Day: April 12, 2024

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raised alarm Thursday about a looming Islamic Group coordinated attack inside the United States.

“Now increasingly concerning is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia concert hall a couple weeks ago,” Director Christopher Wray told the Congress today, using an acronym for the Islamic State’s Afghan affiliate.

The FBI warning signals a shift in the US thinking about the possible reach of ISIS and its affiliates to the US land.

After the attack on Russia, the Department of Homeland Security said it had no specific or credible intelligence to suggest ISIS had the ability to threaten the United States.

The ISIS-Khorsan, an Afghan affiliate of the terror global terror group, claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack on the Crocus City concert hall outside Moscow which killed 145 people.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

ABU DHABI: His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, has offered his condolences on the passing of Mohammed Abdulla Al Dhaheri.

His Highness expressed his sincere sympathies to the family and relatives of the deceased at the mourning majlis in Manazef Majlis in Al Ain.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHANGHAI: Shanghai’s Yangshan port conducted China’s first ship-to-ship green methanol bunkering, or refueling, for a large dual-powered container vessel on Wednesday, according to a report by China Daily.

The bunkering operation was conducted by the Hai Gang Zhi Yuan vessel for the Astrid Mærsk, a ship belonging to the Danish shipping and logistics services provider A.P. Moller-Maersk. The Hai Gang Zhi Yuan stands as both China’s inaugural and one of the globe’s most sizable methanol bunkering vessels.

The bunkering represents one of the latest efforts by the global shipping industry in promoting green fuel, as stated by the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.

Compared to conventional fuels, renewable methanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95 percent. This safe liquid fuel is increasingly emerging as a future green energy option for the shipping industry.

With over 200 methanol fuel-powered vessel orders worldwide, a significant increase in demand for green methanol fuel bunkerin
g is anticipated in the future.

The successful bunkering at the Shanghai Port by the Shanghai International Port Group marks a significant enhancement of Shanghai’s service capability as an international shipping center. This achievement further consolidates the resource allocation capacity of the container port of Shanghai and contributes to the global shipping industry’s green and low-carbon transformation, as stated by the commission.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: A local newspaper said that the first total solar eclipse humans ever recorded was seen in the sky above modern-day Latakia, Syria, more than three millennia ago. ‘The Sun was put to shame,’ a historian back then wrote, as the Moon obscured it entirely for two minutes and seven seconds, turning day into night.

‘This week began with enormous anticipation for another rendition of this unique celestial event. This time, it was seen over a large strip of North America and recorded by millions of people, generating an uncommon frenzy of popular interest in lunar movements. And it makes some sense, for those who take a long astronomical view of life, to cherish solar eclipses,’ The National said in an editorial on Friday.

The editorial added, ‘The Moon’s distance from the Earth – and, by extension, its ability to block the Sun from our view – recedes by nearly 4cm a year. Consequently, astronomers note, in 600 million years or so, there will be no more such eclipses at all. Even for the more short-sigh
ted among us, however, there is plenty of reason in the here and now to get excited about our relationship with space.’

April 12, 1961, was the date of the first human space flight, and 63 years later humanity’s extra-planetary activity is booming. Only ten astronauts are in orbit right now, aboard two space stations – the International Space Station (ISS) and China’s Tiangong Space Station – but their minimal footprint belies a surge in space-related investment from governments and the private sector alike.

A report released on Monday by the World Economic Forum estimates that a decade from now the global space economy will be worth nearly $1.8 trillion, up from $1.1 trillion today.

The boom will be attributed to growing investment in everything from satellite communications to logistics, tourism, defence technology and civil space programmes. The Gulf’s own burgeoning space sector, with the help of international partnerships, is an active participant.

On Tuesday, the UK Space Agency gave £1.4 million ($
1.8 million) to a joint project between its Bahraini counterpart and a British university aimed at using spacecraft to monitor carbon emissions in the Gulf. And on Thursday, a Spanish firm announced it is in talks with local regulators to set up a space tourism base in Saudi Arabia.

These developments follow a major announcement earlier this year that the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre signed onto the Nasa-led Artemis programme, expected to be the first to return humans to the Moon in more than half a century. The UAE will provide an air lock for the mission’s Lunar Gateway station, the first permanent space station outside the Earth’s orbit.

The Abu Dhabi-based daily concluded by saying that amid global conflicts, the World Economic Forum report highlights “an increasingly connected world” as a key factor driving the space industry, emphasising the need for continued international cooperation exemplified by the Middle East’s space milestones to avoid repeating terrestrial mistakes, while applying l
essons from space successes to address earthly challenges and promote unity.

Source: Emirates News Agency

MOSCOW: Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the Federal National Council (FNC), attended meetings with representatives of the BRICS Group of Nations in Moscow.

The meetings were held with Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin; and Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The meetings emphasised on the importance of the Group’s role and parliamentary work in strengthening cooperation between the member states in economic, commercial, and political fields.

