Author: Editorial Team

KOLKATA — Millions of Indians have begun voting in high-stakes elections in India’s West Bengal and Tamil Nadu states amid controversy over a sweeping revision of electoral rolls that has heightened political tensions. Millions of people in India were stripped of their vote ahead of the critical state elections after a controversial electoral revision described by critics as a “bloodless political genocide” and mass disenfranchisement of minorities. In West Bengal, where the fiercest contest is unfolding, a total of 9.1 million names have been deleted from the register, more than 10% of the electorate. While many were dead or duplicates,…

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has fired John Phelan as Navy secretary after months of simmering tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to US officials. No reason was given for the abrupt departure of the Navy’s top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. The Defense Department announced in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday that the Navy’s top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, was “departing the administration, effective immediately.”In the…

ABU DHABI, 20th April, 2026 (WAM) — TRENDS Research and Advisory is participating as a knowledge partner in the second edition of the UAE Agricultural Conference and Exhibition 2026, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The event will take place at ADNEC Al Ain from 22nd to 26th April, bringing together experts, policymakers and industry leaders to support sustainable agricultural development. The partnership aims to enhance food security and address climate challenges through scientific research…

Deutsche Telekom is reportedly exploring a merger with its subsidiary T-Mobile U.S., a move which could create the world’s largest wireless operator by market capitalisation. Bloomberg reported Deutsche Telekom, which holds a roughly 53 per cent stake in T-Mobile, is rumoured to be weighing the creation of a new holding company which will make a stock bid for shares in both companies. The news agency’s sources stated the proposed new entity would be jointly owned by both companies’ current investors. If it reaches fruition, the merged group could then seek listings on a major US and European exchanges, although details…

Fujairah has released several green sea turtles back into the ocean after they were rescued and rehabilitated by local teams. Of the world’s seven remaining sea turtle species, five are found in UAE waters. The hawksbill turtle is the only species known to nest annually along the country’s western coast. Along the entire eastern coast, only three verified nesting records have ever been documented — none of them in Fujairah — making this a rare occurrence. Tracking sensors have been fitted to the released turtles (Chelonia mydas) to monitor their routes and identify preferred nesting grounds. This data will inform…

ABU DHABI, 23rd April, 2026 (WAM) — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) recorded a net profit of AED5.01 billion for the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26), while Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) remained firmly above the Group’s medium-term guidance at 17.8 percent. Operating income increased by 6 percent yoy to AED9.34 billion, while operating profit rose by 5 percent yoy to AED7.22 billion. Net interest income rose 12 percent yoy to AED5.61 billion, driven by solid business volumes and resilient margins, while non-interest income stood at AED3.72 billion and contributed 40 percent of Group revenue in Q1’26. Balance sheet growth…

From April 20, students across the UAE are back in classrooms after weeks of distance learning, as the Ministry of Education confirms a return to in-person schooling. While safety protocols and logistics have been carefully planned, the questions for many families also lean towards the emotional impact of being back to school: how will children reconnect with friends, rebuild social confidence and feel like they belong again in changed school environments? Experts say the academic catch-up will come in time, but what needs closer attention now are the social and emotional adjustments children require in classrooms and, just as importantly,…

MAKKAH — Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia warned that fines of up to SR100,000 will be imposed on anyone transporting holders of any type of visit visa into Makkah during the Hajj season.The ministry said the penalties apply from the first of Dhu al-Qa’dah, corresponding to April 19, until the fourteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, corresponding to May 31. The ministry explained that the fine applies to those transporting individuals to the Holy capital Makkah and the Holy Sites. In addition to the financial penalty, the ministry said authorities will seek judicial confiscation of the land transport vehicle used in…

RIYADH — Over the past four decades, Saudi Arabia has experienced a wide range of weather conditions — from freezing temperatures to scorching heat, as well as periods of intense rainfall and mild spring air. Based on the National Center for Meteorology (NCM)’s long-term monitoring of May weather patterns from 1985-2025 across the Kingdom, a clearer picture is emerging of what to expect in the month ahead. According to the NCM’s analysis of May trends, the month records an average temperature of 29.4°C (based on the 1991–2020 baseline) and average rainfall of 8.2 mm. It ranks as the Kingdom’s fifth…

DUBAI, 21st April, 2026 (WAM) — The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) today announced that it will become the world’s first AI-Native financial centre, embedding artificial intelligence at the foundational level of its legal frameworks, business environment, talent development, ecosystem infrastructure and physical urban fabric. While many global financial centres are experimenting with artificial intelligence, DIFC is positioning itself to take a fundamentally different approach. As part of this ambition, DIFC will evolve into an AI-Native jurisdiction and destination where artificial intelligence is embedded across legal and regulatory frameworks, business operations, talent development systems, ecosystem infrastructure and the district’s physical…