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☆ Opinion | Nancy Pelosi, on Reforms to Reinforce Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “The Constitution Won’t Save Us From Trump,” by Aziz Rana (Opinion guest essay, April 28):Mr. Rana makes a strong case for legislative solutions that will reinforce American democracy. To that end, many of the reforms he calls for were already passed by House Democrats in 2022. Our Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would take these steps:1) Aim to stop voter suppression and election subversion. 4) Curtail the harmful, anti-democracy Citizens United decision by enacting the Disclose Act, which curbs anonymous funders from suffocating the airwaves with misrepresentations. President Biden, a patriotic and determined champion for democracy, has been forceful in his support for these reforms.

Persons: ”, Aziz Rana, Rana, John R, Lewis, Biden, shamefully Organizations: House Democrats, Citizens, Republicans Locations: Trump

☆ Opinion | The Constitution Won’t Save Us From Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Aziz Rana | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Thursday, the Supreme Court gathered to consider whether Donald Trump, as president, enjoyed immunity from prosecution for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Even if the justices eventually rule against him, liberals should not celebrate the Constitution as our best bulwark against Mr. Trump. Each of these efforts has been motivated by a worthy desire to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his actions. It is not just that Mr. Trump would never have been president without the Electoral College. Think about why those previous efforts to use the Constitution to hold Mr. Trump accountable failed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, Mike Pence Organizations: Supreme, Mr, Electoral Locations: Colorado

☆ Photos challenge misconceptions about what it means to be an American Muslim
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

These are some of the faces featured in “Muslims in America,” an ongoing photography series by British artist Mahtab Hussain. Mahtab HussainSo far, Hussain has documented subjects living in New York, LA, Baltimore and Toronto, Canada. I’ve met people from all over the world in the US who are Muslim: Palestinians, people from all over Africa. Not only do Hussain’s photographs visually challenge the way American Muslims have been portrayed, he has also offered space for his subjects to share their experiences. Mahtab HussainMany members of Dearborn’s Arab American and Muslim American communities have openly rejected Biden for his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: Julo, Adbul, Candace, Mahtab Hussain, “, ” Hussain, Hussain, Arslan, ”, Riz Ahmed, creatives, I’ve, ” Julo Cisse, Mahtab Hussain Syeda Monique Legette, he’s, ” Itar Mechmechia, ” Dayana Aziz, Abdullah Hammoud, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Netanyahu, Candace Ashley, that’s, Adbul Warsame, Mahtab Hussain Ahmed Mohamed Organizations: CNN, Nike Air Jordans, Pew Research Center, USC, Initiative, USC Annenberg, British Pakistani Muslim, American, The New York Times, Hamas Locations: United States, America, British, New York, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Glasgow, Kashmir, Pakistan, LA, Balitmore, Baltimore, Toronto, Canada, British Pakistani, Africa, Britain, New York City, Dearborn , Michigan, Gaza, American, Israel, Michigan

☆ Ramadan in Malaysia: Raids and fines for those caught breaking fast spotlight growing religious conservatism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In many parts of Malaysia, Muslims caught eating or drinking during daytime hours can find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Those caught eating or drinking during daytime hours face fines of up to 1,000 Malaysian Ringgit (about $200) and prison terms of up to a year. CNN reached out to multiple state religious bodies across Malaysia for comment. Complaints were made to the state religious department, media reports said, and the scandal caused a national stir – drawing scorn from conservative politicians and prompting public apologies from the celebrities. “As long as you look Malay, you must fast during Ramadan – those are the rules,” Yusuf told CNN.

Persons: Rahmad Mariman, ” Mariman, TikTok, ” JAIPK, Hadi Awang, ”, MOHD RASFAN, –, Ameena Siddiqi, Siddiqi, ” Siddiqi, Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, Annice Lyn, Anisah Mahmood, Fadhlina Sidek, “, Haji Ahmad Bin Yahaya, Yusuf, ” Yusuf Organizations: CNN, Malaysian, Islamic Religious Department, JAIM, PAS, Malaysia Islamic Party, AFP, Getty, Annice, Education Locations: Malaysia, Malacca, Perak, Gerik, South, Southeast Asia, AFP, Malaysian, Islam, Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Selangor, London, Malay, Johor

☆ New York to Pay $17.5 Million for Forcing Removal of Hijabs in Mug Shots
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Hurubie Meko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two women who said their rights were violated when they were forced to remove their hijabs before the police took their arrest photographs. The financial settlement filed on Friday, which still requires approval by Judge Analisa Torres of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, is the latest development in the class-action lawsuit filed in 2018 by Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz, two Muslim women who said they felt shamed and exposed by the police officers’ actions. “When they forced me to take off my hijab, I felt as if I were naked; I’m not sure if words can capture how exposed and violated I felt,” Ms. Clark said in a statement. “I’m so proud today to have played a part in getting justice for thousands of New Yorkers.”In response to the lawsuit, the Police Department in 2020 changed its policy to allow religious people to be photographed wearing head coverings, as long as the coverings were not obstructing their faces.

