Author: Gulf News Week
ReutersPutin insists Russia’s war aims in Ukraine are being reached, even though initial plans were for a short military operationIf Vladimir Putin’s Russia had an official slogan, what would it be?”Russia is what it is, and we’re not ashamed of showing it,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov once told me in an interview.That fits.But I recently heard an updated version from veteran pop and folk singer Nadezhda Babkina.”Anyone who doesn’t like that,” she added, “can go and poison themselves.”In many ways, the line “they can go and poison themselves” encapsulates Russia in 2026 – unapologetic, unrepentant and uncompromising.Like Vladimir Putin himself.Since…
X/US Central CommandThe US military released video footage of the vessel purportedly being hitThe US says it has struck and “disabled an unladen oil tanker” that was sailing towards Iran, as part of Washington’s naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.US Central Command (Centcom) said a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Botswana-flagged M/T vessel, after its crew “ignored repeated warnings”.Centcom also released a footage purportedly showing the moment the tanker was hit on Tuesday. Iran has not publicly commented on the issue.The US military began enforcing its blockade of all vessels entering and…
BBCUkrainians knew a huge strike was coming. Since Russia threatened to step up attacks on the capital, Kyiv, about a week ago, many spent nights in underground shelters.We were two floors underground, and yet we could feel and hear the massive explosions above. Then came the Russian drones, possibly carrying more explosives or scouting out the damage done by the missiles. Then more missiles.More than 41,000 people – including almost 4,500 children – sheltered underground in the Kyiv metro overnight, a record number in recent years, the metro company said.Even though Moscow had said its attacks would get much worse,…
Getty ImagesUS President Donald Trump has named a housing official to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the country’s top spy chief who oversees 18 government intelligence agencies.Bill Pulte, part of a powerful home-building dynasty and a private equity financier, has no known background in intelligence, and his selection to temporarily fill the position is stirring controversy among lawmakers and others. Pulte has been accused of using his role of director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to target Trump’s perceived enemies by making criminal referrals over claims of mortgage fraud.Outgoing Director Tulsi Gabbard’s last day is 30…
MicrosoftThe Majorana 2 chipMicrosoft says its new quantum chip is vastly more reliable than its previous version, paving the way for a quantum computer solving commercially useful problems within three years.At the heart of quantum computing are qubits, which offer the promise of answering questions that defeat today’s machines, but are notoriously delicate and unstable.Microsoft says the qubits on Majorana 2, its new chip, survive for an average of 20 seconds, rather than the milliseconds of Majorana 1.That means the new chip is 1,000 times more reliable – an improvement in performance the tech giant compares to the difference between…
Nowak murder: Key moments of police bodycam footageBBC Verify has analysed bodycam footage that was released by the police of Henry Nowak after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa.41 mins agoHampshire & Isle of Wight
Free Lindsay and Craig CampaignLindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in Iran in 2025A British couple jailed in Iran on espionage charges have lost an appeal against their 10-year sentence, according to their family.Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while passing through Iran on a round-the-world motorcycle trip.They were accused of spying – charges they adamantly deny – and were sentenced in February. Both are currently on hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin prison.A member of their legal team in the UK told the BBC no reason was given for the rejection of their appeal. Lindsay’s son, Joe…
In one of his strongest remarks during the briefing, Grossi suggests that those responsible appeared to understand significance of the infrastructure The UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant passed a “test by fire” following the May 17 attack that disrupted external power infrastructure connected to the facility, according to the head of the UN nuclear watchdog. He praised plant operators for their response and stressed that there was never any radiological emergency. Speaking after visiting the Barakah plant on Tuesday, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he travelled to the UAE following the incident to…
Watch: BBC in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, where a hospital was damaged by an Israeli airstrikeIsrael continued its attacks in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, but did not strike Beirut following a partial ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.Lebanon said that, under an agreement announced by US President Donald Trump late on Monday, Israeli forces would not bomb the capital in exchange for Hezbollah not attacking Israel.It came after Iran said Israeli action in Lebanon jeopardised talks on a deal to end its war with the US.Following the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli military said it had intercepted…
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup (June 11–July 19) begins, we revisit the iconic players whose brilliance and leadership inspired generations of footballers In the 96-year history of the World Cup, an array of gifted players left their mark on the big stage. While countless players delivered outstanding performances for their teams in myriad pulsating battles, few stood out for their breathtaking skills, incredible vision, inspirational leadership qualities, and the rare ability to transcend sporting boundaries and become cultural icons. Now, with less than 10 days to go for the start of the 2026 edition of the…