Latest news
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Dubai Airport resumes operations after heavy rain causes chaosDubai International Airport has reopened after experiencing severe disruptions due to heavy rainfall that battered the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and surrounding areas.
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Saudi Arabia initiates plan to recruit 1,000 nurses from Sri LankaMedical and paramedical staff to address rising healthcare demands in the kingdom.
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Turkey opens its doors: visa-free entry for tourists from six countriesIn a bid to invigorate tourism and forge stronger international connections, Turkey has made a significant announcement, offering visa-free entry to citizens from six countries, including the
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The Story Behind Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips
You’ve heard it before: Every story has a beginning. And the great ones typically have a lesson as well. The lesson behind this story is to never give up. -
EU to modernize Schengen Visa: online applications for UAE residentsThe Council of the European Union (EU) announced new rules on Monday, November 13, enabling individuals to apply for Schengen visas entirely online through a dedicated visa
Gulf
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Green Parks in Abu Dhabi mitigate urban heat island effect by up to 2.2°C: studyA recent study conducted by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the US tech giant IBM, has unveiled the pivotal role of green
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Saudi Arabia to allow alcohol sales to non-Muslim diplomats, unveiling new regulatory frameworkSaudi Arabia is set to permit the sale of alcohol to non-Muslim diplomats, marking a significant shift from its long-standing prohibition. The decision, outlined in a new regulatory framework,
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Possible single visa for GCC residents to enable intra-member state travel soonThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising six countries, is contemplating the implementation of a single visa system, allowing residents to travel freely among member states, according
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Israel's Foreign Minister inaugurates Embassy in BahrainIsrael's Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, officially opened the country's permanent embassy in Bahrain. The inauguration took place during Cohen's visit to Bahrain, where he met
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Bahrain enhances prisoners' rights amid mass hunger strikeBahrain has announced an expansion of certain human rights provisions for individuals within its prison system in response to a mass hunger strike involving hundreds of prisoners in the
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Kuwait plans land transfer valued at $8.1 billion to pension fund - finance ministryKuwait's Ministry of Finance announced on Monday its intention to facilitate the transfer of land valued at over 2.5 billion dinars ($8.12 billion) to the nation's pension fund
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Bahrain's real estate sector continues Its upward trajectoryAccording to a recent report by Savills, Bahrain's real estate sector experienced steady growth in the second quarter of 2023, with positive developments seen in residential sales, rents, and
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Protesters target Polanski film at cinemas in BrusselsFeminist activists defaced cinemas in Brussels with angry condemnations of director Roman Polanski's latest film overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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London Latino heartlands struggle for survivalWhenever London's South Americans go looking for a job, a helping hand, the flavours of home or a party with their compatriots, they head to the Latino indoor market
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Facebook on Wednesday said it would block access to its website by non-members in Belgium, as it battles a court order to stop tracking Internet users who do not have accounts with the US social media giant.
The decision follows a so-far fruitless attempt to strike a deal with Belgium's privacy watchdog after it lodged a legal complaint over Facebook's tracking of Internet users when they visit pages on the site or click "like" or "share", even if they are not members.
Once the court order is officially received, "people without Facebook accounts in Belgium will have to log in to Facebook before they can see Facebook pages and other content," the California-based firm said in an emailed statement.
"This means people without a Facebook account will need to create and log into a Facebook account to view this content," it said.
If carried out, it would be the first time Facebook would block access to visitors in the row over the use of so-called cookies, widely used tracking devices that follow a user's Internet activity.
Facebook has vowed to appeal against last month's court decision, but said in the meantime it would "fully comply" with the Belgian Privacy Commission. Defying the ruling would cost Facebook fines of up to 250,000 euros ($269,000) a day.
Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Tuesday in an effort to stop Britain joining air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, a day before a parliamentary vote on the move.
A crowd of around 4,000 marched from parliament to the headquarters of the ruling Conservative party and main opposition Labour party nearby, in the second major London protest on the issue in four days.
"We're here to say one simple thing: 'Don't bomb Syria. Don't do what you did in 2001, 2003 and 2011'," the Stop the War Coalition protest movement's Lindsey German told the crowd, referring to British involvement in wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
"Don't go and bomb a country where me make the war even worse."
Parliament looks set to vote in favour of joining the bombing campaign against Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria on Wednesday, paving the way for sorties by British jets to start within days.
The debate has become increasingly heated, with Prime Minister David Cameron labelling Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his allies "a bunch of terrorist sympathisers" for opposing the strikes, British media reported.
How much sex is enough? Just once a week is all it takes for optimal happiness among married heterosexual couples and those in long-term relationships, said a US study Thursday.