Persons: Judge Analisa Torres, Jamilla Clark, Arwa Aziz, I’m, ” Ms, Clark, “ Organizations: U.S, Southern, of, Yorkers, Police Department Locations: York City, of New York

☆ Malaysia emerges as a hotspot for semiconductor firms amid U.S.-China chip tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

American chip giant Intel in December 2021 said it will invest more than $7 billion to build a chip packaging and testing factory in Malaysia, with production expected to begin in 2024. Malaysia holds 13% of the global market for chip packaging, assembly and testing services, said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in a Feb. 18 report. Exports of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits increased by 0.03% to 387.45 billion Malaysian ringgit ($81.4 billion) in 2023, amid global chip demand weakness. Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said many Chinese firms diversified some of their production to Malaysia, calling the country China's "plus one." In the same month, the world's largest contract chip maker TSMC opened its first Japan factory as it diversifies away from Taiwan amid U.S.-China tensions.

Persons: Faris Hadziq, Kenddrick Chan, Aik Kean Chong, Intel's, Tan, Yinglan Tan, Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, Zafrul Aziz, TSMC, Ann Lim Organizations: Getty, Malaysia, LSE, London School of Economics, Political, Semiconductors, Intel, CNBC, Infineon, Ventures Partners, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysian, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry, U.S ., U.S, China -, Partnership Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, South, East Asia, China, U.S, American, Penang, Another U.S, Singapore, Europe, Kong, GlobalFoundries Singapore, Klang, India, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Washington, Asia, China - U.S

☆ Creators are growing increasingly concerned about AI as OpenAI's Sora looms and issues of inclusivity and crediting persist
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"I'm worried about AI stunting creativity, replacing the need to use our brains," said travel creator Jessica Morrobel, who has about 168,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram. Lifestyle creator Joseph Arujo said he primarily uses ChatGPT to format his emails, since he gets a lot of brand partnership requests. AdvertisementCherie Luo, who publishes educational content, said she uses AI to transcribe and summarize her podcast episodes. And UGC creator Salha Aziz said she uses AI for a variety of tasks, including writing scripts for her videos. "It is concerning how good it's getting," said Tales, who has 2.7 million followers on TikTok and Instagram.

Persons: —, Snapchat, I'm, Jessica Morrobel, Noah Jennings, Marina Mogilko, YouTuber who's, Cassey Ho, Joseph Arujo, Cherie Luo, Salha Aziz, Sora, Tyler Perry, he'd, Martin Haerlin, Tristan, Alex Piper, Haerlin, Kahlil Greene, we'll, Nneya Richards, she'd, Richards Organizations: Service, SXSW, Business, Adobe, YouTube, Ferrari, Night Studios, it's Locations: Texas, TikTok

☆ Eight Australian companies have made commitments to invest in Malaysia, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEight Australian companies have made commitments to invest in Malaysia, minister saysTengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry, discusses the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit and the World Trade Organization's decision to rule in favor of the EU in a palm oil dispute with Malaysia.

Persons: Tengku Zafrul Aziz Organizations: ASEAN, Summit, Trade, EU Locations: Malaysia

☆ China fiscal policy 'overly biased' to productive capacity: JPMorgan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina's fiscal policy 'overly biased' toward creating productive capacity: JPMorgan economistJahangir Aziz, chief emerging markets economist at JPMorgan, says "fiscal policy in particular has been overly biased towards creating productive capacity, industrial production — far less on creating demand."

