Author: Abdul Majeed al-Huq

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of Kazakhstan’s important partners in the Middle East. There is a number of intergovernmental agreements in place aimed at deepening trade and economic cooperation, promoting and protecting mutual investments, the press service of the KAZAKH INVEST reports. The volume of trade between the two countries in 2021 increased by 66% compared to 2020 and amounted to $709 million. In the first 9 months of 2022, this figure reached $558 million. Of this, Kazakh exports amounted to $519 million and imports amounted to $39 million. The main products exported from Kazakhstan are copper and…

Iran held joint naval, air, and ground exercises in the Gulf on Friday near the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, state media reported. The drills involve submarines and drones “practicing information-gathering operations against attacking forces, as well as reconnaissance operations,” Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told the official IRNA news agency. The exercises, code named Zolfaghar-1401, were launched overnight Friday in the eastern side of the strait in the Gulf of Oman. Tehran, which opposes the presence of U.S. and Western navies in the area, holds annual war games in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for some 30% of all crude…

Tajikistan officially banned the hijab, imposing hefty fines in its latest move to curb Islamic influence. The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan officially prohibited the wearing of hijabs and other “alien garments” this week, as the country’s parliament passed a new bill regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations. The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, comes after years of an unofficial clampdown on the hijab in the Muslim-majority country. Under the new law, individuals wearing hijabs or other banned religious clothing could face hefty fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies…

Egypt’s foreign minister was hosted Saturday (Apr. 20) by his Turkish counterpart. Sameh Shoukry’s visit to Istanbul was part of the preparations for Egpt’s president upcoming visit to Turkey. The war in Gaza and the escalation between Israel and Iran were two issues also high on the agenda. “We have warned, since the beginning, that war in Gaza will lead to the expansion of conflict and tension in the region and we have seen that in the targeting of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and its effect on the international economy and now with this tension and military escalation…

Militant Islamists linked to al-Qaeda have freed a South African paramedic taken hostage in Libya more than six years ago, a charity has said. Gift of the Givers said it had facilitated the “unconditional” release of Gerco van Deventer. The charity described Van Deventer as the longest-held South African hostage. He was seized by an unnamed group in Libya in 2017, sold to militant Islamists in Mali a year later, and released “into” Algeria, it added. A Malian security source confirmed to AFP news agency that Van Deventer, 48, had been freed. It quoted a humanitarian source as saying that…

King Charles has made a plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect, in times of “international turmoil” in Israel and Gaza. In a speech at Mansion House, in the City of London, he spoke of the “heartbreaking loss of life” as the violent conflict continues. The King also spoke about the positive contribution of immigrants to the UK’s national values, like the British “ability to laugh at ourselves”. Source : BBC

On the horror in the Middle East, and in particular whether there should be a ceasefire in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, the prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have the same position. Israel has a right to defend itself, they argue, and neither use the word “ceasefire”. The Scottish National Party has a different position: they do advocate a ceasefire. Sir Keir, alongside the prime minister, is arguing there should be “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid into Gaza and people out. But that is not the same as a ceasefire, even though it would involve the firing ceasing…

The US has expressed its regret at the inability of the UN Security Council to reach a consensus on condemnation of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in its emergency, closed meeting. Before the session opened, the US called on all members of the Security Council to condemn the Hamas attack on Israel. “There are a good number of countries that condemned the Hamas attacks, but obviously not all,” said Assistant US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood after the session. “You could probably figure out one of them without me saying anything.” This was an apparent reference to Russia,…

Kenes Rakishev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fincraft Resources, signed a memorandum of understanding, as well as a shareholder agreement with the Indian holding Monnet Group on the establishment of a joint venture in Kazakhstan for the production of ferro-alloys. The company was named TB Alloys Kazakh Limited. It was confirmed by the Fincraft Resources press service. The new plant is planned to be located in the industrial zone of the city of Taraz. The company has already started pre-design work. At the first stage, the planned capacity of the enterprise will be up to 50 thousand tons…

Middle East diesel exports to Europe are climbing again after hitting an eight-month low in July as reduced stockpiles, refinery maintenance and a seasonal upturn in demand the during winter are expected to require more supplies in Europe, as Russia remains off-limits because of the war in Ukraine, ship tracking and analyst comments are signaling. Diesel and gasoil exports from the Middle East to Europe are expected to average 598,000 b/d in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 557,000 b/d in the third quarter and 485,000 b/d in the second quarter, according to an S&P Global forecast issued July…