Author: Gulf News Week
Palestinians express alarm following ‘intimidating’ call to family of imprisoned leader alleging new abuse in Israeli prison.Palestinian groups have expressed “grave concerns” about the safety of jailed political figure Marwan Barghouti after his son reported receiving a call about Israeli guards allegedly torturing the popular leader in an Israeli prison.Qassam Barghouti made the statement on Facebook on Friday, but later deleted the post, saying he was trying to obtain information about his father’s health from relevant agencies.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Four countries to boycott Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s inclusionlist 2 of 4Gaza war amputees mark International…
Ottawa cites similar move by US as well as Syrian government’s efforts to advance stability in the country.Canada has removed Syria from its list of states that support “terrorism”, citing a similar move by the United States as well as efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to “advance” the country’s stability.The announcement on Friday comes as Syria prepares to mark one year since the toppling of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Five key takeaways from Trump’s National Security Strategylist 2 of 4Crowds gather in Hama, Syria, to celebrate one year of liberationlist 3…
Investments boost Egypt’s economy, but rural poverty highlights unequal benefits from economic recovery efforts.Egypt found itself back on the international front pages in the second half of this year. The country played host to the Sharm el-Sheikh conference in October when US President Donald Trump rallied global and regional powers alike behind his ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip. Shortly after, in November, Cairo invited world leaders to attend the spectacular opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum next to the pyramids.Amid these eye-catching events, other domestic developments have received less attention. Most notable were Egypt’s parliamentary elections, with the…
From Washington to Copenhagen and Pretoria, blaming migrants has become the easiest governing strategy of our time.“I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, OK. Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason …”This is what United States President Donald Trump had to say about Somali migrants on the first day of an immigration crackdown targeting their community. He insisted that Somali migrants have turned the US state of Minnesota, where some 2 percent of the population is…
Report by NGOs also finds healthcare system largely not functioning in Khartoum, months after city recaptured by army.Ninety-seven percent of households in Sudan’s capital are facing food shortages, and the healthcare system has largely collapsed across the city, according to an assessment that reveals the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe gripping the war-torn country.The report, released this week by the humanitarian organisations Medical Teams International and Norwegian Church Aid, found that three-quarters of families in Khartoum consume fewer than 1,800 calories daily.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Rubio says Trump to get involved in Sudan peace efforts as…
Ousted Syrian leader’s former spy chief and billionaire cousin scheme to destabilise Syria with armed violence.Former loyalists to deposed Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad are funnelling millions of dollars to tens of thousands of potential fighters in a bid to start uprisings against the country’s fledgling government, a Reuters investigation has found.The plot, uncovered through interviews with 48 people and financial documents reviewed by the Reuters news agency, comes as Syria marks one year since al-Assad’s fall and as the new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa gains international legitimacy.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Syria’s Hama full of ‘hope,…
Thousands have taken to the streets in the central city, celebrating a new Syria free of al-Assad’s reign.Thousands of people have poured into the streets of Syria’s central city of Hama to mark one year since forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad were expelled days before the longtime ruler’s ouster.The atmosphere in the city – long a stronghold of opposition to al-Assad – is one of “hope and belief” in Syria’s future, reported media’s Assed Baig from Hama’s al-Assi Square.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Aftermath of Homs killings may mark turning point for Syria’s governmentlist 2 of 3Syria…
At least 27 Super Lig club players are suspected of having bet on matches involving their own teams.Prosecutors in Turkiye have ordered the detention of 46 people, including 29 footballers from top-tier clubs, club presidents, commentators and others, as part of a widening investigation into insider betting that has roiled the country’s professional football leagues.Among the arrested players, 27 were suspected of having bet on matches involving their own teams, the public prosecutor’s office in Istanbul said in a statement on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Is global sports betting out of control?list 2 of 3All you…
Head coach Ghalenoei is part of the delegation attending the draw despite saying they would boycott it over visa issues.Iranian football team’s head coach Ardeshir Amir Ghalenoei has arrived in Washington, DC, with a delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation, before the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026.FIFA confirmed the delegation’s presence in the United States capital on Friday, as preparations continue for the expanded 48-team tournament next summer, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.Iran initially said they would boycott the ceremony in the US capital over visa issues.While Iran had applied…
Lebanese leader urges UNSC to press Israel to respect the November 2024 ceasefire it has repeatedly violated.Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has met with a visiting United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation to discuss escalating tensions with Israel and efforts to disarm Hezbollah, a day after a wave of Israeli raids rocked the south of the country, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).Speaking with the UNSC team on Friday, Aoun urged them to pressure Israel to respect a November 2024 ceasefire it has violated on a near-daily basis and to withdraw from areas it continues to occupy in southern Lebanon.Recommended…