Author: Gulf News Week
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is a geopolitical move that has backfired, strengthening resistance to secession and reinforcing Somalia’s territorial integrity.Israel’s recognition of Somaliland on December 26 had little to do with the long-standing aspirations of communities living in the breakaway region of Somaliland in northwest Somalia. It was, instead, a product of shifting geopolitics and a rapidly fragmenting global order. An issue once confined to the margins has since been pulled into the centre of regional and international power rivalries.The Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor, anchored by the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most vital…
Unsettled forward Mohamed Salah is set to return to Liverpool on Sunday, once his AFCON duty with Egypt comes to an end.Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he would welcome Mohamed Salah back at the Premier League champions even if he had 15 attackers, as the Egypt forward nears a return from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Salah is set to play in Egypt’s third-place playoff match against Nigeria in Morocco on Saturday, after the Pharaohs lost their AFCON semifinal against Senegal.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Olympic hopes double as act of defiance in war-ravaged Ukrainelist 2 of…
The STC’s collapse leads to Yemeni government strides in the south, but Houthis remain defiant in the north.Sanaa, Yemen – Naef has been a government soldier in southern Yemen for nine years. When he joined the government army in 2016 – aged only 19 – he thought that the Yemeni government’s war against the Houthi rebel group would be brief. A decade has elapsed, and the conflict remains unsettled, with the Houthis remaining in Sanaa.Naef was clear as to the reason for the government’s failure – a lack of unity and clear command structure. For years, government soldiers and other anti-Houthi…
Gulf nations don’t want the chaos that a US attack on Iran or the collapse of the Islamic Republic would generate.Arab Gulf nations have been watching nervously as neighbouring Iran has been engulfed in nationwide protests. United States President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Tehran – a move many Gulf powers fear would plunge the region into chaos.Behind the scenes, Saudi Arabia has reportedly been lobbying the US administration to refrain from striking Iran, while Qatar and Oman have been focused on diplomatic outreach between Iranian and American officials. The three countries shifted into high-gear diplomacy to de-escalate…
Palestinians fear decisions imposed from outside fail to address justice, freedom, and lived realities in Gaza.Gaza City – Peace, in both the physical and mental sense, feels far away in Gaza.A ceasefire may have officially been in place since October 10, but Israel continues to conduct occasional attacks, with more than 450 Palestinians killed in the three months since.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN chief’s last annual speech slams world leaders for lack of cooperationlist 2 of 3The UK is taking political prisoners to evade accountability for genocidelist 3 of 3Israel carries out raids and demolitions, arrests…
FM Shaya Mohsen Zindani named as new PM, as Saudi Arabia moves to consolidate control over Yemen’s presidential body.Yemen’s Saudi-backed presidential leadership council has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Salem bin Breik and appointed Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsin al-Zindani as the country’s new prime minister, the state news agency Saba has reported.Bin Breik formally submitted the resignation, which was approved by the council, before Zindani was named to form the next cabinet, Saba said on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Yemeni southern separatists in Riyadh announce disputed disbanding of STClist 2 of 4After STC hubris, dream…
Mardini, who inspired a Netflix film, was among 24 volunteers acquitted by a Greek court for their efforts to save migrants from drowning.A Greek court has acquitted 24 rescue volunteers, including Syrian competitive swimmer and activist Sarah Mardini, of human trafficking charges designed to discourage those seeking to save migrants and refugees from drowning.Mardini, whose rescue of her sister inspired the 2022 Netflix film The Swimmers, and the other volunteers, had been facing the charges since their arrest in 2018.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4What is Europe’s role in Sudan’s refugee crisis?list 2 of 4In Tunisia, a…
Multiple countries have shown interest in Pakistani weapons and jets. But Pakistan won’t find it easy to deliver, say analysts.Islamabad, Pakistan – By the standards of mega arms deals, the $1.5bn deal for Pakistan to reportedly sell jets and weapons to Sudan’s military isn’t huge.But the deal, which the Reuters news agency reported in early January was close to being finalised, could prove pivotal in the grinding war that has devoured Sudan for nearly three years between the country’s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Why is Pakistan selling its JF-17…
Iranian and US officials traded barbs at UN Security Council meeting on deadly protests in Iran and amid threats of attack by Washington.The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting to discuss deadly protests in Iran amid threats by United States President Donald Trump to intervene militarily in the country.Members of the influential 15-member UN body heard from Iran’s deputy UN representative, who warned at the meeting on Thursday that Iranians did not seek a confrontation but would respond to US aggression, and accused Washington of “direct involvement in steering unrest in Iran”.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1…
Tehran resident tells media tensions remain high amid heavy security presence in the Iranian capital.The White House says “all options remain on the table” for the United States to take military action against Iran, reiterating that Tehran would face “grave consequences” if the killings of antigovernment protesters continue.During a news conference on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump and his team had communicated to Iran that “if the killing continues, there will be grave consequences”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump’s bluffs: Why US strike on Iran remains real threatlist 2 of…