https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:23:54 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-brazil-president-supports-accession-of-saudi-arabia-uae-to-brics/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:41:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657845 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed his support for more countries joining the BRICS group. Lula said in the capital, Brasilia, yesterday that he supports countries such as Argentina, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining the group. BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is due to hold a summit in Johannesburg from 22-24 August. He also described the seven leading industrialised countries as a "club" that should not exist, considering that its form in terms of geopolitical affairs is outdated. The UK, US, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany make up the group of Western industrialised countries, known as the G7. Some 22 countries have "formally" asked to join the BRICS group, while […]]]> 657845 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-brics-endorses-the-defunct-two-state-compromise/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:09:43 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655015 The BRICS Summit in South Africa has given further unwarranted validation to the two-state compromise for Palestine-Israel. The Palestinian Authority's official news agency Wafa promoted the reaffirmation by international diplomacy as calling for "the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital." While BRICS is seen as an economic alternative – 22 countries have formally applied to join the bloc, while another 20 have expressed interest – its diplomacy for Palestine only promises more of the same defunct premises which have accelerated Israel's settler-colonial expansion on Palestinian territory. Economic inequalities may be addressed through BRICS, although the number of countries applying or expressing interest will inevitably veer the group away from the alternative economic policies which […]]]> 655015 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230722-algeria-president-country-applied-to-join-brics-offered-1-5bn/ Sat, 22 Jul 2023 09:02:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654442 Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Friday that his country had submitted a request to be a shareholder in the BRICS group to the amount of $1.5 billion. President Tebboune revealed, for the first time, the value of the contribution in an interview with China Central Television broadcast on Friday. Tebboune disclosed: "We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members of the bank… Algeria's first contribution to the bank will be $1.5 billion." The BRICS Bank, formerly referred to as the New Development Bank, is run by BRICS countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with its headquarters in Shanghai, China. READ: Algeria President to pay 2-day visit to Turkiye The […]]]> 654442 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-south-africa-22-countries-officially-requested-to-join-brics-group/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:06:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654338 Some 22 countries have "formally" asked to join the BRICS group, while an equal number has informally expressed interest in joining the bloc, South Africa announced yesterday. BRICS, a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is due to hold a summit from 22-24 August in South Africa and has previously hinted that it was open to expansion. South Africa's top diplomat in charge of relations with the bloc, Anil Sooklal,  told reporters in Johannesburg that 22 countries have officially asked to join the BRICS group while there was "an equal number of countries have informally expressed interest in becoming BRICS members … [including] all the major global south countries." READ: BRICS summit issues special resolution in favour of […]]]> 654338 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230718-kashmir-gets-a-taste-of-turkiye-with-traditional-ice-cream/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:36:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653315 In 2018, during a trip to the Indian capital, New Delhi, two friends came across a frozen delicacy that would change their lives forever – traditional Turkish ice cream, Anadolu Agency reports. Blown away by the unique flavour, they sought to bring this delight to their home town, the scenic Srinagar, capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. Aabid Naseer, a computer science student, and Moeen Ayub, a medical student, achieved their objective earlier this month, bringing a taste of Turkiye to the region. Hundreds have thronged to their outlet in a mall in Srinagar and more people keep pouring in every day. "I am totally amazed by the response. Everyone is coming, from children to their grandparents," an excited Naseer told Anadolu. […]]]> 653315 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230716-india-uae-agree-to-use-local-currencies-in-bilateral-trade/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 15:23:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652569 India and the UAE have signed an agreement to start using a rupee-dirham payment mechanism to settle cross-border trade, following Prime Minister Narenda Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi yesterday. An agreement was also signed to link their fast payment systems, namely the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India with the Instant Payment Platform (IPP) of the UAE. Modi who made the stopover visit while returning from a visit to Paris witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoU) between the central banks of both countries along with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. This is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler. https://t.co/nuoQbUIFq6 — […]]]> 652569 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230716-muslim-world-leagues-sheikh-al-issa-visits-hindu-temple-in-india/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:01:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652546 