Khaleej Times - February 11, 2025

In this issue

February 11, 2025

Dubai South ‘airport city' to create thousands of jobs

Dubai South developers anticipate a surge in population over the next \"two to three years\" as the emirate's new airport terminal takes shape, a top official has said.

2 mins

RTA unveils rail bus that can carry 40 passengers

Dubai is set to get an innovative mode of public transport — the Rail Bus, a completely 3D-printed vehicle made from recyclable materials, the emirate's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Monday.

1 min

UAE call to modernise region's tax system

It’s important to meet rising expenses and evolving economic structures

2 mins

Entrepreneur with cerebral palsy launches 'Project Happiness'

Reaches out to People of Determination with a platform to sell their handmade crafts

1 min

Sharjah to make high quality education more affordable

Issue tops agenda of international summit on education beginning on Feb 23

2 mins

Mena economic growth to be higher than global figures: IMF

UAE a great model for other countries in the region in terms of accelerating technological investments: Top official

2 mins

Resident who ran 630км in 6 days, raised Dh16k for diabetes patients

Despite rowing 4,800km across the Pacific in 2023, British endurance athlete Harry Amos describes his latest feat — running across all seven emirates in under six days— as his toughest challenge yet.

2 mins

‘Forgotten’ Dh20m account saved him, recalls billionaire

As a young boy, Hussain Sajwani would spend his afternoons after school in his father’s shop in the local souk. There, he learned the valuable life lessons that made him one of the UAE’s richest businessmen.

2 mins

Abu Dhabi court cases now resolved in 40 days, thanks to smart tech

Smart judicial systems and tight deadlines have shortened court processing to 40 days, a move welcomed by lawyers in Abu Dhabi.

2 mins

How inclusivity, bonus benefits and support make employees feel valued

The journey towards inclusivity needs to be thoughtful and holistic, addressing every aspect of the employee experience

3 mins

Gold prices at anew high as trade war escalates

Gold rally continued on Monday evening as yellow metal hit $2,900 per ounce globally while 22K touched Dh325 per gram.

1 min

EU plans simpler rules for billions worth of farm subsidies

The European Union is drawing up plans to simplify rules governing its huge farming subsidy programme, draft documents seen by Reuters showed, as Brussels races to lighten the regulatory burden on local businesses.

1 min

Is further petrol price hike in the offing?

Additional price increases cannot be ruled out, as the global oil market remain volatile, say analysts

2 mins

World’s highest penthouse in Burj Khalifa hits Dubai market for 51m

The penthouse represents the pinnacle of opulence and sophistication, offering unparalleled panoramic views

2 mins

Egypt imported 6.3m tons Russian wheat

Egypt, the biggest buyer of Russian wheat, imported 6.3 million metric tons from July 2024 to January 2025, a 70% increase compared to last year, analysts from rail carrier Rusagrotrans said in a report published on Monday.

1 min

India opens air show with eye on boosting defence exports

India is committed to boosting manufacturing and exports of defence equipment in the coming years, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday at the opening of the country's biggest air show, where its military ambitions will be in focus.

1 min

Nokia names Intel’s AI head to replace CEO

Finnish telecommunications equipment giant Nokia announced on Monday it would replace chief executive Pekka Lundmark with Justin Hotard, an American executive overseeing artificial intelligence at US chip maker Intel.

2 mins

Paris summit grapples with real-world impact of AI

The technical challenges and price of entry for nations hoping to keep abreast in the AI race have become clearer in recent weeks

2 mins

Boeing signals more orders needed from India before setting up assembly line

Boeing signalled on Monday it would need more orders from India before it considers setting up a final civil aircraft assembly line there, potentially throwing cold water on the government's hopes of the US planemaker assembling commercial jets in the country.

2 mins

Dollar firms on tariff threats; stocks shrug and post gains

The dollar edged higher on Monday after US President Donald Trump warned more tariffs were imminent including on steel and aluminium, although US futures and European stocks shrugged off the looming levies and rose.

