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De-Dollarization irreversible process: Putin

Vladimir Putin

De-dollarization is “gaining momentum” he said, adding that members of the group of major emerging economies are seeking to reduce their reliance on the greenback in mutual transactions.

The Russian leader stated the five nations – Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa – are becoming the new world economic leaders, and that their cumulative share of global GDP has reached 26%.

He added that if measured by purchasing power parity, BRICS has already surpassed the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations – accounting for 31% of the global economy, compared to 30% for the G7.

Over the past 10 years, mutual investment between the BRICS member states has increased by six times, the Russian president noted. Their total investments in the world economy have doubled, while cumulative exports account for 20% of the global total, he continued.

Moscow is focusing on re-orienting its transport and logistics routes towards “reliable foreign partners,” including BRICS members, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of energy and food to the international market.

Russia’s primary goals include developing the Northern Sea Route and the ‘North-South’ transport corridor, Putin stated. The first, passing through the Arctic Ocean, along Russia’s northern coastline, will ensure faster goods deliveries between Europe and the Far East. The second will connect Russia’s northern and Baltic ports to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, facilitating cargo movement between Eurasian and African nations, the Russian leader added.

“Several Iranian actresses banned from acting”

Taraneh Alidousti
Taraneh Alidousti

Roohollah Sohrabi noted the actresses’ defiance of the dress code endangered the investment of many people and they must be held accountable.

Sohrabi warned filmmakers against using those people in their movies, saying such a move will have dire consequences.

He also said the actresses should return some of the money they received to the producers to compensate their losses.

Reports say the actresses include Taraneh Alidousti, Baran Kosari, Pantea Bahram, Katayoun Riahi, Fatemehj Motamed Aria and Golab Adineh.

Iranian president welcomes interaction with all, warns against any aggression 

Ebrahim Raisi

President Raisi however warned against any aggression, saying iran will cut the hands of aggressors.

He was speaking in a Tuesday meeting with the senior managers the Iranian Ministry of Defense on the occasion of the Defense Industry Day.

Raisi noted that the great and advanced achievements of Iran’s defense industries are manifestation of the generation of power for the defense of the nation.

Raisi added that the presence of Iran’s armed forces in the region boosts security and is a source of confidence, as opposed to the destabilising presence of foreign forces.

Iraq, Turkey discuss joint relations in oil and energy fields

Oil

Iraq’s oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani arrived in the Turkish capital to discuss issues including the resumption of oil exports through the Ceyhan oil terminal, a source in the minister’s office told Reuters earlier.

The statement did not mention whether or not resumption of exports via Ceyhan was discussed.

Turkey halted flows on March 25 after an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorised exports by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) between 2014 and 2018.

The blocked oil consists mainly of oil originating from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

An Iraqi oil ministry official who is close to the Iraqi northern oil exports operations said on Tuesday that the Turkish energy ministry informed Iraq’s state-owned marketer SOMO last month that it needed more time to check the technical feasibility of the pipeline to resume flows.

“Turkish energy ministry informed SOMO last month that more time is needed to check the pipeline and crude storage tanks in Ceyhan for any damages resulting from the earthquake hit Turkey,” added the Iraqi official.

Iraqi energy officials stated on Tuesday that the visit of the Iraqi oil minister is aimed at reaching common ground with Turkey to agree on a clear date when oil exports should be resumed.

‘Deep concern’ at social media company X partnering with Israeli verification firm

X

The new measures will involve users uploading a copy of their government-issued ID and a headshot, according to a report by PC Magazine. The third-party software will, after collecting X biometric data, store the information for up to 30 days.

The company providing the service, Au10tix, was founded in 2002 as the technology arm of Dutch security company, ICTS International, which itself was founded by, among others, former members of the Shin Bet intelligence services.

They have in the past been involved in developing identity verification systems for airports and border controls and have partnered with high-profile firms including Google and PayPal.

Speaking to Middle East Eye, the executive director of 7amleh, an Israel-based social media monitoring organisation, said the platform’s partnership with the organisation was “alarming”.