The Secretary General of the Makkah-based NGO Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa has paid a visit to a Hindu temple in New Delhi as part of a five-day visit to India. Issa who is also President of the International Islamic Halal Organisation, spent three hours at the Swaminarayan Akshardham on Thursday and engaged in interfaith dialogue with representatives of the Hindu community. The MWL chief was quoted as saying "India is a great example of unity in Diversity and my visit to Akshardham — a place of worship, full of love, peace and harmony — sums it up." Saudi scholar, Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa of @MWLOrg who delivered last year's Hajj sermon, recently […]]]> 652546 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230710-countries-repatriating-gold-in-wake-of-sanctions-against-russia-study/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:43:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651076 An increasing number of countries are repatriating gold reserves as protection against the sort of sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, according to an Invesco survey of Central Bank and sovereign wealth funds published on Monday, Reuters reports. The financial market rout last year caused widespread losses for sovereign money managers who are "fundamentally" rethinking their strategies on the belief that higher inflation and geopolitical tensions are here to stay. Over 85 per cent of the 85 sovereign wealth funds and 57 Central Banks that took part in the annual Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management Study believe that inflation will now be higher in the coming decade than in the last. Gold and emerging market bonds are seen as […]]]> 651076 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-iran-becomes-full-member-of-shanghai-cooperation-organisation/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:33:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649636 Iran, on Tuesday, gained full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the end of the 23rd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of States, Anadolu Agency reports. Tehran became the ninth member of the regional bloc. "The member states stressed the historical significance of the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO as a full Member State," said the New Delhi Declaration issued at the end of the summit, released on Tuesday evening. The SCO members also noted the "importance" of signing the memorandum of obligations by Belarus to "achieve the status of an SCO member state". In his address to the summit, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, urged the SCO to grant Belarus full […]]]> 649636 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230628-eid-in-kashmir-our-food-brings-us-together/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:25:21 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647964 Rubeena Akhtar has a lot to do before Thursday, the day Indian-administered Kashmir will celebrate Eid Al-Adha, or the "Feast of Sacrifice". Relatives and friends will be coming over all through the day and Akhtar wants everything to be perfect. She has already made her trip to the neighbourhood baker to stock up on pastries, cookies, cakes and Kashmiri "kulchas" – salted biscuits that are a regional delicacy. "Our Eid day will begin with the Fajr (dawn) prayer and a breakfast of these bakery goods with 'doodh kehwa'," said Akthar, referring to a rich beverage with roots in Kashmir's royal cuisine made with cardamom, grated almonds and sweetened milk. That is followed by the Eid prayers at various places, after […]]]> 647964 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230626-rise-in-foreign-labourers-returning-from-gulf-with-chronic-kidney-disease/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:13:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647287 Growing numbers of foreign labourers are returning from Gulf countries with chronic kidney disease (CKD), medical experts have warned. Years of working under scorching heat in construction sites without necessary safety precautions is exposing millions of workers in the region to unnecessary risk of falling ill and suffering from irreversible medical conditions like CKD. Details of the health risk posed to foreign labourers in the Gulf was highlighted today in a Guardian report which revealed that there has been a sharp rise in the number of Nepalese migrant workers returning home with chronic kidney disease. The report cited medical experts and interviewed a Labourer who returned to Nepal with CKD after working for four years as a scaffolder in Qatar, Saudi Arabia […]]]> 647287 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230625-egypt-sisi-confers-india-pm-modi-with-order-of-nile-during-state-visit/ Sun, 25 Jun 2023 11:13:00 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647127 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has conferred Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the country's highest state honour, the "Order of the Nile" today.  Modi who is on the second and final day of his official visit to the country arrived in Cairo where he was received by his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly. It is the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to the North African country in 26 years and follows Modi's maiden state visit to the US earlier this week. #WATCH | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confers PM Narendra Modi with 'Order of the Nile' award, in Cairo 'Order of the Nile', is Egypt's highest state honour. pic.twitter.com/e59XtoZuUq — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 Modi […]]]> 647127 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230624-weighing-expansion-brics-increasingly-draws-membership-requests/ Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:36:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646894 The BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, continues to attract applications from numerous countries as it explores