Author: Gulf News Week

One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.December 8 marks one year since the al-Assad dynasty, which lasted 54 years, was removed from power by a rebel offensive.The 14-year-long war led to one of the world’s largest migration crises, with some 6.8 million Syrians, about a third of the population, fleeing the country at the war’s peak in 2021, seeking refuge wherever they could find it.More than half of these refugees, about 3.74 million, settled in neighbouring Turkiye, while 840,000 found refuge in Lebanon and 672,000 in Jordan.The animation below shows the…

Aid cuts mean UN is asking for just half of anticipated need and is forced to prioritise only the most desperate, despite increased instability and conflict across the globe.The United Nations has launched its 2026 appeal for aid by asking for just half the amount it says it needs, despite humanitarian needs globally being at an all-time high.The international institution appealed for $23bn on Monday, while acknowledging that, due to a plunge in donor funding, the figure would shut out tens of millions of people in urgent need of help.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UN chief says…

Historic 48-team format sets stage for group-stage clashes across U.S., Mexico, and Canada; Spain, France, England learn opening fixtures. FIFA has announced the complete match schedule for the 2026 World Cup, finalizing the group-stage roadmap for the tournament’s expanded 48-team format. The draw, held in Washington, sets up a series of high-profile opening matches and potential knockout-round blockbusters. Defending champions Argentina will launch their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, followed by Group J encounters with Austria and Jordan in Dallas. Fresh from their European Championship triumph, Spain will begin their quest in Atlanta’s climate-controlled stadium, facing…

Israel has kept attacking Gaza during the first phase, so what will the second phase bring?Hamas is expected to hand over the body of the last Israeli captive held in Gaza in the coming days and has commented that it would be open to discussing “freezing” its weapons to facilitate entering the second phase of the ceasefire.Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the second phase would be challenging to achieve but that it could begin as soon as this month.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UN chief says Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza…

Israeli military claims yellow line is ‘new border’ as questions remain over role of stabilisation force in Gaza.As Israel and Hamas prepare to move towards phase two of a United States-led blueprint to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, disagreements loom over the as-yet undefined role of an international stabilisation force in the besieged Palestinian enclave.Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said on Sunday that the US draft required “a lot of clarifications”. While the group was ready to discuss “freezing or storing” weapons during the ongoing truce, he said it would not accept that an international stabilisation force take charge…

Tunisia beat Asian champions Qatar 3-0, while Palestine draw with Syria to enter the quarterfinals for the first time.Asian champions Qatar have been knocked out of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 after a shocking 3-0 loss to Tunisia, with Palestine advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time with a 0-0 draw against Syria.Home favourites Qatar needed a big win over Tunisia to have any chances of progressing from Group A, where Palestine and Syria were in the lead as the last round of the group fixtures was played on Sunday.A poor defensive display from the Asian Cup winners saw…

Gaza dominates the Doha Forum as experts warn political pressure from nation states undermines international law.After the US government placed sanctions on the United Nations’ special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, her life turned upside down.Credit cards stopped working, she told media. A hotel reservation booked by the European Parliament was cancelled. Medical insurance was denied. For Albanese, the consequences of her work on Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza were not just professional — they were personal, too.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Arab, Muslim nations reject Israel exit-only plan for Gaza’s…

The Israeli efforts to establish Palestinian rule in Gaza loyal to the occupation are doomed.“[The death of Yasser Abu Shabab] marks the end of a dark chapter – one that did not reflect our tribe’s history and principles …The Tarabin tribe stands with the Palestinian resistance in all its factions … it refuses to let our tribe’s name or members be exploited to form militias that work for the benefit of the occupation.”This is what Gaza’s Tarabin tribe said in a statement following the killing of its member Yasser Abu Shabab on December 4. There have been conflicting reports about…

Norris finished third behind Max Verstappen in final race to deliver McLaren its first world drivers’ crown since 2008.A tearful Lando Norris claimed his maiden Formula One world drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign.The Briton finished third in the season closer behind race winner Verstappen and the other title challenger, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, to claim the crown by two points.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘Thrown under the bus’: Salah’s future in doubt as he slams Liverpoollist 2 of 4Messi wins first MLS league title with 3-1 triumph over Vancouverlist 3…

A year on from al-Assad’s fall, Syria’s new leadership faces the danger of Syrians feeling frustrated by justice efforts delayed or denied.Ziad Mahmoud al-Amayiri sat with photographs of his 10 lost family members laid out in front of him.“There are two options: either the government gives me justice, or I take justice myself.”Al-Amayiri’s threat is directed at one man: Fadi Saqr.Saqr was a commander of the National Defence Forces (NDF), a militia loyal to Bashar al-Assad that was accused of atrocities like the 2013 Tadamon massacre, where, according to local Syrian officials, activists and leaked videos, dozens of people were…