2 mins

New look Mideast had started to draw investors... and then came Trump

Historic political shake-up of region encouraging _ investors; major funds increasing ositions in Egypt; opes for resolution of Lebanon’s crisis driving up its bonds

3 mins

Brother says freed Israeli hostage suffered hardest blow’ learning wife killed

Freed Israeli hostage Or Levy suffered the \"hardest blow\" upon his release from Gaza when he learned that his wife was killed by Hamas militants in the 2023 attack in which he was abducted, his brother said on Sunday.

1 min

Israeli truce delegation returns from Qatar

An Israeli delegation that flew to Doha for talks on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire at the weekend has returned, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Monday, amid growing doubts over the Egyptian and Qatari-brokered process to end the war in Gaza.

1 min

Trump wants US to own Gaza

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he is committed to buying and owning Gaza, but could allow sections of the war-ravaged land to be rebuilt by other states in the Middle East.

2 mins

Syria leader Sharaa tells podcast thousands joining new army

Syrian interim President Ahmed AI Sharaa said in an interview released on Monday that \"thousands\" of people were joining the country's new army following the overthrow of Bashar AI Assad and the dissolution of his military.

1 min

Iraq president sues PM over unpaid Kurdistan salaries

Iraq's president has sued Prime Minister Mohammed Shia AI Sudani over unpaid salaries for civil servants in the autonomous region of Kurdistan, bringing into focus a rift in the country's leadership.

1 min

Iran president says Trump aiming to bring country 'to its knees'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused his US counterpart Donald Trump of seeking to bring Iran \"to its knees\" on Monday as the country marked the 46th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

1 min

Bangladesh arrests 1,300 in ex-regime loyalist crackdown

Bangladeshi police said on Monday more than 1,300 people have been arrested in a sweeping crackdown dubbed 'Operation Devil Hunt', targeting gangs allegedly connected to the ousted regime of Sheikh Hasina.

1 min

'Good morning, teacher!' Senegal introduces English in nursery schools

\"Good morning, teacher!\" a chorus of Senegalese five-year-olds responded at a school where English has been introduced alongside the official language of French.

3 mins

ICC judges looking into Italy's release of Libyan fugitive

Judges at the International Criminal Court are investigating whether Italy’s release of a Libyan military officer wanted for war crimes by the tribunal breaches the court’s statute, a court spokesperson said on Monday.

1 min

'Afghans who worked with US should be exempt from aid freeze'

A group representing US veterans, service members and others is warning the Trump administration of severe impacts on US security unless it exempts tens of thousands of Afghansmany at risk of Taleban retribution from the president's foreign aid and refugee freeze that has stranded them worldwide.

1 min

Afghan wedding halls light up sombre Kabul nights

As night settles over Afghanistan's capital, only a few small lights and neon signs pierce the darkness and thick blanket of winter pollution.

3 mins

New Zealand concerns mount as Cook Islands PM plans to sign deal with China

Concerns are mounting in New Zealand as the Cook Islands' Prime Minister travels to China this week to sign agreements without properly consulting with New Zealand, despite the two nations' constitutional ties.

1 min

Chinese marriages slid by a fifth in 2024, fanning birthrate concerns

Marriages in China dropped by a fifth last year, the biggest drop on record, despite manifold efforts by authorities to encourage young couples to wed and have children to boost the country's declining population.

1 min

Australia mulls ‘retreat' from rising sea on Cocos Islands

The Australian government has proposed moving hundreds of residents from their island home within decades as sea levels rise, sparking outrage among inhabitants.

2 mins

UK premier Starmer urges world leaders to test for HIV

Keir Starmer has urged other world leaders to take an HIV test, after becoming the first serving British prime minister and G7 leader to take a public test on camera.

1 min

Indonesia launches $183M free health screening

Indonesia launched an annual free health screening on Monday, a 3 trillion rupiah ($183.54 million) initiative to prevent early deaths that the country’s health ministry said was its biggest ever undertaking.

1 min

World may have entered era of 1.5C warming: Scientists

Last year's record-breaking temperatures could be a sign that the world is entering a new era above 1.5C of global warming, scientists say, one never before faced by modern humans.

3 mins

Anglicans meet after Church of England hit by scandals

The Church of England's elected governing body will gather Monday at a time of \"unprecedented crisis\" following a number of sexual abuse scandals.

