Author: Editorial Team

Why do we go to a restaurant? Perhaps to enjoy good food. But then, can we not cook good food at home? Perhaps it’s for consistency. Consistency of what — taste, quality, experience? Or maybe to seek a change. A change in what, exactly? Perhaps for a shift in ambience, the subtle difference in flavour, the pleasure of variety. Yet, one might still wonder, can we not create that same variety within the comfort of our own home? Perhaps we step out for something less tangible — a few unguarded moments to look at one another and smile, instead of…

TEHRAN — Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous status under the control of Iran’s armed forces, citing what it described as an ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports. In a statement carried by Tasnim news agency, the IRGC joint command said the strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces. It added that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled until the United States restores full freedom of movement for vessels traveling to and from Iran. The statement came a day…

MADINAH — The first batches of Hajj pilgrims from several countries arrived in Madinah and Jeddah on Saturday, Dhul Qada 1, marking the commencement of international arrivals for this year’s pilgrimage. They included pilgrims traveling under the Makkah Route initiative from Turkiye, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh in addition to the pilgrims from India. Most of the pilgrims arrived at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Saturday while some groups of pilgrims landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Saudi officials as well as diplomats from the respective countries accorded a warm reception for the pilgrims. The…

WASHINGTON, 18th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), chaired by Hamid Saif Al Zaabi, President of the Group, and with the participation of Sulaiman bin Rashid Al Jabrin, Executive Secretary, took part in the Ministerial Meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), held on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. According to the FATF Ministerial Statement, ministers stressed the importance of the full and swift implementation of international standards, enhancing international cooperation, and accelerating preventive measures, detection,…

ABU DHABI, 18th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Cyber Security Council (CSC) has warned that around 25 percent of publicly accessible files contain sensitive personal data, urging users to adopt secure practices when sharing files online. In its weekly message under the “Cyber Pulse” awareness campaign, the Council highlighted the importance of safe digital behaviour to reduce exposure to cyber risks and threats. The CSC stressed that encryption and secure account management are essential cybersecurity practices, noting that protecting files transmitted عبر the internet helps prevent unauthorised access and supports a safer digital environment. It also emphasised the need to…

Temperatures in the UAE are will slightly increase on Sunday, April 19, 2026, with highs of 33ºC expected in Dubai and the Capital, Abu Dhabi, as per the National Centrl of Meteorology (NCM). The mercury may rise to reach 38ºC in Gasyoura. The highest temperature recorded over the country on Saturday, April 18, was 36.7°C and it was in Al Ain’s Um Azimul at 15:30pm UAE Local time. On Sunday, skies in general will be fair to partly cloudy. There will be light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds, with a speed of between 10 and 20kmph, reaching 30 kmph.…

SHARJAH, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE Archery Federation announced that the final round of the UAE Archery League will take place on Saturday at Sharjah Police Club, with 52 male and female athletes from clubs across the country competing. The UAE Archery Federation said it had approved the final participant list following strong competition in earlier stages, adding that all technical and organisational preparations for the concluding event have been completed. Winners will be crowned across multiple categories at the end of the competition. Humaid Sabt Al Shamsi, Head of the National Teams Committee, said the league plays…

A structured approach to safeguarding assets and ensuring long-term family security in the country Published: Fri 10 Apr 2026, 5:00 PM The Middle East is experiencing its most volatile period in years. Tensions between regional powers have escalated in ways that few anticipated, and for the millions of expatriates living and working in the UAE, one question has never felt more urgent: if something happened to you tomorrow, what would become of everything you have built here? Why uncertainty makes a UAE will urgent right now Most people postpone estate planning for the same reason. Life feels manageable, the future…

MELBOURNE — Japan and Australia have finalized a major defense agreement worth up to AU$20 billion ($14.4 billion) to jointly develop a new fleet of advanced naval frigates, Kyodo News reported on Saturday. The agreement was confirmed after talks in Melbourne between Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. Canberra said it plans to invest up to AU$20 billion over the next decade in the project. The new fleet will be based on an upgraded version of Mogami-class frigate and marks a rare case of Japanese-designed warships being exported through a joint development framework. Under current…

LONDON — The UK Maritime Trade Operations said Saturday it received a report of a tanker being fired upon by two gunboats linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in waters between Iran and Oman. In a statement posted on X, the agency said the tanker’s master reported being approached by two IRGC gunboats without any VHF radio challenge before shots were fired. The incident took place around the Strait of Hormuz, about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. UKMTO said officials are investigating the report and that the tanker and its crew were safe. Separately, tanker monitoring service TankerTrackers.com said…