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AdvertisementChina-Middle East relationsChinaDiplomacyXi Jinping’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards ChinaAnalysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran
4-MIN READ4-MIN1 ListenShi JiangtaoPublished: 10:00pm, 14 Apr 2026Updated: 10:27pm, 14 Apr 2026Chinese President Xi Jinping ‌called for a more robust, resilient and dynamic ‌strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, as Beijing intensified what observers have described as its “quiet but pragmatic” diplomacy during the Iran crisis.In a meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu ‌Dhabi, Xi unveiled a four-point proposal to safeguard Middle East stability, stressing the importance of national sovereignty, the international rule of law and the central role of the United Nations.
“The authority of the international rule of law should be upheld and cannot be used when conv..

Image: AI Generated Forests seem sturdy and solid from the outside, but there might be something happening silently underneath. Some fungi can cause trees to decay internally and leave them weakened without showing any sign of it. Researchers are cautioning us that these seemingly insignificant beings could be pointing towards a more serious environmental problem, which is global warming. Due to the rise in temperature and changes in climate conditions, these fungi may start affecting forests at a faster rate than ever before.Why changing weather patterns are boosting fungal infections in treesFungi depend on certain environmental factors for their growth and reproduction, but now, thanks to climate change, their preferred environmental factors are being modified in their favour. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation levels, and increasing humidity levels may promote the growth and distribution of fungi. According to an article published about this topic titled 'Climate chan..

Epsom rape case: Woman assaulted outside church; Surrey Police seek public help
An urgent search for details has begun by Surrey Police following a report of sexual assault involving a woman in her twenties. Close to Epsom Methodist Church, on Ashley Road, the incident occurred between two and four in the morning. Having departed a nightclub earlier, she was trailed by unknown persons prior to the attack.It was confirmed by Surrey Police that the report came soon after she left Labyrinth Epsom nightclub. Not far from the church, close to where the venue stands, officers think the event took place. Several males might be linked, according to initial information shared by authorities. Later updates revealed detectives remain without clear details on possible individuals, complicating identification efforts. Because of this gap, the request for community assistance has grown more pressing.A painful situation, according to Detective Inspector Aine Matthews, now involves dedicated officers..

Katie Porter is on the radar as she benefits the most as Eric Swalwell quits the Guv bid for California in the wake of the allegations of sexual misconduct.
As Eric Swalwell quit the California Guv race in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, Katie Porter benefited the most but the fellow Democrat distanced from the behind-the-scenes of the major exposé on Eric Swalwell. The decision to quit the race came after Swalwell's campaign held the ground for days, denying all the allegations, calling them false and outrageous. Cheyenne Hunt, an attorney and former California congressional candidate, last week announced that she had been working with a number of women who were in the process of coming forward and sharing their stores of sexual harassment and alleged abuse at the hands of Eric Swalwell himself. After Swalwell withdrew from the race, the long association between Hunt and Katie Porter is now out in the open as Hunt attended the same law school where Ka..

AdvertisementHong Kong societyHong KongHong Kong EconomyMaisy Ho remembered as dedicated philanthropist and community servantHong Kong Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau praised Ho’s “profound dedication to community service” and for caring for the underprivileged
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenLam Ka-singPublished: 10:32pm, 13 Apr 2026Updated: 10:45pm, 13 Apr 2026Heartfelt tributes continued to be paid to Maisy Ho Chiu-ha, remembered as a dedicated philanthropist, after the daughter of late Hong Kong and Macau tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun died on Sunday, having led a notably private life.
On Monday, official statements and tributes poured in from government officials and associations to mourn the loss of Maisy Ho, who had devoted herself to serving the community.
Maisy Ho was one of 17 children of “king of gambling” Stanley Ho, and one of five siblings born to Lucina Laam King-ying, the second of the tycoon’s four wives, who died in 2022.
AdvertisementMaisy Ho was an executive director at family ..