Persons: Jahangir Aziz Organizations: JPMorgan

☆ Pakistan's Political Art on Trucks Hurt by Preference for Posters
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Fayaz Aziz and Mushtaq AliPESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Colourful trucks with paintings of political leaders that once dotted Pakistan's roads and highways ahead of elections are missing this poll season, replaced mostly by the printing on posters and banners. Kaleidoscopic murals of flowers, Islamic motifs, calligraphy, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, local mosques and popular figures are renowned examples of Pakistani truck art. Before printing posters became widespread, truck paintings of leaders, particularly in the run-up to elections, were a much sought after campaign medium. The city in Pakistan's northwest is one of the country's major hubs for the art form. Ahmad said painters are now limited to regular truck art, with business also being hurt by rising prices.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, Mushtaq Ali, Shakeel Ahmad, Imran Khan's, Imran Khan, Ahmad, Zaffar Ali, Nawaz Sharif, Ali, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sohail Ghuri, Bansari Mayur, YP Rajesh, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Supreme, Pakistan, YP Locations: Mushtaq Ali PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Peshawar, Pakistan's, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

☆ Costs, Crackdown Put a Damper on Pakistan's Election Campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Ariba ShahidKARACHI (Reuters) - Higher living costs and political uncertainty have muted Pakistan's once boisterous election campaigns, with both candidates and those who supply them with materials bemoaning the need to do more with much less. Syed Arsalan Haider, a Karachi printer, said the cost of a square foot of banner was up by 130% since the last election. Khan, whose party won the last election, says the military wants to keep him from power, which the military denies. Meherbano Qureshi, a PTI candidate and daughter of the party's jailed vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said people were scared to show their support and hang campaign material. (Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi and Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Editing by YP Rajesh and Miral Fahmy)

Persons: Shahid, Imran Khan, Jawad Jiwani, Syed Arsalan Haider, Abdul Aziz, Taj Haider, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Faisal Subzwari, Khan, Meherbano Qureshi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Khurram Sher Zaman, They're, Ariba Shahid, Mubasher Bukhari, YP Rajesh, Miral Organizations: Monetary Fund, Pakistan People's Party, PTI, Mubasher, YP Locations: Shahid KARACHI, Pakistan, Karachi, festooned, Lahore

☆ Iran's ‘brazen’ strikes around the Middle East send a message to Israel and the U.S., analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fayaz Aziz | ReutersIran's recent missile and drone strikes on targets in three countries — Syria, Iraq and Pakistan — may not have been directly related to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip but they still revealed an intent to send a clear message, analysts told CNBC. Iraqi and Pakistani ministers vocally criticized the attacks, calling them a "violation" and vowing consequences. watch nowPakistan responded a day later, striking targets inside Iran that Iranian authorities say killed several people. They were also the first time Iran had deployed its military directly at any time since the Israel-Hamas war began. "There is an element of signaling to the United States and Israel by carrying out these strikes because they do showcase Iran's continued ballistic missile capabilities," Bohl told CNBC.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, Ben Taleblu, we've, Ian Bremmer, Yemen's, Ryan Bohl, Bohl, Safin Hamid Organizations: Reuters, CNBC, ISIS, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Washington D.C, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Eurasia Group, Economic, Middle East, RANE Network, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, AFP, Getty Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Peshawar, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Washington, Israeli, Iraq's Kurdistan, State, Iraqi, Davos, Lebanon, Hamas, Yemen, U.S, Red, United States, Kurdistan, Arbil

☆ Big Tech has long avoided responsibility for online content. Generative AI could end that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-18 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For decades, Big Tech companies have avoided responsibility for anything posted on their platforms. Generative AI is about to end this prized legal protection. Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and even Apple have spent the last year rushing to roll out generative AI tools and models to compete with OpenAI. Generative AI models and tools, however, are developed, owned and operated by Big Tech companies. Otherwise, by creating generative AI tools and providing the outputs, Chander sees few ways a tech company will be able to refute its role in generative AI content.

Persons: Meta, Bard, Mark Zuckerberg, what's, Aziz Huq, Anupam Chander, Chander, Huq, they've, Jason Schultz, It's, Schultz, " Shultz, Kali Hays Organizations: Big Tech, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Business, Meta, University of Chicago's Law School, Georgetown Law, Institute, Rebooting Social Media, Harvard University, NYU Law, Technology Law, Policy Clinic, Twitter Locations: khays@insider.com, @hayskali

☆ Saudi Arabia offers tax breaks for companies moving regional HQs to Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan attends the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, 15 July 2022. The programme has so far attracted 200 foreign companies, Saudi Investment minister Khaled Al-Falih was quoted as saying. "The new tax exemptions granted on regional headquarters activities will give .... international companies in the kingdom more clarity of vision and stability," Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said, according to SPA. Foreign companies have scrambled to meet the Saudi condition to relocate their regional headquarters after the kingdom said in October the deadline will be enforced. Foreign firms have for years used neighbouring United Arab Emirates as a springboard for their regional operations, including for Saudi Arabia.

