Saudi Arabia arrests 11,300 illegal residents in week-long crackdown/Representative Image

Saudi Arabian security authorities have arrested more than 11,000 people for violating residence, labor and border rules during a week-long nationwide crackdown.The Interior Ministry said the arrests were made between April 23 and April 29 through a coordinated inspection involving multiple government agencies.According to the ministry, a total of 11,300 individuals were detained, including 6,244 for violating residence laws, 3,543 for violating border security regulations and 1,513 for labor-related crimes.Officials said enforcement measures are ongoing against about 29,913 migrants, including 27,699 men and 2,214 women, who are currently undergoing legal processes.

Authorities confirmed that 14,855 individuals had already been deported, while 18,601 others were sent to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. Another 4,337 people are in the process of making travel arrangements for departure.Security forces also stopped 1,330 people trying to enter the state illegally. Of them, 43% were Yemeni citizens, 54% were Ethiopian citizens, and the remaining 3% were from other countries.Additionally, 51 individuals were arrested while trying to leave the country illegally.

Officials said 14 people were detained for assisting the violators by providing transportation, shelter or employment.The ministry warned that those involved in facilitating illegal entry or stay could face serious penalties.“Anyone who assists illegal entry, provides transportation or shelter, or provides any form of support will face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million,” the ministry said. The ministry said vehicles and properties used in such activities may be confiscated.The ministry urged residents to report violations through designated emergency numbers – 911 in Mecca, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in other areas.Officials said the drive is part of ongoing efforts to enforce residency and labor rules across the state.

An Indian-origin doctor, sharing her experience of obtaining a driving license in the UK, described the process as much more rigorous than in India.Sunita Sayammagaru wrote in a post on X that getting a driving license in India seems relatively easy, but the UK system requires a much higher level of skill and awareness.She said she already had an Indian license when she moved to the UK in 2007, but soon realized that her driving skills were not up to standard.“I realized how pathetic my driving was,” he wrote, adding that he had not been taught a large part of what was expected of drivers in the UK.According to their post, the UK licensing process involves both a theory test and a practical test, where candidates are closely assessed on several aspects of driving.He explained how testers check the use of mirrors, lane discipline, signaling, parking skills, speed control and the ability to navigate complex intersections.During her first attempt, she failed the practical exam.He said the examiner pointed out a major mistake – despite otherwise acceptable driving – was failing to do full mirror and shoulder checks before pulling out at an intersection.“He said the rest of my driving was fine and he was strict with me, but it was for my own good,” she wrote.She reapplied for a test two weeks later and was assessed again by the same examiner, which she said made her nervous.However, she passed in her second attempt.Sayammagaru also noted that many Indian drivers he knew had failed the UK test multiple times despite years of driving experience at home.“It’s very strict,” she said.Despite the difficulty, he argued that such standards are necessary.“Driving license tests should be rigorous. This ensures the safety of oneself and others,” he wrote.His post has since resonated with many users online, many of whom agree that stricter testing could make roads safer.

Britain is changing airline rules to avoid chaos at airports this summer as tensions rise in the Middle East / Image: File

The UK government is preparing for potential summer travel disruption by allowing airlines to cancel or combine flights in advance without losing valuable airport slots. The temporary move comes as the global jet fuel market remains under pressure following disruptions linked to the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.Under general aviation rules, airlines operating at busy airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick must use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots or risk losing them to competitors. This system is commonly known as the “use it or lose it” rule.Now, the government wants to temporarily relax those rules so airlines can reduce schedules ahead of time if fuel supplies dwindle over the summer. Officials say the goal is to avoid sudden cancellations at airports and prevent airlines from operating nearly empty “ghost flights” to protect their airport slots.Transportation Secretary Heidi Alexander said the measures are designed to give families “more confidence” while helping airlines plan realistic schedules in advance. According to the Department for Transport, there is currently no immediate shortage of jet fuel in the UK, but contingency plans are being prepared ahead of the peak. Holiday The season becomes intense.

