Author: Gulf News Week

Getty ImagesThe boss of Berlin Airport has said non-EU nationals arriving in the German capital are having to queue for up to two hours under a new digital border system, and warned the situation is “not bearable over the summer”.Aletta von Massenbach told the BBC that at one terminal in Berlin, where Ryanair and Wizz Air operate, waiting times can run between “an hour to two hours”.Under the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) travellers from outside the bloc must register biometric information when entering most European countries, which is checked when they leave.Airports and airlines say the system is not…

Watch: Debris falls after plane hits Beijing’s tallest buildingThe pilot who crashed his small plane into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper last week was suffering from “chronic insomnia and anxiety” and did so for “personal reasons”, authorities said Thursday.The crash had killed the pilot, officially identified only by his surname Liu, and wounded 13 others.Liu, a 66-year-old Beijing resident, was a divorced freelancer who lived alone, the Chaoyang district government said in a statement, adding Liu’s diary contained “multiple expressions of ending his life”.”The comprehensive investigation concluded that this was a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons,” the statement…

SuppliedChizi’s 2026 tour began with the idea of performing in Taiwan – something he says was both risky and appealingWhen one of China’s biggest stand-up comedians opened his show with a joke about the extraordinarily long rule of the country’s leader Xi Jinping, it drew a cheer, alongside a smattering of approving profanities.”This is fire,” a man shouted in Mandarin.Few in China would dare to joke about Xi, who has increasingly centralised power in his nearly 15 years in office.But this was the National University of Singapore, where hundreds had packed into the auditorium, mostly Singaporean Chinese and those who…

Dubai Customs, using shipment data analysis systems, flagged a suspicious shipment arriving from an Asian countryAuthorities in Dubai thwarted a drug smuggling and distribution network by seizing nearly 200kg, or 278,850 pills, of Pregabalin and arresting a gang of four, they said on Thursday. The controlled substance was seized jointly by Dubai Customs, in coordination with Dubai Police’s General Department of Anti-Narcotics. Dubai Customs, using shipment data analysis systems, flagged a suspicious shipment arriving from an Asian country. The data analysis system is supported by its smart risk engine, advanced targeting technologies, and customs intelligence capabilities. Acting on this information,…

Sergio Enrique Alvarado MontalvoSergio Enrique Alvarado Montalvo, 45, with his family at a watch party in Dallas, TexasWhen Sergio Enrique Alvarado Montalvo paid $1,700 (£1,300) on StubHub to surprise his father with World Cup tickets, he envisioned an unforgettable Father’s Day watching Lionel Messi play. Instead, after flying his parents from Mexico to Dallas for the Argentina v Austria match, and spending nearly $6,000 (£4,600) on travel and hotels, the family was left stranded outside the stadium gates. Just one day before they were set to travel to Dallas, StubHub abruptly notified Montalvo that the seller could not deliver the…

UAE’s Ministry of Interior launches ‘accident-free summer’ traffic campaign to reduce road accidents during holiday seasonMotorists across the UAE are being urged to conduct regular tyre inspections, avoid overloading vehicles, ensure all lights and indicators are functioning properly, and refrain from storing flammable materials in their cars, as part of the country’s latest road safety campaign to reduce traffic accidents during the summer season.The UAE Ministry of Interior, represented by the Federal Traffic Council, has launched its third traffic awareness campaign of 2026 under the slogan “Accident-Free Summer”, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and reduce traffic…

Emirates ID cards contain extensive personal and biometric information, including residence number, passport data, fingerprints, iris scans, and moreIn 2020, an expat was arrested in Dubai after allegedly using another man’s Emirates ID to encash cheques in a Dh350,000 fraud scheme involving multiple transactions and accomplices. The case highlighted how identity documents can be exploited when individuals fail to follow access and verification protocols.The risk does not begin with organised fraud. It often starts in routine moments when residents are asked to hand over or send copies of their Emirates ID at shops, delivery points, or service counters. But these…

The police have advised community members to take precautionary measures to protect their homes and property when they are goneSummer break is about to begin in schools across UAE and many families have already made their travel plans for the next two months. Securing one’s home before travelling is one of the most important steps in reducing potential risks, Abu Dhabi Police have said in an advisory.The police have urged community members to take necessary precautionary measures to protect their homes and property. Residents are advised to ensure that all doors and windows are securely locked, activate security systems and…

Did this AI anti-drug video make drugs look appealing?Hong Kong’s Correctional Services Department removed an AI-generated K-pop video, after facing backlash that it made substances look too appealing.6 hrs agoAsia

Flight PR300 was eventually cleared and proceeded to its destination after a three-hour delay. PAL said passengers who missed their connecting flights were assistedA Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight bound for Hong Kong on Thursday was delayed after a loud banging sound was heard while the plane was taxiing at Manila International Airport (MNL). A PAL Airbus 321neo was at the airport’s taxiway and getting into position for takeoff at around 7.50am when passengers and crew heard the sound, which the cabin crew reported to the pilots.MNL control tower ordered the plane stopped after being notified by the flight crew. A standard…