Author: Editorial team
A controversial study analysing excess deaths during the Covid pandemic, which was widely criticised for lending credence to vaccine scepticism, has been retracted, the British journal’s publisher announced Wednesday. The study, published in the journal BMJ Public Health in 2024, was retracted “on the grounds of misinformation on causes of death and limited original work conducted by the authors”, the BMJ Group said in a statement. The study suggested that the number of excess deaths in the West remained abnormally high even after the peak of the Covid-19 crisis had passed. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow…
Investments by Emirati youth in Sharjah’s real estate sector reached a cumulative value of Dh4.3 billion as of August 2026, spread across 7,052 properties traded by 5,314 young individuals, according to figures released by Sharjah’s Real Estate Registration Department.The data, covering nationals aged 18 to 35, reflects the growing position of young Emiratis as strategic partners in the emirate’s property market and their confidence in Sharjah’s economic and legislative environment.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.The statistics were released to coincide with International Youth Day, highlighting the role played by the nation’s youth in…
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are set to reunite on the big screen after 18 years with ‘Haiwaan’, and the film’s newly unveiled teaser offers a dark and cryptic glimpse into the psychological action thriller. Directed by Priyadarshan, the teaser builds suspense through silence, shadows and striking visuals while keeping the central mystery firmly under wraps.The preview opens with the silhouette of Saif Ali Khan’s character, who is revealed to be visually impaired.He is shown navigating with a walking stick and wearing a specialised watch for the blind. His face, like those of the other key characters, remains concealed,…
Fifa is facing a crisis of confidence and needs sweeping governance reforms, the head of players’ union FIFPRO Europe said on Wednesday, as he raised concerns about the concentration of power within world soccer’s governing body.FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier said Fifa was trapped in a “real war” with a breakdown of trust among federations and confederations following president Gianni Infantino’s botched proposal to sell off commercial rights to the World Cup.Infantino, who is seeking reelection in March, has faced open revolt in the last two weeks after three confederations — UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF — attacked his conduct and…
New licences run until 2046, providing long-term regulatory certainty as the UAE advances AI-driven networks, digital infrastructure and economy-wide transformationAbu Dhabi: The Board of Directors of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has renewed the public telecommunications licences of Emirates Telecommunications Group (e&) and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) for a further 20 years.The renewed licences will take effect from 9th August 2026 until 8th August 2046, replacing the licences originally issued in 2006.TDRA said the renewal provides a long-term regulatory framework that supports continued investment in digital infrastructure and future technologies, while offering stability for the telecommunications…
As 60% of manufacturers race toward full digitalisation, cyber risk is increasingly manifesting as a business risk, according to a new report by Kaspersky and VDC Strategy. This means cybersecurity is not merely a compliance function, it is a cornerstone of production assurance, safeguarding uptime, quality, and operational continuity. Manufacturers are modernising to deliver safer, more consistent and more cost-effective production and digitalisation is moving fast: just 9% of organisations describe themselves as fully digital today, but 60% expect to get there within two years, according to the joint report by Kaspersky and VDC ‘Cyber Resilience, Built for Manufacturing’. That…
ABU DHABI, 12th August, 2026 (WAM) — The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, implemented its second round of field trials on an autonomous patrol boat developed by Blue Gulf Group. The goal of these trials, under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, is to develop autonomous patrol capabilities to support monitoring operations across public waterways in Abu Dhabi. The latest field test, conducted in the vicinity of Al Saadiyat Ferry Terminal in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime and Abu Dhabi Investment Office, evaluated the 23-foot vessel’s compliance…
SHARJAH, 12th August, 2026 (WAM) — The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority announced that it will automatically issue facility compliance certificates, meaning that the certificates confirm that facilities meet safety and prevention standards. This will happen right after a low-risk facility’s license is issued or renewed. It shows the authority’s commitment to improving digital services, simplifying processes, and increasing the efficiency of government operations. This action supports the Emirate of Sharjah’s goals for integrated and proactive digital services. The new service lets business owners get a Civil Defence compliance certificate without submitting a separate application. The certificate is issued automatically based…
ABU DHABI, 12th August, 2026 (WAM) — President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has awarded the First-Class Order of Zayed II to Dr. Etienne Berchtold, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the UAE, in recognition of the Ambassador’s efforts during his tenure in the country, which contributed to strengthening relations between the two countries across various fields. Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, presented the Order to Berchtold during a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further strengthening relations with Austria across various fields.…
As investment into femtech surges, more women in the GCC region are using smart devices to track their menstrual cycles and fertility. “Women are actively looking for tools that help them better understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their health,” said Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chief Medical Officer at wearable health tracker company Whoop. She said that according to the company’s data, menstruation is the second-most frequently logged behaviour among users in the GCC — one of the highest rates of menstrual logging globally. The surge in demand coincides with a broader boom in femtech investment. The sector attracted…