Author: Gulf News Week

Former leaders stumble in brutal conditions while seasoned duo show grit to share the halfway lead at Dubai Creek. DUBAI — Blustery winds and a sudden temperature drop turned the second round of the Dubai Invitational into a stern examination of resilience on Friday, with pre-tournament favourites Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood faltering as Shane Lowry and Nacho Elvira surged to the top of the leaderboard. Overnight leader McIlroy, the world number two, endured a tumultuous day at Dubai Creek Resort, finding the water four times on his way to a three-over-par 74. His round, featuring five bogeys and only two…

Kurdish-led forces redeploy east of the Euphrates after diplomatic efforts, as Syrian government extends humanitarian corridors for displaced families. RIYADH — The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced a withdrawal from positions east of Aleppo, following calls from allied nations and mediators seeking to avoid a wider confrontation with Syrian government troops. In a statement issued Friday, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi said the Kurdish-led forces would begin pulling back at 7 a.m. local time on Saturday, repositioning units east of the Euphrates River. The move came after a visit by a U.S. military delegation to the town of Deir Hafer, where officials…

Major new launches and high investor returns are set to drive off-plan transaction share and volume to new heights, experts forecast. DUBAI — Dubai’s off-plan property market is expected to extend its dominance in 2026, with industry reports and executives predicting a significant rise in both its market share and transaction volume, propelled by a wave of new project launches and sustained investor demand. Off-plan sales accounted for more than 70% of all residential transactions in Dubai in 2025, according to market analysis. Industry leaders now forecast this share will grow by an additional 10–15% in the coming year, as developers…

City and state leaders demand federal immigration enforcement leave Minnesota after violent incidents spark protests and a political crisis. MINNEAPOLIS — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded a man during an arrest attempt in North Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, marking the second shooting involving a federal immigration officer in the city in just seven days and escalating a volatile standoff between local leaders and federal authorities. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the incident began as an attempted traffic stop by the ICE agent, which led to a physical struggle outside a residence. “During the…

Despite Iran’s vulnerable position, any US strikes could risk triggering a protracted conflict, analysts say.Washington, DC – Donald Trump says his goal in Iran is to “win”.But the United States president has no easy path to victory against an ideological Iranian governing system fighting for survival, analysts say.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran says 3,000 people arrested as antigovernment protests subsidelist 2 of 3Analysis: Why a ‘quick and clean’ US attack on Iran won’t be easylist 3 of 3Iran in limbo: What’s next for country under internet blackout?end of listIran is likely to meaningfully retaliate against any attack…

Former UK prime minister’s role on Trump-led Gaza oversight committee expected to spur widespread condemnation.President Donald Trump has named former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to his so-called “Board of Peace“, which is expected to oversee the United States president’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza.The White House said on Friday that Blair would be among the board’s founding executive members, alongside Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US declares phase two of…

Nothing changes on ground for Palestinians needing ‘food, shelter, safety’, who see Trump’s plan as ‘distant, abstract’.Israeli attacks have killed at least three Palestinians in Gaza in the latest violations of its tenuous ceasefire with Hamas, a day after the United States announced the start of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people in the besieged territory.A 10-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and an elderly woman were killed in Israeli attacks on Friday, as members of a planned Palestinian technocratic committee sat down for the first time in Cairo to…

Internet access remains cut off as the streets of Tehran, other Iranian cities are largely calm after widescale unrest.The Iranian authorities say at least 3,000 people have been arrested in weeks of antigovernment demonstrations, state news agencies reported, as the mass protests have largely been quelled.The streets of the Iranian capital Tehran and other parts of the country were comparatively calm on Friday amid a heavy presence of security forces.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran in limbo: What’s next for country under internet blackout?list 2 of 3Iran holds more funerals after deadly unrestlist 3 of 3Analysis: Why…

The army enters the city of Deir Hafer in governorate of Aleppo and begins to comb neighbourhoods after the SDF withdrawal.The Syrian army is preparing to take control of areas previously held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).The forces on Saturday entered the city of Deir Hafer in the governorate of Aleppo and began combing the neighbourhoods after the SDF withdrawal.On Friday night, the Syrian army launched an operation against the Kurdish fighters in Deir Hafer, located some 50km (30 miles) east of the city of Aleppo, ordering Kurdish fighters to leave the area.media’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Zaalanah,…

Heavy presence of armed forces on streets as Iranians stay home in wake of deadly protests – and trials of ‘rioters’ set to start.Tehran, Iran – Most of Iran’s 90 million-strong population remains cut off from the rest of the world more than one week after an unprecedented, state-imposed communications blackout amid nationwide protests, which began in December and quickly turned deadly.The Iranian government abruptly cut off all internet access across the 31 provinces of the vast country on the night of January 8 when protests swelled into mass demonstrations against the clerical leadership, days after shopkeepers first shuttered their…