Author: Sam Allcock

Popular Turkish pop singer İrem Derici has been at the centre of social media discussion after receiving an unexpected on-stage marriage proposal from her boyfriend, dancer and DJ Melih Kunukcu. The emotional moment took place during the wedding celebration of the couple’s friends, singers Burak Bulut and Eda Sakız. In front of a cheering crowd, Kunukcu got down on one knee, presenting a sparkling ring to the visibly stunned star. Footage of the proposal, which has since gone viral, captures Derici exclaiming: “I’m having the biggest shock of my life… forever, forever, yes, yes, yes,” before embracing her fiancé. The…

Typhoon Podul has swept into Taiwan’s eastern county of Taitung, unleashing heavy rain, high winds, and powerful waves that have forced the evacuation of more than 5,500 residents, according to officials. The storm struck on Wednesday, leaving communities already recovering from an earlier summer storm bracing for renewed damage. The Central Weather Administration reported wind gusts of up to 155km/h as Podul made landfall on Taitung’s coastline. Authorities swiftly moved to shut schools and government offices in affected areas, while airports cancelled hundreds of flights amid the deteriorating conditions. Widespread disruptionAt Kaohsiung International Airport, 252 domestic flights were grounded, while…

Pearl Abyss has confirmed that its highly anticipated open-world action RPG, Crimson Desert, will now launch in the first quarter of 2026, pushing back the release from its previously planned late 2025 window. The South Korean developer, best known for its MMORPG Black Desert Online, announced the delay during a recent conference call, citing the complexity of final preparations for the studio’s first large-scale AAA console game. “The launch of Crimson Desert, our first large-scale AAA console game, has been unavoidably delayed by one quarter,” the company said. “This is due to longer-than-expected timelines arising from schedule coordination and collaborations…

As Gulf families gear up for the back-to-school season, the scramble to balance school runs, homework, and household chores is set to return. LG Electronics says it has the answer to at least one of those challenges — keeping the home clean — with its CordZero cordless vacuum cleaner range. The company is positioning its latest models — the LG A9T-Lite, A9K-Core2, and A9LSlim — as time-saving, powerful, and user-friendly cleaning solutions tailored to modern family life. “Back-to-school is one of the busiest times for households,” an LG spokesperson said. “Our CordZero range is designed to help parents manage cleaning…

As summer winds down and families prepare for the return to school, Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel & Suites continues to offer sun-soaked experiences with its Summer of Cool programme. Situated on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, the resort combines adventure, relaxation, and world-class hospitality for memorable end-of-summer escapes. Guests can enjoy a range of accommodations, from standard rooms to expansive Four and Five Bedroom Suites featuring private pools, terraces, and built-in BBQ areas. These suites provide ideal settings for larger families or groups seeking a private retreat. For wellness-focused visitors, the resort offers the serene Wellness Room with Pool Access,…

Kuwait Telecommunications Company – stc has successfully concluded its 2025 summer training program, designed to provide university students with hands-on experience across a range of creative and technical disciplines. The initiative forms part of stc’s educational ‘upgrade’ program, a pillar of its broader corporate social responsibility efforts. Targeting students aged 17–24, the program drew over 600 participants from universities and academic institutions across Kuwait. Its core aim was to equip students with practical skills relevant to modern industries, combining theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. The training included specialized courses in photography and videography, cybersecurity, and specialty coffee brewing. Each course…

Oman Air and Turkish Airlines have announced a strategic partnership between their frequent flyer programmes, offering enhanced benefits and global mileage accrual opportunities for members. Effective from 1 August 2025, Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles programme, with over 21 million members, now connects to Oman Air destinations including Muscat, Salalah, and Khasab. Members can earn miles and enjoy rewards across Oman Air’s network, while Oman Air’s Sindbad members gain access to Turkish Airlines’ extensive global routes spanning Türkiye, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air, described the partnership as a major step…

General Motors (GM) is highlighting a changing face of truck ownership in the Middle East as it launches Truck Mania, a month-long campaign showcasing its Chevrolet and GMC pickups across the Gulf. The promotion, running from 13 August to 13 September 2025, spans showrooms in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, offering immersive product experiences, test drives, and special seasonal offers. The campaign celebrates a growing market share for GM’s truck lineup, reporting an 18% year-on-year increase in sales. Chevrolet and GMC pickups are resonating particularly with younger buyers and women, reflecting a broader cultural shift in the…

Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) has signed an agreement with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) to launch a wide-reaching breast cancer awareness and early detection campaign in Aqaba, targeting underprivileged women in the southern Jordanian city. The initiative, titled Awareness is Power, will combine education, community outreach, and direct support for screenings in an effort to tackle late diagnosis—a critical factor in breast cancer survival rates. Under the agreement, ACT will fund mammogram vouchers for women identified as needing further checks. The outreach will be conducted through home visits and organised transport for eligible women to undergo screenings. The project…

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is preparing for one of its busiest periods of the year, as millions of travellers return from summer holidays and students head back to the city ahead of the new academic term. Between 13 and 25 August 2025, DXB expects to welcome more than 3.6 million passengers, averaging 280,000 per day. The busiest single day is forecast for Friday, 15 August, when traffic is projected to exceed 290,000 passengers. The anticipated surge comes after a record-breaking first half of 2025, which saw Dubai host 9.88 million international overnight visitors—a 6% increase on the previous year. DXB…