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☆ Who was Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Kara Fox | Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, believed to be one of the architects of the militant group’s October 7, 2023, terror attack and Israel’s most wanted man, was killed in Gaza on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military. He was also viewed as a pragmatic political leader by some: In 2017, Hamas elected Sinwar as the political chief of its main decision-making body, the Politburo, in Gaza. At one of the protests, Sinwar applauded those facing “the enemy who besieges us.”As the group’s political leader, Sinwar focused on the group’s foreign relationships, forging important ties with regional Arab powers. Yahya Sinwar, center, with the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, left, take part in the funeral of senior militant Mazen Fuqaha in Gaza City on March 25, 2017. The talks involved senior figures from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, ”, Khan Younis, bunkering, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas ’, Majdal –, Ashraf Amra, Shutterstock Sinwar, Gilad Shalit, “, –, Mazen, Mohammed Salem, Mohammed al, Masri, Mohammed Deif, Al, Marwan Issa Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Islamic University, Open University, European Council, Foreign Relations, Israel, Brigades, US Department of State, European Union Locations: Gaza, Tehran, Al, Ashkelon –, Aqsa, Palestine, Gaza City, Israel, Israeli, Italian, Islam, Iran, United States, Qatar, Egypt, United Kingdom, France

☆ Harris' campaign adds top adviser to lead outreach to Muslim and Arab voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Yamiche Alcindor | Yamiche Alcindor Is An Nbc News Washington Correspondent. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is hiring Nasrina Bargzie to lead outreach to Muslim and Arab voters, according to a campaign official who first shared details of the plan with NBC News — a move focused on a key constituency that soured on President Joe Biden over his support of Israel. Bargzie worked in Harris’ White House office until July as a policy adviser on Muslim, Arab and Gaza-related issues, as well as reproductive rights, voting and democracy, the campaign official said. Bargzie will focus on talking to Muslim and Arab communities as voters wait to see whether Harris will lay out a different approach to the Middle East and Israel from Biden’s. The Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, a national Muslim organization that had declared itself “uncommitted” on Biden’s re-election bid, announced this month it was endorsing Harris. Salima Suswell, the founder and chief executive of the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, praised Harris.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Kamala Harris ’, Nasrina Bargzie, Joe Biden, Bargzie, Harris, Biden, “, ” Bargzie, “ I’ve, Nasrina, ”, Mazen Basrawi, Josh Hsu, ” Hala Hijazi, ” Hijazi, ” Harris, Donald Trump, “ Kamala ”, ” “ Harris’s, It’s, Salima Suswell, ” Suswell Organizations: NBC News, Democratic National Convention, Berkeley Law School, White, Biden, Muslim Leadership Council Fund, Muslim, Biden’s, Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund Locations: Israel, Harris ’, Gaza, Chicago, East, Biden’s, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona

☆ Middle East Crisis At Least 20 Killed in Attack While Waiting for Aid, Gaza Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

It also called for “continuing the reform process.”Much of the Palestinian public sees the Palestinian Authority as tainted by corruption, mismanagement and cooperation with Israel. As president, Mr. Abbas remains firmly in charge of the government. With no functional parliament, Mr. Abbas has long ruled by decree, and he exerts wide influence over the judiciary and prosecution system. What’s the change?” said Mr. Qudwa, a fierce opponent of Mr. Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen. For weeks, Mr. Abbas has signaled his desire to appoint Mr. Mustafa.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Muhammad Mustafa, Abbas, Mustafa, Majdi Mohammed, “, Mohammed Shtayyeh, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Nasser, Mohammed, Muhammad, ”, Qudwa, Abu Mazen, “ Abu Mazen, Borge Brende, ” Ibrahim Dalalsha Organizations: Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Hamas, West Bank, Israel, United, Authority, National Security Council, George Washington University, Washington , D.C, Palestine Investment Fund, ”, Gaza, Horizon Center, Political Studies, Media Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Hamas, United States, Washington ,, Davos, Ramallah, West