The findings are based on surveys of more than 30,000 Americans collected over four decades, and are published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
"Although more frequent sex is associated with greater happiness, this link was no longer significant at a frequency of more than once a week," said lead researcher Amy Muise, a social psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto-Mississauga.
People who report drinking three to five cups of coffee per day are less likely to die prematurely from heart disease, suicide, diabetes or Parkinson's disease, US researchers said Monday.
Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were shown to have benefits, said the study by researchers at the Harvard University Chan School of Public Health published in the November 16 edition of the journal Circulation.
The study compared people who don't drink coffee, or drank less than two cups daily, to those who reported drinking "moderate" amounts of coffee, or up to five cups daily.
The study did not prove a cause-and-effect for coffee and the reduced likelihood of certain diseases, but uncovered an apparent link that aligns with previous research, and that scientists would like to probe further.
"Bioactive compounds in coffee reduce insulin resistance and systematic inflammation," said first author Ming Ding, a doctoral student in the Department of Nutrition.
"That could explain some of our findings. However, more studies are needed to investigate the biological mechanisms producing these effects."
No protective effect was found against cancer in this study. Some previous research has pointed to a link between coffee consumption and a lower risk of certain cancers.
The study was based on data gathered from three large, ongoing surveys including some 300,000 nurses and other health professionals who agree to answer questionnaires about their own medical conditions and habits at regular intervals over the course of 30 years.
Ismael Gerli, director of a Panamanian law firm Gerli&Co, has been charged with embezzlement which allowed him to take over properties belonging to one of his clients.
Apparently, Gerli forged a number of documents that allowed him to take possession of 100% of shares belonging to the company of Vladimir Kokorev, a Spanish citizen of Russian origins. Several years ago, Mr. Kokorev retained the services of Ismael Gerli for the acquisition of an apartment where he resided in Panama, and which the Panamanian lawyer recently registered under his own name using a series of forged documents.
Taking the bus or train to work may be even healthier than walking, according to a new study published Sunday by the American Heart Association.
"Bus/train commuters had even lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight than the walkers or bikers," according to a press release about the findings, which were presented at the AHA's Scientific Sessions 2015 meeting this weekend.
The study, which was conducted in Japan, found that compared to drivers, public transport riders were 44 percent less likely to be overweight, 27 percent less likely to have high blood pressure and 34 percent less likely to have diabetes.
A day trip to a crowded State Department office full of unfamiliar faces and smells might have upset some dogs, but then Astra's day job is itself pretty terrifying.
The seven-year-old German Shepherd mine-clearance expert ignored the defused weaponry arrayed on the conference table, but perked up when a box of donuts was opened.
Over the past five years she and her handler, Lebanese army sergeant Ahmad Solh, have scoured the battlefields of Lebanon for land-mines and unexploded bombs.
Named by anti-landmine group the Marshall Legacy Institute as the champion mine-clearers of the year, they came to the US capital to promote their work.
"I love her, I see her more than I see my family," said Solh, who has worked with Astra for five years seeking unexploded ordnance in communities scarred by war.
"I come home all the time and tell them stories about what we've done at work and they really enjoy hearing about her and the wonderful job she does."
In some Middle Eastern communities dogs and dog-handlers are shunned, but Solh said his fellow Lebanese honor the life-saving work he and his eager friend do.
Most of the mines that Astra locates were left during Lebanon's 1975-1991 civil war, but she also finds bombs dropped in the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
A US schoolboy sued by his aunt for accidentally breaking her wrist during a hug at his birthday party went on national television Thursday to say he still loves her.
Jennifer Connell, 54, went to court in the northeastern state of Connecticut demanding $127,000 compensation after her then eight-year-old nephew jumped into her arms, fracturing her wrist.
A jury threw out the case Tuesday in just 25 minutes.
"She would never do anything to hurt the family or myself, and she loves us," Sean Tarala told NBC's "Today" show, dressed in a dark suit jacket and sitting next to a bashful Connell.
"I love her and she loves me," the now 12-year-old added.
Connell said she had never wanted to sue her nephew, but did so purely as a technicality having been told it was the only way to get her medical bills covered by home owner's insurance.
"We love each other very much and this was simply a... formality within an insurance claim," she told NBC.
The accident happened at Sean's eighth birthday party in the upscale town of Westport in Connecticut on March 18, 2011.
Connell alleged in her complaint that "a reasonable eight-year-old" should have known that such a "forceful" greeting "could cause the harms and losses suffered" by the plaintiff.
She accused him of "negligence and carelessness," and alleged that her "ability to pursue and enjoy life's activity" had been "reduced."
Norwegian designer Peter Dundas spearheaded a youthful revolution in Milan on Saturday, laying out his new vision for Roberto Cavalli as other top brands also embraced rejuvenation.
