Prepared, not panicked: Abu Dhabi’s school safety guide sets a new standard for emergency readiness
ABU DHABI: Authorities have issued a comprehensive guide to enhance the readiness of educational institutions, including school transportation, to mitigate risks and manage emergency and exceptional situations. The guide applies to the remaining period of the current academic year and in 2026. The »»»
War with Pakistan halts school for Afghan border children
BARIKOT, Afghanistan: There are no children in the Afghan border village of Barikot, where the school has been smashed by shells and the playground sits deserted after weeks of war with Pakistan. Almost all of the 8,000 residents fled after the conflict erupted in late February, but AFP journalists»»»
US tells Afghans to choose Taliban home or DR Congo: activist
WASHINGTON, United States: The United States is looking to give former Afghan allies stuck in Qatar a choice between emigrating to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo or returning to their Taliban-ruled homeland, an activist said Tuesday. President Donald Trump’s administration, which has mad»»»
Pulisic says US team strongest yet ahead of 2026 World Cup
LOS ANGELES: Christian Pulisic believes the current US team is the strongest he has been part of, with the AC Milan forward saying the squad’s quality and depth should give Americans plenty of reason for optimism ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Pulisic, long the face of US football, said »»»
German police launch raids against Syrian trafficking ring
BERLIN: German police launched mass raids Tuesday targeting a trafficking ring accused of fraudulently using Syrian refugees’ residency documents to enable compatriots to come to Germany. Around 1,000 officers were deployed to search more than 50 residential and business premises in and around the »»»
Gun used to kill 8 children was stolen from truck, Louisiana man tells investigators
A man who previously had the assault-style gun used to kill eight children in Louisiana told investigators he believes Shamar Elkins stole it from his truck in the weeks before the rampage in a Shreveport neighborhood, according to court documents released Tuesday. Charles Ford told investigators h»»»
Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial opens in New York for the third time
NEW YORK: Prosecutors once again portrayed Harvey Weinstein as a onetime Hollywood power player who used his sway as a tool of sexual assault, repainting a familiar but fraught picture Tuesday at a rape retrial nearly eight years after the former movie tycoon’s arrest. “This case will come down to »»»
London hosts military talks on France and UK’s Hormuz mission
LONDON: Britain will host military planners from over 30 countries for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry said. The ministry said the meeting would “advance detailed planning” o»»»
Most serious cyberattacks against the UK now from Russia, Iran and China, cyber chief will say
GLASGOW, Scotland: The most serious cyberattacks in the UK are now carried out by hostile nations including Russia, Iran and China, the head of the UK’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) will say in a speech Wednesday. Richard Horne, the head of the NCSC — part of the U.K’s signals intelligence»»»
OIC strongly condemns plot targeting security, stability of UAE
JEDDAH: The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist plot that aimed to undermine the national unity and stability of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was foiled thanks to the vigilance of the U»»»
Trump: Government of Iran 'seriously fractured'
The government of Iran is "seriously fractured", the reason cited by US President Donald Trump for the US delaying a potential strike on Iran indefinitely. The US leader stated that the decision was also made after a request from Pakistan’s leadership. Meanwhile, the US Navy is keeping the Iran blo»»»
The 15-minute city: Dubai’s next urban shift explained
The “15-minute city” has gone from urban-planning buzzword to a rather sensible idea: if people can get to work, school, shops and parks without embarking on a daily expedition, cities become healthier, happier and less exhausting places to live. Before cities were carved up by zoning codes and lon»»»
DoE: Planned energy investments to reach Dh160 billion over five years
ABU DHABI: With planned energy-related investments approaching Dh160 billion across the UAE over the next five years, this reflects a clear commitment to delivering tangible sustainability outcomes grounded in measurable impact, according to senior energy official. Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Cha»»»
UK SAS troops resigning amid Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and Syria war crimes probe – media
Soldiers from the UK’s elite SAS force are resigning in significant numbers over fears of prosecution following human rights investigations into alleged war crimes, British media reports. The probe largely focuses on British special forces operations in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013, as well as mis»»»
Florida AG opens criminal investigation into OpenAI, ChatGPT over FSU shooting - UPI.com
Flowers are shown near the scene after a gunman shot multiple people April 17, 2025, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. On Tuesday, Florida's attorney general announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT for the app's alleged role in the shooting. File photo by Done Haye»»»
Crude oil spikes, Brent near $100 as US announces indefinite extension of ceasefire with Iran
Crude oil futures spiked early on Wednesday, with Brent jumping 3.14% to $98.48 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rising 1.1% $90.66 as of 8.58 am Tokyo time on Wednesday (April 22, 2026). The rise is US crude oil futures coincides with Washington’s announcement of an indefinite extensio»»»
Middle Corridor in play
