Author: Yahya Rahman

As fiery heat waves shrouded the Middle East in recent weeks, local residents cramped into beaches and pools to stay cool, while outdoor workers are bracing themselves for the risky temperatures.  The World Meteorological Organization has increased the likelihood of El Nino to develop later this year, raising concerns of government preparedness across the globe.  In the Gaza Strip, beaches were flocked with people as heatwaves grip the Palestinian enclave. Temperatures in Iraq were forecasted to approach 50 degrees Celcius recently, despite the locals are grappling with a severe electricity crisis, the National News reported. People cool off at a beach amid a heat wave…

The number of Russian, Iranian and Ukrainian real-estate buyers in Turkey has increased by 23%, official data released on Thursday showed. According to May figures released by the country’s official Statistical Institute (TUIK), the number of foreign homebuyers has increased to 3,167 from 2,557 from the previous month. The figures showed the three countries’ nationals have remained the top three foreign real estate buyers in the country and that their number is on the rise. Russians, Iranians and Ukrainians bought 991, 503, and 175 houses in the country, respectively, the May figures showed. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Ukrainian citizens…

Qatar’s banking sector loan book edged up by 0.1 percent MoM (down 0.7 percent in 2023) and deposits declined by 1.0 percent MoM (-4.9 percent in 2023) in February 2023. Both the private and public sectors pushed the overall credit higher. As deposits fell by 1.0 percent in February, the LDR rose to 131.2 percent vs. 129.6 percent in January 2023. The overall loan book went up by 0.1 percent in February 2023. Domestic private sector loans moved up by 0.1 percent MoM (+0.2 percent in 2023) in February 2023. The Real Estate segment was the main contributor towards the…

Over the past decade several Shia Muslim scholars have been “repeatedly and unexpectedly” denied entry to the US, according to a report yesterday by the Guardian. In many cases these denials or revocations are without a specific reason, leaving some scholars to suspect the move is down to religious bias. Mohammad Ali Naquvi, co-founder and chair of the American Muslim Bar Association (AMBA), claims that over 50 Shia scholars have been denied entry to the US in the past decade, noting that in some cases visas have been under “administrative processing” for years. The national executive director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination…

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed yesterday that Syria has incurred $25.9 billion in direct losses due to the American forces’ attacks on its territory, including $19.8 billion worth of stolen oil and gas. The ministry said the oil sector has incured $111.9 billion in losses as a result of the practices of the American forces illegally present on parts of Syria as well as “the terrorist entities” affiliated to them. It called on the United Nations to end the US’ illegal presence and to return the oil and gas fields occupied by those forces to the hands of…