Participants hold banners during a protest against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Picture credit: AP) KYIV: Opponents of a new law they say strips Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence, called for a third straight day of street protests across the country Thursday, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attempts to defuse the tension […]
An aerial view of Love Lake Dubai, two heart-shaped lagoons surrounded by desert beauty/ Image: File TL;DR Love Lake is a heart-shaped man-made lake in Al Qudra desert, built as a tribute to love and harmony. It was revealed by Sheikh Hamdan in 2018 through a surprise Instagram post. In 2021, KhalifaSat, a UAE satellite, […]
Over 32,000 visa violators were caught in early 2025, 70% deported, as UAE enforces penalties post-2024 amnesty deadline/ Representative Image The UAE’s 2024 visa amnesty ran from September 1 to December 31, offering legalisation or penalty-free exit. Despite a 2-month extension, many overstayers did not act and now face deportation and bans. Over 32,000 people […]
Streamlined eVisa process aims to attract GCC-based travellers and boost regional tourism/Representative Image TL;DR: Kuwait reopened its improved e‑Visa portal in January 2025, allowing certain GCC‑based residents to apply online or obtain visa‑on‑arrival. Eligible applicants must hold a GCC residency of 6+ months, a valid passport, and work in specified professional categories such as doctors, […]
Ghislaine Maxwell is preparing to hand over what she claims is “material new evidence” to US prosecutors this week, in a move that could shake up the long-running saga surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, now 63 and serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting girls and young women for Epstein to […]
In a major legal decision, a federal judge in Tennessee has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an immigrant who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year, while a separate ruling in Maryland has blocked any immediate attempt to expel him again.The two rulings, delivered within minutes of each other on Wednesday, […]
Oman’s investor visa offers self-sponsored 5- and 10-year residency to global investors/Representative Image TL;DR: Oman grants 5- and 10-year renewable residencies to eligible foreign investors. Investment thresholds: OMR 250,000 (USD 650k) for 5 years; OMR 500,000 (USD 1.3 million) for 10 years. Investment options include real estate, business equity, government bonds, or bank deposits. Residency […]
Mobile authentication is set to replace SMS OTPs as UAE banks tighten digital security/ Representative Image TL;DR UAE banks will stop using SMS and email OTPs for online and money transfer verifications In-app authentication will be the new standard for confirming transactions The shift begins July 25, 2025, with full rollout required by March 31, […]
A Russian plane with 50 people onboard went missing in Amur region on Thursday after air traffic control operators lost communication, Reuters reported. The aircraft, operated by Angara airline, was reportedly approaching its destination of Tynda, located in the Amur region adjacent to China, when communication ceased. SHOT reported that the plane was believed to […]
The body of 22-year-old Wisconsin graduate student Eliotte Heinz has been found in the Mississippi River, four days after she vanished following a night out with friends. Heinz, who studied at Viterbo University, was last seen in the early hours of Sunday after leaving the Bronco Bar in La Crosse. Her body was discovered just […]