Sara Falaknaz, FNC Member, attended the meetings.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) predicts partly cloudy skies for tomorrow across the UAE, with occasional cloudy periods in some areas. There’s a chance of scattered rain showers in some locations. Winds will be light to moderate, occasionally picking up speed.

The wind will be blowing from the northwest to the southeast at speeds between 10 and 25 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 40 kilometres per hour.

In the Arabian Gulf, there will be light to moderate wave conditions. High tide is at 5:19 PM and 3:32 AM, while low tide is at 10:18 AM and 9:14 PM.

In the Sea of Oman, the wave conditions will be similar to the Arabian Gulf, ranging from light to moderate with some rough patches. High tide is at 1:38 PM and midnight, while low tide is at 7:18 PM and 7:33 AM.

Source: Emirates News Agency

MOSCOW: Water levels, measured in the Urals River near the city of Orenburg in Russia, reached 1,115 centimetres (36 feet 7 inches) in the early hours of Friday, the Russian News Agency ‘TASS’ said.

Waters continue to rise near Orenburg, the region’s administrative centre, and subside in the flood-hit city of Orsk.

Orenburg Region Governor Denis Pasler told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting on the flood situation that the water level in the Ural River in Orenburg reached a record high of 1,087 cm on Thursday.

The spring flood in the Orenburg Region this year has become the strongest on record. As of the morning of 11th April, almost 12,000 residential houses and about 15,000 household plots were flooded in the region. As many as 7,800 people were evacuated, including more than 2,100 children.

A federal emergency has been declared in the Orenburg Region. Flood waters in Orenburg are expected to peak in the next 24 hours.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BRUSSELS: The Council of the European Union (EU) today adopted a law which sets out EU-wide minimum rules on the tracing, identification, freezing, confiscation and management of criminal property in connection with a wide range of crimes.

The directive will better equip member states in their fight against organised crime and the associated illegal profits. It will also oblige EU countries to ensure that authorities have the resources they need for their activities. The rules will also apply to violation of sanctions.

Member states will need to enable the freezing of property and, in the event of a final conviction, the confiscation of instrumentalities and proceeds stemming from a criminal offence. In addition, they will have to adopt rules allowing them to confiscate property of a value corresponding to the proceeds of a crime.

Where criminal assets or property of equal value are transferred to a third party, it must also be possible to confiscate them if the third party knew or should have known that t
he purpose of the transfer or acquisition was to avoid confiscation.

The new rules will also enable member states to confiscate unexplained wealth; where such property is linked to conduct committed through a criminal organisation and generates substantial economic benefit.

Asset recovery offices, in charge of cross-border cooperation, will be reinforced. They will support national authorities and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in asset tracing investigations. Offices will be given access to relevant databases and registers to perform these tasks.

Asset management offices will be designated by member states and will manage frozen or confiscated property directly or will provide support to other competent bodies. The new law also provides for the sale of frozen property, under certain conditions and even prior to final confiscation, for instance if it is perishable.

The directive will enter into force on the twentieth day following publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Member states will
have 30 months to incorporate the provisions of the directive into their national legislation.

According to Europol data, criminal organisations are amassing revenue estimated to amount to at least pound 139 billion every year.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BRUSSELS: The Council of the European Union (EU) today adopted a law which sets out EU-wide minimum rules on the tracing, identification, freezing, confiscation and management of criminal property in connection with a wide range of crimes.

The directive will better equip member states in their fight against organised crime and the associated illegal profits. It will also oblige EU countries to ensure that authorities have the resources they need for their activities. The rules will also apply to violation of sanctions.

Member states will need to enable the freezing of property and, in the event of a final conviction, the confiscation of instrumentalities and proceeds stemming from a criminal offence. In addition, they will have to adopt rules allowing them to confiscate property of a value corresponding to the proceeds of a crime.

Where criminal assets or property of equal value are transferred to a third party, it must also be possible to confiscate them if the third party knew or should have known that t
he purpose of the transfer or acquisition was to avoid confiscation.

The new rules will also enable member states to confiscate unexplained wealth; where such property is linked to conduct committed through a criminal organisation and generates substantial economic benefit.

Asset recovery offices, in charge of cross-border cooperation, will be reinforced. They will support national authorities and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in asset tracing investigations. Offices will be given access to relevant databases and registers to perform these tasks.

Asset management offices will be designated by member states and will manage frozen or confiscated property directly or will provide support to other competent bodies. The new law also provides for the sale of frozen property, under certain conditions and even prior to final confiscation, for instance if it is perishable.

The directive will enter into force on the twentieth day following publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Member states will
have 30 months to incorporate the provisions of the directive into their national legislation.

According to Europol data, criminal organisations are amassing revenue estimated to amount to at least pound 139 billion every year.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BEIJING: The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Friday that the Queqiao-2 satellite has successfully completed in-orbit communication tests, with all systems functioning normally.