Squeezed by a sanctioned Russia to the north and a war prone Middle East to the south, the Middle Corridor that runs through Central Asia and the Caucasus is back in play as the main route connecting Europe to Asia by land and is already the only functioning corridor connecting the two by plane. »»»
Chile’s Kast pushes sweeping tax and spending overhaul
Chile’s President José Antonio Kast has unveiled an ambitious package of more than 40 economic and regulatory reforms aimed at breaking what he described as a decade of stagnation, but the proposal has already triggered political resistance and street protests as it moves towards Congress. »»»
Argentina's Milei cements Israel alliance as self-declared world's most Zionist president
Argentine President Javier Milei signed a sweeping bilateral framework agreement with Israel and declared his unequivocal support for the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran during a three-day state visit to Jerusalem, as he received the country's highest civilian honour and planned to overse»»»
US and Cuba talk in Havana but cannot agree on what was said
Cuba has confirmed that senior officials from Havana and Washington held face-to-face talks on the island in early April, in the highest-level diplomatic encounter between the two governments in nearly a decade, as the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the communist-run island shows »»»
Nigeria fintech Flutterwave denies $75mn government investment, imminent IPO plans
Nigerian fintech Flutterwave has denied reports that the country’s federal government plans to invest $75mn in the company, pushing back against claims that the move was linked to a potential initial public offering. Local»»»
Brazil bets on AI data hub ambitions as companies pour billions into smart logistics
Brazil's government unveiled plans to position the country as a major global hub for artificial intelligence data processing and storage, just as Brazilian and multinational companies race to automate their logistics networks in a sign of the country's broader digital transformation ambitions. »»»
ISTANBUL BLOG: Message for the CHP. The number of jailed opposition mayors in Turkey has reached 24
The number of jailed main opposition party mayors in Turkey reached 24 as of April 18, according to data compiled by Intellinews. Official statistics covering the wide-scope operations are not available. (See sta»»»
UAE affirms importance of freedom of navigation, facilitating supply chains to secure agricultural inputs, stability of regional, global food security
DUBAI: The UAE reaffirmed that food security is a sovereign pillar and fundamental to national security, calling for "proactive and adaptive strategies" that strengthen supply chain resilience and shield regional and global food systems from the shocks of a volatile geopolitical and climatic landsc»»»
Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Kyrgyz President
BISHKEK: Saudi Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Iyad Hakim presented his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic. During the reception, Iyad Hakim conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and their wishe»»»
Lebanon’s Christians support displaced amid ceasefire uncertainty
As Lebanese authorities work to extend the ceasefire, many people on the ground continue to live in deep uncertainty. The country’s Christian community is supporting those displaced by the conflict while also coping with its own grief and disappointment. Serge Berberi and Renee Davis report for Fra»»»
Nigeria charges six people with treason for plan to overthrow president
Nigeria on Tuesday charged six people with terrorism and treason over an alleged coup attempt intended to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. The six, including a retired major general and a serving police inspector, are all in custody. Nigerian authorities have charged six people, including a retired»»»
Why supporters of Burkina Faso’s junta leader are campaigning against a Sky News journalist
Yousra Elbagir, a journalist with British TV channel Sky News, has become the target of a smear campaign by supporters of Burkina Faso's junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré after she raised questions about security in the country and the repression of free speech. Supporters of Burkina Faso's»»»
Eye on Africa - Pope slams corruption in Angola
In today's programme: Pope Leo XIV is in Angola, where he slammed exploitation and corruption by the rich and powerful before 40,000 faithful at an open-air mass in the city of Saurimo. Also, the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group say they have agreed to ease humanitarian aid deliveries a»»»
France is ready to help Lebanon prepare negociations with Israel, Macron says
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the president reaffirming his support for the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, three days after a French peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon. French President Emmanue»»»
Press Review - 'Lame excuse': British papers not convinced by PM Starmer's Mandelson defence
PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, April 21: British broadsheets and tabloids mock Prime Minister Keir Starmer's address to the House of Commons, in which he defended himself over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. In France, former PM Gabriel Attal talks about "the love of his life", but a conflict of inte»»»
EU court finds Hungary's anti-LGBTQ legislation violates bloc's rules
The European Court of Justice on Tuesday found that Hungary's 2021 anti-LGBTQ law breached EU rules. The judgment provides a test for Hungary's new leader Peter Magyar, who ended Prime Minister Viktor Orban's 16-year domination with a landslide victory in an April 12 election. Hungary's outgoing g»»»
UK police make eight further arrests after arson attacks on Jewish sites
