Khaleej Times - January 29, 2025

In this issue

January 29, 2025

Residents spend more on wellness products

An increasing number of UAE residents are becoming more health-conscious and spending more on wellness products, some industry experts observed.

2 mins

UAE can get 25% more rain with new technologies

The UAE has the potential to boost rainfall by up to 25 per cent with new technologies that could emerge from the upcoming sixth cycle of its rain enhancement programme, a top official said on Tuesday.

1 min

Time to invest in women's health: Official

Dr Maryam Matar says female healthcare is a UAE priority

3 mins

How two Emirati scientists built research stations in Antarctica

Two Emirati scientists have established two research stations in Antarctica - one for weather monitoring and another for seismological research. The remarkable feat marks the first time the UAE and the Arab region are represented in this critical scientific endeavour.

4 mins

More than 100 students graduate from coding programme

More than 100 students graduated from the Samsung Innovation Campus 2024, the largest number yet, a spokesperson for Samsung Gulf Electronics said.

1 min

These jobs can earn employees higher salary increases in 2025

Professionals working in high-growth sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), data science, cybersecurity and other specialised roles will see a more pronounced increase in salaries this year.

2 mins

Dubai expat feeds workers three meals a day for Dh10

For labourers in Dubai's Al Muhaisnah 2, home-style meals don't have to be a luxury. At Bhojpuriya Restaurant, a plate of nourishment costs just Dh10 for three meals a day \"\"-- or Dh300 for an entire month.

2 mins

Dubai authority's AI staff can complete 24-hour tasks in two minutes

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has 'hired' AI employees that would transform daily office work. This new Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology combines Al-driven machine learning and content recognition to complete tasks in just two minutes, which previously took 24 hours.

1 min

New unified licence to allow medical professionals to work anywhere in UAE

The UAE is set to launch a unified national platform to provide licences for healthcare workers, a top official at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said. This streamlined licensing process will enable medical professionals to work anywhere in the country's public and private healthcare facilities.

1 min

Genetic diseases may be treated while baby is in mother's womb

New gene editing methods bring new hope to couples who tested positive for certain hereditary disorders

2 mins

Sixty cars lead parade from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for Chinese New Year

Traditional Chinese folk songs filled the air in the scenic stables at the Dubai Equestrian Club, where the sounds of horses' hooves usually resonate.

2 mins

Mayo Clinic, American Hospital Dubai strengthen collaboration to transform healthcare and medical education in Dubai

With the expanded scope of collaboration, the two healthcare institutions will enhance patient care by advancing clinical practices, education, and research

2 mins

How you can get an event licence in Abu Dhabi

A Tamm service will also help you find a venue, with details such as rentable space, venue facilities, capacity, location and other factors

3 mins

DeepSeek sparks panic selloff in cryptos, stocks

Global markets were rattled this week following the introduction of a new artificial intelligence model by Chinese startup DeepSeek, leading to a sharp selloff in riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies.

2 mins

Record supply likely to ease Dubai rents in '25

The Dubai real estate market is expected to stabilise in 2025, with rent increases slowing down.

2 mins

Khalaf Al Habtoor decides to cancel Lebanon investments

Emirati investor Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor made a \"pain-ful\" decision to cancel all in-vestment projects in Lebanon, he announced in a social media post on X.

1 min

Middle East families set for $1T wealth transfer by 2030

Families in the Middle East, in particular across the GCC, are preparing for a monumental transfer of generational wealth estimated at $1 trillion by 2030.

2 mins

ADIB to distribute Dh3.03B dividend for 2024

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) on Tuesday announced a cash dividend per share of 83 fils for 2024 amounting to Dh3.030 billion, its highest payout since inception.

2 mins

Flydubai is 'not Emirates lite':CEO recalls creating new airline

Al Ghaith shares ambitious plans for 'larger aircraft with a longer range, like the Boeing 787'

3 mins

UN agency for Palestinians readies to shutter operations in East Jerusalem after Israeli ban

Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem were set to lose education, healthcare and other services provided by UN agency UNRWA as an Israeli ban on the organisation takes effect on Thursday.

2 mins

Syrian refugees in Jordan camp say they have nothing to go home to

They have lived for years in Zaatari, the world's biggest refugee camp for Syrians, but many are unsure they want to return home from Jordan even after the ouster of former president Bashar Al Assad.

2 mins

Books banned under Assad now on sale at Damascus shops

Books recounting torture in Syrian prisons or texts on radical Islamic theology now sit openly in Damascus bookstores, no longer traded in secret after iron-fisted ruler Bashar Al Assad's ouster.

1 min

Families reunite in north Gaza as huge crowds return to smashed homes

Umm Ali Muheisen skipped across the road when she saw her daughter and grandchildren after 15 months separated by the war in Gaza, clutching them in a tight embrace as Palestinians reunited with loved ones after a ceasefire.