Strait of Hormuz crisis across Europe

The growing concern comes after serious disruptions to fuel shipping routes linked to rising tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes, has become a major pressure point for global energy markets.Industry data cited in recent reports shows Gulf jet fuel exports have fallen sharply during the period of the crisis, raising fears that airlines across Europe could struggle with higher costs and less fuel availability during peak travel months.The UK government has already asked domestic refineries to maximize jet fuel production as part of a broader contingency plan. Energy Minister michael shanks Confirmed officials are working closely with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to monitor stock levels daily.Although British airlines say they are not yet facing direct shortages, many carriers across Europe have already begun to adjust operations. Lufthansa reportedly canceled thousands of flights to save fuel and manage costs.The uncertainty has also increased pressure on aviation finances. Airlines are simultaneously facing rapidly rising fuel prices, unpredictable passenger demand and operational planning challenges.

What do the new UK airline rules mean?

The government says the new approach is aimed at reducing stressful last-minute disruptions rather than causing more cancellations. Instead of grounding flights a few hours before departure, airlines will be encouraged to make decisions much earlier and transfer passengers to alternative services in advance.Officials say the flexibility will allow airlines to:

Importantly, passenger rights will remain unchanged. Under UK law, passengers whose flights have been canceled are still entitled to:

However, airlines are also lobbying the government to classify fuel shortages as an “extraordinary circumstance”, which could allow carriers to avoid paying additional compensation for short-notice cancellations.Meanwhile the government has advised travelers to keep checking for airline updates before departure and ensure they have appropriate travel insurance.

Airlines are facing pressure

The fuel disruption concerns come at a difficult moment for the aviation industry, which is already struggling with the high cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The UK introduced a SAF blending mandate in 2025, requiring fuel suppliers to gradually increase the amount of clean aviation fuel used on flights.But airlines and fuel suppliers say production is very limited and expensive. Industry groups have warned that sustainable fuel supplies are nowhere near the levels needed to meet long-term climate goals.The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has repeatedly warned that SAF currently represents less than 1% of global jet fuel use, while costing several times more than conventional fuel.At the moment, the UK government is insisting there is “no current need” for travelers to cancel or change holiday plans. But behind the scenes, officials are apparently preparing for a tough summer if global fuel supply tensions worsen further.

A 36-year-old man has been convicted after using a fake Tinder profile to send several people to his ex-partner’s house under false pretenses.Asad Hussain, also known as Ash Hussain, was found guilty at Chester Crown Court of stalking, assault by beating causing serious concern or distress and failing to comply with a section 49 RIPA notice.The court heard Hussain created a false Tinder account using his former partner’s photographs and personal details. He shared her address, phone number and email with several people and invited them to his home under false pretenses.Cheshire Police said at least 18 men came to the woman’s address during 2024, believing they had been invited after matching with her online. Some people told her she had sent messages saying she wanted to engage in a “rape fantasy” and have “rough behavior.” She said she was told that if she said “no” it meant she “wanted it more”, the Manchester Evening News reported.On one occasion, several men arrived at her home on the same night after receiving similar messages. In another incident, a man tried to push open the front door after being told it was open, damaging the glass panel.Another man entered the property while the woman’s child was inside, although no physical injuries occurred.The court was told Hussain initially contacted the victim using a false name and later became controlling during their relationship. After it ended, he repeatedly attempted to contact her and made allegations against her family and friends.Police said Hussain took steps to conceal his identity, including using different phones and changing vehicle registration details. Authorities later linked him to the fake accounts through location data and vehicle records.He was arrested in October 2024 and during interrogation he denied any involvement.Hussain was found guilty of stalking with grave alarm or distress, assault by beating and failing to comply with a section 49 RIPA notice, which is a formal demand that requires a person to provide passwords to electronic devices.Investigating officer PC Keith Terrill described the case as extremely disturbing.He said, “Hussain is an extremely deceitful person whose sole aim was to cause maximum harm to the victim and her children, even instigating others to enter her house and sexually assault her.”“At no point has Hussain taken any responsibility for his actions or acknowledged the horrors he was close to unleashing. He repeatedly claimed he had never met the victim. However the evidence has shown this is completely false.”He said that the victim and her family are shocked by these incidents.“These events have obviously left the victim and her children incredibly shaken and distressed.“The strength and bravery she showed throughout is incredible,” he said. “Thanks to this and the incredible support of her daughters, friends and other witnesses, Hussein has been held accountable for her actions.”Hussain was convicted after a nine-day trial. Sentencing is expected later.

