Author: Gulf News Week
As the US launches ‘Phase Two’, the former UN envoy heads to Cairo to meet Palestinian faction leaders, leading a fraught plan to replace Hamas with a technocratic administration.The search for a figure to lead post-war Gaza, which lies in ruins from Israel’s genocidal war, has moved from diplomatic backrooms to the negotiating tables in Cairo.Following the Arab veto of the regionally toxic former British leader Tony Blair, Washington has deployed its Plan B, Nickolay Mladenov, as the push for phase two of the fragile ceasefire gains some momentum.The 53-year-old former Bulgarian foreign minister and defence minister is no longer…
Israel has attacked south Lebanon dozens of times recently, as locals fear a renewed military escalation.Beirut, Lebanon – Fears are rife in Lebanon over another Israeli military escalation, similar to the one in 2024 that killed more than 4,000 people and displaced around a quarter of the country’s population.The intensification comes amid growing pressure by the United States and Israel on Lebanon to ensure the Shia group Hezbollah disarms. The decision to bring Hezbollah’s weapons under state control is popular in Lebanon outside of the group’s traditional support base. But analysts also fear internal tensions could lead to violence if…
A former Russian diplomat and analysts decode Moscow’s muted response to protests and political tension.The Kremlin is confident that mass protests in Iran have peaked, and Tehran’s leadership has managed to squash domestic resistance to its rule, according to one of Russia’s pre-eminent experts on Iran.Russia’s embassy in Tehran apparently informed Moscow that the protests have died down and that the Kremlin “can breathe a sigh of relief”, Nikita Smagin told media.The protests over economic hardships erupted on December 28, spreading to hundreds of cities and towns throughout the sanctions-hit nation of more than 90 million.Iranian law enforcement squashed them,…
Palestinian Authority submits files for Gaza’s Old City and West Bank landmarks to United Nations’ World Heritage list as it aims to protect its cultural heritage from Israeli attacks and appropriation.For Palestinians maintaining their land and heritage, which is under Israeli occupation since 1948, became a national priority. The Palestinian Authority has formally moved to register 14 new cultural and natural sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list in a bid to safeguard its cultural and historical sites from Israeli appropriation and attacks.“Palestine is not just a space of political conflict, but a civilisation rooted in human history,” Marwa Adwan,…
The second phase of the ceasefire deal includes naming a panel of Palestinian technocrats to lead post-war Gaza.Hamas leaders and representatives of other Palestinian factions in Gaza are in the Egyptian capital Cairo for talks on the second phase of the United States-led Gaza ceasefire deal, amid a teetering ceasefire that Israel has repeatedly violated as its genocidal war continues.Deep uncertainty remains over the next steps involving the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups in the Strip, rebuilding and daily governance.An adviser to the head of Hamas’s political bureau told media on Thursday that discussions in Cairo are focusing on reopening…
A ‘humanitarian zone’ is expected to remain open on Thursday, allowing residents to leave Deir Hafer and Maskana.The Syrian army is telling civilians to evacuate parts of the rural Aleppo governorate after accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of building up troops in the area, following days of deadly fighting inside Aleppo city, as concerns rise over a new front in the simmering battle.A “humanitarian zone” was expected to remain open on Thursday from 9am local time (6:00 GMT) to 5pm (14:00 GMT), allowing residents to leave Deir Hafer and Maskana in the eastern countryside. The army declared the areas…
Randa Abdel-Fattah said she accepts board’s apology as acknowledgement of her right to speak about atrocities against Palestinians.An Australian arts festival has apologised to Randa Abdel-Fattah after it was forced to cancel its entire writers’ week programme when 180 writers withdrew from the event in solidarity with the Palestinian Australian author.The board of Adelaide Festival said on Thursday it was retracting its earlier decision to exclude Abdel-Fattah “from participating as a speaker at Adelaide Writers’ Week this year”.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Australian writers’ festival cancelled after Palestinian author axedlist 2 of 4When Palestinian existence is portrayed…
24K gold holds above Dh550 in Dubai; analysts cite geopolitical tensions and Fed rate cut bets as key market drivers. DUBAI — Gold prices eased in Dubai on Thursday, retreating from recent record highs as investors cashed in gains, though the metal remained resilient amid persistent geopolitical tensions and expectations of looser U.S. monetary policy. The 24-karat variant traded at Dh553.0 per gram, down nearly Dh2 from the previous session, according to data from the Dubai Jewellery Group. Other purities also declined, with 22K at Dh512.25, 21K at Dh491, 18K at Dh421, and 14K at Dh328.25 per gram. Globally, spot gold…
Rights groups verify over 600 deaths, many young protesters shot at close range, as authorities blame ‘rioters’ and foreign interference for unrest. TEHRAN – Among the hundreds of victims of Iran’s ongoing crackdown on nationwide protests, human rights groups have verified the deaths of a young fashion designer, a promising teen footballer, a champion bodybuilder, and a student who had just turned 18—all reportedly shot by security forces. The Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR) said it has confirmed the killing of at least 648 protesters since the unrest began, including nine minors and six women, warning the actual toll could…
New Dubai and Abu Dhabi facilities to host over 100 Zoho and ManageEngine solutions with government-grade security certifications, supporting Vision 2030 targets. DUBAI – Global technology firm Zoho Corporation has launched its first UAE data centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking a major step in its Dh100 million investment commitment to the region announced in 2023. The new sovereign data infrastructure will host over 100 cloud solutions from Zoho’s two key brands: Zoho, offering business applications, and ManageEngine, specializing in enterprise IT management. The move is designed to give UAE businesses and government entities greater data control, enhanced security,…