A spate of odd headlines is dominating the US news cycle, thanks to fighter jets shooting down a Chinese "spy balloon" and the subsequent destruction of three still-to-be-identified aerial objects that were spotted floating high across North America.
President Joe Biden addressed the phenomena on Thursday, saying he hoped to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to "get to the bottom" of things. China says its balloon, which US F-22 jets shot down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, was being used only to monitor the weather.
But the US says the huge vessel — 60m across — was carrying a surveillance platform the size of three buses and was being used to snoop on sensitive military installations and over nuclear sites across America's heartland.
“I make no apologies for taking down that balloon,” Mr Biden said.
According to US officials, the three subsequent shoot-downs were of much smaller objects, and these are not thought to be Chinese.
At first, the Pentagon could not identify how they were being kept aloft, prompting internet speculation that they may have been extraterrestrial in origin.
But the White House moved to debunk these theories, and Mr Biden on Thursday said the objects are not Chinese spy craft but are "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions".
We won't know what the three objects were until the US military finds wreckage from the vessels, which were shot down over rugged, remote and frigid terrain in Canada, the US state of Alaska, and over Lake Huron, which straddles the two countries.
Americans are alarmed that China, a top economic and potential military rival, was able to send a balloon over the US.
But this is not the first time an adversary has taken advantage of the prevailing winds from Asia to North America. And Americans have long been enthralled with the idea of alien spaceships visiting the country.
Japanese exploding balloons
During the Second World War, the Japanese tried to use the powerful west-to-east jet stream, which rips across the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, to bomb America.
Working day and night for more than two years, Japanese engineers developed a type of large balloon that could carry a payload of explosives and incendiary devices over more than 5,000km of open ocean.
The bombs were designed to explode over American cities, setting off fires and bringing terror and destruction to the civilian population. Ultimately, however, strict US government censorship of the balloons meant few Americans knew about them.
According to the Smithsonian Institution, the Japanese built nearly 10,000 of these vessels from laminated paper glued together with a substance made from potatoes, but only a fraction apparently reached the US. Many were shot down by US warplanes or else blown off course into remote, unpopulated areas.
Much of the labour involved in making these balloons, which were filled with hydrogen, was provided by conscripted school children.
"Nearly 285 sightings and fragment findings have been recorded in North America," the Smithsonian said. "This was the first and only attack upon the American continent directly from an enemy homeland."
An explosive balloon that landed in a wooded area near Lakeview, Oregon, killed six people when an 11-year-old girl found the device. Not knowing what it was, she called other people near and it exploded when she pulled on one of its strings.
A monument to those killed marks the location.
Japan's exploding balloon programme was considered unsuccessful, but it nonetheless was the only time a foreign adversary has bombed America using aircraft.
Mysterious airships
America had a fascination with rogue airships that pre-dated the Japanese attacks by decades.
Between 1876 and 1897, Americans in California, Texas, and midwestern states reported seeing mysterious airships, sometimes festooned with bright lights.
Witnesses reported that the large vessels zipped along at speeds unheard of at the time, and the craft were thought to be years ahead in design and capability compared with any of the clumsy airships that had been built in the 19th century.
America has been fascinated by the possibility of UFOs and alien visitors ever since.
The strange events of the past few weeks underscored how unidentified aerial phenomena are now a matter of serious Pentagon study.
Mr Biden started receiving intelligence briefings on the issue in June 2021, the same year that a government report documented more than 140 cases of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, that US military pilots had observed since 2004.
Mr Biden on Monday directed an interagency team to study the "broader policy implications" of UFOs.
Unexplained aerial phenomena, better known as UFOs - in pictures
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
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