Author: Gulf News Week
Getty ImagesSymptoms of the intriguing illness were first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba in 2016The US government has paid nearly $3m (£2.2m) in compensation to victims of so-called Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological condition reported by spies, diplomats and their families.The payments are the first to be made to US agency staff in relation to the illness, reports of which began emerging a decade ago by CIA officers working in the Cuban capital.Since then, American staff based elsewhere, including China, have reported “anomalous health incidents”.Sufferers have described symptoms such as hearing a low hum, clicks, squeals…
‘We escaped Spanish wildfire, but our friends lost their lives’Hundreds of firefighters in Spain have been battling a deadly wildfire in the south of the country.22 mins agoEurope
Getty ImagesGary Lightbody formed Snow Patrol at the University of Dundee in 1994 – initially calling the band Shrug and Polarbear, before settling on their final formEver wanted to write a song so huge it becomes your pension plan? Here’s the secret: pretend you’re making it for someone else.That’s what Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody was doing back in 2005, in a garden shed owned by his friend and producer, Jacknife Lee.”We wrote 10 songs in a couple of hours, over quite a few bottles of wine,” he recalls.”It was essentially a session for other people and sometimes, that takes the…
ReutersPrince Harry played wheelchair rugby at an event promoting his Invictus GamesPrince Harry’s visit this week was meant to be the dramatic moment when his wife Meghan appeared before the UK public for the first time in almost four years.That would focus the world’s attention on his passion project, the Invictus Games, which would be promoted in London and Birmingham with a series of media-friendly events.Instead it turned into a series of unfortunate events – with crisis comms appearing to be hit by its own crisis – leaving behind a vapour trail of confusion.Meghan made no public appearances during the…
Artwork by Pakorn ChotchaiyapornArtwork by Pakorn ChotchaiyapornPalaeontologists in Thailand say they have discovered a new species of dinosaur from fossils found in Kalasin Province in the country’s north-east. The plant-eating dinosaur, named Uragasaurus kalasinensis, is thought to have lived about 150 million years ago.It had an unusually long neck and measured up to 20m (66ft) – roughly the length of a cricket pitch.Dr Apirut Nilpanapan from Thailand’s Mahasarakham University, the study’s lead author, told BBC Thai that the specimen was part of a large fossil collection from a site first identified in 2008, when a local man found fragments resembling…
Firefighters battle flames as deadly wildfire rages in southern SpainHundreds of firefighters in Spain are still battling to contain pockets of flames in the south east after one of the country’s worst-ever wildfires.Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bedar where 12 people have been killed – among them four Britons, according to Spanish authorities. Another 23 people are still missing.Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the number of dead could rise, with fears that more Britons are among those killed.A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across…
LIVEWorld Cup 2026: Spain set-up France tie but who will be favourites to reach final? Spain beat Belgium to set-up World Cup semi-final tie against three-time winners France. Who will be favourites to progress to the final?
LIVEMan held on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe’s murder released and no longer part of investigationPolice say the investigation into the former Conservative minister’s death is “moving at a significant pace” and are appealing for information.
Carl Recine/Getty ImagesJude Bellingham and Erling Haaland face off during the Champions League in 2025It is the football bromance that has consumed the internet during the World Cup.And on Saturday night when England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland face each other fans will be looking out for more than just goals.The pair’s long-standing friendship, dating back to their Borussia Dortmund (BVB) days, has produced some memorable clips – most of which have been given a new lease of life during the tournament.Footage of their camaraderie over the years has become a welcome antidote to toxic masculinity and the darker…
Watch: What it’s like to arrive in Liberland with a group of settlersThe Free Republic of Liberland doesn’t look like much from the boat.You would never guess that this flat, muddy stretch of floodplain on the Danube River, dotted with alder trees, tents and treehouses, is connected to some of the world’s wealthiest men – including the biggest initial investor in the Trump family’s crypto business.By contrast, the virtual reality version of Liberland I’m currently being shown, designed by Zaha Hadid’s ZHA architecture firm, features gleaming towers, floating public parks, and gravity-defying water features.The person showing it to me is…