Author: Gulf News Week

Lawyers for Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 in New Zealand’s 2019 mosque attacks, say he was determined to admit guilt—contradicting his current claim of being mentally unfit to plead. WELLINGTON — Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 worshippers in New Zealand’s 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, was “pleased” to be charged with terrorism and insisted on pleading guilty to that charge, his former lawyers told an appeals court on Tuesday. The testimony directly contradicted Tarrant’s current claim that he was mentally unfit when he admitted to the crimes, which he now seeks to withdraw. Tarrant, 35, was sentenced to…

The former India World Cup-winning coach targets a major upset at the 2026 T20 World Cup, applying lessons from Mumbai’s tough cricketing culture to inspire the UAE’s associate-level squad. Nearly two decades after masterminding India’s historic title run in the inaugural T20 World Cup, Lalchand Rajput is back on cricket’s biggest stage — but this time, his role could not be more different. Now head coach of the United Arab Emirates national team, Rajput faces a challenge far removed from the resources and spotlight of a cricketing superpower. As the UAE prepares for only its third T20 World Cup appearance…

The 2024 runners-up signal their intent with a powerful 57-run victory in Sharjah, setting the highest total of the tournament so far. South Africa launched their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 57-run victory over Canada at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, immediately stamping their authority as title contenders. Sent in to bat after Canada won the toss, the Proteas posted a formidable 213-4, the highest total of the tournament to date, powered by a devastating late assault. The innings was anchored by captain Aiden Markram’s fluent 59 from 28 balls and turbocharged by a ruthless, unbroken…

Aviation Authority says flights remain unaffected during notice period after Algeria initiates termination of 2013 bilateral pact. The United Arab Emirates’ aviation regulator announced on Sunday that flights to and from Algeria will continue operating normally despite Algiers’ decision to cancel the countries’ air transport agreement. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) stated that Algeria’s notification to terminate the 2013 air services pact “will not have any immediate impact on flight operations,” according to the UAE’s state news agency WAM. This response came a day after Algeria declared it had initiated the process of ending the bilateral agreement originally signed…

S&P Global report credits fiscal reforms and economic diversification for strengthening Gulf sovereign ratings amid persistent geopolitical headwinds. A new S&P Global report projects sustained economic growth across the Middle East in 2026, with the United Arab Emirates leading regional expansion through robust non-oil sector performance. The UAE’s real GDP is forecast to grow by 4.7% next year, with approximately 75% of this growth originating from non-hydrocarbon sectors. This momentum stems from Dubai’s dynamic private sector, Abu Dhabi’s substantial infrastructure investments, and expanding tourism projects across the northern emirates. “The UAE’s consolidated fiscal position is expected to maintain a surplus…

Sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure project with local partners FPT and Viet Thai Group aims to establish Vietnam as a Southeast Asian tech leader. Abu Dhabi-based technology conglomerate G42 will lead a $1 billion investment to build Vietnam’s sovereign artificial intelligence and cloud computing capabilities, in a landmark deal set to accelerate the country’s transformation into a regional tech hub. The partnership, formed with Vietnamese giants FPT Corporation and Viet Thai Group, will deploy advanced AI infrastructure across three data center locations in Vietnam. The initiative is designed to provide high-performance computing services for government and private sector use while…

Amid sanctions and threats of retaliation, Oman-hosted dialogue marks first diplomatic contact in over a year, with deep divides over scope of negotiations. SHARJAH — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a defiant tone on Saturday, declaring the country’s ballistic missile program “never negotiable” even as he confirmed that indirect talks with the United States would resume soon. The negotiations, held in Oman on Friday, were the first diplomatic encounter between the two adversaries since the collapse of nuclear talks and a subsequent regional war last year. Araghchi described the atmosphere as “very positive” and confirmed there was an informal opportunity…

January’s displacement numbers are particularly high in part due to the forced removal of an entire herding community in the Jordan Valley, OCHA says.Israeli settler violence and harassment in the occupied West Bank have displaced nearly 700 Palestinians in January, the highest number since Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, according to the United Nations.At least 694 Palestinians were forcefully driven from their homes last month, according to a statement by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Amnesty demands Israel drop death penalty…

media documentary identifies Gaza armed groups working with Israeli forces, tracking their movements and training sites.media is set to release a new investigation on armed groups in Gaza accused of collaborating with the Israeli military against Palestinians, detailing their names, movements and training locations, as Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave continues unabated.The investigation, a new episode of the programme What is Hidden is Greater, by media journalist Tamer Almisshal, will be broadcast at 9pm in Doha (18:00 GMT) on Friday. It includes audio and video material that the network says documents how individuals inside Gaza were recruited and operated.Recommended…

Analysts say US strategy unclear as Trump officials insist on including ballistic missiles, regional ‘proxies’ in talks.Washington, DC – The administration of United States President Donald Trump is entering the latest round of talks with Iran with a list of maximalist demands, even as their wider strategy remains unclear, analysts have told media.The talks in Muscat, Oman, on Friday are the first since the US attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities in June. They mark the latest chapter in US-Iran relations during Trump’s second term, which initially saw the president seek a new agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, before those talks were…