The Cavalli collection was one of the most eagerly awaited of the week, being the first to take place without the company's eponymous founder who has ceded control to a private equity group.
They brought Dundas in from Emilio Pucci and the Norwegian did not waste any time in signalling a dramatic break with the past.
The rock and roll edge to the brand and its sensual, sexy core remained intact but there was some carping in the Italian media that something of its essence had disappeared.
"The new start signals the end of glamour," reported La Repubblica, although its review was broadly favourable and noted that it was too early to say if Dundas was going to give Cavalli the kind of fillip enjoyed by Gucci since Alessandro Michele took the reins there at the start of the year.
The biggest change came with the virtual axing of red carpet-style night gowns from the collection in favour of lighter and more easy-to-wear nightwear such as one ultra-short dress featuring a long train.
Alongside that there was a range of accessible denim items featuring frills, tie dye and chain fringes.
- Maintaining Cavalli's soul -
"My first task since arriving here has been to think of something different that still maintains the soul of Roberto Cavalli," Dundas said.
"Today's women are freer and looking for easier, perhaps more sporty clothes."
Relaxed, comfortable clothes were also in vogue at Bottega Veneta, which put together a very sporty collection featuring high-tech jogging pants, hooded sweatshirts and fitted gilets.
Creative director Tomas Maier took inspiration from sailing for evening dresses made from a single piece of fabric modelled on a length of sail and held together by what looked like nautical rope.
A popular campground at Yosemite National Park in California will be temporarily closed after several dead squirrels were found to be carrying the plague, officials said.
The move comes about a week after a girl who visited the park tested positive for the plague. She was treated and has recovered.
"As an extremely precautionary public health measure, flea treatment will be applied to rodent burrows in Tuolumne Meadows Campground because several dead animals were tested and found to be carrying plague," park officials said in a statement.
The campground will be closed from August 17-21. The park itself will remain open, including all the other campgrounds.
Plague is carried by squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents and their fleas.
"By eliminating the fleas, we reduce the risk of human exposure and break the cycle of plague in rodents at the sites," said Karen Smith, the director and state health officer for the California Department of Public Health.
People who eat lots of fried food and sugary drinks have a 56 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to those who eat healthier, according to US researchers.
The findings in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, were based on a six-year study of more than 17,000 people in the United States.
Researchers found that people who regularly ate what was described as a Southern style diet -- fried foods, eggs, processed meats like bacon and ham, and sugary drinks -- faced the highest risk of a heart attack or heart-related death during the next six years.
"Regardless of your gender, race, or where you live, if you frequently eat a Southern-style diet you should be aware of your risk of heart disease and try to make some gradual changes to your diet," said lead researcher James Shikany, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Division of Preventive Medicine.
"Try cutting down the number of times you eat fried foods or processed meats from every day to three days a week as a start, and try substituting baked or grilled chicken or vegetable-based foods."
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UAE
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Dubai residents to enjoy six-day free parking during Eid Al Fitr festivitiesDubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled a generous offer for motorists during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays. Parking across Dubai...
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Umrah in Ramadan from the UAE? 3 vital points to consider before departure!Understanding Mandatory Vaccinations, Umrah Permits, and Visa Requirements
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Sheikh Mohammed establishes 'Parkin' PJSC for Dubai's parking operationsIn a recent move, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has sanctioned Law No. (30)...
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UAE's COP28 President defends climate science comments amid criticismSultan al-Jaber, the head of the United Nations climate conference in Dubai, has reaffirmed his respect for climate science amidst backlash following...
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Exciting prospects: extended weekends await UAE residents in 2024In 2024, UAE residents might enjoy a six-day-long weekend, as the government plans four extended breaks according to the official calendar.
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Dubai's budget for 2024-2026 reaches Dh246.6 billion, supported by Sheikh Mohammed's visionHis Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has given his approval to Dubai's...
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In a world first, Sharjah replaces fire-prone facade of residential towerSharjah, UAE: The Sharjah City Municipality has taken a groundbreaking step by replacing flammable cladding with non-combustible materials on a residential...
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Dubai to inaugurate world's first floating mosqueIn a move to bolster religious tourism in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is set to unveil the world's first floating mosque at the Dubai Water...
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Dubai Airport surpasses pre-pandemic levels with 41.6 million passengersDubai International Airport has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing pre-pandemic passenger levels, recording 41.6 million travelers during...
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UAE passport ranks 12th globally with visa-free access to 179 countriesThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport has secured its position as the strongest in the region, climbing three places in the global rankings. According...
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One million Israelis have traveled to the UAE since the Abraham AccordsSince the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, one million Israelis have visited the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone in the...
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UAE visit visa: Learn about the fee for a one-time 30-day extensionTo provide greater flexibility for visitors, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security in the UAE has announced an...