Author: Gulf News Week
Kelly Ng/ BBCDurian prices have plunged because of oversupply For days now, a long line has been snaking around the two blocks leading up to the Durian Ninja fruit stall in Tampines, a busy township in the east of Singapore. They are waiting patiently for the free fruit the seller has been giving away daily since mid-June: two durians per customer, about 600kg a day. This generosity is being fuelled by an oversupply of durian across the border in Malaysia, which typically produces about 550,000 tonnes a year.But an unusually abundant 2026 has crashed the price of the prickly, pungent…
BBCDeilisbeth Herreira’s two teenage daughters were at home when the earthquakes hit”Silencio” the rescuers scream turning towards the road with their fists up in the air, motioning to everyone to remain silent.The vehicles on the road stop plying. People stop talking. The diggers fall silent.A rescuer puts his ear to a hole they’ve just managed to drill through a concrete slab. Another one shines a torch into it.They’re listening to see if they can hear any sounds of survivors calling from under the rubble of a 12-storey building that stood by the side of a busy road in the coastal…
Alan DoneganKatie and Alan Donegan were able to retire when he was 40 and she was 35Every winter, Alan and Katie Donegan would avoid turning on the heating at their home in the south of England. “Instead, we wore extra layers and used hot water bottles – we turned it into a game,” says Alan. “It wasn’t suffering, it was strategy.”While the couple admit that others thought they were “extreme” or “mad” to put so much emphasis on not spending money, Alan explains that they were “laser-focused on buying freedom”.By “freedom” he means early retirement, which the Donegans managed to…
Getty ImagesNadiem Makarim’s supporters outside the court house in Jakarta booed as the verdict was read outThe co-founder of super-app Gojek who became Indonesia’s education minister has been sentenced to several years in jail for corruption.Nadiem Makarim, 41, was found guilty of manipulating a school laptop procurement deal during his time in government to enrich himself. He had pleaded not guilty.He received a sentence of 10 years in prison, but faces more jailtime as he is unable to pay restitution.Nadiem left Gojek in 2019 to join the government of previous president Joko Widodo, and served as education minister until 2024.…
‘It’s been an easy retransition’ – Williams on Wimbledon returnFor Serena Williams, everything and nothing has changed on her return to Wimbledon.2 hrs agoTennis
LIVEWorld Cup: Germany, Netherlands & Japan out as Paraguay, Morocco & Brazil progressReaction as Germany & Netherlands go out on penalties to Paraguay & Morocco, while Brazil overcome Japan to reach the last 16.
LIVELong-delayed UK defence spending plan with £5bn for drones to be publishedEarlier this month, the Treasury and No 10 agreed a £13.5bn increase in defence funding, well short of the £28bn the Ministry of Defence wanted.
AFP via Getty ImagesThe blast is reported to have occurred near the border with FranceAn explosion at a residential building in Monaco has injured three people, two of them critically.The blast occurred shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) after a bag was left outside the building on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, near the border with France.Minister of State Christophe Mirmand told AFP it was “very likely an attack” and police were investigating.He said the blast had been caused by an explosive device which appeared to contain bolts and pellets. The Monaco government said a suspect was seen on…
Getty ImagesA Hollywood director convicted of defrauding Netflix of $11m (£8.3m) last year has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Carl Erik Rinsch was accused of using Netflix funds intended to complete a science fiction series to buy cars, cryptocurrency and other luxuries for himself. The 48-year-old, best known for the 2013 film 47 Ronin, was convicted of federal fraud and money laundering for misusing funds.Rinsch faced up to 90 years in prison, but was expected to receive a lighter sentence. Speaking to the court before the judge issued his sentence, Rinsch apologised and said he…
ReutersUkraine is already deploying naval drones in its war with RussiaThe Royal Navy is to transform the way it operates over the next few years. Britain’s six Type 45 destroyers, designed for air defence, will no longer be replaced by the planned Type 83 versions. Instead, the Navy is to get several cheaper ships called Common Combat Vessels that will act as hubs controlling a fleet of uncrewed vessels or drones. The change is part of the long delayed but now updated Defence Investment Plan (DIP) being announced by the government this week.It’s called hybridisation – combining traditional crew-operated weapons…