middle-east - INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR JOURNALISM AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Algerians protest president’s bid for 5th term

Algerians on Friday staged demonstrations in several cities, including capital Algiers, to protest President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s planned bid for a fifth term in office. ...

Islamic State: Thousands of foreign children in Syrian camps

Thousands of children from around the world remain trapped in Syria facing an uncertain and dangerous future, a charity has warned. ...

US-backed SDF hand Daesh foreign fighters to Iraq

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) handed over more than 150 Iraqi and other foreign Daesh fighters to Iraq earlier this morning, as controversy as to the fate of foreign fighters rages on. ...

Egypt executes 9 political prisoners despite international outcry

Egypt has executed nine young men convicted over the 2015 killing of the country’s top prosecutor, a prison source and a lawyer confirmed this morning, despite international condemnation from rights groups over the death sentences, with concerns over due process violations. ...

Arab League chief participates in meeting in Dublin on Middle East peace

Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit participated in a meeting held in Dublin on reviving the Middle East peace process. ...

RUSSIA Blames U.S. For Terrorism And War In The Middle East

ussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. was to blame for the terrorism, war and instability racking the Middle East. ...

Soldiers prepare for deployment to the Middle East

Family members bid farewell to military men and women headed overseas Saturday (Feb. 16), during a ceremony hosted by the Louisiana National Guard in Hammond to honor the more than 70 soldiers prepared to deploy to the Middle East. ...

Coveney to host meeting of foreign ministers about Middle East

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will host a private meeting of a group of Arab and EU foreign ministers on Monday to discuss the Middle East peace process. ...

Palestinians wounded during West Bank weekly protest

Tens of Palestinian protesters were wounded and suffered severe breathing problems due to the heavy use of tear gas by the Israeli army as it cracked down on weekly protests in the West Bank city of Bil’in. ...

Islamic State: 'Thousands of civilians' still trapped in Baghuz

The battle to claim the last pocket of territory from the Islamic State group (IS) is being held up because thousands of civilians remain trapped there. ...

IRAN REJECTS ANTISEMITISM ALLEGATION BY MIKE PENCE

A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander in January threatened Israel, which Iran does not recognize, with destruction if it attacks Iran, state media reported. ...

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi: Egyptian president may rule until 2034

Egypt's parliament has overwhelmingly voted to approve draft constitutional changes that could extend President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's time in office by another 12 years. ...

Syria refugees fleeing back to Lebanon, NGO says

Syrian refugees who made the journey back home are fleeing back to Lebanon after finding their homes destroyed or occupied by others, according to Lebanese NGO Sawa for Development and Aid. ...

US nuclear industry seeks Donald Trump’s help to win Middle East business

Push comes as developers seek government approval of next-generation advanced and small modular reactors and the administration’s help in selling their products worldwide. ...

Russia Says Trump's Mideast Peace Plan Will Foil All Palestinian Gains

Russian FM laments Trump's failure to include Palestinian state in blueprint ■ Abbas in Riyadh to combat deal ■ PLO secretary general sends letter to foreign diplomats urging them not to endorse plan. ...

ROUHANI: The Iranian revolution is 'Thriving' Amid U.S. Failure In Middle east

Iran presents itself as a model of regional security in Turkey while Tehran’s foreign minister meets Hezbollah in Lebanon. ...

Egypt: Inflation rates increase again reaching 12.2 per cent

Egypt’s annual inflation rate has reached 12.2 per cent in January, with an increase of 0.8 per cent compared to 11.1 per cent in December 2018. These figures were announced by the Central Agency of Egypt Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in a statement on Sunday morning, following a steady rise in inflation starting from November 2016, after the liberalisation of the Egyptian pound exchange rate. Reuters quoted Radwa El-Swaify, Head of Equity Research at Pharos Holding for Financial Investments, saying that “food and beverages are the main cause of higher rates of inflation … What usually happens is that prices are adjusted by manufacturers at the beginning of the new year to regulate the profitability margins,” noting that “profit margins fixed for manufacturers have decreased since the beginning of July with the reduction of subsidies. Thus, some of these manufacturers, who were concerned about the decrease in sales volume, did not raise prices.” On 10 May 2018, the Egyptian government raised the prices of subway tickets in Cairo by 50 per cent, 150 per cent and 250 per cent. In June, the prices of tap water for domestic use were increased for the second time in less than a year, reaching 44.4 per cent. Additionally, the cost of electricity consumption for domestic use was augmented by an average rate of 26 per cent to reach 69.2 per cent. Besides, fuel prices increased by 66.6 per cent. On July the 21st, the authorities decided to raise gas prices for both domestic and commercial uses by 75 per cent starting from last August. Hence, at the end of December 2018, the Central Bank of Egypt fixed interest rates at 16.75 per cent for deposits and 17.75 per cent for lending. Millions of Egyptians, who live below the poverty line, face difficulties in meeting daily basic needs following successive increases in fuel, medicine, and transportation prices. Recently, the prices of vegetables and fruits in Egypt have been increasing continuously, prompting the authorities to lower the costs of some alimentary supplies, below market prices, in an attempt to ease their suffering. Compared to the previous month, consumer prices in Egyptian cities have risen by 0.6 per cent in January, after shrinking by 3.4 per cent in December. According to statements by the government, Egypt is expected to cut fuel and electricity subsidies later this year. Thus, the Central Bank has declared earlier that domestic and foreign risks threaten the prospect of consumer prices in the country, about the expected increase in fuel prices, and global interest rates.   AFP. ...