Author: Gulf News Week
US President Donald Trump has held off further strikes against Iran after Tehran and regional governments indicated that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be within reach.Trump said the planned military action would remain suspended while negotiators attempted to finalise terms covering maritime access, Iran’s nuclear programme and an end to attacks across the region. He warned, however, that the operation could be revived if an agreement was not completed quickly.The announcement eased immediate fears of another major escalation in the five-month conflict, which has disrupted energy shipments, raised oil prices and exposed Gulf infrastructure to missile…
Dubai Future Foundation and autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa have launched a joint venture to develop and deploy driverless logistics systems across the emirate’s ports, airports and industrial sites.The venture, named SHIFFT, will operate the Autonomous Logistics Future Lab as a platform for testing, validating and commercialising technologies designed to automate the movement of goods and industrial equipment. Its first commercial deployment in Dubai is planned before the end of 2027.Launched under the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Ecosystem, the lab will initially concentrate on autonomous vehicle operations at ports and airports, where predictable routes, controlled environments and high cargo…
Washington state wildfires trigger evacuationsState officials said wildfires across more than 250,000 acres have led to widespread evacuations and power outages.59 mins agoUS & Canada
BasarnasKMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry with thick plumes of smoke billowing from behind Five people have been found dead and 41 are missing after an Indonesian ferry carrying at least 250 people caught fire while at sea, officials say.The captain of the ship reported the fire – off Madura island – as the vessel sailed from the country’s second-largest city, Surabaya in East Java, to Makassar in South Sulawesi, according to Basarnas, the National Search and Rescue Agency. Footage played by local Indonesian news outlet iNews shows large numbers of people in life jackets on what appears to be a…
Emotional Kerr delivers moment Glasgow 2026 has waited forThere were no pacers and no wave lights. This was a Saturday night scrap – Glasgow rules – and Josh Kerr wasn’t going to let anyone beat him in that fight. 11 hrs agoCommonwealth Games
Kieran DoddsRosalie Moore is one of hundreds of ginger-haired subjects Kieran has photographedFor Kieran Dodds, photographing people with red hair has become something of an obsession over the past decade.The 45-year-old, from Edinburgh, who is himself a “proud ginger”, began taking pictures in his homeland in 2013 as part of a series examining Scottish identity.His interest in the subject soon took him to other ginger hotspots such the Russian city of Perm and Jamaica’s Treasure Beach.His 2020 book Gingers spanned the world but after its release he notice there was a “huge gap”.”Then all these people got in touch.”Kieran DoddsNicholas…
Alex WestAlex West says he remembers the months after the births of his two sons as “grey”Alex West was left harrowed by the difficult labour his wife endured for their first child. When it came to their second, he hoped for a much smoother arrival.The birth did go better for his wife – but not for him. “I had a panic attack and broke down. I hadn’t been able to – I didn’t have the ability to – process that,” Alex says.Unresolved trauma from his wife’s first labour and his subsequent postnatal depression meant Alex didn’t want to continue with…
A bruising 24 hours – what next for Fifa and under-pressure Infantino?Pressure is building on Gianni Infantino. Can he survive as Fifa president after the implosion of the controversial World Cup investment plan?8 hrs agoFootball
Arab Bank Group’s net profit after tax rose 7% to $570.9 million in the first half of 2026, supported by higher income, balance-sheet expansion and growth across its core banking operations.The Amman-headquartered group earned $535.3 million during the corresponding period of 2025. Total income increased 3%, with stronger commission and other non-funded income helping offset pressures arising from volatile economic and geopolitical conditions.Total assets expanded 7% year on year to $80.3 billion at the end of June, reflecting growth across the group’s regional banking network. Its loan portfolio increased 6% to $42.1 billion from $39.8 billion, while customer deposits advanced…
Queen Alia International Airport welcomed 3.74 million passengers during the first half of 2026, maintaining reliable operations despite conflict-driven flight suspensions, airspace restrictions and weaker demand for travel to Jordan.Passenger numbers fell 15 per cent from the corresponding period of 2025, when the airport handled about 4.4 million travellers and recorded its strongest first-half performance. The downturn reflected a volatile operating environment across the Middle East, where airlines repeatedly adjusted schedules, rerouted aircraft or temporarily suspended services.Airport International Group, the Jordanian company operating Queen Alia International Airport, recorded 32,311 aircraft movements between January and June, down 11.1 per cent year…