DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The eyes have it: The intriguing history of kohl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Zahra Hankir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A Palestinian woman Hadeya Qudaih applying traditional kohl eyeliner to her granddaughter in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip in March 2020. Hadeya Qudaih makes and sells traditional kohl eyeliner for medical and cosmetic purposes (photograph taken in February 2020). A Bedouin man wearing traditional kohl, photographed in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. Kohl is so commonly worn in the area that girls are sometimes named or nicknamed Kahla by their parents or friends, roughly meaning “the girl who appears to have kohl around her eyes.” Kohl is also a feature of many millennia-old myths, rituals, and legends. “Even if she doesn’t (make kohl) anymore, I will for sure continue to do this myself,” Abu Issa said.

Persons: CNN — Kohl, kohl, Hadeya, kohl eyeliner, Khan Younis, Majdi, Tamam Farhan Abu Issa, Deir al Balah, “, Abu Issa, ”, ” Abu Issa, Issa, Qudaih, Hassan Jedi, Prophet Muhammad —, Alessandro Bigazzi, Jack Sparrow, eyeliner, Kohl, ” Kohl, Zarqa, TikTok, “ Blinkaria Kohl, tightlining, Eyeliner, Fatima Shbair, “ Kohl, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Crusaders, UNESCO, United, kohl, Quds Net News, ZUMA Press, UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments Locations: East, North Africa, Egypt, Europe, Lebanon, Gaza, Gaza’s, Deir, United Nations, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestinian, Petra, Raed, Kohl, Eastern, “

☆ Middle East Crisis Death Toll in Gaza Surpasses 30,000, Health Ministry Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The death toll in Gaza passed a somber milestone on Thursday as the local health ministry reported that more than 30,000 people had been killed in the war since Oct. 7. Still, the reported figure is staggering — roughly one person killed for every 73 Palestinians in Gaza, whose population is about 2.2 million. The figures provided by the Gazan health ministry do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. In addition to bearing the risk of being killed in strikes or fighting, Palestinians are living with the growing specter of famine and disease. The health ministry has said infants have died from dehydration and malnutrition in recent days.

Persons: Farouk, Israel, “, ”, Biden, CBS’s, Adhanom Ghebreyesus Organizations: Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: Al, Rafah, Gaza, Israel, ” Israel, U.S, Jerusalem

☆ Death Toll in Gaza Passes 30,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Victoria Kim | More About Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Israel, “, ”, Biden, CBS’s, Adhanom Ghebreyesus Organizations: Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: Gaza, Israel, ” Israel, U.S, Jerusalem

☆ A Land Once Emptied by War Now Faces a Peacetime Exodus
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Andrew Higgins | Vladimir Zivojinovic | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than half the villagers were fellow Muslims, the rest Serbs, but nobody, he said, paid much attention to that until extremist politicians started screaming for blood. After more than a decade away from his home in eastern Bosnia, the farmer, Fikret Puhalo, 61, returned to his village, Socice. By then it had 100 or so people, Serbs who had stayed throughout and a few Muslims who had decided it was safe to go back. “Everyone else died or moved away,” said Mr. Puhalo, gesturing to empty homes scattered across the rocky hills around the family land where he grazes his sheep. “Not a single child has been born here since I returned,” he said.

Persons: Fikret Puhalo, ”, Puhalo Locations: Bosnian, Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Socice

☆ Biden has eight months to fix his Michigan problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —If the Democratic voters of Michigan – and a handful of other swing states – are feeling uncommitted in November, Joe Biden could lose reelection. Democratic primary voters in Michigan have the option to mark their ballot as “uncommitted.” In 2012, even President Barack Obama suffered 20,000 such defections. Four years later, Biden rebuilt the blue wall and carried Michigan by around 150,000 votes. Biden has dispatched campaign and White House aides to Michigan to try to explain his politics toward Israel. “The American president can’t say who he wants the prime minister of Israel to be,” Biden campaign official Mitch Landrieu told CNN as the results from Michigan rolled in.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tuesday’s, Israel –, Donald Trump, Biden, “, Barack Obama, he’d, Trump, Nikki Haley, –, Hillary Clinton, Gretchen Whitmer, Haley, Debbie Dingell, Ro Khanna, — Will, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, – –, can’t, ” Biden, Mitch Landrieu, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republican, Michigan, White, Arab, voters, Democratic Party, Trump, South Carolina Gov, GOP, Biden, of Health, Israel, Israeli, Democrats, ” Locations: Michigan, ”, Arab, Gaza, Israel, California, Palestinian, New Orleans

