Author: Gulf News Week
Record-winners Egypt were one of favourites to add AFCON 2025 to their seven titles but focus turns to World Cup.Egypt might be disappointed with their failure to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final but coach Hossam Hassan says it has been a good experience ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 later this year.Egypt lost in Wednesday’s semifinal to Senegal in Tangier but on Saturday will play Nigeria for the bronze medal at the tournament in Morocco.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Olympic hopes double as act of defiance in war-ravaged Ukrainelist 2 of 4Yin-yang of tennis:…
The collapse of the rial and soaring prices led to the first protest by shopkeepers in Tehran before demonstrations against Iran’s clerical rulers swelled.Four weeks after shopkeepers in Tehran’s grand bazaar shut their stores in protest over the tanking economy, much of Iran is under an internet blackout as protests, which swelled to mass demonstrations against Iran’s clerical rule, have quietened.The hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets in the wake of the shopkeepers’ protest are now reported to be staying at home following the deaths and detention of many protesters.Iran’s government has not released an official…
From proximity to Yemen’s Houthis to intersecting interests, recognition of region marks shift towards unconventional alliances.Israel’s announcement late last year that it would recognise Somaliland as an independent state was followed almost immediately by anger from Somalia and condemnation across Africa and the Middle East.Among criticisms of the move came a warning from Yemen’s Houthis, with the group’s leader, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, describing it as a “hostile stance” and saying any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Somaliland recognition: Israel’s foothold in the Horn of Africalist 2 of 3Saudi-led…
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…