Author: Gulf News Week

Accident would add to more than 1,000 migrant deaths in central Mediterranean crossings this year.Forty-two migrants, including 29 from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon and two from Nigeria, have been missing at sea and presumed dead since their boat overturned off the coast of Libya, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM).Their rubber vessel, packed with 49 migrants, capsized on November 3, six hours after departing the northwestern coastal town of Zuwara, the IOM said on Wednesday, citing survivors.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Greece’s Crete sees surge in boat arrivals despite harsher…

Strategic projects in Aseer and partnerships with international luxury brands mark a major leap in developing the Kingdom’s diverse tourism landscape. RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector received a massive boost as the Kingdom’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) unveiled a series of high-value deals totaling SR2.9 billion ($773 million) at the opening of the TOURISE 2025 forum. The announcements signal aggressive government-backed efforts to accelerate the development of integrated tourist destinations, with a significant focus on transforming the Aseer region into a premier mountain destination. Luxury Train and New Hotel Brands Headline Deals A standout project is the agreement with Italian company…

The integration of Al Maktoum International Airport with Etihad Rail could allow for airport check-in from city train stations, revolutionizing passenger convenience. DUBAI: Dubai’s future mega-airport is set to become a central hub on the UAE’s national railway map, with plans to integrate the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) directly with the Etihad Rail network. According to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, this strategic link is a cornerstone of the plan to create a truly seamless travel experience. “We foresee an eventual integrated system where passengers en route to the airport will be able to check their bags in at train…

A Turkish accident investigation has begun its work at the crash site in coordination with Georgian authorities.All 20 personnel on board a Turkish C-130 military cargo aircraft that crashed in Georgia close to its border with Azerbaijan have died, the Turkish Defence Ministry says, as investigators examine the cause of the accident at the site.The confirmation came on Wednesday, a day after the plane crashed after taking off from the nearby Azerbaijani city of Ganja.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Putin admits Russian role in 2024 Azerbaijani jet crash, offers redresslist 2 of 4Eleven killed in Kenya plane…

A devastating new UN report details a nation buckling under the weight of a forced population surge and economic freefall, with women facing systematic exclusion from work and aid. KARACHI – Afghanistan is caught in a devastating downward spiral, with nine out of ten families facing severe hunger and being forced into crushing debt to survive, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported Wednesday. The findings depict a nation pushed “beyond its limits” by a combination of mass deportations, natural disasters, and a crippled economy under Taliban rule. The crisis has been dramatically worsened by the forced return of more than…

Captain insists his team will be ready for Australia despite a single warm-up match and a dismal 14-year record on Australian soil. PERTH: Defying criticism from cricket legends, England captain Ben Stokes has staunchly defended his team’s controversial preparation for the upcoming Ashes series, which hinges on just one warm-up match before the first Test in Perth on November 21. The decision to forgo multiple first-class fixtures against Australian state teams has been labeled a major risk by pundits like Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott, especially given England’s horrific recent record in Australia. The tourists have not won a Test series…

As the conflict with Hamas becomes Israel’s longest war, the psychological toll on its military is exploding, overwhelming official channels and fueling a rise in suicide cases. SDOT YAM, Israel – The battle doesn’t end when soldiers leave the front lines. For a growing number of Israeli troops, the war has moved inward, manifesting as post-traumatic stress, debilitating anxiety, and a tragic rise in suicides. New data from Israel’s defense ministry reveals the depth of the crisis: nearly 11,000 soldiers have suffered “mental health injuries” since the war began on Oct. 7. This surge accounts for over a third of all…

Israelis continue to attack Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza, as death toll in the latter tops 69,000.Israeli forces have killed at least three people in Gaza in the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials, as Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank ramped up attacks on Palestinian villages.As Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday the killings in the last 24 hours, the enclave’s Civil Defence agency said in a statement on Telegram that it had transferred the bodies of 35 unidentified Palestinians to al-Shifa Hospital, where efforts will be made to confirm their identities.Recommended Stories list of…

The Houthis’ maritime campaign has killed at least nine mariners and seen four ships sunk.Yemen’s Houthi rebels seem to have indirectly confirmed they have stopped their attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea as the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold.The Houthis have carried out a military campaign of attacking ships through the Red Sea corridor in what they describe as solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iraqis hold little hope for change as polls close in electionlist 2 of 3Founded as a refuge from US racism, Liberia must…

Turkiye and Azerbaijan have indicated that there are fatalities after a C-130 cargo aircraft crashed on Tuesday.A Turkish military plane with at least 20 people on board has crashed in Georgia close to the border with Azerbaijan, Turkiye’s Defence Ministry has said.There were no immediate reports on the number of casualties or the cause of the accident involving a C-130 cargo plane, which had taken off from the Azerbaijani city of Ganja on Tuesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Eight arrested, over 1,000 suspended in Turkiye football gambling scandallist 2 of 3The GCC and collective securitylist 3 of…