☆ Opinion | Arab American Fury Toward Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Charles M. Blow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Monday, at a hip Arab coffee shop in Dearborn, Mich., Nihad Awad, a co-founder and the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, told me that as a Palestinian American Muslim who voted for Joe Biden in 2020, he feels “betrayed bitterly” over the administration’s position on the war in Gaza. So he was in the Detroit area this week to support the campaign to get voters to choose “uncommitted” in Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday. But as our conversation progressed, it became clear to me that his objective is not simply to send President Biden a message about the war and make him shift his policy, as is the aim of many I spoke with in Michigan in the past few days. Awad wants more. He doesn’t only want Biden to be politically corrected; he wants him politically crushed.

Persons: Nihad Awad, Joe Biden, “, Biden, Awad, Dawud Walid, Jesus Organizations: Islamic Relations, Palestinian, Palestinian American Muslim, Democratic, CAIR’s Locations: Dearborn, Mich, Palestinian American, Gaza, Detroit, Michigan, CAIR’s Michigan

☆ Jon Stewart says he has a solution to the Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

On Monday night, Jon Stewart presented a solution to the Gaza conflict. Stewart is not the first to present this option, which experts have previously said would fail. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementOn his Monday night show, Jon Stewart outlined what he says is a solution to the Gaza conflict. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Jon Stewart, Stewart, — Organizations: NATO, Service, Business Locations: Gaza, Maine

☆ India Zoo Official Gave Revered Names to 2 Lions. He Was Punished.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Sameer Yasir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The lions look bemused or even bored in photos but not unhappy. Now in a captive-breeding program in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, they are as married as animals can be. On Saturday, the authorities suspended a high-ranking forestry official who had overseen the animals for naming the lioness Sita, after a revered Hindu goddess, and her mate Akbar, after a medieval Muslim emperor. Amid an atmosphere of heightened religious and political tensions between Hindus and Muslims in the country, the lions’ names drew an outcry. Lakshman Bansal, an official of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a far-right group linked to India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party, said that when he read the lions’ names in a Bengali newspaper it “felt provocative.”“It is blasphemy,” Mr. Bansal said by telephone.

Persons: Sita, Akbar, Lakshman Bansal, “, ” Mr, Bansal, ” Organizations: Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party Locations: West Bengal

☆ Opinion: In the Michigan primary, Biden shouldn’t fear Rashida Tlaib’s threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Opinion John Halpin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

John Halpin Courtesy John HalpinProgressive activists have decided to use this interlude to attack Biden for his centrist positions on immigration, energy policy and the Israel-Hamas war, in particular. Like the senators from his birth state, Biden should ignore these threats from the left and stand up strongly for his vital center perspective. Looking at Michigan specifically, the threat of Arab Americans tanking Biden must also be put in wider perspective. Even with these larger trends in the state, the authors find: “In Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, and Livonia — the Michigan cities with the highest proportion of Arab American voters — Biden defeated Trump by a combined 38,000 or so votes. Democratic support for more moderate proposals backed by Biden is even higher: Three-quarters of Democrats support a plan to increase the number of immigration judges to speed up action on asylum claims.

