Author: Sam Allcock

In the UAE’s dynamic urban landscape, achieving healthy weight loss isn’t about fads or fasting—it’s about realistic, sustainable choices. With a culture that blends fast-paced work life, rich culinary traditions, and a hot desert climate, residents across cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are increasingly looking for balanced approaches to eating well without feeling deprived. Whether you’re a busy executive navigating business lunches, a parent balancing family meals, or an expat exploring regional cuisine, understanding how to tailor a meal plan to your lifestyle is key. What a Weight Loss Diet Really Means At its core, healthy weight loss involves…

A bizarre and controversial workaround to the UK’s new online safety regulations has gone viral, with reports claiming that some users are using ultra-realistic game graphics—specifically the likeness of actor Norman Reedus in Death Stranding—to fool age verification systems. The incident follows the rollout of the UK’s stricter online safety measures, which aim to limit access to adult and potentially harmful content for underage users. Platforms including pornographic websites, Reddit, and Discord are now legally required to verify the age of UK users using methods such as selfie-based age estimation, credit card authentication, and government-issued photo ID matching. Those failing…

Romania’s Deputy Prime Minister Dragoș Anastasiu has stepped down following the resurfacing of a past corruption scandal in which he was previously named as a witness. The resignation comes just a month into the tenure of a fragile coalition government already under fire for its planned economic reforms. Anastasiu, a key figure appointed by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan to lead reforms of Romania’s underperforming state-owned enterprises, announced his resignation in a public statement on Sunday. The decision follows renewed media attention on a years-old corruption case involving one of his companies and the national tax authority. According to details now…

A strategic alliance between geospatial technology giant Esri, UAE-based space and AI company Space42, and Microsoft aims to create the most comprehensive and detailed digital basemap of the African continent. Formalised earlier this month at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signals the launch of the Map Africa Initiative—a five-year collaborative project targeting scalable, high-resolution geospatial data across all 54 African nations. The partnership is expected to have a significant impact on more than 1.4 billion people by addressing a major data gap: the fragmented, outdated or inaccessible maps currently used by many…

LG Electronics has officially introduced its latest gaming innovation, the UltraGear™ GX9 series, to the Gulf region, highlighted by the LG UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (model 45GX950A). This marks the regional debut of LG’s next-generation OLED display technology in the gaming sector, aligning with the Gulf’s rapidly expanding gaming ecosystem. The 45GX950A enters a market witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by competitive esports tournaments, tech-forward gaming cafes, and a passionate player base. With a curved OLED display and cutting-edge performance features, the new monitor aims to set a benchmark for immersive gameplay and professional-level responsiveness. Game-Changing Display Performance At the heart…

The UAE’s Zayed Sustainability Prize has closed its submissions for the 2026 cycle with a record-breaking 7,761 entries from 173 countries, marking a 30% increase from the previous cycle. Now in its 17th year, the global award continues to spotlight pioneering innovations in sustainability that have already impacted over 400 million lives around the world. This year’s surge in participation, particularly from developing economies such as India, Ethiopia, Brazil, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia, underscores the growing global commitment to practical, scalable solutions in health, food, energy, water, climate action, and education. According to early analysis, 85% of entries originated from developing…

Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital has been awarded a top honour by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in recognition of its pivotal role in the 8th AFC Medical Conference, which concluded this week. The accolade was presented to Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer of Aspetar, during the closing ceremony of the region’s flagship medical event. The award recognises Aspetar’s contribution as the principal scientific partner for the conference, which brought together hundreds of medical professionals, researchers, and sports medicine specialists from across Asia and beyond. Held over three days, the conference featured 54 lectures and sessions, in addition…

In a major step to support Emiratization in Dubai’s private sector, the Emirati Human Resources Development Council (EHRDC) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Azizi Developments. The agreement aims to empower UAE nationals through structured employment and training pathways in the real estate industry—one of Dubai’s most vital economic sectors. The MoU was signed in the presence of top officials from both organisations and establishes a strong public-private partnership focused on nurturing Emirati talent. The initiative will bridge the gap between academic preparation and industry needs by offering job placements, tailored training programmes, and mentorship from Azizi’s…

Retail giant Union Coop has officially expanded to 30 branches across Dubai, underscoring its commitment to smart retail, community welfare, and the UAE’s national economy. The milestone reinforces Union Coop’s long-standing role as a leader in sustainable retail innovation, offering high-quality, locally sourced products while making shopping more accessible and inclusive for all members of society. Speaking about the expansion, CEO Mohamed Al Hashemi said the achievement reflects the organisation’s core vision: “Our growth is guided by a focus on quality, sustainability, and digital transformation. We are not just opening more branches — we are deepening our service to the…

Kia Corporation has officially revealed the PV5, its first purpose-built electric vehicle under the Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) banner, at Kia PV5 Tech Day held at the IVEX Studio in Gwangmyeong. The event highlighted the vehicle’s development process, technological innovations, and Kia’s ambitious push into flexible, modular mobility solutions. Under the theme “Technology that adapts, mobility that expands”, the PV5 is designed as a transformative mobility platform — not just a vehicle — intended for diverse business, utility, and accessibility needs. It represents the first step in Kia’s long-term vision for scalable electric mobility tailored to real-world customer demands. Customer-Led…