☆ Middle East Crisis Palestinian Authority Leader Expected to Choose Insider as Prime Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has signaled his desire to appoint Muhammad Mustafa, a close economic adviser, as prime minister. Mr. Abbas could change his mind, and a decision to appoint Mr. Mustafa will only be final if Mr. Abbas signs a decree. Much of the Palestinian public sees the Palestinian Authority as tainted by corruption, mismanagement and cooperation with Israel. In the Palestinian Authority, the prime minister is supposed to oversee the work of ministries, but Mr. Abbas often intervenes in decision-making, according to analysts. He has previously been the authority’s economy minister and deputy prime minister.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Muhammad Mustafa, Abbas, Mustafa, Mr, Majdi Mohammed, Mohammed Shtayyeh, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Nasser, Mohammed, Muhammad, ”, Qudwa, Abu Mazen, “ Abu Mazen, Borge Brende, Jehad Harb Organizations: Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Union, European Union, Press, West Bank, United, Authority, Israel, George Washington University, Washington , D.C, Palestine Investment Fund, Gaza Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, United States, Palestinian, Washington ,, Davos, Ramallah

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is sending several senior aides to Michigan to meet with Arab American and Muslim leaders, according to three people familiar with the matter, as his administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war frustrates members of a key constituency in a 2024 battleground state. Also expected to attend are Tom Perez, who leads the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, as well as Mazen Basrawi, the White House liaison to American Muslim communities, and aides Jamie Citron and Dan Koh. Siblani was one of the few Arab American leaders to meet with Rodriguez when she visited Dearborn at the end of January. The White House says administration officials have been in regular contact with Muslim and Arab American leaders in Michigan and across the country. He did not meet with Arab American and Muslim community members.

Persons: Joe Biden, Samantha Power, Jon, Steven Benjamin, Tom Perez, Basrawi, Jamie Citron, Dan Koh, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, ”, Osama Siblani, “ I’m, ” Siblani, Siblani, Rodriguez, Alabas Farhat, “, ” Farhat, Farhat, “ it’s, Debbie Dingell, Biden, I’ve, ” Dingell, Biden hasn't, Abdullah Hammoud, ” ___ Cappelletti Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Agency for International Development, Public, White, Intergovernmental Affairs, Biden, Arab American News, Associated, AP, U.S . Rep, Health Ministry, CNN, United Auto Workers, Palestinian, UAW, Dearborn Locations: Michigan, Israel, American, Detroit, Dearborn , Michigan, Gaza, Dearborn, White, Arab, Eastern, The U.S, Warren, Lansing , Michigan

☆ France issues arrest warrant against Syria's President Assad - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - French judges have issued arrest warrants for Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two other senior officials over the use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, a judicial source said on Wednesday. It is the first international arrest warrant that has been issued for the Syrian head of state, whose forces responded to protests that began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown that U.N. experts have said amount to war crimes. It is the first time international arrest warrants have been issued over the chemical weapons attack in Ghouta in 2013, says Mazen Darwish, lawyer and founder of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), which filed the case in France. In October, French judges issued warrants for two former defence ministers over a 2017 bomb that killed a French-Syrian man at his home in Daraa. Reporting by Layli Foroudi and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Richard LoughOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Maher al, Mazen Darwish, Darwish, Layli Foroudi, Dominique Vidalon, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Richard Lough Organizations: Eastern Ghouta, Syrian Center for Media, United Nations, Organisation, Chemical Weapons, Thomson Locations: Syria, Douma, Eastern, Syrian, Ghouta, France, Daraa

Paris CNN —France has issued an arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the alleged use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, a judicial source told CNN on Wednesday. This is the first international arrest warrant against Assad. “All Interpol member states should then comply with the arrest warrant,” Chammas told CNN. “We have never used our chemical arsenal in our history,” Assad said in 2017. He added that “morally” the Syrian government would never do this “because it’s not acceptable.”

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Maher al, Michael Chammas, ” Chammas, “, Mazen Darwish, ” Darwish, Hadi al Khatib, ” Assad, it’s, ” Organizations: Paris CNN —, CNN, Interpol, Syrian Centre for Media, Open Society Justice Initiative, Eastern Ghouta, Syrian Center for Media Locations: Paris CNN — France, Syria, Germany, Douma, Eastern, Ghouta, Damascus, France

Most of Gaza’s water comes from local sources – but the fuel required to pump and clean it is fast running out. As the water system collapses, some Gazans have been forced to drink dirty, salty water, sparking concerns of a health crisis and fears that people could start dying from dehydration. Without it, Gaza’s water system has crumbled. Gaza’s fuel supplies could be exhausted in as little as 48 to 72 hours, Ghunaim, from the PWA, said on Monday. Even before the conflict, many experts were saying the water situation would be “catastrophic in the future,” Hall said.