2 mins

Shock in France over murder of schoolgirl aged 11

French police on Monday arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder after an 11-yearold schoolgirl was found dead in a wood south of Paris over the weekend in a killing that sparked shock and a massive search for clues.

1 min

German couple jailed for killing Ukrainian women to kidnap baby

A German court on Monday sentenced a husband and wife to life in prison for killing two Ukrainian refugees, the mother and grandmother of a newborn girl they planned to abduct and pass off as their own.

1 min

Life in limbo for refugees as Trump closes US borders

UN says nearly 38 million refugees worldwide; Afghan, Iraqi nationals who worked with US also hit

4 mins

Musk will help uncover 'hundreds of billions' in US govt fraud, says Trump

US President Donald Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday that Elon Musk, who is presiding over a purge of government jobs, will help find \"hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud\" in federal agencies.

3 mins

Djokovic says injury 'almost 100 percent healed'

Novak Djokovic has almost fully recovered from the injury that ended his Australian Open campaign and has set his sights on lifting a 100th singles title at this month's Qatar Open.

1 min

Othman grabs UAE's first gold at Fazza Para Athletics event

The UAE got a new star in wheelchair racing when Mohamad Othman raced to the gold medal of men’s 100m T34 final on the opening day of the 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix – Dubai 2025 on Monday.

1 min

Eagles' Mailata notches Australian first with Super Bowl triumph

Jordan Mailata was momentarily lost for words after becoming the first Australian to play on a winning Super Bowl team as his Philadelphia Eagles dethroned the Kansas City Chiefs in a 40-22 upset at the Superdome on Sunday.

2 mins

Manchester City wary of weakened Real Madrid, says Guardiola

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said his side were well aware of Real Madrid's habit of producing their best in tough times, with a string of injuries having depleted the visitors' defence ahead of Tuesday's Champions League playoff.

2 mins

Giant-killing upsets and last minute heroics

It was another fantastic weekend of FA Cup action in England this weekend with all the elements that make this competition so special.

2 mins

Williamson's sublime hundred guides New Zealand into final

Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke's record score on debut.

1 min

India relieved as Hitman’ regains form ahead of big tournament

A month after his poor form forced Rohit Sharma to drop himself from a test match in Sydney, the India captain can finally breathe easy after producing a faith-restoring hundred in Sunday's second one-day international against England.

1 min

Abu Dhabi T10 confirms dates for 2025 edition

The Abu Dhabi T10 will return to the majestic Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi for its seventh season in the emirate from November 18 to November 30 this year.

1 min

Top performers claim coveted belts at ILT20 Season 3

A new champion was crowned at the ILT20 Season 3 as the Dubai Capitals overcame the Desert Vipers with a four-wicket victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

2 mins

Two Heartbeats, One Game: Annabel Ayres balancing sport and motherhood at UGC

Sport has a way of intertwining with life in the most unexpected ways.

2 mins

So Ed Sheeran tried busking in India ... and the cops showed up

A street performance by Ed Sheeran in India’s tech capital of Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police on Sunday, outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a statement of clarification.

1 min

The stunt that knocked the wind out of Tom Cruise

Known for his dedication to performing his own stunts, Tom Cruise has once again shown just how far he’s willing to go for his roles.

1 min

Kendrick Lamar brings viral diss track to Super Bowl stage

Kendrick Lamar commanded one of the world’s most high-profile stages on Sunday as the Super Bowl’s half time headliner, yet another feather in the cap of the rap laureate who has ascended to new heights of pop stardom.

1 min

Big B gets cryptic on X, fans gets antsy

Amitabh Bachchan left his fans in a state of confusion and concern following a cryptic tweet he posted on his official X handle.

1 min

Rs 4m stolen from music composer Pritam's office

A theft of Rs4 million (Dh167,350) has been reported from the Mumbai office of Bollywood music composer Pritam Chakraborty, police said on Sunday.

1 min

Just like a dream

Aussie fashion designer Paul Vasileff debuted the Paolo Sebastian collection at Dubai Fashion Week here's why the collection 'just fits' the audience

3 mins

'Critics are my well-wishers, they help me up my on-screen game'

Too fat, too thin, nepo baby here’s how Azaan Sami Khan decided to filter the feedback and take only the positives

4 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.