Author: Gulf News Week

A Hong Kong astronaut has been launched into space for the first time, aboard China’s Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. Li Jiaying, a 43-year-old police officer and mother of three, serves as the payload scientist in the three-member crew who made their way to China’s Tiangong space station on Sunday night. At least one member of the crew will spend a full year in orbit as part of a key experiment. Authorities will determine who that will be at a later date.The mission is the latest in China’s ambitious space program to send humans to the moon by 2030. It comes amid an…

Without a deal between Washington and Tehran, the fallout from Hormuz closure could deepen global energy, food and cost-of-living crises.As negotiations between the United States and Iran appear to move towards a possible breakthrough, the stakes extend far beyond diplomacy between two longstanding adversaries. At issue is not simply a ceasefire or a nuclear agreement. It is whether the world economy can avoid sliding deeper into widening energy, food and cost-of-living crises centred on the Strait of Hormuz.Recent reports suggest Washington and Tehran are discussing a deal that would reopen the strait as part of a broader arrangement. The proposal…

The title battle finally came alive – then Antonelli took controlThe Formula 1 title battle caught light in Canada – but then took a potentially decisive turn, writes Andrew Benson.9 hrs agoFormula 1

The ‘you made me happy’ initiative focused on ensuring children feel included in the joy of Eid, despite the challenges faced by their familiesDubai Police helped bring the spirit of Eid Al Adha to children of female inmates by distributing festive clothing through its annual ‘You Made Me Happy’ initiative.The initiative focused on ensuring children feel included in the joy of Eid, despite the challenges faced by their families, Dubai Police said.Organised in cooperation with the General Department of Human Rights and the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments, the event was attended by senior officers and staff members.Beyond…

In late April, India’s Sun Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $11.75bn (£8.59bn) to acquire New York-listed women’s health and biosimilars firm Organon & Co.It marked the biggest overseas acquisition by an Indian company in nearly two decades and followed a string of high-profile international deals by Indian firms in recent months.These include Tata Motors’ $4.4bn acquisition of Turin-based vehicle maker Iveco, IT company Coforge’s $2.35bn purchase of Silicon Valley-based AI firm Encora and the Bajaj Group buying a 23% stake in global insurance giant Allianz SE earlier in 2025.Data from consultancy Grant Thornton shows that 162 Indian companies spent more than…

The South Asian currency has been largely steady over the past year after several years of sharp volatility due to political uncertainty and a dollar shortageThe Pakistani rupee strengthened to a nearly 20‑month high on Monday, rising to below 278 against the US dollar and trading at 75.5 against the UAE dirham.According to xe.com data, the Pakistani rupee has gained over three per cent in the past 10 months, trading at 277.4 against the greenback on Monday, helped by growing foreign exchange reserves and financial support from the International Monetary Fund and Saudi Arabia.Total liquid reserves have been on the…

The authority said it continuously monitors fraudulent methods used by beggars as part of its ongoing campaign, which tackles all forms of beggingAs faithful prepare for the much-awaited Eid Al Adha festival, residents in Dubai have been warned against giving money to beggars and using services of itinerant butchers.The Dubai Police on Monday revealed that 50 beggars and itinerant butchers were arrested during Eid Al Adha last year, as such people wait to exploit circumstances, particularly during holidays and festive occasions.The authority said it continuously monitors fraudulent methods used by beggars as part of its ongoing campaign, which tackles all…

The uniforms were developed specifically for modern rail operations in the UAE, with attention to movement, climate, and daily passenger interactionEtihad Rail unveiled the official uniforms for its passenger-facing teams, giving the public a first look at a key symbol of the UAE’s national railway network before passenger services begin.This move is part of the build-up to one of the country’s most anticipated transport milestones. The national railway network is preparing to connect communities across the Emirates in a phased rollout focused on safety and service quality.The newly unveiled uniforms feature a contemporary grey palette with bold red accents. They…

Surf photographer attacked in water by ‘shark or sea lion’The finals day of the World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro event was paused after a photographer was attacked.5 hrs agoSurfing

Ministry of Finance’s smart contact centre tracks caller sentiment, flags dissatisfaction, and helps managers improve service quality across government touchpointsThe UAE’s Ministry of Finance has unveiled an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system at its customer service contact centre, which will record, analyse, and interpret conversations during calls, including the caller’s emotional state.This is a significant step in the ministry’s ongoing commitment to eliminating bureaucratic hurdles and placing customer satisfaction at the heart of government operations.The system goes beyond conventional call logging by leveraging AI-driven sentiment analysis. It evaluates the tone, language, and emotional cues of each interaction and automatically categorises…