• TOPSHOT - Billowing smoke and flowing lava are seen in this Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management , January 14, 2024, handout image during an volcanic eruption on the outskirts of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland. Seismic activity had intensified overnight and residents of Grindavik were evacuated, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported. This is Iceland's fifth volcanic eruption in two years, the previous one occurring on December 18, 2023 in the same region southwest of the capital Reykjavik. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. (Photo by Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management / AFP)
    TOPSHOT - Billowing smoke and flowing lava are seen in this Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management , January 14, 2024, handout image during an volcanic eruption on the outskirts of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland. Seismic activity had intensified overnight and residents of Grindavik were evacuated, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported. This is Iceland's fifth volcanic eruption in two years, the previous one occurring on December 18, 2023 in the same region southwest of the capital Reykjavik. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. (Photo by Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management / AFP)
  • Waves crash over the sea wall in Revere, Massachusetts, amid storms that have caused flooding in much of the north-eastern US. AFP
    Waves crash over the sea wall in Revere, Massachusetts, amid storms that have caused flooding in much of the north-eastern US. AFP
  • Hot air balloons fly during the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Santiago, Chile. AFP
    Hot air balloons fly during the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Santiago, Chile. AFP
  • Followers of the Nazareth Baptist Church attend a service on the Canaan Holy Mountain in Ndwedwe near Durban, South Africa, as part of an annual four-week pilgrimage. AFP
    Followers of the Nazareth Baptist Church attend a service on the Canaan Holy Mountain in Ndwedwe near Durban, South Africa, as part of an annual four-week pilgrimage. AFP
  • People swim in the water near the harbour in Moroni, Comoros, as the country holds a presidential election on Sunday. AFP
    People swim in the water near the harbour in Moroni, Comoros, as the country holds a presidential election on Sunday. AFP
  • Sailing teams take part in race 4 of the SailGP in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sailing teams take part in race 4 of the SailGP in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The newlywed royal couple Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah greet the crowd during the street procession of the royal wedding ceremony in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. EPA
    The newlywed royal couple Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah greet the crowd during the street procession of the royal wedding ceremony in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. EPA
  • Villagers in Guwahati, India, take part in a community fishing event to mark the Bhogali Bihu festival and the end of the harvest season. AFP
    Villagers in Guwahati, India, take part in a community fishing event to mark the Bhogali Bihu festival and the end of the harvest season. AFP
  • Supporters in Korhogo, northern Ivory Coast, celebrate their national football team's victory over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. AFP
    Supporters in Korhogo, northern Ivory Coast, celebrate their national football team's victory over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. AFP
  • Benito the giraffe, pictured at the Central Park of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, will be moved to a more spacious park after a campaign to save him from his small enclosure. AFP
    Benito the giraffe, pictured at the Central Park of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, will be moved to a more spacious park after a campaign to save him from his small enclosure. AFP
  • Horses at the stables of Christiansborg Palace are prepared for the ceremonial abdication of Danish Queen Margrethe on Sunday. Reuters
    Horses at the stables of Christiansborg Palace are prepared for the ceremonial abdication of Danish Queen Margrethe on Sunday. Reuters
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina handball player Nedim Hadzic plays in a match against the Netherlands at the EHF Men's EURO 2024 tournament in Mannheim, Germany. EPA
    Bosnia and Herzegovina handball player Nedim Hadzic plays in a match against the Netherlands at the EHF Men's EURO 2024 tournament in Mannheim, Germany. EPA
  • Republican presidential candidate and Florida governor Ron DeSantis attends a campaign event in Iowa before the caucus vote on Monday. Reuters
    Republican presidential candidate and Florida governor Ron DeSantis attends a campaign event in Iowa before the caucus vote on Monday. Reuters
  • Danes dressed in royal garb gather on Copenhagen's Christiansborg Castle square, where Crown Prince Frederik will take over the crown on Sunday upon the abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II. AP
    Danes dressed in royal garb gather on Copenhagen's Christiansborg Castle square, where Crown Prince Frederik will take over the crown on Sunday upon the abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II. AP

Today's best photos: from an Icelandic volcano eruption to the Danish coronation


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More from The National:

Saturday's best photos: From Swiss New Year to a new supersonic jet

Friday's best photos: From security personnel in Kabul to students in Taiwan

Thursday's best photos: From the Australian Open to Alexei Navalny

Wednesday's best photos: From Iraq's Police Day to a rehearsal at Sydney Opera House

Tuesday's best photos: From a procession in Manila to a rally in Saudi Arabia

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What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

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LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)

Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)

Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)

Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)

Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)

Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)

Eibar v Alaves (7pm)

Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)

 

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

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How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

Updated: January 14, 2024, 12:44 PM