Author: Gulf News Week

North Darfur’s capital fell to Rapid Support Forces yet remains a political and spiritual city that cannot be overlooked.El-Fasher has a special place in the consciousness of many Sudanese people. For them, it is more than the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan.It is deeply rooted, historically and culturally, in the national identity.Between its first fall in 1916 at the hands of British forces and its second fall in October to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, el-Fasher stands out as a spiritual, political and social centre.Historical roots and symbol of resistanceSince the era of Sultan Ali…

Families had to bury their loved ones in yards and streets when fighting raged. Now they’re being moved to cemeteries.Khartoum, Sudan – Iman Abdel-Azim had to bury her brother in the courtyard of her home in Khartoum North when he died as fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces raged around them.Her neighbours had to help her bury him because  it was impossible to access cemeteries in the fighting. She was not the only resident of the capital region’s three cities – Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman – who had to do this.Recommended Stories list of…

FIFA’s new-look club competition returns as the champions of Europe and South America clash in an epic final in Doha.Who: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Flamengo What: FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 final When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 8pm (17:00 GMT) Where: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Doha, Qatar How to follow: We will have all the build-up on media Sport from 14:00 GMT, before our live text commentary streams.European heavyweights PSG and South American giants Flamengo clash in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, with each side eyeing another major trophy to cap off a stellar year.Flamengo arrive fresh from a historic…

Hamas’s Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, says Raed Saad killed in an Israeli attack that violates ceasefire.Hamas has confirmed the killing of senior commander Raed Saad in an Israeli attack in Gaza in the highest-profile assassination of a senior figure in the Palestinian group since the October ceasefire.The Israeli military had said it killed Saad in an attack on Saturday near Gaza City. At least 25 people were wounded.Recommended Stories list of 1 itemlist 1 of 1Israel claims to have killed senior Hamas commander, Raed Saad, in Gazaend of listConfirming Saad’s killing in a video statement on Sunday, Hamas’s Gaza chief,…

‘Survival comes with weight,’ writes Rawand Alagha in an essay about the pain of leaving Gaza.Dublin, Ireland – When I was accepted to Trinity College Dublin, I imagined a fresh start, new lectures, late-night study sessions and a campus alive with possibility.The plan was clear: begin my studies in September 2024 and finally step into the future I had worked so hard for.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Gaza and the unravelling of a world order built on powerlist 2 of 3Hamas urges more international pressure on Israel amid ceasefire violationslist 3 of 3Photos: Heavy rains flood tents…

Eight people also injured in fighting with ‘terrorists’ in disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan.At least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in a “terrorist” attack on a United Nations base in Abyei, a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, the Bangladesh army said.The attack on Saturday also injured another eight people, the army stated.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Control, choke points: The battle lines in southern Sudanlist 2 of 3UN extends peacekeeping mission in disputed Abyei region for another yearlist 3 of 3What’s behind the renewed violence on South Sudan’s border with Sudan?end of list“The…

There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or from medics that Saad was among the dead.The Israeli military sats it has killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in a strike in Gaza City.The attack on Saturday killed four people and wounded at least 25, according to Gaza health authorities.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Fourteen Palestinians, including children, die in Gaza amid Storm Byronlist 2 of 3Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements in major annexation pushlist 3 of 3UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding Israel allow aid into Gazaend of listThere was no immediate confirmation from Hamas…

Paramilitary force intensifies offensive in Kordofan region after seizing control of Darfur in October.At least three people have been killed and nine others wounded, when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a drone attack on a central Sudanese city, as fighting intensifies across the vast strategic region of Kordofan that could determine the war’s outcome.The strike hit a square near a police station in the Tayba neighbourhood of el-Obeid on Saturday afternoon, military sources told media. Several of the wounded are in critical condition, they said.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2South Sudan army to secure critical…

The gunman involved has been killed, with no information on motives as of yet.Syrian security forces and United States soldiers have come under fire during a joint field patrol near Palmyra, in the central Homs region, leaving two Syrian personnel and several US service members wounded, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) state news agency reported.The assailant was killed in the incident on Saturday, with no further details regarding the motive or circumstances, SANA reported.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Post‑Assad Syria’s security challenges persist despite political changelist 2 of 4How al-Assad’s Syria broke its own people…

And it can do so by saving its children.Last month, I was waiting for a shared taxi at the Nuseirat roundabout when I witnessed a heartbreaking scene. As I stood by the side of the road, I felt a small hand tugging at my clothes.I looked down and saw a little girl, no older than eight. She was barefoot, her shirt was torn, and her hair was messy and unwashed. Her eyes were beautiful, and her face showed innocence, yet exhaustion and despair clouded it.She pleaded: “Please, please, give me just one shekel, God bless you.”Before I gave her the…