expansion opportunities, Anadolu Agency reports. Anadolu compiled the developments regarding the enlargement process of BRICS. Amid the search for a multipolar world, Brazil, Russia, India and China laid the foundations in 2009, with South Africa joining in 2010. BRICS, while criticising the unequal structures and resolutions of the Group of Seven (G-7) and the UN Security Council, calls for reforms in international structures and norms to establish a multipolar order. With a combined population representing nearly 42 per cent of the world's population, the BRICS countries control 18 per cent of global exports. The collective gross domestic product (GDP) of […]]]> 646894 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230621-indias-modi-to-visit-historic-al-hakim-mosque-as-part-of-egypt-trip/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:47:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646450 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit the newly restored 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque during his first visit to Egypt this week. The historic mosque dates back to the Fatimid era when Egypt was ruled by the Shia Ismaili dynasty and was recently restored by the government in collaboration with India's Dawoodi Bohra community, a denomination within the Ismaili branch who have a rich legacy of commerce and overseas maritime trade. The two-day state visit from 24 June was at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997. Modi is currently on an official visit to the US, where he commemorated the International Day of […]]]> 646450 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230619-muslims-body-opposes-india-government-proposal-to-apply-same-civil-laws-to-all-religions/ Mon, 19 Jun 2023 12:58:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645532 India's largest socio-religious Muslim organisation, on Monday, rejected the government's move to seek public and religious organisations' views on the Uniform Civil Code, which meant that all people, regardless of region or religion, would be subject to the same set of civil laws, Anadolu Agency reports. The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said in a statement that the Uniform Civil Code is completely contrary to the religious freedom and fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens in Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, and that the organisation will protest it within the legal framework. The Civil Code governs marriage, divorce, succession and other major social issues, and Muslims publicly protested against changes to Islamic laws, particularly those pertaining to divorce, when the Law Commission […]]]> 645532 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230615-tebboune-urges-acceleration-of-algeria-brics-accession-process/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 14:49:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644998 Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has called for an acceleration of Algeria's accession process to BRICS, a bloc composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Anadolu Agency reports. During a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on Thursday, Tebboune expressed his intentions regarding Algeria's potential membership in BRICS. He said, once Algeria becomes a member of BRICS, it would facilitate the process of switching to payments "not in dollars, not in Euros". Tebboune thanked Putin for the military cooperation, saying Russia's support is "crucial" for maintaining Algeria's independence in the current conditions. READ: BRICS foreign ministers pledge to build up New Development Bank "As for the geopolitical situation and relations here, we should touch on the Libyan […]]]> 644998 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230613-egypt-denies-that-india-is-supplying-cairo-with-a-credit-line/ Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:17:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644381 Egypt's supply minister has denied that India is providing Cairo with a credit line to help boost the North African country's failing economy, after Bloomberg reported New Delhi was giving Cairo an unspecified sum. Reuters reported that the Egyptian Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said that instead, discussions were ongoing for imports using local currencies other than the dollar. Moselhy said that Egypt was also in discussions with Russia and China to trade in local currencies. Egypt's economy is in dire straits, with the Egyptian pound falling, little foreign currency and soaring inflation. Citizens have struggled to buy food as the cost of basic staples has soared. Egypt has traditionally been bailed out by the Gulf states, including after the war […]]]> 644381 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230612-iran-saudi-arabia-ties-what-comes-next-after-smooth-restart/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:00:56 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644162 Less than three months after agreeing to restore diplomatic ties, long-time regional rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia, have recently taken another significant step toward full reconciliation. In the presence of senior officials from both sides, the Iranian Embassy in the affluent diplomatic enclave in north-western Riyadh was re-opened last week, seven years after it was locked down. A day later, Iran's Consulate-General and its permanent mission to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the port city of Jeddah were also re-opened. The Consulate-General in Jeddah had been active ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, but a formal re-opening took place on Wednesday in the presence of Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alireza Begdali, and other officials. Although Saudi Arabia is […]]]> 644162 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230609-india-france-uae-conclude-first-joint-maritime-drill-in-gulf-of-oman/ Fri, 09 Jun 2023 19:23:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643915 India, France and the United Arab Emirates have concluded the first-ever