Persons: Mohammad Al Shanti, ”, Natasha Hall, Mazen Ghunaim, Mohammed Abed, Ghunaim, Richard Peeperkorn, “, Kellogg Schwab, ” Schwab, Al Shanti, Omar Shaban, COGAT, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, Philippe Lazzarini, ” Hall, ‘, Khan Younis, Mahmud Hams, Hall, Haitham Hassan, – Organizations: CNN, Aqsa, UNICEF, Palestinian Water Authority, UN, Health, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Oxfam, PWA, West Bank, CSIS, Johns Hopkins University ., Strategic Studies, Getty, WHO, Israel Defence Forces, UNRWA, “ Locations: Al, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, AFP, “, Territories, Egypt’s, Khan

Since then, Omar Abou Nabout has sought accountability over his father’s killing while forging a new life in France. Legal cases have been filed against the Syrian regime before. The Syrian regime used them extensively, and indiscriminately, in densely populated areas at the height of the civil war, which was considered a form of prohibited indiscriminate attack under international humanitarian law. It may deny targeting civilians, but Abou Nabout says the new indictments are a victory for him and others fighting impunity. I was part of it … I watched people die including friends,” Abou Nabout said.

Persons: Paris CNN — Omar Abou Nabout, Bashar al, Assad, Salah Abou Nabout, Omar Abou Nabout, Abou Nabout’s, ”, Mohamad Abazeed, Abou Nabout, Salah, Muhammed Yusuf, ” Abou Nabout, “, Mazen Darwish, Mark Esplin, CNN Abou Nabout, Darwish, Anwar Raslan, –, SANA, Fahed, ” Darwish, there’s Ali Abdullah Ayoub –, Ahmad Balloul, Ali al, Safatli, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he’s, ” Assad, … Organizations: Paris CNN, CNN, Getty, Anadolu Agency, Syrian Network for Human, Sorbonne University, French Foreign Ministry, Syrian Center for Media, Syrian Defense, Syrian, Air Force, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Arab League Summit, Saudi Royal Court, Reuters, International Criminal Court, ICC, UN Security Council Locations: Paris, France, Daraa, Syrian, AFP, Syria, Russian, Tareek, France –, Europe, Germany, Fraij, Damascus, ”, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar Algaloud, Netherlands, Russia

☆ Hamas: What to know about the group and its strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The brazen attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel that began on Saturday will be seen as a turning point in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with far-reaching repercussions, analysts say. Israel pledged revenge, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing “mighty vengeance.” Hamas said it was prepared for all scenarios. Palestinian Hamas militants attend the funeral of their comrade in the southern Gaza Strip in August 2017. The Israeli military said Monday that Hamas had taken “dozens” of hostages and Hamas has said it has abducted more than 100 people. Hamas’ large-scale offensive shows that the group knows that the coming war may be an existential one, experts say.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Kobi Michael, “, ” Michael, Harakat, Muqawama, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Mahmoud Abbas, Yoav Gallant, Khaled Elgindy, ” Elgindy, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Elgindy, Omar Rahman, ” Rahman, can’t, Abu Mazen, …, Ismail Haniyeh, Mahmoud Hefnawy, Michael, Hamas …, Saleh al Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Israeli, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel’s Ministry, Strategic Affairs, Islamic Resistance Movement, Oslo Accords, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Israel, Palestinian Authority, West Bank ., European Union, US State Department, West Bank, Middle East Institute, Palestinian Affairs, “, Saudi, Middle East Council, Global Affairs, AP Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Egypt, Oslo, United States, Iran, Palestine, Saudi, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Qatar's, Doha, Lebanon

☆ Iraq is set to fuel de-dollarization by banning the buck from being used in cash transactions, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Iraq is about to become the latest country to join the de-dollarization drive, per Reuters. The greenback will be banned from being used in cash transactions and withdrawals from January 1, the outlet reported. Several countries, including China and Russia, have made efforts to fuel the de-dollarization movement this year. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "But don't talk to me about cash dollars anymore."

