Author: Gulf News Week

Palestinians still waiting for the Red Cross to turn over the bodies either in Khan Younis or Gaza City.Israel has handed over the bodies of 15 Palestinians to the International Committee of the Red Cross in exchange for the final Israeli captive, whose remains were recovered by Israeli forces earlier this week, closing the chapter on this part of its more than two-year genocidal war on Gaza.media’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza, said Palestinian authorities are still trying to determine whether the bodies of the Palestinians will be released at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis or at al-Shifa Hospital in…

From enriched uranium and ballistic missiles to sanctions and regional influence, the US and Iran have very different demands.The United States and Iran are engaged in increasingly hostile rhetoric as US warships move into the Arabian Sea, despite regional nations seeking a diplomatic solution to prevent a military flare-up.US President Donald Trump warned this week that “time is running out” for Iran to return to talks to reach a new deal on its nuclear programme.Trump said the naval forces he was sending to Iran’s neighbourhood were even greater than those that he deployed to the coast of Venezuela before US…

Military raids come as Israeli settlers are accused of storming Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, a burial ground believed to belong to the biblical father of Jesus.Israeli forces have detained dozens of people after storming several areas across the occupied West Bank, including the home of a Palestinian man who was shot and killed by Israeli forces in Bethlehem.The latest raids early on Thursday come as Israeli settlers stormed Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, a gravesite believed to be the burial place of Joseph, the father of Jesus, according to media Arabic.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israeli assault on…

The fines together total more than $1m, and players from both teams are banned after Africa Cup of Nations final walk-off and chaos.African football’s governing body has issued fines worth more than $1m and banned Senegal’s coach and Senegalese and Moroccan players over a shambolic African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final that involved a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans trying to storm the field and fights among journalists.The bans, announced on Thursday, apply only to African games and not the World Cup, which kicks off in June and which Senegal and Morocco have both qualified for.Recommended Stories…

A reported dispute over passenger numbers and a new ‘remote control’ surveillance mechanism reveal Israeli pressure to engineer a one-way flow of Palestinians out of Gaza.As preparations accelerate for the partial Israeli reopening of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, a simmering dispute has erupted between Egypt and Israel regarding which and how many Palestinians may leave and return.Many are seeking urgent medical attention that cannot be found in a healthcare system decimated by Israel in its more than two-year genocidal war. Others want to reunite with family or pursue an education, all put on hold because of…

Interior Minister Anas Khattab’s order includes all listed as stateless and sets February 5 as deadline for its rollout.Syria’s Ministry of Interior has ordered the immediate implementation of a new decree granting citizenship to Kurdish minorities, as government forces continue to consolidate control of the country after a rapid offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north of the country.Interior Minister Anas Khattab issued the decision on Wednesday, mandating that the decree applies to all Kurds residing in Syria and explicitly includes those listed as stateless, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing the Syrian television station Alikhbariah.Recommended…

Precious metal hits fresh record as US President Donald Trump renews threats against Iran.Gold prices have set a new record amid United States President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against Iran and the weakness of the US dollar.Bullion surged past $5,500 an ounce on Thursday, extending an extraordinary rally that has seen the precious metal gain more than 20 percent in value since the start of the year.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda with 1.4m followers reports TikTok banlist 2 of 4Elon Musk’s Tesla reports first-ever annual decline in revenuelist 3 of 4‘Even…

Trump administration considers targeting Iranian leaders and military assets to spur regime change, while Gulf allies warn of catastrophic blowback and Tehran prepares for confrontation. DUBAI – The Trump administration is actively considering military strikes against Iranian security forces and leadership figures with the explicit aim of inspiring renewed anti-government protests and creating conditions for regime change, according to multiple U.S. and regional sources. The deliberations, confirmed by two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, come in response to Iran’s brutal crackdown on nationwide protests earlier this month that reportedly left thousands dead. Options under review range from targeted strikes against…

Arctic air mass brings historic cold and paralysis; recovery efforts hampered as freezing temperatures forecast to last into February. A catastrophic winter storm fueled by a destabilized polar vortex has killed at least 30 people and left more than half a million customers without power across the United States, as a life-threatening Arctic air mass stalls over the nation. The storm, delivering a brutal mix of heavy snow, freezing rain, and hurricane-force winds, has paralyzed regions from New Mexico to Maine. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that much of the northern U.S. will see temperatures “continuously below freezing through…

Historic deal integrating a quarter of the global economy opens India’s vast market, as both sides diversify alliances amidst global trade shifts. India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a historic free trade agreement, a move announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that marks the end of nearly 20 years of intermittent talks. The pact bridges two economic giants, collectively representing a quarter of the world’s GDP. The agreement is set to significantly lower barriers to India’s vast consumer market for the EU’s 27 member states, which is already India’s largest trading partner with bilateral commerce…