trilateral maritime exercise this week, the Indian Defence Ministry said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. The trilateral cooperation "achieved another milestone in history" as the exercise, which was held on 7-8 June, concluded, the Ministry said. During the maiden edition of the exercise, "a wide spectrum of operations at sea such as surface warfare involving tactical firing … drills for replenishment at sea should be done by the participating units," said the statement. "The exercise also saw cross embarkation of personnel that facilitated exchange of best practices," it added. The drill has further "strengthened the maritime ties between the navies and enhanced interoperability to address traditional and non-traditional threats […]]]> 643915 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230606-peace-in-gulf-region-vital-says-china-as-iran-saudi-uae-mull-naval-alliance/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:32:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642820 In an apparent approval of reports that Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were forming a joint naval group with China, Beijing has said peace and stability of the Gulf region was of "vital importance to safeguarding world peace", Anadolu Agency reports. Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said in a news briefing in Beijing on Monday: "Upholding the peace and stability of the Gulf region in the Middle East bears on the well-being of countries and people in the region and is of vital importance to safeguarding world peace, boosting global economic growth and keeping energy supply stable." He was reacting to reports that Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Persian Gulf states […]]]> 642820 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-brics-foreign-ministers-pledge-to-build-up-new-development-bank/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 19:25:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642200 The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – BRICS – said that building up the New Development Bank is one of their priorities, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement on its official website, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, following the 2-day meeting in Cape Town, the ministers agreed to ensure the sustainability of operational activities of the Bank, established by BRICS countries in 2015, to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the developing and member countries. On the second day, June 2, an expanded meeting was also held with the participation of the foreign ministries of 12 developing countries – the "friends of BRICS" – Argentina, Bangladesh, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, […]]]> 642200 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-brics-meet-with-friends-seeking-closer-ties-amid-push-to-expand-bloc/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:40:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642181 Senior officials from more than a dozen countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, were in talks on forging closer links with the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies on Friday, as it met to deepen ties and position itself as a counter-weight to the West, Reuters reports. BRICS, which now consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is considering expanding its membership, and a growing number of countries have expressed interest in joining. Once viewed as a loose association of disparate emerging economies, BRICS has, in recent years, taken more concrete shape, driven initially by China and, since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, with added impetus from Russia. In remarks opening Friday's discussions, host […]]]> 642181 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-brics-foreign-ministers-gather-in-south-africa/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:34:44 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642177 A meeting of foreign ministers of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – countries was held in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. Hosted by South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Naledi Pandor, the meeting gathered Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. The ministers addressed regional and global issues, the UN Security Council reform, protection of multilateralism, security, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, climate, energy security and mutual cooperation. Unilateral international sanctions' violation of international law and their effects on the world economy were also discussed. The meeting also addressed introducing a common currency for the BRICS countries and […]]]> 642177 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230529-israel-brings-in-10000-indian-labourers-to-replace-palestinians/ Mon, 29 May 2023 10:26:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=640500 Instead of relying on Palestinian workers, Israel has decided to import 10,000 workers from India. The Indian Government has signed an agreement with Israel to bring 10,000 Indian workers to the country. Half of these workers are destined for the construction sector, with the remaining half designated for nursing roles. The arrival of these workers will be staged, with 2,500 construction and an equal number of nursing workers due in the first year, according to reports on the Walla website. The Population and Immigration Authority in Israel states that the incoming workers from India are diligent, experienced and fluent in English. They are expected to meet the growing demand for labour in Israel, specifically in the nursing and construction fields. […]]]> 640500 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230525-egypt-defers-payments-for-wheat-imports-amid-dollar-crunch/ Thu, 25 May 2023 19:35:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=639915 Egypt has deferred payments for its large wheat purchases, in some cases by months, according to a government official and traders, as the country grapples with a shortage of hard currency, Reuters