Persons: —, Mazen Ahmed, Ahmed, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Reuters, Service, greenback, Iraq isn't Locations: Iraq, China, Russia, Iraqi, New York, Beijing

☆ Exclusive: Iraq to end all dollar cash withdrawals by Jan. 1, 2024, central-bank official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But dollars deposited in 2024 could only be withdrawn in local currency at the official rate of 1,320. The parallel market rate of the Iraqi dinar sat at 1,560 on Thursday, roughly 15% percent below the official rate. Here you go, you can use the card inside Iraq at the official rate, or if you want to withdraw cash, you can at the official rate in dinars," Ahmed said. "But don't talk to me about cash dollars anymore." He added: "As long as all transparent and legal financing operations happen via us (at the official rate), the rest does not matter."

Persons: Mazen Ahmed, It's, Ahmed, Timour Azhari, William Maclean 私たち Organizations: New York Federal Reserve, CBI, Reuters Locations: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Iran, Iraqi, U.S, Syria, Tehran, Baghdad

RIYADH, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is expected to tap the international debt markets to finance a projected budget deficit in 2023-2024, the finance ministry said, against a backdrop of lower oil prices and the country's extended oil production cuts. Both deficits are estimated at 161 billion riyals ($43 billion). Saudi Arabia is working to prepare an annual borrowing plan in accordance with a medium-term debt strategy and "access global debt markets to enhance the kingdom's position in international markets", the finance ministry said. This has pushed total revenue estimates for 2023 up to 1,180 billion riyals from an earlier projection of 1,130 billion riyals, the finance ministry said. Meanwhile, total expenditure is seen rising to 1,262 billion riyals in 2023, from an earlier estimate of 1,114 billion riyals, before slowing down marginally to 1,251 billion riyals in 2024.

Persons: Aziz El Yaakoubi, Jane Merriman Organizations: Saudi Aramco, Al, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, Al Rajhi

☆ Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer: Posher Than Ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Dan Neil | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SPEAK MEMORY Singer Vehicle Design in Torrance, Calif., restores and modifies classic Porsche 911 Carreras from 1989-1994. The air-cooled, largely analog cars represent a ‘sweet spot’ in Porsche’s history, says Mazen Fawaz, the company’s CEO. Photo: Singer Vehicle DesignOUR TEST CAR cannot be bought for love or money. This 1991 Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer Vehicle Design—called the “Hollywood Commission,” in Bahama Yellow—is one of only 450 examples that the Torrance, Calif.-based fantasy factory will build, all of which are spoken for, with average costs in the high six figures, not including the donor car. I was this close.

Persons: Mazen Fawaz Organizations: Carreras, Singer, Hollywood Commission Locations: Torrance , Calif, Torrance, Calif

JANDARIS, Syria, March 22 (Reuters) - Hussein Mankawi has little hope he will ever rebuild his home and food distribution businesses in the north-west Syrian city of Jandaris after they were reduced to rubble by last month's deadly earthquake, wiping out his life's work. There is nothing but tents," he said, standing by the mangled ruins of his home in the rebel-held region. The Feb. 6 earthquakes were the worst modern-day natural disasters to strike Syria and Turkey, killing more than 56,000 people across the two countries. The U.N. says more than 100,000 people have been displaced in the region since the first quake struck on Feb. 6. "We were looking for a better life," he said as he waited to be let through the border with his family.

Credit Suisse fell 8% in Europe and First Republic tumbled 30%. Banking troubles revived memories of the 2008 financial crisis, when dozens of institutions failed or were bailed out with billions of dollars of government and central bank money. Earlier this week, the franc plunged the most against the dollar in one day since 2015, when the Swiss central bank loosened its currency peg. Japan's Ministry of Finance, Financial Services Agency and Bank of Japan officials met on Friday evening to discuss financial markets. Masato Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, told reporters after the trilateral meeting that the government, the central bank and the banking watchdog would coordinate to ensure the stability of the financial system.