2 mins

Fast-moving fires torch national parks in Australia

Firefighters were desperately trying to stop a cluster of fast-moving blazes in southeast Australia on Tuesday, as thousands of acres of national park burned and a farming community was forced to evacuate.

1 min

Five killed in platform collapse at India religious gathering

At least five devotees died and 40 others were injured Tuesday after a wooden platform collapsed during a religious gathering in northern India, an official said.

1 min

Bangladesh train services hit as staff strike over benefits

Train services in Bangladesh came to a standstill on Tuesday as railway staff, demanding benefits for extra work, went on a nationwide indefinite strike that hit hundreds of thousands of people.

1 min

Pakistan parliament outlaws disinformation with 3-year jail

The law targets anyone who \"intentionally disseminates\" information online that authorities have \"reason to believe to be false or fake\"

2 mins

Rising obesity: China to beef up physical education in schools

China is aiming to beef up physical education in schools, making it core to the curriculum rather than a secondary subject, authorities said as they push for a more \"holistic education\" amid growing concerns about the rise in childhood obesity.

1 min

OpenAI seeks to block Indian media groups from copyright lawsuit

Microsoft-backed OpenAI sought to block on Tuesday India's biggest media organisations, including those of billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, from joining a copyright lawsuit that is set to shape the legal framework for AI in India.

1 min

Pakistan army foils militant attempt to take security post

Militants were thwarted in their attempt to overrun a Pakistani security post near the border with Afghanistan, the army said on Tuesday.

1 min

Atomic scientists adjust ‘Doomsday Clock’ closer than ever to midnight

Atomic scientists on Tuesday moved their “Doomsday Clock” closer to midnight than ever before, citing Russian nuclear threats amid its invasion of Ukraine, tensions in other world hot spots, military applications of artificial intelligence and climate change as factors underlying the risks of global catastrophe.

3 mins

Nepal resumes rescue copter flights to Mount Everest

Nepali airlines have resumed rescue helicopter flights to the Everest region, an aviation industry official announced on Tuesday, following weeks of suspension prompted by protests from locals citing environmental impact and loss of income from trekkers.

1 min

S. Korean plane catches fire, 176 people evacuated

The rear section of a passenger aircraft caught fire at an airport in South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, authorities said.

1 min

AI can identify women at risk of breast cancer years in advance

Artificial intelligence is able to identify women who have an elevated risk of developing breast cancer several years before it is diagnosed, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said on Tuesday.

1 min

Indian state mulls plan to ban petrol, diesel cars in Mumbai

The city has seen air quality worsen since the pandemic amid growing traffic congestion and several ongoing infrastructure and construction projects

1 min

'Tell the world': Holocaust survivors entrust memories to AI

Survivors of the Holocaust have entrusted their memories of the Nazi death camps to artificial intelligence to ensure that generations to come can access recollections of the genocide of six million Jews.

2 mins

Britain's population to hit 72.5M by 2032 due to immigration

The UK population is projected to rise to 72.5 million by mid-2032 from 67.6 million in mid-2022, driven almost entirely by net migration, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday.

1 min

Cold case no more? New lead in Belgian murder mystery

A decades-old probe into a murderous gang rampage that mystified Belgium could be opened again to chase an unexplored lead, prosecutors said Tuesday.

1 min

UK's first AI classroom without teachers sparks debate

Britain's first teacherless AI classroom may be an \"outlier\", but it underlines the potential benefits and risks of a UK government drive to rollout artificial intelligence in education, experts say.

3 mins

Trump warns of 'wake-up call' as low-cost Chinese AI jolts sector

Fears of upheaval in the AI gold rush rocked Wall Street on Monday following the emergence of a popular ChatGPT-like model from China, with US President Donald Trump saying it was a \"wake-up call\" for Silicon Valley.

2 mins

Trump orders planning for 'Iron Dome' missile shield for the country

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to start planning for an \"Iron Dome\" air defence system for the United States, like the one that Israel has used to intercept thousands of rockets.

1 min

Order signed to get 'transgender ideology' out of US military

US President Donald Trump said Monday he had signed an executive order ridding the military of what he called \"transgender ideology,\" in a potentially major setback for LGBTQ rights.

1 min

White House pauses all federal grants and loans

It marks the latest move by Trump's administration to exert control over federal funding, even that which has already been allocated by Congress

1 min

US president says he is 'not 100% sure' he's barred from third term

US President Donald Trump once again hinted at the idea of serving a third term, saying he was \"not 100 per cent sure\" he was barred from doing so under the Constitution, which forbids it.

1 min

Fighters hail impact of UAE National MMA Championship

The first edition of the UAE National MMA Championship continued to deliver excitement and fierce competition on its second and final day at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event featured bouts in the adults' and Youth A (for athletes aged 16 to 17) categories, offering a glimpse into the future of mixed martial arts in the UAE.