reports. Egypt is one of the world's biggest wheat importers and uses the purchases to make heavily subsidised bread, a politically sensitive benefit available to tens of millions of people. Most deferred payment cargoes have been shipped and unloaded without interruption, so far, and Egypt's state wheat reserves used to make subsidised bread have not been impacted. Following the war in Ukraine, Egypt now depends mostly on Russia for its wheat. Egypt's Supply Minister told Reuters the country's state grains buyer has deferred opening letters of credit to […]]]> 639915 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230522-as-19-countries-seek-to-join-brics-is-the-world-experiencing-a-change-in-the-balance-of-power/ Mon, 22 May 2023 13:13:18 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=638270 Since its formation in 2006, the BRICS group has only accepted one new member in 2010. Now, 19 countries have formally or informally approached the body to become members as it prepares to hold its annual summit in South Africa. Five Arab countries are among those who have expressed their interest in joining the BRICS group, South Africa's Ambassador Anil Sooklal said in an interview. Saudi Arabia and Iran have made formal requests to join, while the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and Algeria have joined Argentina and Indonesia and a number of African states in expressing an interest in joining. "What will be discussed is the expansion of Brics and the modalities of how this will happen," Sooklal said. "Thirteen countries […]]]> 638270 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230518-pakistan-to-be-fined-18bn-if-it-fails-to-complete-iran-gas-project/ Thu, 18 May 2023 12:27:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637815 Pakistan faces a hefty $18 billion penalty if it fails to complete a gas pipeline project with Iran, Dawn has reported. Iran has already built its section of the pipeline, but Pakistan is yet to finish the one on its side of the border within the timeframe set out in the agreement. The 25-year deal to export Iran's natural gas through a pipeline to neighbouring Pakistan was signed between the two countries in 2009 and was supposed to be implemented by 2015. However, the project was stalled due to US sanctions against Tehran and pressure on Islamabad from Washington. According to a revised contract in September 2019, Iran agreed not to file a lawsuit if Pakistan completes the pipeline by […]]]> 637815 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230517-the-trump-effect-and-the-us-establishments-response-is-a-warning-for-all-americans/ Wed, 17 May 2023 15:20:06 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637486 Following his 2020 US presidential election defeat, a new chapter has unfolded for Donald Trump as the former president finds himself embroiled in multiple investigations and legal challenges. Notably, he faces the unprecedented scenario of a former US president facing criminal charges. The investigations cover a range of allegations, including his potential role in the Capitol Hill riot on 6 January 2021; his attempt to alter the election results in the state of Georgia; and the fact that he took confidential documents that should have remained in the White House to his Florida mansion, Mar-a-Lago. Recently, New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump on 34 counts of first degree accounting record forgery related to the Stormy Daniels case. […]]]> 637486 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230517-indian-muslim-wins-election-despite-hijab-ban/ Wed, 17 May 2023 15:05:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637524 READ: Restaurant in Egypt turned away Hijabi women]]> 637524 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-algeria-a-populist-leader-challenging-our-notions-of-what-is-possible-in-the-middle-east/ Fri, 12 May 2023 20:00:11 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=635882 Much has been said and written about the rise of populism around the world and the threat it poses to traditional politics, dominated as it has been by the centre right and centre left. As the new wave of populism sweeps across various continents, the Middle East has been somewhat absent from the conversation. Crushed under the weight of authoritarianism, the region is seen to be immune from populist backlash and, moreover, had its populist moment under the wave of Pan-Arabism, also called Arab nationalism, peaking during 1958-61 in a political union between Egypt and Syria, in the form of the United Arab Republic. The Arab Spring could be held up as a populist moment but there are important differences […]]]> 635882 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-led-by-china-and-india-on-the-global-south-efforts-to-fix-the-un/ Fri, 12 May 2023 18:30:04 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=636024 In anticipation of next month's United Nations Security Council talks on reforming the inherently archaic and dysfunctional political body, China's Foreign Policy chief, Yang Yi stated his country's demands. "The reform of the Security Council should uphold fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, allowing more small and medium-sized countries to have more opportunities to participate in the decision-making of the Council," Wang Yi said in a statement on 29 April. More specifically, the new UNSC must "redress historical injustices against Africa". Although calls for reforms of the UNSC have been made many times in the past, Beijing's position is particularly important, in both language and timing. When the United Nations was founded in 1945 following […]]]> 636024 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-jet-orders-boom-as-airlines-fear-shortage/ Fri, 12 May 2023 16:45:52 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=636000 Plane makers cannot build them, but airlines cannot stop buying them. Even as they wrestle with industrial problems preventing the delivery of jets sold before the pandemic, Airbus and Boeing are totting up billions of dollars of new orders stretching beyond 2030, amid a rebound in air travel. From Air India to Ireland's Ryanair, and