CATEGORIES

Australia head to Sydney with New Year cheer after MCG magic

Australia head to the New Year's Test in Sydney full of cheer after a brilliant finish at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and with confidence that pace veteran Mitchell Starc will be fit to bowl in the series finale.

Rayhan proud to represent UAE after Golden Visa honour

Dubai-born Rayhan Thomas has pledged to represent Dubai and the UAE to the best of his ability after being awarded a UAE Golden Visa on Sunday at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, his home club where he honed his game and nurtured his passion for golf.

Internet sites of several French cities hit by cyber attacks

The Internet sites of several French cities and at least one department were inaccessible on Tuesday after a group of hackers claimed attacks they described as retaliation for French support for Ukraine.

Pressure mounts from Russia and US ahead of German election

Germany is set to start 2025 with an increasingly heated election campaign attracting attempts at influence not only on the part of Russia but also from Berlin's traditional ally, the United States.

Britain PM visitors' books made public for first time

Visitors' books from the residence of Britain's prime minister were made public for the first time on Tuesday, revealing a who's who of famous signatures going back decades.

World welcomes 2025 after sweltering year of Olympics, turmoil and Trump

The world ushered in 2025 on Tuesday, with huge crowds waving goodbye to the old year that brought Olympic glory, a dramatic Donald Trump return and turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine.

North Korea's Kim 'feasts his eyes' on new resort project

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of plans for a new beachside tourist resort, state media said on Tuesday, a \"first big step\" in a potentially wider border reopening.

UN condemns ban on Afghan women working at NGOS

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Tuesday that Afghanistan's governing Taliban authorities must reverse their ban on Afghan women working for NGOs.

Guantanamo detainee sent back to Tunisia: US

The US Defense Department said on Monday it had repatriated to Tunisia one of the remaining detainees from the Guantanamo Bay military prison.

Carter, in death, becomes symbol of lost political 'decency' in US

Despite the struggles he faced during his single term in office - from economic malaise to the Iran hostage crisis the late president has emerged as a nostalgic figure

Novartis gene therapy helps children with rare muscle disorder in study

Swiss drugmaker Novartis said on Monday its gene therapy helped improve motor function in children with a rare muscle disorder that leaves patients too weak to walk, talk and swallow.

South Korea court approves arrest of President Yoon in martial law probe

A South Korean court gave authorities approval on Tuesday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in a criminal investigation into his martial law decree, marking the first time that a sitting president of the country has faced arrest.

Empty desks and tears mark five colleagues killed in the tragedy

Empty desks and a calendar marking days off after Christmas sit in a South Korean office where five co-workers once planned a holiday to Thailand which ended in tragedy on Sunday when their return Jeju Air flight crashed.

Swiss cabin crew member dies after flight with smoke problems

Swiss International Air Lines said on Monday a member of its cabin crew who ended up in intensive care last week when the flight he was on suffered engine problems and smoke inside the plane, has died in hospital.

Seoul starts releasing crash victims to families

South Korean authorities began releasing the bodies of plane crash victims to families on Tuesday.

S Korean airport embankment in focus after deadly air crash

Attention turns to bird strikes, control systems, pilot actions; experts criticise runway design

Palestinians released from Israeli jails bear mental, physical scars

Once muscular and strong, Palestinian bodybuilder Moazaz Obaiyat’s nine-month spell in Israeli custody left him unable to walk unaided upon his release in July.

Two killed in Gaza as aid convoy looted: WFP

Two people have been killed in northern Gaza as gunmen attacked an aid convoy, the World Food Programme said on Monday, prompting Hamas to accuse to UN agency of having failed to coordinate security.

More than half of Syrian children out of school: Save the Children

About half of school-age children in Syria are missing out on education after nearly 14 years of civil war, Save the Children told AFP on Monday, calling for \"immediate action\".

Gaza healthcare nearing 'total collapse' due to Israeli strikes: UN

A United Nations report published on Tuesday found that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in the Gaza Strip had left healthcare in the Palestinian territory on the verge of collapse.

Cocoa tops global commodities rally for second year

Cocoa and coffee are poised to close 2024 as the biggest gainers among commodities for a second year on a global supply deficit, while steel-making coal will end as the worst performer, hit by slow growth in China.

AI boom, Fed rate cuts lift US stocks to new highs in '24

US stocks index futures edged higher in the last trading session of 2024, continuing its bull run from more than two years ago on signs of post-pandemic economic resilience, hopes of lower borrowing costs and AI boost.

China factory activity grows more slowly

China’s manufacturing activity barely grew in December though services and construction recovered, an official survey showed on Tuesday, suggesting policy stimulus is trickling into some sectors as the economy braces for new trade risks.

Dollar stands tall in 2024, propped up by cautious Fed, Trump trade

The dollar slipped on the last trading day of the year on Tuesday but was poised to clock strong gains in 2024 against almost all currencies as investors prepared for fewer US rate cuts and the incoming Trump administration.

Burjeel Holdings acquires 100% stake in Makkah's physiotherapy centre

Burjeel Holdings PLC, a leading super-specialty healthcare provider in the Mena region, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, on Thursday announced the acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in the Specialist Physiotherapy Centre, a premier healthcare facility in Makkah, through its subsidiary, Burjeel KSA.

Business travel surges in the Mena region

The business travel sector in the Mena region has grown since last year, surpassing $17 billion, data shows.

GFH acquires Dh500M logistics fund in Dubai

GFH Partners Ltd, the DIFCbased global asset management subsidiary of GFH Financial Group, on Tuesday announced a strategic investment in Manrre REIT, a premier Dubai-based fund specialising in institutionalgrade logistics and industrial assets across the UAE and the GCC region.

How to locate your mutual fund portfolio if you've lost track

Question: Before I came to the Gulf I had invested a part of my savings in units of mutual funds. Unfortunately I have not been able to trace the investments due to my relocation. Is there any possibility of retrieving my investments through any platform?

Gold marks best year since 2010

Gold prices were set to end a record-breaking year on a positive note on Tuesday as robust central bank buying, geopolitical uncertainties and monetary policy easing fuelled the safe-haven metal’s strongest annual performance since 2010.

UAE to expand Cepas in 2025, says Thani AI Zeyoudi

The UAE will continue to increase its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (Cepas) in 2025, targeting additional countries to maximise benefits for the UAE and its global trade partners, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said.