Author: Gulf News Week

From Gosden’s Turf hopeful to Bentornato’s sprinting double bid and Pyromancer’s Derby test, connections lay out their strategies ahead of Dubai’s richest racing night. DUBAI — With the $12 million Dubai World Cup set to headline Saturday’s blockbuster card, trainers from around the world used Wednesday’s final preparations to reveal their ambitions across a support slate that, in any other setting, would command top billing. As Meydan Racecourse buzzes with activity ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Dubai Racing Carnival, connections are fine-tuning everything from draw strategies to track conditions, with veteran champions and emerging talents alike poised to take…

The Emirati oil executive said any Iranian restriction on the critical waterway forces “every nation” to pay higher prices, speaking after meeting with US Vice President JD Vance. WASHINGTON — The chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company has condemned any Iranian attempt to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz as “economic terrorism,” warning that such actions destabilize global markets and hurt consumers worldwide. Sultan Al Jaber, who leads ADNOC, delivered the sharp rebuke in a speech in the United States on Wednesday, framing the strategic waterway—a chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply—as a vulnerability that, if…

A California jury’s verdict against the tech giants over addictive platform design could reshape thousands of pending lawsuits from parents, states, and school districts. LOS ANGELES — In a landmark decision that threatens to upend decades of legal protection for major tech platforms, a Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Google and Meta liable in a social media addiction lawsuit brought by a young woman who said she became hooked on their apps as a child. The verdict marks a significant turning point in the growing legal battle over youth mental health and online safety. It is expected to influence thousands…

The termination of the US-Israeli war on Iran would require solid guarantees and a credible guarantor.On March 23, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran had reached “major points of agreement”. Shortly after, he claimed that Tehran had delivered a significant concession related to oil, gas, and the Strait of Hormuz.These statements, along with the decision to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, generated considerable diplomatic optimism. Global markets responded positively to what was perceived as a sign of de-escalation.This optimism, however, conflates two analytically distinct phenomena: the emergence of a mutually hurting stalemate, which creates the…

As such, it requires urgent action.For more than two weeks now, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted. Several vessels have been attacked, and many others have been stuck on the two ends of the strait, unwilling to take the risk of passing through.This has had not just regional but global repercussions. The strait is the principal gateway for several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to global markets. About 20 percent of the world’s petroleum and nearly a fifth of global liquified natural gas (LNG) flows pass through it. For this reason, the Strait of Hormuz is…

The Israeli military says it targeted two key cruise missile production sites, dealing another blow to Iran’s military infrastructure amid heightened regional tensions. Jerusalem: The Israeli military announced Wednesday that it had struck a naval cruise missile production facility operating under Iran’s Ministry of Defense in Tehran, marking a significant escalation in direct hostilities between the two regional rivals. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Israeli Air Force, acting on military intelligence, targeted “two key naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran” in recent days. The facility was used to “develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles,…

The Philippine vice president sends another ‘ad cautelam’ letter questioning the committee’s jurisdiction, as activist group Bayan accuses her of “utter disdain for truth, accountability, and justice.” Manila: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from Tuesday’s Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against her, instead submitting another legal letter challenging the panel’s jurisdiction and dismissing the proceedings as a “fishing expedition.” Duterte’s second ad cautelam—a Latin term meaning “with caution”—letter argued that the House of Representatives committee lacks the authority to conduct the hearing, maintaining that only the Senate has the power to hold an impeachment trial. She added…

Dr Anwar Gargash contrasts genuine support with ‘statements without action,’ challenging Arab and Islamic institutions to step up as the UAE faces nearly 2,200 projectiles from Iran. Abu Dhabi: The UAE has demonstrated resilience in the face of ongoing Iranian aggression, but top Emirati diplomat Dr Anwar Gargash has issued a pointed critique of international responses—drawing a sharp line between nations offering genuine support and those limiting themselves to “statements without action.” In a series of posts on social media platform X, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, delivered a candid assessment of the regional landscape as the…

The currency briefly breached the 94-per-dollar mark before RBI intervention steadied it, as surging crude prices, persistent foreign outflows, and a resurgent greenback create a “perfect storm” of volatility. Mumbai: The Indian rupee came under fresh pressure this week, briefly breaching the 94-per-dollar level for the first time before recovering to around 93.96 (Dh25.6) on Wednesday, as surging crude oil prices, persistent foreign investor outflows, and a resurgent US dollar combined to trigger one of the sharpest bouts of currency volatility in recent years. The currency slipped 20 paise in early trade on Wednesday after losing 23 paise in the previous…

Top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime rallies from 1-4 down to reach last eight, while second seed Alexander Bublik exits in straight-set upset. Dubai: Andrey Rublev emerged victorious from a clash between two former champions, defeating Ugo Humbert of France 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 to secure his place in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Rublev, who claimed the Dubai title in 2022, held firm against a determined challenge from Humbert—the 2024 champion—to extend his strong run of form. The Russian reached the semifinals in Doha last week and continues to build momentum on the ATP tour. Auger-Aliassime…