Wesley LePatner, a senior Blackstone executive and prominent Jewish figure, was killed in a shooting, raising questions about the shooter's motives. While initial reports suggested a connection to the NFL due to a manifesto, some commentators, including Laura Loomer, are pointing to a targeted attack due to LePatner's Jewish identity and Blackstone's Jewish CEO, linking the shooter to pro-Palestinian groups.
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Saudi Arabia has welcomed over 1.2 million Umrah pilgrims from 109 countries since June 11, 2025, marking a 30% rise from last year. Backed by 89 new initiatives, stricter accommodation rules via Nusuk Masar, and advanced digital platforms, the Kingdom is delivering a safer, smarter, and more spiritually enriching Umrah experience for pilgrims in the 2025–2026 season.
Kuwait is bracing for an intense heatwave this weekend, with temperatures predicted to soar to 50°C in many areas. Coastal regions will experience humidity and winds up to 45 km/h, potentially causing dust storms and reduced visibility. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor activities during midday, stay hydrated, and take necessary precautions to mitigate health risks.
A United Airlines flight, en route to Munich from Washington Dulles, made an emergency landing after a left engine failure. The pilots of Flight 108 declared "Mayday" shortly after takeoff with 219 passengers and 11 crew members onboard. The aircraft safely returned to Dulles, landing approximately two and a half hours later.
Saudi Arabia has introduced new regulations for private food laboratories, focusing on spatial, technical, and visual standards. These rules aim to improve food safety, urban compliance, and investment conditions by setting requirements for lab size, parking, appearance, and location. The initiative seeks to align with broader goals of enhancing urban environments and attracting investment.
Saudi Arabia’s Q2 2025 budget report shows a 7% rise in non-oil revenues, reaching SR149.861 billion ($39.9 billion), now nearly half of total income. While oil revenues fell 29%, fiscal reforms under Vision 2030 drove stronger tax and non-oil performance. Despite a quarterly deficit of SR34.534 billion ($9.2 billion), spending and debt remain tightly managed.
A Coldplay concert's kiss-cam incident involving two company executives has sparked debate in the UAE regarding infidelity and its legal ramifications. UAE law strictly defines adultery as physical intimacy, requiring concrete evidence and a private complaint for prosecution. Emotional or digital infidelity, while socially unacceptable, doesn't meet the legal threshold for adultery.
Pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, of Indian origin, was arrested upon landing in San Francisco, following revelations of child abuse. His former girlfriend, Jennifer Powell, has also been taken into custody for her involvement in the abuse of her daughter when they were in a relationship. Both are currently held at the Martinez Detention Facility, awaiting further legal proceedings.
The UAE’s ambitious plan to tow a giant Antarctic iceberg for fresh water has stalled with no updates since its 2017 launch. Meanwhile, a Greenland startup successfully exports glacial ice to Dubai bars for luxury use. One aimed to solve a crisis; the other sells exclusivity. As of 2025, only cocktail glasses, not coastlines, are chilled.
Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade surged 34.7% in H1 2025 to AED195.4 billion (USD53.2 billion), driven by strong export, import, and re-export growth. The rise reflects successful diversification efforts, advanced infrastructure, and streamlined trade systems. Strategic investments and global trade partnerships continue to position the emirate as a key international trade and logistics hub.
In early 2025, TikTok intensified content moderation in the UAE, removing over a million videos for violating guidelines. With a 98.2% proactive removal rate, 94% videos were taken down within 24 hours. Nearly 87,000 live hosts were banned, and 140,000 livestreams shut down. Across MENA, 16.5 million videos were removed.