Author: Gulf News Week

Tributes pour in for former Palestinian envoy to France and EU, remembered as ‘voice for justice, freedom and peace’.Leila Shahid, the first female diplomat to represent Palestine abroad, has died at age 76, drawing an outpouring of condolences and tributes.Citing Shahid’s family, Le Monde newspaper said the former Palestinian ambassador to France died on Wednesday at her home in the south of the country.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The Take: She took on Britain’s Palestine Action ban. Then she won.list 2 of 3How Jesse Jackson helped empower US Arabs and lift up the Palestinian causelist 3 of…

Democrats and rights advocates demand accountability after Florida’s Randy Fine posts inflammatory statement, with CAIR calling him a designated extremist. WASHINGTON – Republican Representative Randy Fine is under mounting pressure from Democratic leaders and civil rights groups after posting on social media that “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” the latest in a long history of anti-Muslim rhetoric from the Florida lawmaker. The Sunday post on X, which amassed over 40 million views by Tuesday, drew swift condemnation from high-profile Democrats including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called for Fine’s resignation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries…

Drivers report a 30% surge in attacks since the Gaza war began, alleging police inaction as a fatal incident thrusts the crisis into the national spotlight. JERUSALEM – A tragic chain of events involving a Jerusalem bus driver has laid bare what advocates describe as a systemic failure to protect Arab drivers from racist attacks across Israel. Fakhri Khatib, a Palestinian driver from East Jerusalem, was surrounded by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish crowd in early January. As protesters shouted “Arab, Arab!” and spat on him, Khatib called police for help. When none arrived, he drove off in fear—unaware that 14-year-old Yosef Eisenthal…

Al Wafir fails to secure controlling stake as only 24.22% of shareholders tender shares, falling well short of the mandatory 50% threshold. A high-profile attempt by Kuwait’s Al Wafir for Marketing Services to acquire a controlling stake in UAE-based dairy firm Unikai Foods has officially failed, after the bidder was unable to muster the necessary shareholder support. Unikai Foods announced that Al Wafir’s voluntary conditional cash offer has lapsed, having secured valid acceptances for just 9.4 million shares—representing only 24.22 percent of the company’s total issued share capital. The offer, which closed on February 16, required a minimum acceptance of…

As the Middle East cements its role as a global business hub, leadership advisor Jürgen Salenbacher argues that visibility and reliability have become the new infrastructure for growth—outweighing even traditional corporate strategy. In an era defined by digital transparency and fractured trust, the concept of personal branding has undergone a radical transformation. No longer confined to the realm of influencers or social media gurus, it has emerged as a critical leadership capability—what one expert calls “strategic infrastructure” for the C-suite. Across rapidly scaling economies, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, executives are discovering that their personal identity and reputation…

Former champions and top seeds survive scares on an action-packed opening day, while Grand Slam winners Ostapenko and Kenin suffer shock defeats. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships lived up to its reputation for unpredictability on Monday, as a host of WTA stars navigated tricky opening-round encounters while several big names, including British favorite Emma Raducanu, were sent crashing out. On a day where seeds largely held firm but offered no guarantees, local resident Paula Badosa delivered a statement win, Belinda Bencic mounted a vintage comeback, and an Indonesian wildcard continued her unlikely dominance over a crowd favorite. Badosa Books Svitolina…

A damning new UN report implicates Libyan authorities in horrific abuses and calls for an immediate halt to boat interceptions that return people to “living nightmares.” Migrants in Libya are being subjected to a campaign of systematic violence, including killings, torture, and abduction, often with the direct complicity of the very authorities meant to uphold the law, the United Nations Human Rights Office said in a devastating report released on Tuesday. The joint report by the UN Human Rights Office and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) lays bare the grim reality facing those who pass through the conflict-ravaged…

Buoyed by population growth and economic diversification, the UAE market leads the region with double-digit transaction jumps, while analysts predict a shift toward sustainable growth. Gulf property markets are charging into 2026 with remarkable momentum, powered by resilient economic growth and a wave of international investment, with Dubai once again cementing its status as a world leader in rental yields. According to a new outlook from Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), the non-oil sector across the GCC is accelerating following a robust second half of 2025. Increased government spending on infrastructure, combined with expectations of looser monetary policy, is expected to…

Ishan Kishan’s blistering 77 powers India to a 61-run victory in Colombo, securing a Super 8 berth and extending their unbeaten World Cup record over archrivals. COLOMBO – In a high-voltage clash heavy with political symbolism, India delivered a commanding 61-run victory over archrivals Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Sunday, booking their place in the Super 8 stage while extending their dominance in the sport’s most intense rivalry. The marquee match at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium was once again marked by the absence of traditional sporting gestures, with players from both sides refusing to shake hands before and after…

 The discovery of five abducted miners dead near Panuco highlights the government’s struggle to contain a brutal cartel war, as local communities plead for protection and answers. CONCORDIA, Mexico – The bodies of five Canadian-mining employees, discovered in shallow graves in the mountains of Sinaloa, have delivered a devastating blow to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s narrative of a pacified Mexico, exposing the limits of federal power in the face of a relentless cartel war. The 10 workers from Vizsla Silver Corp. were abducted from their worksite near the town of Panuco in late January. While five of the bodies have been identified,…