This marks a major step forward for China’s lunar exploration programme, as Queqiao-2 will provide vital communication services for future missions, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Queqiao-2 was launched on March 20 and entered its target orbit on April 2 after a midway correction, near-moon braking and orbital maneuver around the moon.

The satellite successfully completed a communication test on April 6 with Chang’e-4, which is now carrying out an exploration mission on the far side of the moon. From April 8 to 9, it conducted communication tests with the Chang’e-6 probe.

The two satellites onboard along with the Queqiao-2, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 satellites, have entered the planned orbit and undergone a series of communication and navigation technology tests.

Both Queqiao-2 and Tiandu-
1, Tiandu-2 satellites use the Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) around the moon as their mission orbit, which not only enhances the communication capability of Queqiao-2 significantly and increases satellites’ coverage over the lunar South Pole region, but saves fuel for Queqiao-2 to be able to work extended time in the orbit thanks to the orbit’s stability.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BEIJING: The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Friday that the Queqiao-2 satellite has successfully completed in-orbit communication tests, with all systems functioning normally.

This marks a major step forward for China’s lunar exploration programme, as Queqiao-2 will provide vital communication services for future missions, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Queqiao-2 was launched on March 20 and entered its target orbit on April 2 after a midway correction, near-moon braking and orbital maneuver around the moon.

The satellite successfully completed a communication test on April 6 with Chang’e-4, which is now carrying out an exploration mission on the far side of the moon. From April 8 to 9, it conducted communication tests with the Chang’e-6 probe.

The two satellites onboard along with the Queqiao-2, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 satellites, have entered the planned orbit and undergone a series of communication and navigation technology tests.

Both Queqiao-2 and Tiandu-
1, Tiandu-2 satellites use the Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) around the moon as their mission orbit, which not only enhances the communication capability of Queqiao-2 significantly and increases satellites’ coverage over the lunar South Pole region, but saves fuel for Queqiao-2 to be able to work extended time in the orbit thanks to the orbit’s stability.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH: The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), renowned for its ability to unite global literary enthusiasts and bring the undeniable power of reading to the youth, is once again set to captivate audiences with an array of esteemed guests who will deliver inspiring talks, panel discussions and invaluable workshops.

Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and set to take place from 1st to 12th May in Expo Centre Sharjah, the region’s largest event dedicated to nurturing the imaginations of young minds, carries the theme ‘Once Upon a Hero’ this year.

With 190 guests from 25 countries, the festival represents the universal appeal of literature and the power of storytelling to transcend generations and inspire greatness.

This year’s lineup boasts an impressive roster of accomplished individuals, promising an enriching experience for attendees of all ages.

Leading the pack is Jerry Craft, a distinguished American cartoonist and children’s book illustrator, whose syndicated comic strip “Mama’s Boyz”
and graphic novels such as “New Kid” and “Class Act” have earned him widespread acclaim. Joining Craft is Raúl The Third, a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author, celebrated for his evocative portrayals of the contemporary Mexican-American experience. Their presence guarantees a fusion of artistry and storytelling that will resonate with audiences worldwide.

Further enhancing the festival’s agenda is Dr. Caroline Leaf, a world-famous communication pathologist and neuroscientist from the United States. Renowned for her research on the mind-brain connection, Dr. Leaf’s expertise in mental health and memory formation promises to enlighten and inspire attendees.

Hailing from Malaysia, Stacy C. Bauer and Ying Ying Ng bring their unique talents to the forefront. Bauer, a prolific writer known for her humorous anecdotes and relatable storytelling, is set to regale audiences with tales of childhood adventures. Ng, with over three decades of experience in music education, offers invaluable insights into
the world of creativity and learning.

Malaysia’s David Chek Ling Ngo rounds out the top tier of distinguished guests, bringing his wealth of knowledge in leadership and academic excellence to the fore. Recognised as one of the Top 2 percent Scientists Worldwide by Stanford University, Ngo’s contributions to the fields of education and institutional growth are nothing short of exemplary.

Meanwhile, the festival will also play host to a diverse array of luminaries from around the globe. From Georgia, Lia Shalvashvili, an esteemed author and educator, joins the fray with her extensive repertoire of children’s literature. The United States contributes Dr. Al Jones, a distinguished psychologist specialising in educational and gender psychology, further enriching the festival’s intellectual discourse.

Not to be overlooked are the notable guests from India, including Mamta Nainy, Bethany Clark, and Sohini Mitra, each bringing their unique perspectives on children’s literature and publishing to the table.

Other n
oteworthy figures include Cathy Camper from the United States, Joanne Steer from the UK, Dr. Sandy Zanella from Mexico, Toyin Akanni from Nigeria, Deeba Zargarpur representing Afghanistan and the US, Liam Kelly from Ireland, Hannah Moushabeck from the USA, Lauren Tamaki also from the USA, Leila Boukarim, Jane Mount, and Zelmaré Viljoen.

Source: Emirates News Agency