Persons: John Halpin, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Rashida, uncommitted, Democratic Sens, John Fetterman, Bob Casey, Zers, tanking Biden, Karlyn Bowman, Nate Moore, Ruy Teixeira, Obama, —, Mark Mellman, ”, Mellman Organizations: Liberal Patriot, CNN, Democratic, Democrats, Gallup, Pew Research, — Biden, Trump, Survey Center, American Enterprise Institute, Pew, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Tuesday’s, Pennsylvania, Black, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Livonia —, Biden’s

☆ A new Biden is on display and he’s trying to be a problem-solver
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Who is this new Joe Biden we’re seeing, just in time for election season? He’s getting directly involved in government funding, calling congressional leaders down to the White House to negotiate in front of a crackling fire. Talking about a ceasefireFacing a protest vote from pro-Palestinian Democrats in Michigan in Tuesday’s primary, Biden was sharing some optimism on the Middle East. “My hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden said, a massive cone of mint chip halfway to his mouth. The Democratic divide on the Middle East is a growing political issue at home for Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden we’re, Donald Trump’s, He’s, Biden, we’ll, ” Biden, Seth Meyers, uncommitted ”, Trump President Joe Biden, ”, Trump, “, Melania, Mercedes, Kamala Harris, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, Evan Vucci, Meyers, He’ll, Jennifer Agiesta, there’s, Barak Ravid, Axios, Wolf Blitzer, Ravid, ” Ravid, “ I’m, Joe Biden’s, Alabas, –, ” Farhat, CNN’s Boris Sanchez, Melanie Zanona Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Democrats, Democratic, Biden, Arab, voters, Michigan, Trump President, Republican, Gallup, Republicans, Democrats, White, Capitol, Trump Locations: New York, Michigan, Manhattan, Israel, Ukraine, Brownsville , Texas, Eagle, , Texas, Gaza, Arab

☆ Jon Stewart Takes on ‘Something Light’: Israel and Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Look, the United States is Israel’s closest ally. Israel’s work emergency contact. Maybe it’s time for the U.S. to give Israel some tough moral love.” — JON STEWART“‘Hey, Israel, take it down a notch. But really, couldn’t the United States have told Israel that when we gave them all the bombs? This is like your coke dealer coming over with an eight ball and going, ‘Don’t stay up all night.’” — JON STEWART“Let’s just ask God.

Persons: Israel’s, ” — JON STEWART “ ‘, Don’t, ’ ” — JON STEWART “ Let’s, It’s, ” — JON STEWART “, Jordan —, ” — JON STEWART Organizations: Hamas, NATO, Treaty Organization Locations: United States, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar

So The New York Times asked more than 5,300 people in the U.S. with this heritage how they describe themselves …No Box to Check: When the Census Doesn’t Reflect YouEgyptian, Iranian, Lebanese, Amazigh, Arab, American. In the 2020 census, “Lebanese” and “Egyptian” were offered as examples for the “white” box on the race question. The other categories were “Black or African American,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander” and a variety of Asian ancestries. After all, there’s no agreed-upon set of countries or ethnicities that would fall under a Middle Eastern and North African category. The chart shows these responses after the MENA category was added: 69% chose “MENA,” 15% chose “MENA, White,” 3% chose “Another Race,” 5% chose “White” and 8% chose other combinations.

Persons: Brown, New York Times callout, Biden, ”, —, “, ” Martin Zebari, ” Samera Hadi, ” Imene Said Kouidri, ’ ” Faisal Ali, ” Joseph Hallock, Maya Berry, there’s, Margo J, Anderson, “ You’re, Tiffany Kindratt, ” Khelil, ‘, Dusty Haddad, “ White, Jeffrey S, ” Nadine Naber, Naber, I’m, ” Ceylan Swenson, ” Blake Bachara, ” Amin Younes, We’re, ” Rita Obeid, Barack Obama, It’s, ” Thomas Simsarian Dolan, ” Gabrielle Barbara Guliana, Christina Boufarah, I’ve, ” Michele Magar, ” Soufiane, ” Azita, Moustafa, ” Nawar Organizations: U.S ., New York Times, Arab, Israel, American Community, Management, Federal, Arab American Institute, University of Wisconsin, Census Bureau, Survey, North, Cornell University, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, University of Texas, The Times, Times, Pew Research, University of Illinois, Bureau, West Virginian Locations: Eastern, Sudanese, Southwest, U.S, East, North Africa, United States, Michigan, Gaza, Europe, Lebanese, Alaska, American, MENA, Milwaukee, —, Arlington, America, White, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Lebanon, Iran, N.Y.C, Israel, Turkey, Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, Armenia, West, I’m

