Author: Gulf News Week
Getty ImagesMacron and bin Salman share a passion for Dragon Ball Z, according to the Élysée Three theme parks will be built near Paris as part of a €6bn (£5.13bn) deal agreed between France and Saudi Arabia.The new development is expected to include a manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move as on a scale not seen “since Disneyland Paris”, and added “you know my interest for manga”.An opening date for the parks – which will be built near Cergy-Pontoise – has not set by the Élysée Palace, but they…
Variety via Getty ImagesKit Harington has been tapped to join the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series as the wizarding world’s celebrity-turned-Hogwarts instructor Gilderoy Lockhart, HBO confirmed to the BBC.Harington is replacing actor Nicholas Hoult who could not film season two of the series due to a scheduling conflict.Best known for playing Jon Snow for eight seasons in the award-winning series Game of Thrones, Harington also appears in the BBC and HBO financial drama Industry. The casting marks the English actor’s third collaboration with the American network and streamer.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is due to premiere on Christmas…
EPADonald Trump accused Canada on Monday of “ripping America off”, threatening to hike US tariffs on Canadian autos in the new yearPresident Donald Trump has threatened to hike US tariffs on automobiles originating in Canada, as the trade war between the two neighbours continues to heat up.Trump said on Monday that he will increase tariffs on Canadian cars and trucks, as well as auto parts, from 25% to 50% as of 1 January. It comes after US-Canada trade talks collapsed late last week, with each side accusing the other of making unreasonable last-minute demands.Prime Minister Mark Carney called Trump’s latest…
Getty ImagesThe US announced a host of sanctions against Iran and threatened its supporters in what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said was “the single greatest financial offensive ever”.Labelling it an “economic D-Day” for Iran, Bessent said the US would sever all economic ties with the country and added that any nation financially partnering with Iran would also be isolated. However, the latest threat to the Iranian regime follows several U-turns and extended deadlines from the White House in its efforts to end the conflict.The war has led to hikes in global oil prices, and in response to the latest threat…
AFP via Getty ImagesAhmed Hassoun, 77, was Syria’s grand mufti between 2005 and 2021 A court in Syria has sentenced the country’s former top Muslim cleric to life in prison after convicting him of crimes including inciting civil war and complicity in intentional killing.Ahmed Hassoun, 77, was grand mufti between 2005 and 2021, during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus found the official religious establishment that he led was used to “provide cover” for regime military and security operations during the 13-year war, including the dropping of barrel bombs, state news agency Sana reported.Hassoun,…
Is UK’s Storm Shadow missile a game changer for Ukraine?Correspondent Joe Inwood breaks down the weapons technology that could make a difference in the Russia-Ukraine war.4 hrs agoEurope
NurPhoto via Getty ImagesA Palestinian boy holds up a kite at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City on SundayIsrael has warned Hamas that it will increase strikes on Gaza following concern over launches of kites, drones and balloons from the territory.Several kites were found in an Israeli community near the border with Gaza over the weekend, local media reported.”Forceful actions will be taken to put an end to this phenomenon,” Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday.Before the war, kites and balloons carrying incendiary devices were launched into Israel, causing fires that burned forest and farmland.The group…
LIVETrump threatens new tariffs on Canadian vehicles after trade talks collapsePrime Minister Mark Carney has promised “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures to counter US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods.
Getty ImagesThe world’s oceans are hotter than ever recorded, new data suggests, as they suffer from human-caused climate change and the growing El Niño weather phenomenon.The average surface temperature of the planet’s seas outside the polar regions hit 21.1C (70F) on Saturday, according to figures from the European Copernicus climate change service.That edges past the 21.09C recorded on three separate days in March 2024, and is far above average for the time of year.Warmer oceans can have wide-reaching consequences, including supercharging extreme weather, raising sea levels and harming marine life.”El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is…
Getty ImagesDutch public broadcaster Avrotros has pulled out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, saying that the competition can no longer be considered neutral while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict.In a statement released on Monday, the broadcaster said the decision was due to a lack of clarity from organisers – the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) – over assessing which countries could compete.Avrotros added: “The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom have contributed to increasing divisions surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years.”Earlier this month, the EBU updated its…