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Arab News
8 minutes ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Suspected drone strike kills child, injures five in Pakistan's South Waziristan
PESHAWAR: A suspected drone strike killed one child and injured five others in a remote village of Pakistan's South Waziristan district on Friday, triggering protests by local residents who demanded greater security and clarity from the authorities. The incident took place in the Dashka settlement near Makeen, a mountainous region that is part of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Local officials said the origin of the drone was still unknown, but the strike has renewed concerns following a similar attack last month in nearby North Waziristan that killed four children and sparked days of demonstrations. 'The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m.,' Abdul Qadir, a senior police officer in the district, told Arab News over the phone. 'The children, aged between four and 11, were immediately rushed to Razmak Hospital for emergency medical treatment.' Reacting to the development, Asif Khan Mehsud, a provincial lawmaker from the area, said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) had consistently opposed drone strikes on Pakistani soil, labeling them a gross violation of human rights. 'This reckless attack on innocent civilians must be investigated,' he added. Last month, a suspected quadcopter drone strike in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killed four children and injured others, prompting mass protests and a statement from the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations. The military said it had carried out an investigation into the incident, denied involvement and blamed the attack on militant groups, while residents demanded accountability and security guarantees. On Friday, people in Makeen launched a protest sit-in, seeking protection rather than compensation, as local elders met with police and security officials to voice their outrage. 'We are not safe even in our own homes,' said Muhammad Jan, a tribal elder participating in the protest. 'What we demand is not money or charity. We want protection and peace.' He added that tribal elders would continue dialogue with local authorities to explore long-term security arrangements for the area. Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt has witnessed militant violence, military operations and US drone attacks in the past. While US-led international forces pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, the issue of militancy continues, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-based operations in these areas.
UAE Moments
9 minutes ago
- UAE Moments
UAE Arrests Wanted Moldovan in Corruption Case
The UAE has announced the arrest of Vitaliy Pirlog, a Moldovan national wanted in a major cross-border corruption case. According to the Ministry of Interior, Pirlog was detained on June 15 at the request of French authorities. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! Pirlog, who once served as chairman of Interpol's Commission for the Control of Files, is the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice. He faces serious charges, including forgery, bribery, solicitation, and fraud. The UAE Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrest on Thursday, June 19, highlighting that it was made in close coordination with international and regional law enforcement partners. French officials have since acknowledged the UAE's cooperation, noting that the move reinforces the importance of united global efforts to tackle cross-border crime. This is not the first time the UAE has played a key role in international arrests and extraditions. Just last month, the UAE extradited Sean McGovern, an alleged senior member of an Irish transnational gang, to Dublin. McGovern was arrested at his home in Dubai and later charged with murder and directing organised crime. He became the first person to be extradited from the UAE to Ireland. In February, the UAE extradited wanted French national Mehdi Charafa, who was facing drug-related charges in France. A month earlier, Abdul Rahman Al Qaradawi was taken into custody in the UAE based on a provisional arrest warrant from Lebanon. He faced charges of attempting to undermine public security. And last year, the UAE handed over a Filipino citizen accused of sexually exploiting more than 100 children back in the Philippines. The UAE continues to strengthen its international reputation as a key player in global law enforcement, working closely with other nations to crack down on fugitives and uphold justice beyond borders.
UAE Moments
9 minutes ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Fresh Airline Updates on UAE Flights Amid Conflict
As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, UAE-based airlines have issued fresh updates on suspended or rescheduled flights. Several carriers, including Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai, are adjusting their schedules in response to regional airspace closures and safety concerns. Air Arabia Suspends More Routes Sharjah-based Air Arabia announced on Thursday that flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan will remain suspended until Monday, June 30. The airline also stated that services to and from Jordan are on hold until Friday, June 20. Air Arabia, which also operates out of Abu Dhabi, added that passengers transiting through Sharjah or Abu Dhabi with final destinations in any of the affected countries will not be accepted for travel from their point of origin until further notice. Etihad Reschedules Beirut Flights Etihad Airways confirmed updated schedules for its Beirut flights on June 21: EY581: Departs Abu Dhabi at 10 AM, arrives in Beirut at 1:10 PM EY582: Departs Beirut at 2:05 PM, arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7 PM EY583: Departs Abu Dhabi at 2 PM, arrives in Beirut at 5:05 PM EY584: Departs Beirut at 6 PM, arrives in Abu Dhabi at 10:55 PM Emirates Extends Suspensions Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates has extended the suspension of flights to Jordan (Amman) and Lebanon (Beirut) until Sunday, June 22, 2025. In addition, all Emirates flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra) will remain grounded until Monday, June 30, 2025. flydubai Suspends Several Destinations
The National
9 minutes ago
- Business
- The National
US rate cuts could come as soon as July, Fed official says
A senior official at the Federal Reserve has suggested that the US central bank should consider cutting interest rates as soon as next month. 'We could do this as early as July,' Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on CNBC. 'That would be my view, whether the committee would go along with it or not.' As a governor on the Federal Reserve Board, Mr Waller holds a permanent vote on the central bank's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee. Mr Waller and other Fed officials unanimously voted to hold interest rates steady between 4.25 and 4.50 per cent on Wednesday. The Central Bank of the UAE, which follows Fed decisions because of the dollar peg, also held rates steady following the US central bank's decision. Fed officials this week also maintained their forecast for two quarter-point cuts this year before slowing the pace of cuts in 2026. Several officials projected zero rate cuts, pointing to some uncertainty on the future policy path. The central bank has not adjusted interest rates in its last four meetings, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. But Mr Waller said the Fed can 'look through' their inflation impact, arguing tariffs would create a one-time inflation bump rather than persistent high prices. Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday said tariffs could either have a one-off or persistent effect on inflation. Asked by reporters why not cut interest rates this month, Mr Powell said he expected to see 'meaningful' inflation in the coming months. Data shows that the Fed's preferred inflation metric has decelerated for three consecutive months. The PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) Price Index rose 2.1 per cent annually last month, one-tenth of a percentage point above the Fed's long-term target. 'The data the last few months has been showing that trend inflation is looking pretty good,' Mr Waller said. He suggested that, if the Fed were to begin cutting rates in July, it should begin slowly. 'But start the process,' Mr Waller suggested. 'That's the key thing. And then if there's some big shock due to maybe the Middle East conflict, we can pause.' Mr Waller added that he is also concerned about the jobs market. While the unemployment rate has remained stable at around 4.2 per cent, Mr Waller said he was concerned about fewer jobs being created. The four-week average of jobless claims is at its highest level since August 2023, according to data from the Labour Department. 'Why do we want to wait until we actually see it crash before we start cutting rates?' he added. 'So I'm all in favour of saying maybe we should start thinking about cutting the policy rate at the next meeting, because we don't want to wait till the job market tanks before we start cutting the policy rate.' The Fed holds its next two-day meeting from July 29 to 30.
UAE Moments
9 minutes ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Sheikh Mohammed Announces an AI System as UAE Cabinet Member
The Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, announced that an AI system will serve as an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed said on Friday, June 20, that the National Artificial Intelligence System will join the UAE Cabinet as an advisory member from January 2026. The Ruler of Dubai wrote on X, "We also announce that the National Artificial Intelligence System will be adopted as an advisory member of the Cabinet, the Ministerial Development Council, and all boards of directors of federal entities and government companies, starting in January 2026." He added, "The goal is to support decision-making in these councils, conduct immediate analyses of their decisions, provide technical advice, and enhance the efficiency of government policies adopted by these councils across all sectors."
