Wildfires devastate Hawaii, UAE enforces stricter healthcare, and more, Gulf News Editors comment on August 10 trending news

WILDFIRES DEVASTATE HAWAII: The historic town of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii, lies in ruins as wildfires, intensified by hurricane winds, claim at least 36 lives and leave hundreds of buildings destroyed. Amid the devastation, it is crucial to confront the reality of climate change, which fuels such disasters. These tragic events underscore the urgent need for collective action to address climate change's increasing impact, as our planet faces rising frequencies of wildfires and extreme weather. As firefighters and first responders work tirelessly to save lives and contain the fires, the heartrending stories of individuals jumping into the ocean to escape the flames reveal the desperate measures taken. This catastrophe should serve as a poignant reminder of our duty to combat climate change, safeguarding our environment and ensuring a safer future. (By Sadiq Shaban, Opinion Editor)

PROFESSIONAL LICENCE: Stricter penalties for unlicensed health practice have been introduced in the UAE, as outlined in recently-approved federal laws and amendments. These changes focus on regulating health professions, private health institutions, and the veterinary sector. They mandate tougher measures against unlicensed or substandard practice, underlining the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers. The regulations extend to non-physician health workers, including nursing, medical laboratories, physiotherapy, and more. Those practicing without proper licenses or using fraudulent means will face severe consequences. The helps ensure that no individual is permitted to practice a health profession without obtaining a license from the health authority. (By Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor)

WEWORK'S SHARES PLUMMET: WeWork's shares neared rock bottom after a former high-flyer startup cautioned about potential bankruptcy. Once valued privately at $47 billion, the SoftBank-backed firm's fortunes soured when its 2019 IPO plans crumbled amid losses and governance issues. Although it finally went public in 2021 at a much lower value, profitability remained elusive. Despite SoftBank's massive support, WeWork struggled. Its shares plunged by 38.5 per cent, trading at just 12 cents, with a mere $260 million valuation. Leadership turmoil, pandemic impact, and financial losses have bruised the company, prompting the search for a new CEO as WeWork aims to salvage its future. (By Nivetha Dayanand, Web Editor)

THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS BACK: Defending champions Manchester City will begin their title defence against the newly-promoted Burnley on Friday and Pep Guardiola's men will be keen to begin on a high note. City not only won the Premier League for a fourth time in five years last season, but completed a treble of FA Cup and the club's first ever Champions League. Arsenal and Manchester United have made big spendings this season in a bid to stop the Abu Dhabi owned team. Both the teams will try to end their title drought, while Liverpool and Chelsea will also be looking forward to bounce back from last season's disappointment. Let the show begin. (By Jai Prasad Rai, Assistant Editor)

BARBIE AND RAJINIKANTH FEVER GRIPS THE UAE: It’s not often that two films in polarising genres and languages hit the UAE cinemas in the same weekend. But two of the year’s most anticipated films – Rajinikanth’s Tamil-language ‘Jailer’ and Margot Robbie’s candy-flossed ‘Barbie’ are releasing today and fans can’t keep calm. Gulf News learned that more than 2,500 fans have been queuing up as early as 4.30am today to watch Rajinikanth’s mangnum-opus Jailer, while the pre-booking for ‘Barbie’ has been equally robust. This is great news for UAE cinemas and distributors who faced a rough spell during COVID-19 when entertainment which included a trip to the outdoor cinemas took a backseat. But that’s a thing of the past. The incredible reception for both ‘Barbie’ and ‘Jailers’ – films that are contrasting and disparate – are getting a lot of love from various quarters. And we are happy since there’s nothing more satiating than a well-made film that helps you escape into another world. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)