Author: Gulf News Week

ReutersThere has been a sharp rise in reports of violence against women and girls in the Gaza Strip, including early and forced marriage, according to a series of recent reports from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).One report, which analyses data collected by 10 organisations, says the protracted crisis in war-torn Gaza has “created conditions in which women and girls face escalating risks of gender-based violence”.It also warns that there has been a “severe escalation” in the number of early and forced marriage incidents in the second quarter of this year. Both are considered types of gender-based violence (GBV) by the…

GettyA strategic military base is located on the Chagos archipelago’s largest island, Diego GarciaThe UK is reviewing its deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the defence secretary has said.Wes Streeting confirmed the deal was being looked at again after US President Donald Trump called it “terrible” at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.The original agreement would see the UK cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius and pay an average of £101m ($136m) per year to lease back a joint UK-US military base there, prized for its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.In April the deal, agreed…

Getty ImagesBus passengers caught committing serious offences will face a fine of up to $5,000, such as “the soiling of any part of a public bus, bus interchange, or terminal”Bus passengers in Singapore can now be fined up to $500 Singapore dollars ($391; £293) for placing their feet on seats or playing loud audio, as well as eating, drinking or littering onboard.A fine of up to $5,000 will be imposed for more serious offences, such as causing obstruction or danger to fellow commuters within bus terminals or “the soiling of any part of a public bus, bus interchange, or terminal”.”These…

Rare look at the remote engine rooms powering China’s AI ambitionsThe BBC is in Inner Mongolia where dozen of Chinese data centres are being constructed, as the country aims to lead the world in artificial intelligence.9 hrs agoAsia

Getty ImagesMore than 40,000 cases – which range from mild coughs to pneumonia – involve toddlersSome 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illness since August, its health ministry said, as it continues to battle wildfires that have raged for weeks.More than 40,000 cases – which range from coughs to bronchitis and more serious conditions like pneumonia – involve toddlers.Forest fires have blanketed parts of the country as well as neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore in toxic smog, pushing air quality indices into “unhealthy” territory.Indonesia has deployed more than 54,000 officials and dozens of jets to the islands of Borneo…

‘My eyelids became infected – I was scared to sleep’Three women describe what happened when they travelled abroad for cheap “bleph” eyelid surgery.14 mins ago

CSU/CIRA & NOAA/Handout via REUTERSHurricane Polo has rapidly intensified off the coast of Mexico to become one of the most powerful storms of the season in the Pacific Ocean.A Hurricane Hunter aircraft, operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), flew into the storm on Tuesday and recorded sustained wind speeds near 180 mph (285 km/h), with stronger gusts.NOAA’s Miami-based National Hurricane Center called the storm “extremely dangerous” and said its intensification over 24 hours was “truly remarkable”.The slow-moving storm is fuelling up on extremely warm waters caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon and is the season’s…

AFP via Getty ImagesMoroccan voters will find candidates from 27 parties on the ballotDisillusioned young voters in Morocco were courted with viral football slogans, promises of one million jobs and anti-Israel rallying calls ahead of Wednesday’s parliamentary elections.Yet, for many young Moroccans, politics remains deeply disconnected from reality.”I have no hope for this election. I’m ashamed of our political scene. It’s a complete circus,” Siham Azeroual, 32, an environmental activist who lives in the Atlas region, tells the BBC.The outcome of the vote will decide the make-up of the next government, just weeks after 60,000 people risked their lives to…

ReutersUS President Donald Trump signed the deal alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette FrederiksenThe US, Denmark and Greenland have signed a defence deal that allows Washington to build two new military bases in the Arctic territory, while reaffirming Copenhagen’s sovereignty over it. Before a signing ceremony at the UN General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump said “we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations”.Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said the deal was “good for the US, Denmark and Greenland” and also for Europe and Nato, while Greenland’s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen said…

Getty ImagesKristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, issued a warning on debt levels at the UN general assembly meeting in New York City.The world’s advanced economies including the UK and US need to cut borrowing and reduce debt levels following weeks of spiralling government interest costs, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.In an exclusive interview, Kristalina Georgieva said global economic shocks had been “pushing debt levels up like a staircase not to heaven” but that governments had taken “no action to contain that service cost”.”[It’s] time to take that action,” she said, adding that “courage”…