Author: Gulf News Week

Massacres at the start of the war in Sudan should have shocked the world into action. They didn’t. And so more massacres followed.Over the last two months in Darfur, Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed horrifying atrocities in the city of el-Fasher. There, they have fired on and killed civilians already shattered by more than 500 days of siege; people already so starved they have been forced to eat animal feed.People who have managed to escape – often walking to the town of Tawila, 60km (37 miles) southwest of el-Fasher – are deeply traumatised. The killings have been…

As Syria celebrates one year since the fall of its longtime ruler, we look back at the events that followed that historic day.Syrians are marking the first anniversary of the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, as the fractured nation struggles to overcome sectarianism and rebuild its economy following 14 years of civil war.The 53-year-long rule of the al-Assad family ended on December 8, 2024, after a lightning 11-day offensive that took Syria and the world by surprise.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Hope, flags, fireworks as Syria starts to celebrate a year without al-Assadlist 2 of 3The fragile fight…

A team has begun the painstaking work of identifying the remains of the disappeared, but it could take years.Damascus, Syria – In the basement of a nondescript building in Damascus is the Syrian Identification Centre’s forensic laboratory with storage units full of human bones.One cabinet is entirely dedicated to ribs. Another contains skulls.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Week in Pictures: Syria salutes year of al-Assad fall, Sudan’s sufferinglist 2 of 3The fragile fight for justice in a post-Assad Syrialist 3 of 3How many Syrians have returned home one year since the fall of al-Assad?end of listThese are…

After Yasser Abu Shabab was killed, al-Duhaini has pledged to continue the Popular Forces’ campaign against Hamas.As the chapter closes on Yasser Abu Shabab, 32, the “Popular Forces” militia leader who appeared in Rafah during the war and was widely viewed as a collaborator with Israel, Ghassan al-Duhaini has been named his successor.Soon after Abu Shabab was killed last Thursday, reportedly during a family dispute mediation, al-Duhaini, who was said to be injured in the same altercation, appeared in a video online dressed in military fatigues and walking among masked fighters under his command.But who is Ghassan al-Duhaini? Has he just appeared,…

Five pitchers combine to secure 3-2 victory for Abu Dhabi franchise, setting up championship series against Mumbai Cobras. The Mid East Falcons defeated the Arabia Wolves 3-2 on Sunday, securing a tie for first place in the inaugural Baseball United regular season. In a tightly contested final game at Baseball United Ballpark, the Falcons’ pitching staff delivered a collective standout performance. Five hurlers combined to hold the Wolves to just five hits, led by starter Shotaro Kasahara’s three scoreless innings and Yunis Halim, who earned the win with two shutout frames. Closer Haru Shoshioka recorded the final three outs to…

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Festival plans a spectacular 62-minute fireworks display and 6,500-drone performance amid an expanded lineup of cultural shows and family activities Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba will welcome 2026 with a monumental New Year’s Eve celebration, headlined by a 62-minute fireworks show aiming to break five Guinness World Records and a synchronized drone display featuring 6,500 aircraft. The Sheikh Zayed Festival’s program will unfold in five segments from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, with the main pyrotechnic and drone spectacle capping the evening. The drone show, described as the world’s largest single sortie, will run for 20 minutes and…

Facing global monetary divergence and tech disruption, Middle Eastern institutions are balancing growth themes with structured defensive assets to hedge volatility and enhance returns. Middle Eastern institutional investors are recalibrating their strategies for 2026, directing capital toward artificial intelligence (AI), structured private credit, and flexible bond allocations in response to shifting global monetary policies and technological transformation. The Janus Henderson Market GPS Investment Outlook 2026 identifies a converging set of opportunities in AI adoption, European equity rerating, and a resurgence in biotech. For Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) investors—including sovereign wealth funds managing trillions—this global outlook reinforces a strategic move toward active, theme-based…

One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.December 8 marks one year since the al-Assad dynasty, which lasted 54 years, was removed from power by a rebel offensive.The 14-year-long war led to one of the world’s largest migration crises, with some 6.8 million Syrians, about a third of the population, fleeing the country at the war’s peak in 2021, seeking refuge wherever they could find it.More than half of these refugees, about 3.74 million, settled in neighbouring Turkiye, while 840,000 found refuge in Lebanon and 672,000 in Jordan.The animation below shows the…

Aid cuts mean UN is asking for just half of anticipated need and is forced to prioritise only the most desperate, despite increased instability and conflict across the globe.The United Nations has launched its 2026 appeal for aid by asking for just half the amount it says it needs, despite humanitarian needs globally being at an all-time high.The international institution appealed for $23bn on Monday, while acknowledging that, due to a plunge in donor funding, the figure would shut out tens of millions of people in urgent need of help.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UN chief says…

Historic 48-team format sets stage for group-stage clashes across U.S., Mexico, and Canada; Spain, France, England learn opening fixtures. FIFA has announced the complete match schedule for the 2026 World Cup, finalizing the group-stage roadmap for the tournament’s expanded 48-team format. The draw, held in Washington, sets up a series of high-profile opening matches and potential knockout-round blockbusters. Defending champions Argentina will launch their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, followed by Group J encounters with Austria and Jordan in Dallas. Fresh from their European Championship triumph, Spain will begin their quest in Atlanta’s climate-controlled stadium, facing…