Persons: Finance Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al, Jadaan, Jan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khaled Al, Falih, Mohammed Al, ” Jadaan, Aziz El, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Finance, Ministers, Central Bank Governors, Rights, United, United Arab Emirates, International, Saudi Investment, Saudi Finance, Games, , Thomson Locations: Saudi, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Rights RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, United Arab Emirates

☆ Qatar emir calls on U.N. to force Israel into talks to end Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 4, 2023. Qatar, where several political leaders of Hamas are based, has been leading negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. Those talks led to a truce that ultimately lasted for seven days before hostilities resumed on Friday. During the truce, Hamas released dozens of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel allowed humanitarian aid to flow into the coastal strip. Sheikh Tamim said Qatar was working with both sides to repair the deal.

Persons: Athit, Israel, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Sheikh Tamim, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Mills, Alex Richardson, Miral Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, . Security Council, Qatari, Doha, UN, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Qatar

☆ World Food Programme Pauses Distribution in North Yemen as Funds Limited
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

RIYADH (Reuters) - The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday it had paused general food distribution in north Yemen due to limited funding and disagreement with local authorities over how to focus on the poorest there. The fighting has abated over the last two years, easing what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The WFP had already reduced rations in Yemen since 2022 due to critical funding gaps and global inflation that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The agency said it would continue other programmes, including nutrition and school feeding programmes to limit the impact of the decision. General food distribution would continue with a focus on the neediest in the areas controlled by the Saudi-backed government, it said.

Persons: Aziz El Yaakoubi, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, Food Programme, United Nations, WFP Locations: RIYADH, Yemen, Iran, Saudi, Aden, Ukraine

☆ Who are Yemen's Houthis? Iran-allied group threatens Red Sea shipping
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. The U.S. military said on Sunday three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters in the southern Red Sea. On Oct. 31, the Houthis military spokesperson said the group had a "large number" of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel. The Houthis fired these missiles at Saudi Arabia dozens of times during the Yemen war. In September, the Houthis displayed anti-aircraft Barq-2 missiles, naval missiles, a Mig-29 fighter jet and helicopters for the first time.

Persons: Houthis, Sanaa, Israel, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Maha, Tom Perry, Christina Fincher Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Houthi Military, REUTERS Acquire, U.S . Central Command, ARSENAL, Saudi, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Red, Iran, Israel, U.S, Houthi, Yemen, Islam, Saudi Arabia, YEMEN, Shi'ite Iran, Saudi, Aden, Sanaa, America, IRAN, Iranian, United Arab Emirates

☆ Britain's maritime agency reports possible Red Sea blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIYADH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) on Sunday said that it has received reports of drone activity and a possible explosion in the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab strait. UKMTO said the drone activity originated from Yemen, and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution. An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran which controls Yemen's Red Sea coast. The group had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, and vowed to target more Israeli vessels. Reporting by Ahmed Elimam Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi Editing by David Goodman and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bab, UKMTO, Reuters wasn't, Ahmed Elimam, Aziz El, David Goodman, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Maritime Trade Operations, Reuters, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Yemen, Israel, Israeli, Iran, U.S, Gulf, Aden

But the three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The three leaders are directing Hamas' military operations and led negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, three Hamas sources say. The objective of the war remains to dismantle Hamas' military and government capabilities, Michael said, which could involve a turbulent period in Gaza after the war. An Israeli military officer, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the IDF viewed the elimination of such combat-level commanders as essential to dismantling Hamas' military capabilities. Israel has killed Hamas' leaders in the past, including the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and its former leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, assassinated in a 2004 air strike.

Persons: Ilan Rosenberg, Yoav Gallant, Mohammed Deif, Deen al, Marwan Issa, Yahya Sinwar, Issa, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Michael Eisenstadt, we've, Eisenstadt, Osama Hamdan, Joe Biden's, al, Kobi Michael, Michael said, Michael, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Gerhard Conrad, Conrad, Al, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel, Aziz, Rantisi, Sheikh Yassin, Hamdan, Dan Williams, Samia Nakhoul, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Hamas, Brigades, Qatar, Reuters, Military and Security, Washington Institute for Near East, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Islamic, Israel's Ministry, Strategic Affairs, IDF, German Intelligence Agency, politburo, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Kibbutz Beeri, Israel, Tel Aviv, Deif, Gaza City, Lebanon, East, U.S, States, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iran, United States, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian, Israeli, Sinwar, Al Jazeera, Rantissi, Jerusalem

In the latest incident, a UNIFIL patrol was hit by Israeli gunfire in the vicinity of Aytaroun of southern Lebanon, although there were no casualties. The force is deployed in southern Lebanon with the primary role of helping maintain international peace and security. Last December, an Irish soldier serving in UNIFIL was killed after the UNIFIL vehicle he was travelling in was fired on as it travelled in southern Lebanon. Seven people were charged by a Lebanese military tribunal in January for his death, the first fatal attack on U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon since 2015. Calm had prevailed on the border since Hamas and Israel agreed a temporary truce that began on Nov. 24.

