Author: Editorial Team

AMSTERDAM — Appeals judges ruled on Wednesday that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, dismissing a bid to throw out his trial over his alleged pivotal role in the murder of thousands of people during his anti-drug campaign. Duterte, 81, faces three counts of crimes against humanity at the ICC. The charges relate to killings during his so-called war on drugs, when he was mayor of Davao, between 2013 and 2016, and subsequently president until March 2019. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2018. Duterte’s lawyers had argued the court has no authority…

Weekends in Dubai tend to follow a pattern: long lunches that turn into sunset plans, and beach days that stretch into the evening. This week, a mix of beachfront restaurants and lifestyle destinations across the city are leaning into that rhythm, with offers that focus less on entry fees and more on the overall experience. Here is what to check out: The quiet luxury pool day At DRIFT Dubai, weekend access is set at Dh200 per guest, fully redeemable on food and drinks, making it feel more like you are paying toward the experience rather than for entry. During the…

Collective action platform Wave, powered by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, announced that its data platform Ocean Central has won a trophy in the annual Webby Awards that recognize the best of the internet. Ocean Central, developed by Ode Partners, won the Webby People’s Voice Award in the Websites & Mobile Sites, Sustainability & Environment category, reflecting its efforts to track and advance Wave’s goal of ocean regeneration within a human generation. Saudi Ambassador to the United States, FII Institute Board of Trustees Member, and Founder of Wave Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan said: “We are delighted to be…

SharkNinja, a global product design and technology company, has announced the UAE launch of the Ninja CRISPi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer, introducing a new approach to compact and flexible cooking. Positioned as an all-in-one solution, the Ninja CRISPi features a handheld CRISPi Power Pod that attaches directly to a clear glass container. This design allows users to prepare, cook, serve, store, and re-crisp meals within a single system, eliminating the need for multiple appliances. The product responds to growing demand for convenience-led kitchen solutions, particularly among urban consumers balancing time constraints with healthier eating habits. By combining portability with…

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…

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,…

From Thursday, April 23 to 30, one of the café’s soundproof work pods at Julith Coffee & Roastery is being transformed into a one-person library in collaboration with Bookends. The space measures just 128cm by 198cm, but packs in over 500 books across multiple genres and five languages. The idea is simple: step in, unplug, and read. Sessions are free, but must be booked in advance through the cafe website, with each slot capped at one hour to keep things calm and uninterrupted. Unlike a typical pop-up, this leans into what both brands already do: Julith offers quiet, focused spaces,…

Submer, the market leading AI infrastructure provider, announced the expansion of its technology portfolio and global service capabilities with the acquisition of Radian Arc Operations Pty Ltd earlier this year. This consolidates its position as a full-stack AI infrastructure provider and broadening its capacity to serve enterprises and telecom operators throughout the Middle East. The Middle East datacenter market is on a steep growth curve, projected to reach USD 7.19 billion by 2031 at 15.36% CAGR over 2026-2031, fuelled by government-led digitalisation programmes including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031. Sovereign programs across the region…

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…

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…