Author: Gulf News Week

What began as a single office in Paris ended as a public expression of a shift the UAE has been building toward for years: from reliable buyer of defence technology to active industrial partnerEight days before Eurosatory opened its doors, EDGE Group announced a French-registered company headquartered in Paris. By the time the world’s largest defence exhibition closed on Friday, the UAE had signed nine agreements and MoUs with European firms, introduced three AI startups to an international audience, and hosted more than 12,500 visitors at its national pavilion. What began as a single office in Paris ended as a…

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Getty ImagesA ransom note sent days after the 84-year-old mother of US presenter Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her home claimed she had died, according to investigators.The note was one of two addressed to Nancy Guthrie’s family and sent to news media in the days after her January kidnapping. The first demanded millions in bitcoin for her release, but the second stated that she had died, according to sources cited by US media.The note from the possible kidnappers reportedly stated they did not mean for her to die and included an apology to the family. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department…

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As geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns fuel demand for alternative assets, a luxury reseller says more buyers are turning to rare Birkin and Kelly bags as long-term investments.A Dubai woman recently sold her wedding gold to begin building a collection of Hermès handbags, reflecting what one luxury reseller says is a growing trend among buyers seeking alternative ways to preserve wealth during uncertain economic times.According to Love Luxury, a designer resale business with stores in Dubai and London, demand from customers purchasing Hermès bags primarily as investments has risen significantly over the past year.”Over the last few months, we’ve noticed…

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How to book tickets, check fares and timings, find stations, and plan your first Etihad Rail journeyIt is official: UAE residents and visitors can now go online and book an inter-emirate passenger train journey.Etihad Rail has opened bookings for its Abu Dhabi-Fujairah service, which begins on June 30, with fares on the website showing a 50 per cent launch discount. A search by media showed Comfort Class seats from Dh55 and Premium Class seats from Dh120, with three direct trains displayed in each direction.The route is the first step in a passenger rail network that will later add Dubai, Al…

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The Philippine weather bureau said the typhoon will however continue to bring heavy rainfall throughout the country, drawing in the southwest monsoon to most parts of the countryPhilippines’ first “supertyphoon” this year has spared the northern part of the country as it weakened to a regular typhoon as of Tuesday morning.Previously packing gusts of up to 230 kph, tropical cyclone “Francisco” (international name Mekkhala) is gradually weakening to 175 kph sustained winds as it curves northwards towards the southern Japanese islands, instead of making landfall in northern Luzon island in the Philippines.The Philippine weather bureau said the typhoon will however…

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Dubai Safari Park has joined a growing list of seasonal attractions shutting down until cooler weather returns.Dubai Safari Park has become the latest major attraction in the emirate to close for the summer, joining a list of popular outdoor destinations that pause operations during the hottest months of the year.The wildlife park recently wrapped up its seventh season after welcoming 144 newborn animals and more than 27,000 students through its educational programmes. It will reopen later this year for its eighth season.With temperatures rising across the UAE, several seasonal attractions have already closed or are preparing to shut their doors…

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Getty ImagesFirefighters douse the flame in a building that killed 15 in India’s Lucknow cityAn inquiry has been ordered after at least 15 people died in a fire that broke out in a building in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on Monday.The building housed a pet shop and an animation centre. Witnesses described people jumping from windows and climbing down cables to escape, while rescue teams broke through a wall to save lives.The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Authorities said the building lacked emergency exits and people got trapped inside as smoke spread.The tragedy has…

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Khalid Al Shaibani, Director of the Rental Affairs Department at DLD, said the scheme was started to ease the financial pressure on residents and support their long-term community wellbeingThe Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched Flexi Rent, a new initiative aimed at providing a more flexible and accessible rental solution for residents.The programme allows tenants renting through participating real estate companies to choose monthly, quarterly or annual payment plans, helping to ease upfront financial commitments.Khalid Al Shaibani, Director of the Rental Affairs Department at DLD, said the scheme was started to ease the financial pressure on residents and support their…

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