Persons: I've, Stephen MacEoin, Shamrock, MacEoin, Andrea Tenenti, Tenenti, We’ve, Aziz Taher, Hussein Al Waille, Maggie Fick, William Maclean Organizations: Camp Shamrock, United Nations Interim Force, UNIFIL, Reuters, United, Security Council, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, UNIFIL, Maroun, Ras, Lebanese, Israel, Gaza, Tiri, Lebanon's, Iran, United Nations, Aytaroun, Irish, Seven, U.N

☆ Israeli-linked chemical tanker seized in Gulf of Aden, US official, vessel company say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

RIYADH, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Unidentified armed individuals have seized a tanker carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, the vessel's managing company and a U.S. defence official said. It followed a seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo ship by Yemen Houthis, allies of Iran, in the southern Red Sea last week. The group, which also fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, vowed to target more Israeli vessels. "U.S. and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation," the U.S. official said. Central Park, a small chemical tanker (19,998 metric tons), is managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a London-headquartered international ship management company owned by Israel's Ofer family.

Persons: Yemen Houthis, Israel's Ofer, rampaged, Aziz El Yaakoubi, William Schomberg, David Goodman, Louise Heavens Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Zodiac Maritime, Liberian, Clumvez Shipping Inc, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Gulf, Aden, U.S, Central, Israel, Yemen, Iran, London, Somalia, Turkish, Tehran, Israeli, Gaza

☆ Israeli-managed vessel hit by suspected Iranian drone, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled company was hit by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, causing minor damage to the vessel but no injuries, a U.S. defence official said on Saturday. The Malta-flagged CMA CGM SYMI, recently renamed Mayet, was struck on Friday by an unmanned aerial vehicle, which appeared to be an Iranian Shahed-136 drone, in the northeast portion of the Indian Ocean, the official said, asking not to be named. Israel called the vessel's seizure an "Iranian act of terrorism". Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), which had rented Mayet, said it was aware a container ship was targeted in a possible security incident on Friday. The United States has blamed Iran for unclaimed attacks on several vessels in the region in the past few years.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, Idan Ofer, Mayet, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Sybille de La, Maayan, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Eastern Pacific Shipping, Reuters, Dubai's, United, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Israeli, U.S, Malta, Iranian, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Singapore, Dubai's Jebel Ali, Oman's, United States, Tehran, Red, Paris, Jerusalem

☆ Mediator Qatar says truce in Gaza to start on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in north Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 23, 2023. Israel has said the truce could last beyond the initial four days, as long as the militants free at least 10 hostages per day. Ansari did not give details on how many Palestinian women and children will be released from Israeli jails on Friday or when this would take place. Qatar hopes to negotiate a subsequent agreement to release additional hostages from Gaza by the fourth day of the truce. "We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce," he said.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Majed Al, Ansari, Cross, Andrew Mills, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Doha, International Committee, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar

"The Compact with Africa conference aims to send this signal: You can count on Germany as a partner". The 4 billion euros would be channelled into the common EU-Africa Initiative for Green Energy. The European Union had already announced it would deliver it 3.4 billion euros in grants. German trade with Africa was 60 billion euros ($65.4 billion) last year, which is a fraction of its trade with Asia but up 21.7% on 2021. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said the number of German companies had tripled in five years while Morocco's Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said German investment had increased sixfold since 2015.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Liesa, Scholz, Christian Lindner, Alassane Ouattara, Aziz Akhannouch, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Riham Alkousaa, David Gregorio Our Organizations: French, REUTERS, Rights, Africa, Africa Initiative for Green Energy, European Union, " Finance, Ivory, Morocco's, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Africa, Berlin, Germany, Europe, China, West, Russia, Asia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (not pictured) at the Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar November 5, 2023. It followed a report in the Washington Post published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. "The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha. "The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Amiri, Imad Creidi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Gray, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Emelia Sithole, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatar's, French, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Hamas, Washington Post, White House, Reuters, Qatari, European Union, Washington, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Israel, United States, Gaza

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