POLITICS & POLICY

President Trump visits Beijing for a summit with President Xi, focusing on trade, technology, and geopolitical tensions. The meeting aims to stabilise relations amidst ongoing global challenges.

Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi operates smoothly, introducing a Shopping Pass for non-travellers, transforming the airport into a lifestyle destination with luxury shopping and dining.

President Trump visits Beijing for a summit with Xi Jinping, amid heightened tensions and a focus on trade, technology, and geopolitical issues, contrasting with his 2017 visit's pageantry.

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised the successful test launch of the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, describing it as "the most powerful missile in the world" and announcing plans to place it on combat duty by the end of 2026. The launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia marked a significant step in Moscow's efforts to modernize its nuclear arsenal amid heightened global tensions and the expiration of key arms control treaties with the United States.

CARTAGENA, Spain — A Russian heavy-lift cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Spain's southeastern coast on Dec. 23, 2024, after a series of explosions that Russian authorities labeled an act of terrorism. The sinking of the Ursa Major, a vessel linked to Russia's Defense Ministry and operating in the so-called shadow fleet, has fueled international intrigue, with new Spanish investigative details suggesting it may have been carrying undeclared nuclear reactor components destined for North Korea.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and critical for global energy supplies, stays under severe restriction more than two months after the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea has revised its constitution to require an immediate automatic nuclear strike if leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated or the country's nuclear command system is threatened by a hostile attack, according to reports citing South Korean intelligence.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Oil prices jumped sharply Monday after President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE," raising fears that the 10-week-old conflict will drag on and keep the Strait of Hormuz largely paralyzed for shipping.

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait International Airport has returned to near-normal operations following a phased reopening in late April 2026, after a nearly two-month closure triggered by regional security concerns linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remained high Monday as the U.S. military continued clearing operations for commercial vessels while Iran signaled openness to a peace deal but warned against foreign naval presence in the vital waterway.

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he aims to wean Israel off American military financial support within the next decade, declaring it time for the country to stand more independently as it strengthens ties with Gulf states and builds its own defense capabilities.

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday that the war in Ukraine is "coming to an end," offering his most optimistic public assessment of the three-year conflict even as fierce fighting continues along the front lines and Western officials expressed deep skepticism about any imminent resolution.

NUUK, Greenland — Tensions over Greenland's future intensified this week as President Donald Trump renewed calls for US acquisition or expanded control of the vast Arctic island, prompting Denmark to deploy additional elite forces and Greenland's leaders to firmly reject any change in sovereignty. The diplomatic standoff, now in its fourth month, continues to strain transatlantic relations and raise concerns about Arctic security.

WASHINGTON — A federal trade court ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump's sweeping 10% global tariff policy is illegal, delivering a major blow to one of the administration's signature economic initiatives and potentially reshaping international trade negotiations. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade found that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under existing trade laws and violated procedural requirements.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint through which about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, stayed under severe restriction Thursday as fresh US-Iran naval clashes threatened a fragile ceasefire and kept commercial shipping at a near-standstill for the 69th consecutive day.

Kensington Palace announced Wednesday that the 44-year-old future queen will visit Reggio Emilia on May 13 and 14 to explore the city's world-renowned approach to early childhood education and development. The trip aligns with her lifelong passion for supporting young children and expands the international reach of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. naval forces successfully escorted three additional commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, marking the most significant transit under Project Freedom since the operation began last week, as diplomatic efforts showed tentative signs of progress amid a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait International Airport is currently open and operating with expanded commercial flights as of May 6, 2026, following a phased reopening that began in late April after a temporary suspension caused by regional tensions related to the U.S.-Iran conflict.

LOS ANGELES — Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were notably absent from the 2026 Met Gala on Monday night, choosing to forgo fashion's biggest evening in favor of family commitments and low-key personal plans, according to multiple reports and the couple's recent activities.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A U.S.-flagged oil tanker disappeared from tracking systems Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz as President Donald Trump's "Project Freedom" escort operation entered its second day, triggering urgent search-and-rescue efforts and fears of a major escalation in the volatile waterway.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as Washington launched an ambitious operation to escort stranded commercial vessels through the vital waterway, testing a shaky ceasefire and sending oil prices surging toward four-year highs.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tensions erupted in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as the United States launched "Project Freedom" to guide stranded commercial vessels through the vital waterway, only for conflicting claims of attacks to surface within hours. The UAE accused Iran of drone strikes on an oil tanker, while Iranian media alleged a missile hit on a U.S. warship — a claim swiftly denied by American forces.

CHENNAI — Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has delivered a seismic shock to Tamil Nadu politics, emerging as the single largest party and poised to form the next government after a landslide performance in the 2026 Assembly elections.

WASHINGTON — Iran issued fresh warnings Monday that it would attack U.S. forces entering the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump announced a new American escort mission for stranded commercial ships, escalating tensions in the critical waterway even as a fragile ceasefire holds following weeks of conflict. At the same time, progressive activists aligned with Sen.

LONDON — Buckingham Palace announced Monday that Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child together, due this summer, delighting royal watchers and marking another joyful chapter for the extended Windsor family.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil chokepoint, remained highly volatile Monday as President Donald Trump announced the start of a U.S.-led escort mission dubbed "Project Freedom" to guide hundreds of stranded commercial vessels through the narrow waterway, even as Iran warned that any American interference would violate the fragile ceasefire and a fresh attack on a bulk carrier raised new maritime security alarms.

NEW DELHI — Vote counting began Monday across five key Indian states and a union territory in a major electoral test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, with early trends showing the BJP-led NDA surging ahead in Assam while locked in tight battles in West Bengal and navigating complex triangular contests in Tamil Nadu.

CHENNAI — Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) surged to a commanding lead across Tamil Nadu on Monday as vote counting progressed for the 234-seat Assembly elections, positioning the debutant party to potentially break the decades-old Dravidian duopoly of the DMK and AIADMK in a historic political shift.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump shared a provocative post on Truth Social late Friday, presenting a side-by-side comparison of America "before and after TRUMP" that quickly ignited discussion across political lines as the nation navigates his second term. The post, featuring imagery or text highlighting perceived improvements during his leadership, underscores Trump's continued reliance on the platform to communicate directly with supporters and shape narratives.