a new national airline in Saudi Arabia, a handful of carriers have placed firm or provisional orders for 700 jets. Turkish Airlines' surprise announcement on Thursday that it plans to order 600 jets in June spells what would be the fourth mega-deal in a few months – upstaging Air India's record order for 470 Airbus and Boeing jetliners. Turkiye's national champion last month announced a 10-year strategic plan, including a goal of […]]]> 636000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230506-kuwait-to-join-shanghai-regional-bloc-as-dialogue-partner/ Sat, 06 May 2023 15:32:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=634057 Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a powerful regional bloc led by China and Russia, Anadolu reports. The document was inked on the sidelines of a meeting of the SCO foreign ministers on May 4-5 in Panaji city, India, the state news agency KUNA reported. "Kuwait's joining of SCO as a dialogue partner is the first step towards joining the organization as a full member in the future," said Kuwaiti Ambassador to India Jassim Al-Najem. He added that the accession of some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as dialogue partners to the SCO "confirms the growing importance of the organization." READ: Kuwait, UAE, GCC condemn storming of Saudi building in Sudan On […]]]> 634057 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230505-jailed-deported-and-blacklisted-qatar-outspoken-world-cup-guards/ Fri, 05 May 2023 13:54:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633916 Andrew Maganga seized the chance to work as a World Cup security guard in Qatar last year, only to be fired, along with some 200 others on the last day of the tournament, jailed for protesting over wages, and deported back to his native Kenya, Reuters reports. At home in Mombasa, he has little to show for four years working various jobs in gas-wealthy Qatar, having spent his savings paying recruitment agents and to support his family. Maganga's deportation order, seen by Reuters, cited a charge of "labour strike" and banned him from Qatar which, like other Gulf States, forbids workers from organising and striking. "It's a difficult moment for me, but we are hoping maybe justice will prevail," Maganga, […]]]> 633916 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230503-ancient-roman-era-buddha-statue-discovered-in-egypt/ Wed, 03 May 2023 11:20:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633534 Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient Buddha statue made of stone in the Egyptian Red Sea port city of Berenike. The find made from Mediterranean marble, said to be the first of its kind west of Afghanistan, sheds new light on trade and contact between Egypt and India. The find has "important indications over the presence of trade ties between Egypt and India during the Roman era", the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Mostafa Al-Waziri was quoted as saying. ✨Spectacular✨ discovery at the Red Sea #port of #Berenike #Egypt – a #Buddha statue in the forecourt of the Isis temple, 2nd-3rd c. CE. Important new evidence of exchange of religious beliefs as part of the sea trade between […]]]> 633534 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230502-egypts-grand-mufti-makes-official-visit-to-india/ Tue, 02 May 2023 14:40:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=632854 Egypt's Grand Mufti, Dr Shawki Allam, embarked on a six-day official visit to India yesterday, as part of efforts to enhance cultural ties and interfaith dialogue. According to the Hindustan Times, Dr Allam made the trip at the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous body under the Ministry of External Affairs. The senior cleric will also be accompanied by officials of the Egyptian embassy in New Delhi and will travel to Agra, Aligarh, Jaipur and Hyderabad. Today he visited the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), India's oldest Muslim university and one of the oldest universities in Asia where he addressed students on the topic of "Dialogue Among Civilisations". READ: Egypt, Saudi, UAE, Algeria, Bahrain seek […]]]> 632854 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230502-algeria-resigns-inter-parliamentary-union-presidency-in-protest-at-israels-membership/ Tue, 02 May 2023 14:12:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=632844 The Algerian Parliament announced on Sunday the resignation of its deputy speaker, Mondher Boudin MP, from the presidency of the Advisory Group for Combating Terrorism in the Inter-Parliamentary Union in protest at Israel's membership of the group. The move was said to be in support of the Palestinian cause. The parliament pointed out that Algeria, represented by Boudin, was elected to the role during the 146th General Assembly meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Manama on 13 March. However, after the nomination, new members were approved by the General Assembly including Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Mexico, Iran, India, Sweden and Israel. According to the official statement, following this development and after extensive consultations and in line with […]]]> 632844 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230501-qatar-arrests-8-indians-accused-of-spying-for-israel/ Mon, 01 May 2023 07:41:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=632314 Qatar yesterday arrested a foreign network of eight Indians allegedly for spying for the Israeli state. Hebrew media quoted local sources as saying that the defendants were "recent graduates of the Indian navy," adding that they were working for "Dehara Trading Company." The sources pointed out that the Indians were arrested "on suspicion of leaking sensitive and confidential information to Israel." Dehera was commissioned to build a submarine for Qatar, but its work agreement is said to have been annulled after the case investigation started. The defendants are also due to stand trial. Legal sources told the media that they might face the "death penalty." READ: Israel and Gulf states to be connected by fibre-optic cable]]> 632314 