Author: Editorial Team

WASHINGTON — The war in Iran has cost the United States about $25 billion so far, Pentagon officials told Congress on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of the total cost of Operation Epic Fury. “Approximately, at this day, we’re spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury,” Jules Hurst, the Pentagon’s acting comptroller and chief financial officer, said during testimony to the House Armed Services Committee. With just six months before mid-term elections in which Trump’s Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are riding high in public opinion polls as they attempt to…

OMODA & JAECOO has successfully completed the global public real-world test of its advanced Valet Parking Driver (VPD) technology during the Chery International Business Summit, marking a major milestone in the brand’s push toward AI-driven smart mobility. The achievement comes as the brand also celebrates surpassing one million cumulative global vehicle sales, reinforcing its rapid growth and innovation leadership. The next-generation system is expected to be introduced in upcoming OMODA & JAECOO models in the UAE soon. Showcased in the presence of global media, dealers, and key opinion leaders—including participants from the UAE — the demonstration highlighted how VPD can…

Rubrik, the Security and AI Operations company, recently launched Rubrik Agent Cloud (RAC) for Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The collaboration will help organisations to accelerate and secure the deployment of AI agents on Google Cloud with a critical layer of semantic governance and operational resilience powered by Rubrik’s real-time, intent-based guardrails. Gartner predicts that 40% of enterprise applications will be integrated with task-specific AI agents by the end of 2026. For customers running Google Cloud-built autonomous agents, the new integration provides Rubrik capabilities to monitor, govern, and instantly remediate AI actions. RAC is powered by Rubrik’s Semantic AI Governance Engine (SAGE),…

CHRISTCHURCH — The white supremacist who shot to death 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, lost his bid to overturn his convictions and sentence at the country’s Court of Appeal on Thursday. Brenton Tarrant is serving a life sentence with no parole after admitting to the murders and trying to kill another 40 worshippers in the March 2019 attack. During a week-long hearing in February, Tarrant, now 35, argued he was incapable of making rational decisions at the time of his plea because of “torturous and inhumane” conditions in prison. He also launched an appeal against his…

SYDNEY — A landmark royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, established in the wake of December’s Bondi Beach attack, has recommended that gun reforms be prioritized and policing arrangements for Jewish holidays extended to other Jewish festivals. Sydney’s Jewish community told police of a “high” threat of an attack at December’s Chanukah by the Sea festival at Bondi beach, but New South Wales police appeared not to have completed a comprehensive risk assessment for the event, the commission said in an interim report. The commission found no gap in current laws that could have prevented the shooting. But it…

The UAE has launched an artificial intelligence and robotics-powered system to assess work permit applicants, as part of a push to improve labour market productivity and attract skilled talent. The initiative, rolled out by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), will use smart algorithms to evaluate applicants based on skills, education, experience and knowledge. Set to begin in May, the system introduces what authorities describe as “objective evaluation mechanisms” aimed at streamlining hiring decisions and aligning workforce quality with the needs of the…

ABU DHABI, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Chairman of the Supply and Transport Committee, affirmed that the UAE’s transport and supply chain system continues to operate efficiently and steadily, supported by an integrated national approach based on proactiveness, integration, and future readiness. Al Mazrouei said, “The continuity of the transport and supply chain system reflects a high level of resilience in addressing regional challenges and enhances the efficient flow of goods. This has been achieved through flexible infrastructure that supports the sustainability of supply chains, in addition to the diversity…

Gym-goers in Dubai were in for an unexpected moment after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, was spotted during a visit to a fitness club in Nad Al Sheba on Wednesday, April 29. The sighting took place at FITCODE, a premium mixed health club, which shared clips of the visit on its Instagram Stories. In the videos, Sheikh Mohammed is seen walking through the gym alongside officials, as members paused mid-workout to take in the moment. Some were seen filming quietly, while others watched in surprise as he moved through the space. Reactions quickly followed online, with…

CPX Holding, a leading provider of cutting-edge cyber and physical security solutions and services, and SpendConsole, a global leader in AI-powered finance automation, recently announced a strategic partnership to launch the UAE’s first sovereign, mandate-ready e-invoicing platform. The joint solution enables the UAE’s public and private sector entities to meet the Ministry of Finance’s new e-invoicing regulations, which will enter into voluntary effect on 1 July 2026, before becoming mandatory in phases from 2027. The UAE’s e-invoicing mandate also establishes a national foundation for real-time financial governance, standardised digital tax compliance and secure data exchange across public and private sectors.…

Gold prices in the UAE stabilised, losing only Dh1 per gram, after a brief period of recovery. The 24K gold price was trading at Dh547.25 per gram at market open on Thursday, down from Dh548.25 per gram at the market close on Wednesday. Similarly, other variants also fell on Thursday, with 22K, 21K, 18K and 14K trading at Dh506.75, Dh486.00, Dh416.50, and Dh325.0 per gram, respectively. Globally, spot gold was trading at $4,562.7 per ounce at 9.30am UAE time. Silver was up 1.98 per cent at $72.16 per ounce. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.…