2 mins

Neymar leaves Al Hilal by mutual agreement

Neymar has parted ways with Al Hilal by mutual consent, the Saudi Pro League champions said on Monday, after a disappointing spell at the club for Brazil's all-time top scorer.

1 min

Vondrousova and Garcia add more star power to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

Caroline Garcia, Marketa Vondrousova, Ashlyn Krueger and Wakana Sonobe have been added to a star-studded line up for this year's Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, scheduled to take place from February 1-8 at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City.

2 mins

Aston Villa eye Champions League last 16 in 'Battle of Britain' with Celtic

Aston Villa have one last chance to seal automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 when they face Celtic in a crucial 'Battle of Britain' clash on Wednesday.

1 min

Man City's last shot at salvation in Europe

Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a \"final\" against Club Brugge on Wednesday.

2 mins

How Ultimate Golf Challenge became the most successful amateur event

With just 48 hours to go, the Ultimate Golf Challenge (UGC) is gearing up to take over Dubai's fairways and for Brandon de Souza, curator and tournament director, the event represents the realisation of a vision he's nurtured for years.

1 min

World-class Rashid didn't let us rotate strike: Yadav

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid's T20 bowling masterclass (4-0-15-1) helped England secure a 26-run victory over India in the third T20 International on Tuesday as the tourists remained alive in the five-match series against the world champions.

1 min

India's Bumrah named ICC Cricketer of the Year after stellar 2024

India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been named men's cricketer of the year for 2024, the International Cricket Council announced Tuesday, a day after he won the Test award.

1 min

Head replaces Konstas as Australia opener against Sri Lanka

Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas as Usman Khawaja's opening partner in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Wednesday, Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith said on the eve of the match.

1 min

Harbhajan all praise for UAE youngster Aayan

As the ILT20 Season 3 enters the exciting final phase of the competition, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has been impressed with the level of competition and the exciting performances on display, especially from young UAE spinner Aayan Afzal Khan.

2 mins

Steven Spielberg on how he stopped ET2

Director Steven Spielberg recently spoke about preventing a sequel to his iconic 1982 film ET the Extra-Terrestrial, calling it a \"hard-fought victory\" during an event.

2 mins

Jan Shepard passes away

Actor Jan Shepard has passed away. She was 96. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shepard died on January 17 at Providence St Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of pneumonia brought on by respiratory failure. Her son, Hollywood prop master Brandon Boyle, confirmed the demise.

1 min

Chris and Dakota head over to Maha Kumbh fair

Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, and his girlfriend, Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson, arrived in Prayagraj on Monday evening amid the ongoing annual Maha Kumbh fair.

1 min

'It was like therapy': Boyzone get candid in 'atypical' documentary

Thirty years after its creation, members of the Irish boy band Boyzone reunite to recount their journey to fame in a documentary series.

1 min

A real look at authoritarianism

The role of a mother who rebuilds her life after her husband goes missing during Brazil's military regime in the 1970s, portrayed in I'm Still Here, earned actor Fernanda Torres her first Academy Awards nomination.

1 min

Selena Gomez attacked over deleted viral video

When pop stars get into politics, it's bound to be a messy affair.

1 min

Bobby Deol gets intense for new role

The makers of Hari Hara Veera Mallu released a poster of Bobby Deol in character to celebrate his 56th birthday.

1 min

Shah Rukh confirms Siddharth Anand will direct King

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is currently busy working on his new film, King.

2 mins

Police question woman whose Aadhaar card was used by accused in Saif case

In a major revelation in the Saif Ali Khan attack case, the Mumbai Police has recorded the statement of a West Bengal-based woman whose Aadhar Card was used by the accused to buy a SIM card.

1 min

How Varun Dhawan celebrated India's 76th Republic Day

Actor Varun Dhawan celebrated India's 76th Republic Day (on January 26) from the sets of his upcoming film Border 2 in Babina Cantonment in Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh.

1 min

Kajol on Indonesian delegation singing 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'

Actor Kajol on Sunday reacted to the Indonesian delegation singing Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at a banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, calling it an honour.

1 min

Anil Kapoor congratulates Mr India director Shekhar Kapur for Padma Bhushan honour

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours, as part of Padma Awards 2025.

1 min

'Good music transcends trends'

As he gears up for his Dubai concert on February 1, Pakistani singer Atif Aslam talks about his new music initiative and the art of creating timeless hits in the era of Instagram Reels

5 mins

Want to be a chef? Follow your instincts, says popular French chef

Cyril Lignac, who recently brought his restaurant Bar des Prés to Dubai, talks about food, media, and the art of collaboration

2 mins

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Khaleej Times Newspaper Description:

Khaleej Times is the first English newspaper to be launched in the UAE in 1978.

The broadsheet comprises of the general news section, the business pages and a lively sports section. Khaleej Times is the highest circulated of the English language newspapers throughout the Gulf.

It reaches out to all parts of the UAE. Additionally, it covers Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia through a dedicated distribution network.