Author: Gulf News Week

Aymen Hussein’s second-half strike seals historic qualification as Iraq become 48th and final team to book ticket to 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and US. MONTERREY, Mexico — Forty years of waiting came to an end on Tuesday as Iraq secured their place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986, edging Bolivia 2–1 in a tense inter-confederation playoff to claim the tournament’s final berth. Aymen Hussein’s decisive 53rd-minute goal at the Monterrey Stadium ensured Iraq became the 48th and last nation to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the…

President to address nation as White House signals shifting ceasefire stance; Iran threatens US firms as regional fighting intensifies and civilian toll mounts. WASHINGTON/SHARJAH — President Donald Trump said the United States could end its military operations against Iran within two to three weeks and that Tehran does not need to agree to a ceasefire deal for the conflict to conclude. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump described a swift exit from what the Pentagon has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” saying the US “will be leaving very soon” and that the withdrawal timeline was “within two weeks,…

NewsFeedHow Pakistan positioned itself at the center of global crisis managementPakistan has emerged as a global crisis mediator amid the US war on Iran. By maintaining ties with Washington, Tehran, and Gulf powers, it is acting as a bridge between rivals while balancing economic and security pressures. Analysts warn that escalation could limit Pakistan’s flexibility, particularly given its security pact with Saudi Arabia. media’s Nour Hegazy explains.Published On 31 Mar 202631 Mar 2026SaveClick here to share on social mediashare2SharefacebooktwitterwhatsappcopylinkgoogleAdd media on Googleinfo

Expresses gratitude for UAE’s inclusive leadership and urges Pakistanis to avoid spreading unverified news. Irfan Mustafa, a proud Pakistani and senior resident of Dubai, has issued a heartfelt message to friends and family in Pakistan, reassuring them about the safety and well-being of the Pakistani community in the UAE. “No matter where we are, our hearts always stay connected to Pakistan,” Mustafa said. He confirmed that life for expatriates in the UAE continues as normal, with all safety measures in place. “We’d like to reassure our friends and family back home that everyone here in the UAE is safe, and…

Two military scenarios and one diplomatic one emerge, with Pakistan playing a crucial mediatory role.The ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran has thrust the Strait of Hormuz into the centre of a multidimensional geopolitical crisis. Since hostilities commenced in late February 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has repeatedly threatened or targeted vessels, suspending transit through the strait. This has resulted in what the International Energy Agency has characterised as the most acute supply disruption in the history of the global energy market.In this complex situation, three scenarios for what happens next emerge: Regional miliary action; joint international operation; and…

After a 43-hour, war-threatened 12,000km journey, the Lions of Mesopotamia face Bolivia in Monterrey with a first World Cup appearance in 40 years at stake — and a nation’s hopes on their shoulders. MONTERREY, Mexico — They arrived after a 43-hour odyssey across continents, their journey nearly undone by war. But when the Iraqi national team finally touched down in Mexico, they found something unexpected: a homecoming. As Iraq prepares to face Bolivia on Tuesday in a playoff final that would secure the nation’s first World Cup finals appearance in 40 years, the Lions of Mesopotamia have been embraced not just…

Elite Army forces join 2,500 Marines arriving over the weekend; Trump administration weighs potential ground missions including seizure of Kharg Island, uranium extraction, and securing the Strait of Hormuz. WASHINGTON — Thousands of soldiers from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, two US officials told Reuters on Monday, as President Donald Trump weighs his next moves in the ongoing war against Iran. The deployment significantly expands US military presence in the region and opens the door to potential ground operations inside Iranian territory — a option the Trump administration has been actively considering…

State actors and criminal enterprises are using deepfakes, autonomous malware, and AI-generated exploits to overwhelm corporate defenses, with average breach costs hitting $7.2 million, new study finds. DUBAI/LONDON — The rapid weaponisation of artificial intelligence amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has triggered a 340% surge in AI-fueled cyber breaches over the past six months, overwhelming traditional corporate defenses and driving financial losses to historic extremes, according to cybersecurity analysts and a new digital forensic study. Both nation-state actors and criminal enterprises have accelerated their use of AI since the onset of the Iran war on February 28, designing cyberattacks aimed at…

Maren Wade alleges the megastar’s record-breaking 2025 album threatens to “drown out” her long-running ‘Confessions of a Showgirl’ stage show, after the USPTO already rejected Swift’s trademark application. LAS VEGAS — Taylor Swift is facing a trademark infringement lawsuit from a Las Vegas entertainer who claims the pop superstar’s latest blockbuster album, The Life of a Showgirl, illegally conflicts with a stage show she has built over twelve years. Maren Wade, a performer and writer, filed the complaint on Monday, arguing that marketing for Swift’s 12th album has threatened to “drown out” her own long-running production, Confessions of a Showgirl. Wade is asking…

Israel has created an environment of impunity for attacks on healthcare that has spread well beyond Gaza’s borders.I saw a lot of death in Gaza. Not natural death. Brutal, methodical killing. But there is something particularly horrific about digging up medics buried in their uniforms that has stayed with me.Last year, I was working as a senior United Nations official coordinating humanitarian aid in Palestine when Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and Civil Defence first responders went missing in southern Gaza.For a week after they were killed, we did not know if they were dead or alive. Every day we…