☆ As hawkish Fed pricing goes away, bullish dollar calls fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Karen Brettell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The moves come as investors rush for safe havens and adjust for a less aggressive Fed in the wake of the bank failures. “The market is basically saying that the Fed is done here,” said Mazen Issa, senior FX strategist at TD Securities in New York. Some banks, including Goldman Sachs and NatWest Markets, have also said they no longer expect the Fed to raise rates this month. Traders are also pricing for the Fed to cut rates this year, with the fed funds rate expected to fall to 3.80% in December, from 4.57% now. “From a dollar perspective, that’s very important because the resetting of Fed expectations ever higher was a big part of the dollar rally we had seen before these moves,” he added.

The rise of AI-powered search could transform the internet. If AI-powered search catches on, it will upend the practice of search advertising. Right now, not a lot seems to have changed on the ad landscape, despite the media frenzy around the new AI search tools. Bannister doesn't think AI-powered search will change advertising drastically in the short term, but even small changes can have an impact on business. Sutton is cautiously optimistic though that the addition of AI to search queries on Bing and Google Search won't impact publishers like Gannett, which owns mostly news sites.

☆ Jordan truckers' strike exposes woes of impoverished south
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"Diesel is my lifeline," said 54-year-old Abu al-Zait, who has seen his livelihood thrown into jeopardy by high fuel price rises since Russia invaded Ukraine. The month-long sit-in cost Jordan tens of millions of dollars in losses when it paralysed unloading at the Red Sea port of Aqaba, according to officials and industrialists. It was the latest bout of unrest in Maan, a poor tribal stronghold about 250 km (156 miles) south of the capital. Fuel price rises, combined with high taxes and spiralling food costs in a nation that imports most goods, has made life unaffordable for many. Like many Arab states, Jordan has in the last decade seen widespread unrest as it reduced food and fuel subsidies.

RIYADH, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia expects to post a second consecutive budget surplus in 2023, though down 84% from this year as an uncertain global economic outlook and lower crude prices look set to weigh on the top oil exporter's revenues. Spending is slightly lower than 1.132 trillion riyals this year. Revenues are expected at 1.13 trillion riyals, down from 1.234 trillion riyals in 2022 as oil prices are seen falling from this year's high levels. Public debt is seen falling 3.5% to 951 billion riyals next year, or 24.6% of GDP. Government reserves at the Saudi Central Bank are estimated to reach 399 billion riyals at the end of next year, the finance ministry said.

☆ Dollar gains with Treasury yields, sterling tumbles on hot inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Karen Brettell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

British Pound Sterling and U.S. Dollar notes are seen in this June 22, 2017 illustration photo. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields resumed their march higher as investors maintained expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue to aggressively raise rates to bring down soaring inflation, boosting demand for the U.S. currency. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe U.S. central bank is expected to lift rates by another 75 basis points when it meets on November 1-2, with an additional 50 basis points or 75 basis points increase also likely in December. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Wednesday that he was checking currency rates "meticulously" and with more frequency, local media reported. The BOJ remains an outlier among a global wave of central banks tightening monetary policy to combat soaring inflation, as it focuses on underpinning a fragile economy.

The British pound plunged to a record low against the U.S. dollar Monday. The pound, historically one of the strongest currencies in the world, fell to as low as $1.04 before bouncing back to approximately $1.07. For most of the past few decades, the pound averaged a price of about $1.50 against the dollar. The decline in the British pound in itself won't have a direct impact on the U.S. economy, experts say. But as the value of the pound has dropped, the value of the U.S. dollar has reached all-time highs.

☆ Sterling hits record low against the dollar, as Asia-Pacific currencies also weaken
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Abigail Ng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sterling hit a record low. Matt Cardy | Getty ImagesThe British pound plunged to a record low on Monday morning in Asia, following last week's announcement by the new U.K. government that it would implement tax cuts and investment incentives to boost growth. The sterling briefly fell 4% to an all-time low of $1.0382 on Monday in Asia. "Below $1.05, you really look at parity," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia." "We've seen the euro dip below parity — I don't see a reason why sterling can't either," he added.

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