Author: Gulf News Week

At least 80,000 people displaced as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis deepens after the RSF’s capture of el-Fasher.In western Sudan, the number of people fleeing el-Fasher and its surrounding villages in North Darfur in search of safety is rising.As of Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration estimated that 81,817 people have been displaced in the area – most on foot – since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the city on October 26, ending an 18-month siege and driving out the Sudanese army.Many of the displaced have sought refuge in different parts of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, and…

The Gulf carrier capitalizes on its eight-year investment as Cathay repurchases the 9.7% stake at a 35% premium, bolstering its core shareholder structure. HONG KONG: In a major financial move, Qatar Airways has agreed to sell its entire 9.7% holding in Cathay Pacific Airways for HK$6.97 billion ($897 million), concluding a strategic investment held since 2017. Cathay Pacific will finance the share buyback from its own resources, paying HK$10.8374 per share—a price that secures a significant 35% return for the Doha-based carrier on its original investment. A Premium Exit and a Strategic Buyback The transaction underscores a profitable exit for Qatar Airways and a…

A new wave of fintech platforms is democratizing gold ownership in the Emirates, allowing users to start with investments as small as 0.1 grams and build their savings digitally. DUBAI: The age-old tradition of gold savings is getting a modern, digital makeover in the UAE. With record-high prices making physical bars less accessible, a surge of residents is turning to app-based platforms to invest in fractional gold, with typical transactions as low as Dh500. This new model of “micro-investing” is attracting a younger, tech-savvy demographic who are integrating gold into their regular financial habits, topping up their digital vaults in small, frequent…

Emirates Cements Global Lead with Another Staggering Profit Record The Dubai aviation giant posts a Dh12.2 billion pre-tax profit for H1 2025-26, defying industry headwinds as it expands its fleet and premium services. DUBAI: Emirates has once again raised the bar for global aviation, announcing a historic Dh12.2 billion ($3.3 billion) in pre-tax profit for the first half of the 2025-26 financial year. This achievement marks the fourth year in a row the airline has shattered its own half-year profit records, firmly retaining its title as the world’s most profitable airline. The Group’s net profit climbed to Dh10.6 billion, a robust 13%…

Dubai Holdings Entertainment unveils major expansion plans, including the Oasis Bay Waterpark and a transformed Riverland district, while Global Village will stay a seasonal fixture. DUBAI: Get ready for a splash: Dubai is gearing up to open the “one-of-a-kind” Oasis Bay Waterpark, which will feature the largest pool in the region, a top executive has confirmed. The highly-anticipated attraction, set within Dubai Parks and Resorts, is part of a wider strategy to supercharge the emirate’s offerings for families and tourists. While the exact opening date is yet to be revealed, officials say an announcement is imminent. “We are focused on transforming the…

Annual awards gala spotlights government and HR leaders driving innovation, youth inclusion, and digital change. ABU DHABI – In a celebration of the region’s human capital progress, the 13th GCC GOV HR & Youth Empowerment Awards recognised the outstanding individuals and organisations building the future of work across the Gulf. The high-profile event, organised by QnA International and held at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, convened hundreds of top-tier executives and policymakers. The awards highlighted groundbreaking work across critical areas such as digital transformation, leadership, youth empowerment, and sustainability, setting new benchmarks for excellence in the public and private sectors. This…

Aid groups call for unimpeded assistance to Gaza as displaced Palestinians turn to local community kitchens for help.Hamas has returned another body of a deceased captive to Israel as Palestinians across the Gaza Strip brace for cold winter months amid a lack of adequate shelter, food and other critical supplies.The Palestinian group announced on Wednesday that it was returning the remains of an Israeli captive via the International Committee of the Red Cross.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘Race against time’: Palestinians suffer from hunger in Gaza despite trucelist 2 of 4Israel’s focus on political drama rather than…

Leaked footage of rape of a Palestinian detainee last year leads to legal repercussions – but not for those accused.The revelation last week by Israel’s top military lawyer, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, that she leaked the footage of a gang rape of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military detention centre in 2024 has shaken the country’s political and media establishment.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – whose leadership of the genocidal war on Gaza has drawn global condemnation – called the leak “perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced”. Critics of Netanyahu’s…

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces fighters are abducting thousands of people for ransom as they flee the city of el-Fasher.When Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the besieged city of el-Fasher on October 26, Mabrooka’s husband and brother ran for their lives.The plan was for them to head to Tawila – about 60 kilometres (37 miles) away – where Mabrooka would be waiting for them with her three small children. By sundown, they had still not arrived.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3New light shed on el-Fasher horror as survivors arrive in Sudan’s Tawilalist 2 of 3The TikTok-famous…

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says a missile hit a car in Burj Rahal town in Tyre district, the latest in a series of attacks despite a ceasefire.Beirut, Lebanon – An Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon has killed one person and wounded another, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health says, as Israel ramps up its cross-border attacks in defiance of a ceasefire.The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that an “Israeli enemy raid” struck a car in the town of Burj Rahal in the southern district of Tyre.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israel strikes southern Lebanon, killing two…