☆ Opinion: Shane Gillis’ turn on ‘SNL’ shows that all too often, bigotry sells
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“That’s how I got to New York.”Since losing the “SNL” gig, Gillis has only leaned into what some call “cringe humor” and others rightly slam as bigotry. Even among the cast members of “SNL,” we didn’t see any public outrage or protest over Gillis hosting. If you don’t like a comedian’s material, don’t attend their shows. In the case of Gillis, despite what he said with the joke in his opening monologue on “SNL,” he might actually want you to Google his name. Based on what we’re seeing, there’s a lucrative market for views like his in the world of bigotry.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Shane Gillis, Gillis, “, he’d, what’s, didn’t, ”, Theo Von, Vox, ” TMZ, Dave Chappelle, Gillis’s, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Donald Trump, They’ve, don’t Organizations: CNN, Dean Obeidallah CNN, “ SNL, SNL, Los Angeles Times, YouTube, Netflix, New York Times, Blacks Locations: New York

☆ Israel to Set Security Limits on Ramadan Prayers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa, Netanyahu Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he had made a "balanced decision" to allow freedom of worship at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, but that access would be limited according to security needs. Asked about the possibility of blocking access for Israeli Muslims to Al Aqsa, a flashpoint prayer site in Jerusalem's Old City, Netanyahu's office said: "The prime minister made a balanced decision to allow freedom of worship within the security needs determined by professionals." It gave no details. Israel often sets limits on which worshippers can reach the prayer site - for example based on age - in order to avoid violence from erupting at the site, which is part of a compound also holy in Judaism. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 Images(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by James Mackenzie)

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Ari Rabinovitch, James Mackenzie Locations: JERUSALEM, Jerusalem's Al Aqsa, Al Aqsa, Jerusalem's Old City, Israel, Gaza

☆ Twin mosque demolitions in India underscore deep religious polarization months before nationwide election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Rhea Mogul | Aishwarya S Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The demolitions drew incensed residents onto the streets and at least six people have been killed in clashes with police. The image of India that Modi wants to project is one of a confident, vibrant, and modern superpower. In India, a country of diverse faiths, religious groups follow their own laws for matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. Mohammad Zakir Hussain has said he barely slept since the demolition of his mosque, the madrasa, and his home in India’s capital Delhi. “(The government) rationalizes everything by blaming Mughal emperors,” he said, referring to India’s ancient Islamic rulers.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Ram, ”, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Imtiyaz Khan, Asaduddin, “, Mukhopadhyay, Mohammed Zakir Hussain, Mohammad Zakir Hussain, Aishwarya Iyer, Sanjay Katyal, Rana Safvi, ” Safvi, ” Mohammad Aman, Mohammad Arif, what’s, Mohammad Aman Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, CNN, Authorities, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Indian, Anadolu, Getty, Amnesty International, Delhi Development Authority, –, Court Locations: New Delhi, India, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, Haldwani, AFP, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India’s, Jammu, Kashmir, BJP, Delhi’s Mehrauli, Akhondji

☆ Which Version of an Ex-General Did Indonesia Just Vote For?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A loyal acolyte of a popular president with few achievements of his own. Prabowo Subianto has been called all of these over the years he has sought power in Indonesia. Unofficial tallies from Wednesday’s election show him winning a decisive victory, with nearly 60 percent of the vote. During the campaign, Mr. Prabowo repeatedly promised that he would continue on the path and policies charted by Joko Widodo, the popular departing president. But it remains unclear what kind of leader Mr. Prabowo, 72, will be.

