major test for the court amid mo»»»
Sheikh Abdullah receives phone call from Russian Foreign Minister
Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a phone call from Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. During the call, the two ministers discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and the Russ»»»
WWF warns Mediterranean overfishing remains critical
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization show 58% of assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, meaning catches exceed sustainable limits, WWF Greece fisheries officer Michalis Margaritis said. The Mediterranean is among the world’s most overexploited seas, he added. Fish consumption»»»
SDAIA showcases Saudi Arabia’s AI governance model
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority participated in the 29th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, held in Geneva from April 20 to 24. Under the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Age of AI,” the session gathered global repre»»»
What We Are Reading Today: ‘What To Do If ...?’
Author: Anne-Maartje Oud “What To Do If ...? How to handle any situation at work and come out winning,” by Anne-Maartje Oud, is a concise yet thoughtful guide to help navigate tricky situations at work. Presented through a series of 35 real-life workplace dilemmas, the book provides practical strat»»»
Conflict and climate crisis push 266m into acute food insecurity
ROME: Two-thirds of people facing food crises globally last year lived in just 10 countries, with a third of them in Sudan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a UN-backed yearly report said on Friday. Conflict remained the main driver of acute food insecurity, according to the Global Re»»»
What We Are Reading Today: Every Man’s Home a Castle
Author: Julia Bowes “Parental rights” is a rallying cry for today’s American conservatives, signaling opposition to mandatory vaccination and “woke” public school curricula. In “Every Man’s Home a Castle,” Julia Bowes traces the origins of the modern parental rights movement to the 19th century, wh»»»
Thailand offers backing for Myanmar’s bid to normalize ASEAN ties
BANGKOK: Thailand wants to play a leading role in Myanmar’s bid to normalize its ties with Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN after five years on the sidelines, the Thai foreign minister said ahead of a meeting on Wednesday with new President Min Aung Hlaing. Former military chief Min Aung Hlaing led a 20»»»
Syrian forces arrest Amjad Youssef, suspect in 2013 Tadamon massacre - UPI.com
The Syrian Interior Ministry said Amjad Youssef had been hiding out in Hama province since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Syrian Interior Ministry/X April 24 (UPI) -- Authorities arrested a key suspect in the 2013 massacre of civilians in the Tadamon dis»»»
Press Review - After losing her son, healthy British woman will legally end her life in Swiss clinic
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 24: We look at reactions in the German, Russian and Kazakh press after an important oil pipeline from Russia is suspended to Germany. Russia says it's for "technical" reasons, but the German press say it is "political". Also: the press is divided over the case of a»»»
Reporters - Why are so many Colombians fighting for Ukraine?
On the most dangerous parts of Ukraine's front line, it's almost as common these days to hear Spanish as Ukrainian. Many Colombian soldiers are now fighting in Ukraine, lured by the comparatively high salaries, but also by a sense of adventure and of helping a good cause. Our reporters Gulliver Cra»»»
Revisited - 'Baseball bat years' continue to haunt eastern Germany, 30 years on
In the 1990s, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the former East Germany experienced a wave of far-right racist and political violence. In Germany, this period is known as the "baseball bat years" – a dark period that still haunts the country today. After the fall of »»»
40 years since the Chernobyl disaster
This Sunday marks 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster, which the UN says affected more than 3.5 million people and contaminated nearly 50,000 square kilometres of land, and which remains the worst nuclear accident in history, as France Télévisions gains rare access to the site for a closer look.»»»
Peruvian police raid ex-election chief's home in probe - UPI.com
Piero Corvetto, head of Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes, resigned Wednesday amid mounting political and legal pressure over logistical failures on election day, Photo by John Reyes Mejía/EPA April 24 (UPI) -- Peru's National Police raided the home of former election chief Piero Corvet»»»
Aoun: Lebanon Rejects Being A Bargaining Chip in Regional Conflicts
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon “refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts,” stressing it “negotiates in its own name, in defense of its national interests and sovereignty,” as Beirut pursues a US-sponsored diplomatic track backed by European and Arab support to reach a last»»»
Look: Ultra-rare split-colored lobster caught off Cape Cod - UPI.com
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wellfleet Shellfish Company (@wellfleetshell) April 24 (UPI) -- A lobster fishing boat off the coast of Cape Cod landed an extremely rare split-color lobster, which officials said is considered a 1 in 50 million catch. The Wellfleet Shellfish Company sai»»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»
Pakistan playing both sides in US-Iran negotiation is a high-risk balancing act
The war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other has implications for the global economy. While the narrative on negotiations and their nature has been highly divergent between the one communicated by Iranian officials and that trumpeted by US President Donald Trump, one thing th»»»
Pakistan playing both sides in US-Iran negotiation is a high-risk balancing act
The war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other has implications for the global economy. While the narrative on negotiations and their nature has been highly divergent between the one communicated by Iranian officials and that trumpeted by US President Donald Trump, one thing th»»»
Pakistan playing both sides in US-Iran negotiation is a high-risk balancing act
The war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other has implications for the global economy. While the narrative on negotiations and their nature has been highly divergent between the one communicated by Iranian officials and that trumpeted by US President Donald Trump, one thing th»»»
Chile's Kast launches 40-measure reform package with staged corporate tax cut
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has formally filed the Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development Bill in the Chamber of Deputies, a 40-plus measure package including a staged reduction in corporate tax from 27% to 23% aimed at reviving growth and cutting unemployment, El Mercurio repor»»»
Pakistan playing both sides in US-Iran negotiation is a high-risk balancing act
The war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other has implications for the global economy. While the narrative on negotiations and their nature has been highly divergent between the one communicated by Iranian officials and that trumpeted by US President Donald Trump, one thing th»»»