British counter-terrorism officers have made a total of 23 arrests over a wave of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites and an Iran-critical media outlet in London, the Metropolitan police said Tuesday. Police are investigating whether Iran paid "criminal proxies" to carry out the attacks. UK counte»»»
Iran war drives fuel theft surge as gas prices soar globally
A wave of “fill up and flee” crime is sweeping petrol stations across the UK, while American drivers are waking up to drilled-through tanks and drained fuel as the US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked a spike in oil and gas prices across the globe, according to media reports and industry watchdogs. T»»»
Frangieh to Aoun: Even Bashir Gemayyel Failed to Impose “Peace” When Israeli Tanks Were in Beirut
The head of the Marada Movement in Lebanon, Suleiman Frangieh, affirmed that the Resistance is a result of occupation, and what is happening today in the South — the “yellow line” and other matters — gives it full legitimacy to continue. Frangieh added during an interview with Al-Mayadeen channel t»»»
Reports: Two CIA officers die in Mexico car crash after drug raid - UPI.com
John Ratcliffe, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, looks on as President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on Iran on April 6 in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Multiple sources reported Tuesday that two U.S. officials killed in a car crash»»»
Historic Great Lakes flooding shoves ice chunks into Michigan homes - UPI.com
Flooding sent giant chunks of ice into Michigan homes this week after record snowfall melt and rounds of heavy rain created dangerous flooding around the Great Lakes. The statewide flooding dashboard from the Michigan Police showed 40 counties under a state of emergency (red) and road closures due »»»
US and Cuba talk in Havana but cannot agree on what was said
Cuba has confirmed that senior officials from Havana and Washington held face-to-face talks on the island in early April, in the highest-level diplomatic encounter between the two governments in nearly a decade, as the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the communist-run island shows »»»
COMMENT: Rising pressures on Iranians in the UAE
For over a century, the geographical gap between the southern coast of Iran and the bustling ports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was less a barrier and more a bridge. However, the recent war on Iran by the US and Israel and Iran's response to GCC neighbours has all but burnt that bridge. »»»
IDF soldier recieves 30-day military detention after smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
An Israeli soldier has been sentenced to 30 days of military detention after being photographed destroying a statue of Jesus in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon, the IDF confirmed on April 21. The inciden»»»
COMMENT: Is Iran the fourth superpower?
For 30 years, analysts warned that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz. For 30 years, Iran did not. It threatened to close the Strait, but it never pulled the trigger. The US and its Gulf allies assumed Iran was jive-talking. That changed on February 28 when the US and Israel thought they could b»»»
COMMENT: Rising pressures on Iranians in the UAE
For over a century, the geographical gap between the southern coast of Iran and the bustling ports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was less a barrier and more a bridge. However, the recent war on Iran by the US and Israel and Iran's response to GCC neighbours has all but burnt that bridge. »»»
IDF soldier recieves 30-day military detention after smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
An Israeli soldier has been sentenced to 30 days of military detention after being photographed destroying a statue of Jesus in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon, the IDF confirmed on April 21. The inciden»»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
COMMENT: Is Iran the fourth superpower?
For 30 years, analysts warned that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz. For 30 years, Iran did not. It threatened to close the Strait, but it never pulled the trigger. The US and its Gulf allies assumed Iran was jive-talking. That changed on February 28 when the US and Israel thought they could b»»»
COMMENT: Rising pressures on Iranians in the UAE
For over a century, the geographical gap between the southern coast of Iran and the bustling ports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was less a barrier and more a bridge. However, the recent war on Iran by the US and Israel and Iran's response to GCC neighbours has all but burnt that bridge. »»»
COMMENT: Is Iran the fourth superpower?
For 30 years, analysts warned that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz. For 30 years, Iran did not. It threatened to close the Strait, but it never pulled the trigger. The US and its Gulf allies assumed Iran was jive-talking. That changed on February 28 when the US and Israel thought they could b»»»
The Kazakh fintech Freedom Holding sets its sights on the world
Freedom Holding Corp has undergone a transformation that few could have predicted. It listed on Nasdaq in 2019 as a mid-sized Kazakh brokerage, the first Kazakh brokerage ever to list in the US, yet today it is a $9.6bn fintech platform with operations spanning Central Asia, Europe, the US and the »»»
Putin says Russia "knows how it will end" in Ukraine but will not announce war goals publicly
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow already knew how the war in Ukraine would end but would not make public statements on the outcome, state news agency TASS reported on April 21. The remarks, delivered at a domes»»»
Putin says Russia "knows how it will end" in Ukraine but will not announce war goals publicly
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow already knew how the war in Ukraine would end but would not make public statements on the outcome, state news agency TASS reported on April 21. The remarks, delivered at a domes»»»