Persons: apparatchik, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Joko Widodo, Joko, Probowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Prabowo’s, Mr Locations: Indonesia

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

☆ India’s Modi to inaugurate Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the United Arab Emirates to inaugurate a Hindu stone temple, boosting his credentials as a global statesman months before he heads to the polls in a nationwide election where he is seeking a rare third term in power. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Ahmedabad state of Gujarat, India on January 9, 2024. Yet, analysts expect this will not present an issue for Modi during his visit, given India’s rising prominence, its growing economy and strategic position on the global stage. In 2015, the UAE government allocated land for the development of the temple, in a major win for the diaspora. President Joe Biden visits Raj Ghat memorial with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and other G20 leaders, Sept. 10, 2023, in New Delhi.

Persons: CNN —, Narendra Modi, Modi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al, ”, Asim Ali, ” Ali, “, Ram, Nicolas Blarel, Blarel, Swaminarayan, ” Blarel, Kadira Pethiyagoda, that’s, Joe Biden, Raj, India Narendra Modi, Kenny Hoston, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Powers, ” Pethiyagoda Organizations: CNN, CNN — India’s, United, United Arab Emirates, Emirates, Guard, Indian, PIB, Getty, Bharatiya Janata, International Relations, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, BJP, Brookings, Reuters Locations: United Arab, Abu, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, Anadolu, UAE, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, The Netherlands, South Asia, Indian, “ India, Saudi Arabia, East, Europe, “, China, Russia, Ayodhya, India’s

It is a three-way race for the presidency among current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo. While he is the oldest candidate, his running mate is the youngest: 36-year-old Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo's son. His running mate is Mohammad Mahfud, who resigned as security minister to focus on campaigning. He is also a former defense minister, justice minister and chief justice of the Constitutional Court. His choice of Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate in Wednesday's election is viewed as an attempt to rebuild that support.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Anies, Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Suharto, Widodo's, Raka, —, GANJAR, Pranowo, ” Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud, ANIES, Baswedan, Widodo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Muhaimin Iskandar, Iskandar’s, ” Organizations: SUBIANTO, Gerindra Party, Constitutional, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Central Java, FIFA, Islamic, Fulbright, Awakening Party, Ulama, Associated Press Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jordan, Surakarta, Central, Israel, Jakarta, Chinese, Wednesday's, Nusantara, Borneo

☆ What's Next in Pakistan Election Deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gibran Naiyyar PeshimamISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's national election ended with no party winning a majority in parliament, in polls marred by militant violence, political turmoil and questions of transparency. The two, along with other smaller parties, form a coalition government in which Sharif or his brother is prime minister and important positions are given to other parties. The two parties were in government together for 16 months till August, with Bhutto Zardari as foreign minister and Sharif's brother Shehbaz as prime minister. BHUTTO ZARDARI PUSHES TO HEAD COALITION GOVERNMENTWhile Sharif and Khan's candidates won the most seats, no party can form government without the PPP. With both looking to keep the other out of power, the PPP strikes a deal to make the young Bhutto Zardari prime minister.

Persons: Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, SHARIF, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Benazir Bhutto, Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz, Khan, BHUTTO ZARDARI, Sharif's, Gibran Peshimam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Monetary Fund, National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party Locations: Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam ISLAMABAD, Sharif, Pakistan

☆ Israeli Analysts Say Rafah Invasion Is Unlikely to Be Imminent
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli leaders have framed an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah as an imperative to achieve its goal of eliminating Hamas. The planning will likely take Israel’s military some time, Israeli officials and analysts said on Sunday. The Biden administration has also raised concern over fighting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according two Israeli officials with knowledge of the discussions. Israeli officials say the military is still working on its plans for invading Rafah and that they have not yet been presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The operation in Rafah will happen,” Avi Dichter, a minister from Mr. Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party, told Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, on Sunday.