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230428-brazils-president-the-un-was-so-strong-enough-to-create-israel-but-now-cant-create-a-palestinian-state/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:43:25 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=631970 Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva this week slammed the UN's inability to create a Palestinian State in the same manner that it established the state of Israel in 1948. "The UN was so strong that, in 1948, it managed to create the State of Israel. In 2023, it fails to create a Palestinian state," Lula said. Speaking during an official visit to Spain, Lula continued: "We live in the world where the UN Security Council, the permanent members, they are the ones who sell the most weapons in the world, they are the biggest participants in wars in the world." "When the United States invaded Iraq, there was no discussion in the Security Council. When France and England […]]]> 631970 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230420-8-ex-india-navy-officers-accused-of-spying-on-qatar-for-israel/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:39:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=630395 Eight former Indian naval personnel are currently facing trial in Qatar on charges of espionage. They are accused of gathering intelligence on Qatar's secret project to acquire high-tech submarines manufactured in Italy, which are designed to be difficult to detect by adversaries. According to the Print, legal proceedings against the officers began on 29 March, with the next hearing scheduled for May. The eight were working for a company called Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, which was described as a "local business partner" of Qatar's defence and other agencies. They were arrested back in August 2022, although no official charges were brought at the time, it was widely suspected that they were spying on behalf of Israel. An intelligence […]]]> 630395 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230413-the-rise-of-the-south-can-brics-weaken-the-dominance-of-the-world-bank-and-imf/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:40:28 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628837 Who would have expected that the BRICS nations could rise and become the potential rival of the G7 countries, the World Bank and the IMF combined? That once seemingly distant possibility now has real prospects which could change the equilibrium of world politics. BRICS — an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — was supposedly coined by the Chief Economist of Goldman Sachs in 2001, as a reference to the world's emerging economies. It was then known as BRIC; the "S" came later, when South Africa formally joined the group in 2010. The group's first official summit was held in 2009. Back then, the discussion seemed largely abstract. It wasn't until 2014 that BRICS began taking serious […]]]> 628837 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230404-israel-and-gulf-states-to-be-connected-by-fibre-optic-cable/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:40:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=626471 A proposed Israeli-funded internet cable project aims to connect Gulf states with the occupation state after "gaining traction" in Saudi Arabia, according to a report yesterday by Middle East Eye (MEE). If plans go ahead, the "revolutionary" fibre-optic cable, known as the Trans Europe Asia System (TEAS), will be the first infrastructure project directly connecting Israel with Saudi Arabia. It already has the backing of the Saudi-based Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), which is jointly owned by the six GCC member states. In addition to the kingdom, the 20,000-kilometre cable is expected to run through four other Gulf states — the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman — as well as Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories on a route […]]]> 626471 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230330-saudi-joins-security-bloc-led-by-china-and-egypt/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:42:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=625296 Saudi Arabia's decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has been met with much debate and controversy over how close the kingdom is getting to China and Russia. Riyadh became an official member of the bloc, that includes China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, yesterday. Other dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Turkiye. Afghanistan (whose participation has been uncertain since the Taliban took control), Belarus and Mongolia are observer states. Tehran was the latest to see its status upgraded from an observer state to a full member in September, and Riyadh's decision came just weeks after China brokered an agreement to resume diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. READ: Saudi Arabia […]]]> 625296 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230329-saudi-arabia-becomes-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-dialogue-partner/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:00:47 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=625220 Saudi Arabia has moved a step closer to joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a powerful regional bloc led by China and Russia, Anadolu News Agency reports. The Cabinet approved a memorandum on becoming a dialogue partner in the SCO during a Tuesday meeting chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The SCO was founded in June 2001 by China, Russia and the Central Asian states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. READ:Saudi Arabia, UK sign security agreements The Eurasian political, economic and security alliance is recognised as the world's largest regional organisation, with eight members, four observer states and several dialogue partners, including Turkiye. Pakistan and India became full members in 2017. Iran, an […]]]> 625220 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230329-india-asks-iraq-to-restore-sikh-temple-dedicated-to-guru-nanak/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:07:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=625207 