Author: Gulf News Week

The Indonesian Defence Ministry says troops are likely to focus on health and reconstruction if sent to the enclave.Indonesia is readying up to 20,000 soldiers in preparation for a planned international stabilisation force (ISF) in Gaza, its defence minister has said, the makeup and powers of which have been a thorny subject of contention.Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters on Friday that the soldiers were likely to focus on healthcare and construction-related tasks if sent to the Palestinian enclave ravaged by more than two years of Israel’s genocidal war.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN chief warns Gaza stabilisation force…

The besieged Palestinian enclave has the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita.Some Palestinians who have lost a limb in Israel’s war on Gaza are creating homemade prosthetics to help themselves adjust to their new lives, due to the Israeli destruction of the territory’s medical facilities, their supplies, and the blocking of desperately needed equipment.Since the conflict began in October 2023, 42,000 Palestinians have suffered life-altering injuries, with roughly 6,000 having an amputation or experiencing severe limb or spinal injuries.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US pushes Security Council to back Gaza plan as Russia offers counter…

Despite the US-brokered October ceasefire mandating the passage of humanitarian aid, only a fraction of the aid needed for Gaza’s population has been let in by Israel.The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has accused Israel of deliberately crippling its operations and blocking the entry of vital aid to Gaza amid its more than two-year genocidal war, as Palestinians face the onset of heavy rains and winter with sparse shelter or relief.“Safeguarding UNRWA’s mandate and operations is required under international law; it is vital to the survival of millions of Palestinians; and it is essential for a political solution,”…

Following the interception of a private jet loaded with ammunition, UAE prosecutors prepare criminal case against suspects accused of running a covert weapons pipeline to Sudan’s Port Sudan Authority. ABU DHABI – The UAE has completed a major investigation into an international arms smuggling ring and will soon put the suspects on trial, after security forces uncovered a sophisticated operation to funnel weapons and military gear to Sudan. The cell was apprehended after authorities, acting on a judicial warrant, discovered a significant quantity of heavy-caliber Goryunov-type ammunition during an inspection of a private aircraft at a UAE airport. The bust also…

A perfect storm of holidays and the longest winter break in memory is fueling a 35% spike in December travel, with early planners snapping up flights to destinations from Vietnam to Latvia. DUBAI: A convergence of holidays and an unprecedented month-long school closure is triggering a major travel surge from the UAE, with industry leaders reporting a 35% jump in December bookings as residents craft their longest winter escapes yet. The extended break, running from December 8 to January 4, allows travelers to weave National Day, Christmas, and New Year’s into a single, extended trip. This has effectively created a new…

As the paramilitary RSF secures its capture of Darfur’s last major city, survivors recount a systematic campaign of killings and extortion, forcing tens of thousands to flee for their lives into Chad. TINE, Chad – The capture of the Sudanese city of El-Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, with nearly 90,000 people fleeing in a desperate exodus over the past two weeks, according to UN estimates. Refugees arriving at camps in Chad bear witness to the calculated brutality that followed the city’s fall on October 26. Their testimonies paint a picture of summary…

The World No. 4, buoyed by his FedExCup and Ryder Cup triumphs, sees this week’s DP World Tour Championship as the perfect finale to a dream year. DUBAI – Tommy Fleetwood arrives at the DP World Tour Championship with a palpable sense of anticipation, believing his landmark 2025 season could culminate with a long-awaited victory on his home course. The English golfer, who resides in Dubai, has twice been a bridesmaid at the event, finishing second in 2019 and 2023. But with the confidence of a first PGA Tour title, a Ryder Cup victory, and a recent win in India, he…

Tourism Development Fund’s major agreements at TOURISE 2025 also include a sustainable Riyadh hotel and a heritage-focused Jeddah partnership, advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. RIYADH – In a significant move to expand its sustainable tourism offerings, the Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) sealed deals worth more than SR700 million ($186.6 million) during the TOURISE 2025 forum. The signings highlight a strategic drive to create destinations that merge luxury with ecological and social responsibility, directly supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda. The centerpiece of the announcements is the Basqat Mantis project in the AlUyaynah area. Slated to be the largest resort under…

The US mission to the UN warned Palestinians could suffer “grave consequences” if the body did not back its plan soon.The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to officially back its draft resolution aimed at bolstering President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, warning that Palestinians could suffer “grave consequences” if it does not.The call came as Russia presented the council with its own “counter-proposal” on Gaza, challenging Washington’s draft, according to a copy seen by the Reuters news agency.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump formally asks Israel’s president to pardon Netanyahu after Gaza…

Chartered plane carrying group of Palestinian passengers was second to land in South Africa in recent weeks.South Africa has allowed more than 150 Palestinian airline passengers to disembark, after they were kept on a plane for almost 12 hours by the country’s border police, authorities said.South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs authorised the passengers to get off the plane on Thursday night after a local humanitarian organisation guaranteed to provide the passengers with accommodation during their stay in South Africa if needed.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Will Gaza ceasefire change South Africa’s ICJ genocide case against Israel?list…