Year: 2017

Jordan holds intensive contacts to stop escalation in Jerusalem

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Jordan on Saturday stepped up diplomacy to stop the escalation in Jerusalem and carry Israel to rescind unilateral moves that infringed its international and legal obligations as the occupying power. Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Ayman Safadi, discussed with Arab counterparts the situation in Jerusalem and ways to deal with the crisis, including Jordan’s call for an emergency Arab foreign ministers meeting. In a phone call, Safadi and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry underlined the need to end the tension in Jerusalem by fully and immediately reopening the Al-Aqsa…

From Financing to Empowerment – Islamic Finance as an Enabler in Eradicating Poverty

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The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) held a wonderful event at the United Nations headquarters in New York titled “From Financing to Empowerment – Islamic Finance as an Enabler in Eradicating Poverty” on 14 July. A video of the event is provided below by UN Web TV. The event was opened by Dr. Rami Ahmad, Special Envoy on SDGs and Senior Advisor to the President, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. Other panellist included: Ms. Roula Majdalani, Director of the Sustainable Development Policies Division, United Nations Economic and…

Migrant crisis: ‘We’re not neo-Nazis any more’, say Defend Europe activists

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London: A group of far-right activists soon to set sail on the Mediterranean to “turn back the boats” say they shouldn’t be judged on youthful links to extremist and neo-Nazi groups, because they’ve grown out of it. Next week the activists begin a ten-day sea mission they have dubbed Defend Europe, which they hope will expose humanitarian groups acting as a ‘taxi service’ helping people smugglers transport migrants north from Africa. And they told Fairfax Media they intend to return rescued migrants back to Africa – even Libya, which “can’t be that bad” a…

IncreFederal program brings North African, Middle Eastern students to Virginia Techdible West County home – inspired by a lifetime of travel – is like no other

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 Teenage girls from seven different countries in North Africa and the Middle East are spending time in Blacksburg this month. Twenty-eight high school-age girls are in the middle of a three-week program at Virginia Tech. They’re learning about computer science and other technology topics. This is a part of an exchange program the U.S. State Department runs along with Legacy International. It’s called TechGirls and it trains girls in the STEM fields, science, technology, engineering and math. Nour Belaiech is from Tunisia. She says she’s considering going to Virginia Tech after…

Tunisia’s economic struggle

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In January 2011, weeks-long street protests and civil disobedience resulted in regime change in Tunisia. The uprising was triggered by self-immolation of a young Tunisian in protest at economic hardship the 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi and his family had endured for years. The revolution was followed by promising changes in the country’s economic structure. The government was crippled with debt . Youth unemployment rate stood at 40 percent. the economy also suffered due to a weak tourism sector which suffered after the revolution. Tourism accounted for around seven percent of Tunisia’s…

Air traffic controllers warn ‘we’re running out of space in the sky to fit planes’

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Controllers will guide 8,800 planes above the UK on Friday, more than any other day in history. It is predicted to be the busiest day ever in Britain’s skies with a record number of planes flying over and air traffic controllers are warning of an increasing lack of space. But the system for shepherding aircraft was built over fifty years ago and controllers say it needs urgently updating. ‘Motorways in the sky’ “Think of motorways in the sky,” says Anne-Marie Black, National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) spokesperson. “When the UK airspace design was built…

Arab destinations the focus for Rio tourism agency

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Founded by a businesswoman of Syrian parents, Arab Tour is specialized in exotic trips to the Middle East. Tunisia, UAE and Oman are among the preferred Arab countries by Brazilian tourists, says the entrepreneur. The travel agency Arab Tour, in Rio de Janeiro, was founded with the purpose of offering tour packages to the Arab countries and, after nine years, they account for 90% of the agency’s businesses. Founded and run by an entrepreneur of Syrian descent, Mônica Brahim Sprung, the company specialized in exotic destinations and in the Middle…

Microfinance – ‘it has symbolic value’

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Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder of Tunisian microcredit institution Enda, was present when Ivanka Trump helped launch a loan program for women at the recent G20 summit in Hamburg. DW spoke to her in Tunis. DW: You were recently in Hamburg to attend the G20 summit where you participated in a panel (main picture fourth person from left between Ivanka Trump and World Bank head Jim Yong Kim) over the so-called Ivanka Fund, which is expected to be endowed with $325 million to promote women entrepreneurs in developing countries. How do…

Interview: China plays important role in promoting stability, development of Africa: Tunisian FM

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China has played an important role in promoting the stability and economic development of African countries, Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui said Thursday. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, Jhinaoui said China has developed cooperation with African countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. Jhinaoui, who is on a five-day visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has always been committed to promoting African stability and settling regional hotspot issues…

Tunisian Premier Seeks to Restore Trust With Anti-Corruption Push

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Tunisia’s prime minister vowed on Thursday to push ahead with a war against corruption to restore trust in the state, adding this would exclude no-one whatever their political affiliation. Youssef Chahed’s speech to lawmakers is part of a campaign that has gained him some plaudits among Tunisians even as he tries to push through unpopular austerity measures. Corruption was one of main catalysts of the 2011 revolt against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and many Tunisians complain graft is as widespread six years after their North African country emerged into…