Author: Gulf News Week
The son of the last shah has shifted from advocating civil disobedience to calling for a direct takeover of city centres, drawing accusations of ‘terrorism’ from Iran.For decades, Reza Pahlavi was the polite face of the Iranian opposition in exile – a former fighter pilot who spoke of nonviolent resistance and secular democracy from his home in the United States.But this weekend, the tone of the 65-year-old heir to the Peacock Throne and son of Iran’s last shah changed dramatically.In a direct challenge to the Iranian government, Pahlavi called on Iranians to “seize city centres” and prepare for his imminent…
It is also at the centre of the post-war state building project.When Syria’s civil conflict ended in December 2024 with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, hundreds of thousands of citizens were still bearing arms. Throughout the nearly 14 years of war, armed factions proliferated: from the broad spectrum of armed opposition factions in the northwest and the regime’s array of military and militia forces in central and western Syria, to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast and a complex network of militias throughout the south, and not to forget the likes of ISIS and al-Qaeda.In this context,…
Los Angeles police respond after a truck drives down a street filled with demonstrators marching in support of the Iranian people.A truck driver has been detained in Los Angeles, California, after speeding down a street filled with people demonstrating in support of protesters in Iran.Marchers were forced to scramble out of the way as a U-Haul box truck drove down a crowded road during the protest on Sunday. One person was hit, but nobody was seriously hurt, local police said in a statement.The truck was stopped several blocks away and surrounded by police cars. Footage from a local news helicopter…
SDF withdrawal prompts fragile truce as rescue teams clear booby traps and UN organizes convoys for displaced residents. ALEPPO, Syria – Rescue teams entered a devastated district of Aleppo on Sunday following days of intense fighting between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters over the integration of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national army. A temporary ceasefire took hold in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid, after clashes left at least 23 people dead and displaced more than 140,000 residents since Tuesday. The violence marked the most severe combat since the fall of…
Following severe weather events, firms are strictly interpreting policies; growing consumer awareness drives shift to comprehensive coverage. Insurance companies across the UAE are increasingly declining claims for vehicles damaged in floods, citing policyholder negligence as the key reason, senior industry executives have confirmed. The tightening of claims assessment follows the heavy rainfall events of April 2024 and December 2025, which caused widespread flooding. Insurers are now strictly applying policy clauses that exclude coverage for deliberate or negligent driving into known hazards. “A growing number of claims are being declined on grounds of negligence—such as driving into known flooded wadis, designated…
Second phase of voting proceeds in heavily controlled areas; UN expert denounces “engineered” poll designed to cement military rule. YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military government held the second phase of a tightly controlled national election on Sunday, a process widely dismissed by democracy advocates and international observers as a sham designed to legitimize the junta’s rule. Polling stations opened in select constituencies, including Kawhmu, the former seat of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her National League for Democracy (NLD), which won a landslide in the 2020 election, was banned after the 2021 coup, and the military has since imprisoned…
Weekly service from Kozhikode starts February 2026, enhancing connectivity for diaspora, pilgrims, and trade between key regions. Saudia Announces New Direct Flights from Kozhikode to Riyadh Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a significant move to bolster its connectivity with India, Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has unveiled plans to launch direct flights between Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala and the capital city of Riyadh. Scheduled to commence on February 1, 2026, the new route will feature eight weekly flights operating in both directions. This strategic expansion establishes Kozhikode as Saudia’s seventh gateway in India, joining its existing network that includes major hubs…
US president says Washington is closely monitoring protests in Iran and considering possible military intervention.United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington is considering “strong options” in response to the protests in Iran, including possible military intervention.“We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” he told reporters on board Air Force One late on Sunday.He said Iran’s leadership had called, seeking “to negotiate” after his threats of military action, and that a “meeting is being set up”.But he added that “we may have…
Israel claims its latest attacks on Lebanon were targeting alleged Hezbollah infrastructure.The Israeli army has carried out several attacks on southern Lebanon, killing one person, according to Lebanese authorities, with the military saying it targeted a Hezbollah fighter and infrastructure.The attacks on Sunday came days after the Lebanese military said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the first phase of a nationwide plan, though Israel has called those efforts insufficient.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israeli forces kill two in Lebanon, ahead of truce monitors meetinglist 2 of 3Everything you need to know about the…
Analysts say Musk’s move may give a small boost to some protesters, but matters little during internet blackouts.Amid intensifying protests in Iran, the world’s richest man has weighed in.On January 4, Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire owner of social media platform X, responded to a post by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that said “we will not give in to the enemy” by suggesting in Farsi that he was delusional.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran’s Pezeshkian pledges economic overhaul amid spiralling protestslist 2 of 3Sudan announces government’s return to Khartoum from wartime capitallist 3 of 3Hunger strike…