Author: Gulf News Week
Israel currently occupies the Palestinian side of the crossing, choking Gaza of a vital humanitarian entry point.Israel is preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in both directions after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns from a visit to the United States, according to Israeli media reports.Israel’s Kan 11 news reported on Wednesday that the expected decision comes as a result of pressure from US President Donald Trump.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump threatens Hamas, warns Iran of more strikes after Netanyahu talkslist 2 of 3What being a woman in Gaza means in…
STC to maintain presence, but agrees to deployment of Riyadh-backed National Shield government forces in the areas.Tensions in Yemen continue to simmer as Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council, has warned against unilateral military moves by southern separatists.Al-Alimi cautioned that further advances by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists in Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces would have serious consequences.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What is behind the Saudi-UAE rupture in Yemen?list 2 of 3Palestine was the deadliest place to be a journalist in 2025: Media unionlist 3 of 3Why are some African countries…
Mali and Burkina Faso are the latest to issue ‘tit-for-tat’ bans on visas for US citizens with immediate effect.Mali and Burkina Faso have announced they are imposing full visa bans on United States citizens in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s ban on US visas for their citizens this month.The two West African countries, which are both governed by the military, on Tuesday became the latest African nations to issue “tit-for-tat” visa bans on the US. These follow Trump’s new visa restrictions, which now apply to 39 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The White House…
Bulldozers flatten refugee housing while Israel approves 126 settler housing units and targets UN agencies.Israeli forces have begun demolishing dozens of buildings housing Palestinian families in the northern occupied West Bank, forcing mass displacement as winter sets in, and leaving communities scrambling for shelter.Israeli military bulldozers and cranes tore through residential blocks in the Nur Shams refugee camp on Wednesday, flattening homes that housed about 100 families. Thick clouds of dust rose over the camp as residents watched from a distance, according to an AFP news agency journalist at the scene.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Oxfam, Doctors…
Sanaa and Batoul embody Gaza’s resilience, facing war, famine, and loss with little hope for a better life.Deir el-Balah and Nuseirat, Gaza Strip – In her tent made of fabric sheets with a roof covered in white plastic tarp, Sanaa Issa tries to steal a quiet moment with her daughters.Sanaa spoke to media as the new year approached, and with a ceasefire officially in place in Gaza. But, lying on a wet blanket in a tent with rain pouring down, Sanaa doesn’t have a huge amount to be positive about.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Four reasons why…
Of 128 journalists killed globally last year, 56 were Palestinian, the International Federation of Journalists said.Palestine was the deadliest place to work as a journalist in 2025, with the Middle East as a whole the most dangerous region for media professionals, according to a global journalist union.The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the region accounted for 74 deaths last year – more than half of the 128 journalists and media workers killed – in a new report released on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Bangladesh’s big question: Will Khaleda Zia’s son build on her legacy?list 2…
From the February vote in Bangladesh to the November US midterms, here is a calendar of key election dates.More than 40 countries, representing a combined population of 1.6 billion people, will hold national-level elections in 2026.These contests, including general, presidential, and parliamentary elections, will shape the governance for nearly one-fifth of the global population. The outcomes will influence domestic policies, economic strategies, and global alliances.Below is a month-by-month look at the key elections to watch, along with their political consequences.January Myanmar – General elections (January 11 – second phase), (January 25 – third phase) Uganda – General elections (January 15)…
A packed fortnight of tournaments Down Under sets the stage for Melbourne, featuring marquee names, a rising teen, and a notable withdrawal by Alcaraz and Sinner. The 2026 tennis season launches into high gear with a whirlwind fortnight of tournaments across Australia and New Zealand, serving as the final tune-up for the Australian Open beginning January 18 in Melbourne. The United Cup, a marquee mixed-team event in Perth and Sydney starting Friday, headlines the opening week. The competition features top-10 talent including Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev, and Alex de Minaur, alongside comebacking stars Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu.…
New federal law establishes a common educational framework for public and private institutions, aiming to integrate national priorities without disrupting academic pathways. A landmark federal decree in the UAE has established a National Educational Curriculum, creating for the first time a unified legal framework for all schools from kindergarten through Grade 12. The reform mandates greater consistency in teaching UAE values, national identity, and character development, aiming to bring coherence across the diverse educational landscape. At the core of the law is the National Education Charter, which will serve as the country’s “supreme reference document,” defining overarching educational objectives, graduate…
From defiant celebrations in Sydney to a canceled display in Hong Kong, global festivities are tempered by the echoes of conflict, tragedy, and a year of major events. As the clock struck midnight, the world transitioned into 2026 with spectacular displays of light, yet the celebrations were deeply colored by the tumultuous events of the past year—a period marked by geopolitical strife, climate extremes, and profound human loss. Cities around the globe balanced jubilation with moments of solemn tribute. In Sydney, hundreds of thousands observed a minute of silence for the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach shooting—Australia’s deadliest in…