An aerial photo taken on Wednesday shows a humpback whale rescued in a special barge after it washed ashore on a sandy shore off the German coast in late March.

FRANKFURT: A humpback whale struggling to survive beached near the German coast was released into the North Sea off Denmark on Saturday after being taken to a barge in a final rescue operation.The whale, known as “Timmy” in Germany – where his ordeal captured people’s hearts and caused a media stir – climbed out of the barge, blew air out of his hole and swam away, said Karin Walter-Mommert, one of the wealthy entrepreneurs funding the rescue. It is now swimming on its own and is on the right track, at least for the time being, he said.“The whale suffered some minor injuries, but they were superficial,” Walter-Mommert said. “It must now swim from the Norwegian coast to the Arctic,” said the entrepreneur who made her fortune in horse racing.The whale was first spotted stranding on a sandbar near the city of Lübeck on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on March 23, before freeing itself and becoming stranded again several times. Various attempts to save it failed, and the authorities announced they were giving up – prompting Walter-Mommert and another wealthy entrepreneur to intervene. They came up with what many saw as a far-fetched plan: take the whale to the water-filled hold of a special barge and transport it back to its natural habitat.Some experts criticized the privately funded rescue plan, saying it would cause further suffering to the animal. But organizers said the plan appeared to be succeeding despite the obstacles, as the whale left the barge off Wismar Bay on the Baltic coast at around 8.45am.How was Timmy transferred? To get the whale onto the boat, rescuers attached straps to it and made a specially dug channel in the sand to allow it to reach the ship. Rescuers swam alongside him as he entered the barge at high speed – much to the cheers of the crowd watching from the shore.The idea of ​​the barge was hatched after early attempts by entrepreneurs to save whales with inflatable cushions and pontoons failed. After veterinarians said the whale was fit for transport, officials gave the go-ahead for the rescue.The saga has received non-stop coverage from TV channels, online outlets and social media influencers – but has also given rise to angry debate and conspiracy theories about how the whales strayed off track.

Adam Beck was asked again and again by various people for several weeks whether he was the inventor of Bitcoin. He isn’t, he says. In early April, The New York Times, after analyzing articles from the early cypherpunk era, suggested that Adam Back was the most credible candidate by far for Satoshi Nakamoto, which he has been saying for several years since he released Bitcoin’s design paper in 2008 and disappeared in 2011. A documentary released a few weeks later proposed two other candidates. Beck did what he usually does, which is to deny the allegation, explain why people keep doing this, and get back to work. “For the record, it’s not me,” he said in a polite tone in late April. “It’s very difficult to prove a negative.”‘The mystery surrounding the founder helped Bitcoin grow’Repetition doesn’t seem to bother him. The mystery has been useful, he says. A Bitcoin without a known founder is a Bitcoin without a single point of capture, without a chief executive to summon, a founding team to coerce, a charismatic individual whose departure could destabilize the network. He believes this is part of why the asset has reached the position it now occupies. “It helps us understand Bitcoin more as a digital commodity rather than as shares in a startup,” he told Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas. “No one has a particularly strong influence.”Beck is British, holds a doctorate in computer science and is the chief executive of Blockstream, one of the oldest and best-capitalized infrastructure companies in the Bitcoin ecosystem. He is one of the few known people whose work has clearly influenced the design of Bitcoin. His 1997 paper on Hashcash – a proof-of-work algorithm to combat email spam – is cited in Satoshi’s 2008 whitepaper. More than a decade before Bitcoin was released, he was working on the problem of digital scarcity, according to his own account.‘An optimistic change’This asset is now held in regulated exchange-traded funds by the world’s largest asset managers, packaged by Nasdaq-listed firms to grab supply and debated on Wall Street as a candidate to hedge institutional portfolios.His view of change is clearly optimistic, given how far Bitcoin has traveled from the specific, conceptual project he helped create. ETFs and corporate treasury vehicles that have accumulated hundreds of billions of dollars of bitcoin are “effectively custodians on behalf of other investors,” Backe said. Multiple custodians, regulatory oversight, the constant availability of self-custody for those who want it: In the structure, he says, there are “barriers and competitors” that prevent any single entity from taking over the network. (Bloomberg)