Persons: Gazans, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Avi Dichter, Netanyahu’s, Kan, ” Organizations: Israel, Likud Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Mecca

☆ Indian State's Polygamy Ban Divides Some Muslim Women
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

For others like Jafar, Muslim politicians and Islamic scholars, it is an unwelcome stunt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party. A 2013 survey found 91.7% of Muslim women nationwide saying a Muslim man should not be allowed to have another wife while married to the first. The Supreme Court in 2017 found the Islamic instant divorce unconstitutional, but the order did not ban polygamy or some other practices that critics say violate equal rights for women. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board called the code impractical and a direct threat to a multi-religious Indian society. "Banning polygamy makes little sense because data shows very few Muslim men have more than one wife in India," said board official S.Q.R.

Persons: Bano, Sadaf Jafar, Jafar, Narendra Modi's, Modi's, Ilyas, Rupam Jain, William Mallard Organizations: DELHI, Reuters, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, SOCIETY BJP, Islam Locations: Islam, Uttarakhand, India's, India, Uttar Pradesh

And in this election, a new party is seeking to win representation for marginalized groups like domestic workers and people with disabilities. Female candidates face perhaps a steeper uphill battle, despite a quota system requiring 30% of candidates to be women since 2004. Muharyati said many policies, laws and regulations tend not to side with women, especially women with disabilities. Domestic workers often work long hours without adequate rest or time off, and have little protection from violence from employers. “But we seriously need representatives in the parliament to voice the rights of fellow domestic workers."

Persons: Rian Ernest, Ernest, Indonesia’s, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Baswedan, “, ” Ernest, it's, ”, Supriatna, Commision, Muharyati, Yuni Sri, Rahayu, ” Rahayu Organizations: Wednesday, Golkar, Purnama, Bank, Indonesian Association of Disabled, Labor Party, National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers, Indonesia’s National Commission, Lawmakers Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta, East Jakarta, Chinese, Jakarta’s House, Yuni Sri Rahayu

☆ Unilever’s sales decline in Indonesia because of anti-Israel boycotts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Unilever is the latest company to report a rough fourth quarter because of boycotts against the company over the war in the Middle East. The company, which makes Vaseline, Dove soaps, Rexona deodorant and other household staples, said that sales declined 15% in Indonesia in the last three months of last year. “In Indonesia, we saw double-digit sales decline in the fourth quarter as sales of several multinational companies were impacted by geopolitically focused consumer-facing campaigns,” said Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher in a call Thursday. Other companies made similar statements recently about boycotts in overseas countries. Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, said its chains’ “sales were impacted by the conflict in the Middle East region with varying degrees of impact,” which dented same-store sales growth in several countries.

Persons: deodorant, ”, Hein Schumacher, McDonald’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Unilever, Consumers, Brands Locations: New York, Indonesia, Western, Gaza, “

☆ The top UN court has ruled on Gaza genocide case. Here's what happens now
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Dalya Al Masri | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The hearing of Israel's defense at the International Court of Justice on Jan. 12, 2024, in the Hague, Netherlands. Dursun Aydemir | Anadolu | Getty ImagesLast month, the International Court of Justice ruled on South Africa's legal case accusing Israel of genocide. Legal proceedings began after the African country submitted cause for emergency measures in Gaza, leading to a two-day hearing, with testimonies from the South African and Israeli legal teams. Israel rebuffed the allegations of genocide at the World Court and accused South Africa of being used as a legal cover for Hamas. "It is this obligation that informed our application to the International Court of Justice to halt the violence unleashed by Israel on the Gaza Strip," Magwenya added.

Persons: Dursun, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Francesca Albanese, Albanese, Vincent Magwenya, Cyril Ramaphosa, Magwenya Organizations: International Court, Justice, Anadolu, Getty, International Court of Justice, CNBC, World, Serbia —, ICJ, South, Israel, CNBC Sunday, The Hague, Palestinian Health Ministry, Hamas, Bosnian Locations: Hague, Netherlands, Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Serbia, Africa, The, Turkey, Jordan, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine, Bosnian, Bosnia

Search resuls for: "Muslims"

25 mentions found