Author: Gulf News Week

MSF official tells media South Darfur hospital ‘overwhelmed’ by rapid increase in measles cases.Displaced Sudanese families in the war-torn Darfur region are grappling with a dangerous measles outbreak that is spreading rapidly, a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) official warns.Dr Ali Almohammed, an MSF emergency health manager, told media on Monday that the group has been “overwhelmed” by measles cases arriving each day at the Nyala Teaching Hospital in South Darfur, where MSF provides paediatric and maternal healthcare.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4RSF artillery strikes kill 16 civilians in Sudan’s embattled Kordofanlist 2 of 4US pushes for ceasefire…

Deadly Israeli air strike is latest in Israel’s near-daily violations of 2024 ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.At least three people have been killed in an Israeli attack near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, the country’s National News Agency (NNA) is reporting, in the latest Israeli breach of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that the three people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a vehicle on Quneitra Road in the southern Sidon district, according to NNA.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Syria’s government curbing once-booming Captagon industry: UN reportlist 2 of…

Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements stands to redraw the occupied West Bank, undermining prospect of two-state solution.The Israeli security cabinet has approved 19 new settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank as the right-wing government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moves to prevent the formation of a viable Palestinian state.As Netanyahu’s government has made the annexation of occupied Palestinian territory a priority, the United Nations has said Israeli settlement expansions in 2025 have reached their highest level since 2017.“These figures represent a sharp increase compared to previous years,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, noting an average of 12,815…

Violence comes as top Syrian and Turkish officials held talks on integrating SDF forces into Syria’s new army.At least two people have been killed after clashes broke out between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo, as a deadline to integrate the SDF into Syria’s state institutions looms.A medical source told media that two civilians were killed and 11 others wounded after SDF forces opened fire on Syrian security force positions near the Sheihan and Lairmoun roundabouts in Aleppo on Monday.Dozens of families and local workers were also seen fleeing the area amid the violence,…

Prosecutors accuse the official, named as Fahad A, of torturing dozens of prisoners in jail run by Syrian intelligence.German prosecutors have charged a former Syrian security official with crimes against humanity, accusing him of torturing dozens of prisoners at a Damascus jail while ex-President Bashar al-Assad was in power.Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor General’s office announced the indictment on Monday, alleging the ex-prison guard, named only as Fahad A, took part in more than 100 interrogations between 2011 and 2012 in which prisoners were “subjected to severe physical abuse”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Post‑Assad Syria’s security challenges persist…

Authorities have shuttered drug factories that were cash pipeline for former ruler Bashar al-Assad, UN report.Syria’s government has cracked down on the Captagon industry, which boomed under former longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, according to a United Nations report.Since al-Assad’s ouster a year ago, Syria’s new authorities have dismantled a network of factories and storage sites, a research brief published on Monday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel launches new raids in Syria’s Quneitra, establishes checkpointslist 2 of 3US aerial bombardment strikes ‘ISIS thugs’ in Syrialist 3 of 3Post‑Assad…

All-rounder’s brilliant spell and cool finish propel team to third straight victory, lifting them to second place in the standings. DUBAI — Shakib Al-Hasan delivered a match-winning all-round display as MI Emirates defeated league leaders Desert Vipers by four wickets in the DP World ILT20 on Sunday, securing their third consecutive victory. Chasing a modest 125 at the Dubai International Stadium, MI Emirates overcame a shaky start thanks to a vital cameo from captain Kieron Pollard and a calm, unbeaten 17 from Shakib, who struck the winning boundary to seal the win with 15 balls to spare. Shakib Shines with…

Savings of up to 50% and instant access to coveted pieces fuel a major shift in shopping habits, creating a thriving pre-owned market in Riyadh and beyond. RIYADH — A significant transformation is reshaping Saudi Arabia’s luxury scene, as a booming market for pre-owned high-end accessories takes hold. Driven predominantly by female shoppers, consumers are increasingly opting for authenticated second-hand luxury goods, attracted by substantial savings and the allure of immediate ownership. Fueling this trend are rising retail prices and lengthy waiting lists at official boutiques for iconic items from brands like Cartier and Rolex. In response, specialized stores in…

Palestinian officials condemn the actions as part of a ‘systematic policy of displacement’ in the occupied territory.Israeli forces have stormed towns in the occupied West Bank and demolished a residential building.Soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas on Monday as they carried out the demolition in East Jerusalem. Palestinian officials accused Israel of a campaign of displacement in the city, saying the operation was part of a systematic attempt to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their land.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Japan set to restart world’s biggest nuclear power plantlist 2 of 4Thousands of Serbians protest government pressure…

The Trump administration seeks to recalibrate US influence in the Middle East and wants to ‘make Iraq great again’.United States President Donald Trump’s second administration has introduced a bold and unconventional strategy for the Middle East. The administration intends to recalibrate US influence in a region historically scarred by conflict, prioritising regional stability through economic strength and military consolidation by asserting a stronger, business-minded US presence.At the centre of Trump’s ambitious goal is what the new US envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, described as his goal to “make Iraq great again”. This approach moves away from traditional endless war tactics…