WASHINGTON — The United States launched a major wave of strikes against Iran early Sunday after an Iranian attack set a container ship ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz and forced its crew to abandon the vessel. Iran appeared to respond with attacks targeting Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, further escalating tensions across the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the main obstacle to renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at securing a permanent end to the war that began on Feb. 28. About one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas passed through the…
Author: Editorial Team
The UAE announced its air defence systems were engaging with fresh missile and drone threats on early Sunday morning, July 12. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) alerted residents at 6.37am that sounds heard across the country were due to ongoing interception operations and urged the public to remain calm and follow safety instructions. The authority also warned not to approach, touch, or photograph any debris or fragments that have fallen from the interceptions, and allow relevant authorities to assess the situation. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Upon seeing any debris or incident,…
JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a series of royal orders on Saturday that included changes to the Cabinet and several senior government positions. The royal orders relieved Bandar Al-Khorayef of his duties as minister of industry and mineral resources and appointed Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman as minister of industry and mineral resources, in addition to his current role as minister of energy. Al-Khorayef was appointed minister of state and member of the Council of Ministers. He was also assigned to serve as acting governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) following the…
KINSHASA — The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 1,800 after the virus spread to a fourth province, according to official data released on Saturday. The Health Ministry said the total number of confirmed cases has reached 1,830, including 648 deaths, since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Authorities said 780 patients are currently receiving treatment, while 284 people have recovered. The outbreak has been concentrated in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where response efforts continue with strengthened national coordination, epidemiological surveillance and community mobilization. On Friday, health authorities…
PARIS — Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum have shortened their opening hours as extreme temperatures continue to grip the French capital. The Eiffel Tower closed at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will again shut at the same time on Sunday because of the heat, according to a notice on its website. Visitors with tickets for stair access after noon and elevator access after 12:30 p.m. were advised to check their emails, with affected bookings to be refunded automatically. The Louvre Museum has also been closing at 4 p.m. since Friday and will maintain the reduced schedule through Monday,…
UAE has welcomed the US government’s decision to upgrade its classification to Category A:5 under the US export control system, describing the move as a reflection of the longstanding trust and strategic partnership between the two countries. In a statement, Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Minister of State and Ambassador to the United States, said the decision reinforces decades of close cooperation in technology, security, trade, and investment. “This decision reaffirms and strengthens decades of deep, trusted cooperation between the UAE and the United States across the fields of technology, security, trade, and investment,” he said. Stay up to date with…
RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed the latest regional developments amid escalating tensions during a phone call on Saturday. The two ministers stressed the importance of supporting mediation efforts, resuming U.S.-Iran negotiations and containing regional tensions, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry. They also emphasized the need to intensify efforts to reach comprehensive and peaceful solutions that enhance regional and international security and stability. Source: Saudi Gazette
BEIJING — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday called for closer strategic coordination and expanded cooperation with North Korea during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song in Beijing. According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, Li said China is ready to continue upholding the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance by increasing high-level exchanges, strengthening political mutual trust and expanding practical cooperation. Pak is on a three-day official visit to China as the two countries mark the 65th anniversary of the treaty, which was signed on July 11, 1961, and includes a mutual defense provision. Li said…
Meta Platforms recently broke ground on a CAD13 billion ($9.2 billion) data centre in Canada. The work here is a first in the country for the company and its 33rd globally. It plans to use the site to handle AI workloads. Initial capacity is due to be 1GW, with the ability to scale to 1.8GW. Meta Platforms stated the project would support more than 3,000 workers at the peak of the building process and more than 300 operational jobs. It also pledged to invest CAD60 million in infrastructure improvements for the local community, and provide grants and funding to local…
The UAE Lottery held its latest Lucky Day Draw on Saturday night, with three participants winning Dh50,000 each through the Lucky Chance raffle. The winning numbers for Draw Number 260711, held on Saturday, were 31, 8, 23, 16, 22 and 29, while the lucky number was 11. The three Lucky Chance winners, who can each claim Dh50,000, held the IDs AI0721548, DJ8641131 and BA2540127. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Lucky Day Draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 9.30pm, giving participants the chance to win the Dh30 million Grand Prize, the…