Author: Gulf News Week

The Syrian president will visit the White House, a first for any leader from post-independence Syria.Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday, ahead of a historic meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.This marks the first time a Syrian president has visited the White House in at least 80 years.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iraq’s PM al-Sudani may win the elections, but lose his postlist 2 of 3Iran dismisses US accusation of plot to kill Israeli ambassador in Mexicolist 3 of 3Video: COP30 summit warned Gaza faces catastrophic environmental crisisend of listThe meeting…

Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy for his role in securing funding for his 2007 presidential campaign.Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison after serving three weeks of a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy.A Paris court ruled on Monday that Sarkozy, 70, will remain under judicial supervision pending an appeal against his conviction.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Iran dismisses US accusation of plot to kill Israeli ambassador in Mexicolist 2 of 4Video: COP30 summit warned Gaza faces catastrophic environmental crisislist 3 of 4Riot in Ecuador prison kills 31 amid gunfire and explosionslist 4…

Iran blasts ‘ridiculous’ claim from US and Israel. Mexico says it has no information on such an incident and signals no disruption to any bilateral ties.Tehran, Iran – Iran has branded accusations from the United States and Israel that it was hatching a plot to assassinate the latter’s ambassador to Mexico as “ridiculous”.Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters on Monday that Tehran believes Israel is trying to damage its “friendly relations” with other countries through an “absurd allegation”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN warns of millions displaced by climate change as COP30 opens in Brazillist…

Al-Sudani will navigate the challenges of his fragile electoral bloc and post-election negotiations with Shia rivals.Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is bidding for a second term, a goal that requires his electoral bloc, the Construction and Development Coalition, to win a commanding number of seats in the November 11 parliamentary elections and back his selection for the role.Al-Sudani’s campaign is built on his government’s successes in improving services, maintaining balanced relations between Tehran and Washington, and steering Iraq clear of regional conflict since October 7, 2023.However, while analysts predict al-Sudani’s coalition may win the highest number of seats, it…

Mixed reception greets president during Commanders game as spectators boo during military ceremony and stadium announcements. LANDOVER, Md. – President Donald Trump’s landmark appearance at Sunday’s Washington Commanders game drew audible disapproval from many attendees, marking the first time a sitting president has attended a regular-season NFL contest in over four decades. The historic moment turned contentious when Trump appeared on the stadium screen alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, prompting immediate boos from sections of the crowd. The negative reception intensified during halftime when the president participated in a military oath ceremony on the field, with jeers audible throughout the presentation.…

President Sheinbaum announces massive security operation and 57-billion-peso investment as cartel violence claims another prominent victim in the volatile state. MEXICO CITY – In a decisive response to escalating cartel violence, the Mexican government is launching a major security crackdown in Michoacán, deploying over 10,500 security forces to confront criminal organizations following the brazen assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the comprehensive “Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice” on Sunday, detailing a strategy that combines military deployment with significant social investment. The operation comes just two weeks after Manzo was gunned down during Day of the Dead…

In high-level Beirut talks, American officials demand action to block Iranian financing, while Lebanon’s president calls for restraint from Israel after deadly strikes. BEIRUT – A senior US counterterrorism delegation held critical talks in Beirut on Sunday, pushing Lebanese authorities to dismantle the financial networks fueling Hezbollah, as fresh Israeli strikes raised tensions along the southern border. The visit, led by senior director Sebastian Gorka, followed Washington’s move to sanction three Hezbollah members for allegedly funneling tens of millions of dollars from Iran. The US Treasury claims Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have transferred over $1 billion to the group since the start…

Record-breaking UNWTO assembly, hosted for the first time in the Gulf, serves as a platform for the Kingdom to showcase its transformative Vision 2030 and drive international agenda on AI and sustainable travel. RIYADH – Saudi Arabia is steering the global conversation on the future of tourism as it hosts a historic UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, the largest in the organization’s 50-year history. The high-profile gathering in Riyadh has become a powerful platform for the Kingdom to demonstrate its rapid ascent as a tourism powerhouse and to align global efforts on innovation and sustainable development. The event, attracting…

New online system cuts out the middleman, allowing international worshippers to secure visas and plan their entire spiritual journey with a few clicks. RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has revolutionized the process for performing Umrah with the introduction of the Nusuk Umrah platform. The new digital service, launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, empowers international pilgrims to obtain their official visa and book all necessary travel services directly through a single, unified website. This initiative effectively provides a direct official channel for pilgrims, offering an alternative to traditional methods that relied solely on accredited agents. The platform, available at https://umrah.nusuk.sa/, is a cornerstone…

People fleeing el-Fasher for Al Dabbah tell media many died on the way from wounds or lack of food.A Sudanese medical organisation has accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of engaging in a “desperate attempt” to conceal evidence of mass killings in Darfur by burning bodies or burying them in mass graves.The Sudan Doctors Network said on Sunday that paramilitaries are collecting “hundreds of bodies” from the streets of el-Fasher, in Sudan’s western Darfur region, after their bloody takeover of the city on October 26, saying the group’s crimes could not be “erased through concealment or burning”.Recommended Stories list…