India has formally requested Iraq renovate a historic Sikh temple, or gurdwara, which was built in the memory of the faith's founder Guru Nanak who once visited Baghdad as part of his travels in the Muslim world. According to Zee News, the matter was raised during a visit by Iraqi National Security Adviser, Qasem Al-Araji, to Delhi last week where he met his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. It was the first cabinet minister level visit of an Iraqi official in seven years and included talks aimed at strengthening defence ties and cooperation on counter-terrorism. Shrine of Guru Nanak Dev Ji In Baghdad , Iraq This Shrine Was Constructed After He Visited Iraq pic.twitter.com/En1cfXtcvJ — indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) November 7, 2022 The […]]]> 625207 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230327-kuwait-sacks-2000-expatriate-teachers/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:03:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624755 The Kuwaiti Ministry of Education will lay off more than 2,000 expatriate teachers and department heads in 14 specialisations by the end of the current academic year 2022-2023, Kuwait's Al-Qabas newspaper reported. According to the paper, the teachers belong are from 24 nationalities, however, a majority of them – 82.09 per cent are Egyptians – followed by Syrians (11.03 per cent) and Jordanians (3.55 per cent). They also include Indians, Nigerians, Iranians, Yemenis, Moroccans, Lebanese, Eritreans, Senegalese, Sudanese, Omani, Tunisians, Afghans, Canadians, Somalians, Italians, Kenyans, Russians, Filipinos, Ghanaians and Pakistanis. The Ministry of Education had earlier announced that it was in the process of terminating the services of 1,815 male and female teachers and more than 200 expatriate department heads at the […]]]> 624755 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230324-islamic-giving-plays-increasing-role-in-helping-forcibly-displaced-unhcr-official/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:56:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624525 Islamic giving plays an increasing role in helping the forcibly displaced people, a UN refugee agency official said on Friday, Anadolu News Agency reports. At the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Khaled Khalifa, a senior advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR representative to Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, launched the fifth Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report, "which shows the power and growing potential of Islamic giving to save lives and build better futures for the forcibly displaced globally". According to the report, 6 million people, who have been forcefully displaced and living in 26 countries, have benefited from the Zakat (obligatory almsgiving in Islam) and Sadaqah (voluntary charity) funds since the UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund was piloted in […]]]> 624525 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230321-air-india-expansion-stirs-tension-over-airline-flying-rights/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 17:33:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624067 Tensions over plans to transform Air India into a global airline with hundreds of new jets rippled across the aviation sector on Tuesday, as foreign carriers clamoured for more access to the world's fastest-growing economy, Reuters reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government faces growing demands to ease a near-freeze on capacity that can be deployed on many routes to and from India, now that India's flag carrier has been sold to the cash-rich Tata conglomerate. Current limits on the amount of flying allowed between India and many markets date back to heavy losses at Air India around the beginning of the last decade, analysts said. But a huge overhaul of the Airline, including the world's largest ever plane order for […]]]> 624067 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230321-india-resists-uae-calls-for-more-air-access-wants-domestic-carriers-to-fly-long-haul/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:23:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624061 India is not looking at increasing air traffic rights for the United Arab Emirates, despite calls by Gulf carriers, and wants its domestic airlines to offer non-stop long haul flights, its Civil Aviation Minister told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. The UAE has urged India to increase the maximum number of seats between the two countries by 50,000 a week from about 65,000 a week today, but Jyotiraditya Scindia said: "at this point we're not looking at increasing it", Reuters reports. India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, where demand for air travel is outstripping the supply of planes. But the bulk of India's international air traffic is currently carried by Gulf airlines such as Emirates and […]]]> 624061 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230321-turkic-countries-welcome-nowruz-festival-marking-arrival-of-spring/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:58:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=623725 Turkic countries, on Tuesday, welcomed festivities surrounding Nowruz, marking the arrival of spring through various forms of celebrations, Anadolu News Agency reports. Dance and theatre performances, in addition to folk dances and concerts of famous artists, were observed in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, while the leaders of most of these states addressed their people and celebrated their Nowruz festival. Welcoming the festivities at a solemn ceremony, Uzbek President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, congratulated his nation's Nowruz holiday during a speech at the New Uzbekistan Park in the capital, Tashkent. Mirziyoyev said they are "selflessly working to build a New Uzbekistan" for "a society and state where people live freely, independently, and prosperously". "May the season bring peace and prosperity, and […]]]> 623725