Author: Gulf News Week

Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies convicted on financial charges after two years in detention, as rights groups warn of widening crackdown on free speech under President Saied. TUNIS – A Tunisian court sentenced two prominent political commentators to three-and-a-half years in prison on Thursday in a case that has drawn condemnation from international rights organizations, who say the government is using legal prosecution to silence critical voices. Columnists Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies were convicted of money laundering and tax evasion, charges their supporters describe as politically motivated. The two have already been detained for nearly two years over public statements…

Legal groups says Australia obliged to investigate Israeli President Herzog over his role in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.Three Australian and Palestinian legal groups have formally called on the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate Israeli President Isaac Herzog for his role in alleged war crimes amid reports he will visit Australia early next month.The organisations said on Friday that they had written to “urgently alert” the AFP of their concerns “in light of serious and credible criminal allegations of incitement to genocide and advocating genocide” by President Isaac Herzog during Israel’s “military onslaught” in Gaza since October 7, 2023.Recommended…

In stark Davos warning, Canadian PM says era of U.S.-led rules is fading, advocates for ambitious collective action ahead of Trump’s address, against backdrop of invasion contingency reports. DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – January 21, 2026 – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a clarion call to the world’s middle powers on Tuesday, declaring the post-war international order broken and warning that nations like his own risk being “on the menu” if they fail to unite in the face of rising great power coercion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Carney framed the current geopolitical shift as a definitive “rupture,” not a gradual…

US president says ‘big force going towards Iran’, but he would ‘rather not see anything happen’ as tension with Tehran ratchets up.United States President Donald Trump said a US naval “armada” was heading towards the Gulf region, with Iran being the focus, as officials said an aircraft carrier strike group and other assets would arrive in the Middle East in the coming days.“We’re watching Iran,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Thursday as he flew back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Is the world’s rules-based order ruptured?list 2…

Press rights campaigners slammed the case against Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi as “legal persecution”.‍A Tunisian court has handed new prison terms to two well-known media figures in what critics say is the government’s latest attempt to punish dissent.The criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced radio journalists Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi to three and a half years in prison on Thursday for “money laundering”, a judicial source told Tunisia’s state TAP news agency.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Tunisia hands long prison sentences to opposition, business, media figureslist 2 of 3Tunisia frees prominent…

After meeting with the SDF’s commander, the US’s Tom Barrack said all parties agreed that upholding the truce is ‘essential’.The United States has reiterated support for a ceasefire in Syria’s north, urging the government and Kurdish-led forces to adopt “confidence-building measures” after recent clashes.US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack made the diplomatic appeal on Thursday after meeting with Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ilham Ahmed, a leading Syrian Kurdish politician.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Syrian government, SDF agree on a four-day ceasefirelist 2 of 3Syrian forces makes gains against SDF: What…

Senegal face investigation following players and coaches walk-off in injury time of AFCON final against hosts Morocco.Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has defended his team’s walk-off during the Africa Cup of Nations final, saying it was an emotional decision taken in the chaos of the moment.Last Sunday, Senegal left the field in stoppage time when Morocco was awarded a penalty, just moments after a potential trophy-winning Senegal goal was ruled out.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4AFCON, Colonialism and Lumumbalist 2 of 4‘I didn’t set out to break records’: Pakistan’s first female MMA fighterlist 3 of 4Bangladesh adamant on…

Houston Texans’ linebacker faces $11,593 penalty for displaying nose tape message that says, ‘Stop the Genocide’.Palestinian rights advocates are raising charitable donations in the name of American football player Azeez Al-Shaair, who was fined by the National Football League for displaying an anti-genocide message on his nose tape.Nimrah Riaz, founder of Siraat Strategies, a sports consulting firm focused on Muslims, said people in the community wanted to turn the $11,593 penalty against the Houston Texans’ linebacker into something positive.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘The end of the world as we know it’: Is the rules-based order finished?list…

Centre StageFormer government insider takes aim at US’s policy on IsraelTaking centre stage is Josh Paul, former director of congressional and public affairs at the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In 2023, Paul resigned in protest over the US’s role in enabling Israel’s war on Gaza. Since then, he has co-founded A New Policy, a political organisation pushing for change in US policy towards Palestine and Israel. Paul discusses his resignation, whether Washington has learned anything and if the US is doomed to repeat its mistakes.Published On 22 Jan 202622 Jan 2026Click here to share on social mediashare2SharefacebooktwitterwhatsappcopylinkSave

Nations worldwide maintain territories and autonomous administrations for strategic and military purposes, many of which are remnants of colonial empires.Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump said the US needs “ownership” of Greenland to defend itself from adversaries like China and Russia, but said he “won’t use force” to acquire the self-ruling island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.Across the world, various nations maintain overseas territories that house strategic and military installations, but also for historical, economic and environmental reasons. Many of them are remnants of colonial empires. While many former…