Becky Anderson

Breaking: the latest on the UAE #Flydubai investigation:

The Attorney-General of the UAE says the investigation into flight FZ1073 revealed a premeditated terrorist plot by the aircraft's Omani co-pilot.

AG Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Attorney-General of the UAE says:

- The co-pilot planned to seize control of the aircraft and launch a suicide attack on the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

- The suspect's extremist tendencies began in 2017 while studying in Australia, where he was influenced by takfiri ideology.

- He worked for several airlines, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, before joining flydubai in January 2026. The suspect used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and airport.

- On the day of the incident, he attacked the aircraft's captain with an emergency axe but was restrained by a pilot assigned to the return flight, a cabin crew member, and several passengers.

- The suspect confessed to acting alone, but investigations are ongoing to verify this claim.

- The Public Prosecution continues to examine evidence and investigate possible accomplices.

wam.ae/en/article/c2n… -

Human rights pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay missed the first call from the Nobel Committee. Their message: “If you see a Norwegian number calling, please pick up.” I asked the Committee's Chair, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, about the conversation that followed: (1/2)

Once a sharp critic of Obama, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed now has the former president campaigning by his side ahead of the U.S. midterms. How revealing is this of the Democratic Party’s ideological tensions? I ask the Editor-in-Chief of @LeverNews.

Student protests are exposing France’s deepening debt crisis. @PDonovan_econ tells me the answer may lie in the country’s private wealth. Here’s how:

New World Bank figures show the US war with Iran has hit regional economic forecasts. Qatar and Kuwait have seen their 2026 GDP growth outlooks slashed by 20.9% and 14.6%, respectively. But both are expected to see huge rebounds in 2027.

The UAE’s outlook is less dramatic, down 1.6% this year, but expected to be up nearly 10% next year.

I spoke to the UAE’s economy minister about how the country plans to drive its next phase of growth.

Is there a link between loneliness and technology? I ask the author of the "Infrastructure of Belonging" @masumaahuja whether our increasingly digital lives are making us feel more connected, or more isolated?

From Palestine and Israel, to Yemen and Iraq, discussed the latest regional developments with the ever-insightful @BeckyCNN - kicking off with a discussion of @nmladenov ‘s oped in @TheNationalNews

The Pakistani military confirmed for the first time in an exclusive interview with CNN it has forces on the ground to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi forces in Yemen under the brand new Mecca Alliance.

Live with @BeckyCNN , reporting w/ @SophiaSaifi from Islamabad

#Pakistan

#Yemen is a multi-front, multi-stage war—with risks to global energy & shipping rising as #Saudi-backed forces advance.

The US will have a significant say, and direct involvement cannot be ruled out.

But in the new Middle East, Washington wants partners to carry more of the burden—as the activation of the Mecca Defense Alliance demonstrates.

Saudi- #UAE cooperation is significant: it suggests the region’s competing Islamic & Abrahamic coalitions can manage their differences when it comes to weakening Iran’s axis.

More via @BeckyCNN & @EurasiaGroup

From AI safety to the competition over innovation, I spoke with Mistral AI CEO @arthurmensch who argues that the regulation debate is "cover" for his competitors. Here's why: (1/4)

5 billion kilometers to be covered in 8 years.

The UAE is preparing to launch its first interplanetary probe built entirely in the country. I spoke to the Executive Director of Beyond Earth Exploration @TIIuae about the mission’s goals, and the science behind it:

Russian authorities have imposed anti-epidemic measures after a scientist at a Siberian anti-plague research institute died from pneumonia of unknown origin. So, what do we know about this case? I asked infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner.

Yemen’s recent gains against the Houthis in Bab al-Mandeb will mean little unless the government can hold the territory, argues @omeisy , as he analyzes the latest military operations.

From protests in France and Spain to growing support for far-right parties elsewhere in Europe, how concerning is the growing sense of economic insecurity across the continent? I ask @SocialLore.

Can Abu Dhabi maintain its investment momentum amid regional instability? And what role will Livability 2.0 play in the Emirate's next phase of growth?

I asked Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Municipalities and Transport Department, Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa at the Emirate's first LIVEX investment summit:

After a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit, sending the plane into a steep descent, I ask former El Al security chief Arik Arad: How are pilots vetted before flying into Tel Aviv, and what security protocols are in place to prevent an incident like this?

Could the diversion of Flydubai's Tel Aviv flight to Saudi Arabia carry broader significance for the region? @FirasMaksad says "this is clearly not just a dramatic security incident. It is also a diplomatic and potentially political development between Israel and Saudi Arabia."

Her mother was among the passengers on the Flydubai flight diverted en route to Israel. @NoaShpigel shares what her mother told her about the plane’s 17,400-foot plunge — and what unfolded inside the cockpit:

"There are some things that are terrifying about AI," @shellypalmer tells me. While we still can't fully predict what these models are capable of, he says the danger lies in the people and not the models, here's why:

Benjamin Netanyahu’s rare visit to the UAE comes at a notable moment. I ask @citrinowicz why the timing matters: