• Reuters

    Emirates suspends flights transiting through Dubai after storm

    Dubai's flagship airline Emirates is suspending check-in for all customers with onward connections through the city, it said on Friday, three days after a record storm swept the United Arab Emirates. Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, said the flights with onward connections would be suspended until 2359 GMT on April 19 but customers travelling to Dubai as their final destination may check-in and travel as usual. The suspension showed the airline and its hub, Dubai International Airport, were still struggling to clear a backlog of flights after the UAE saw its heaviest rains in the 75 years records have been kept, bringing much of the country to a standstill for two days and causing significant damage.

  • Evening Standard

    Middle East latest LIVE: Israel 'strikes Iran' as blasts reported near central city of Isfahan

    Israel was reported to have attacked Iran on Friday following apparent explosions the Middle Eastern country. American broadcast networks quoting unnamed US officials said Israel carried out an attack.Iranian state media said Tehran had fired air defence batteries early on Friday morning after following reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan. Tensions have risen in the region after Iran's unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel on Saturday night.

  • RFI

    Nearly a billion people to vote as India kicks off colossal elections

    India on Friday launched the largest elections in human history, with ruling Hindu nationalists expected to win a third term in power with an even larger majority than in 2019. India's opposition has been shoring up its tattered frontlines of late, with some leaders including two chief ministers in prison and dozens of MPs suspended from parliament ahead of the seven-phase polls starting this Friday in 21 of India's 28 states.Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s untainted popularity has secured his ru