“The concept of verifying user accounts is indeed essential in suppressing fake accounts and maintaining a trustworthy online environment. However, the approach chosen by X, in collaboration with the Israeli identity intelligence company Au10tix, raises significant concerns,” stated Nadim Nashif.

“Au10tix is located in Israel and both have a well-documented history of military surveillance and intelligence gathering… this association raises questions about the potential implications for user privacy and data security,” Nashif continued.

He added that while he understood the necessity of security measures, it was crucial to “strike a balance between user safety and privacy, and the potential risks posed by data exposure”.

“We strongly urge X to be transparent about their data handling practices and to provide assurances that the collected biometric data will be safeguarded from misuse or unauthorized access,” he said.

MEE contacted X for comment but received no response by the time of publication. MEE also attempted to contact Au10tix but similarly received no response by the time of publication.

Since Musk bought Twitter for $44bn last October, the platform’s advertising business has taken a hit as marketers soured on his management style and mass firings at the company gutted content moderation.

In response, the entrepreneur has moved toward building a subscriber base and pay model in search of new revenue.

He also killed off the Twitter logo on 24 July 2023, replacing the globally recognised blue bird with a white and black X.

Iran unveils advanced homemade drone, with enhanced flight range and duration

Mohajer Drone

The drone, dubbed “Mohajer-10” weighs 300 kilograms and was unveiled by President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday in a ceremony that marked the Defense Industry Day.

To mark the day, an exhibition was held, showcasing Iran’s latest achievements in the defense industry.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UVA), equipped with electronic warfare and intelligence systems, can fly at a maximum speed of 210 kilometers per hour and carry different kinds of ammunition and bombs.

Meanwhile, the strategic Khorramshahr and Haj Qassem missiles were officially handed over to the Iranian Armed Forces and the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Addressing the ceremony, attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani and top commanders of the armed forces, the Iranian president expressed gratitude to the country’s defense forces and those involved in the defense industry.

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian teen in WB

Israeli Forces in WB

The director of Al-Razi Hospital in Jenin, Fawaz Hammad, told the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, that Othman Atef Abu Kharj, 17, died after being shot in the head.

At dawn, Israeli forces stormed the town of Al-Zababdeh, in the north of the West Bank, raiding homes. The assault resulted in a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli forces which used live bullets and tear gas.

The killing comes just a day after a Palestinian man protesting against Israeli forces was shot on Monday at the back of the head.

In a graphic video, which has been widely shared online, the man is seen walking away from Israeli forces when he suddenly falls to the floor.

Separately on Monday an Israeli settler was also killed in a shooting near the West Bank city of Hebron.

Two people, a man and a woman in their 40s, were travelling in a car near the Beit Hagai settlement when they reportedly came under fire from a passing vehicle on the Route 60 highway. The woman, who has yet to be identified, died from her wounds, while the man remains in a serious condition, according to Israeli health officials.

On Tuesday morning Israeli troops arrested two Palestinians in Hebron who they alleged had carried out the shooting. The two suspects have not been named.

Violence in the West Bank has been on the rise in recent months amid a spike in deadly settler attacks and army raids against Palestinians.

According to a tally by Middle East Eye, at least 216 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year, including 37 children.

A total of 180 people have died in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, making 2023 one of the bloodiest years in the occupied territory. Another 36 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Palestinians have killed at least 29 Israelis in the same period, including six children.

Moscow considers Tehran strategic partner: Russian army commander

Salyukov and Heidari

Heading a military delegation, Heidari arrived in Moscow to discuss cooperation between Iranian and Russian ground forces.

During the meeting, Heidari stated his force is ready to boost military cooperation with Russia.

The Russian commander, for his part, said his country regards Iran as one of the key countries in West Asia and a strategic partner of Moscow.

Salyukov added that intensive political talks are underway between Tehran and Moscow aimed at improving relations.

The two commanders discussed military cooperation and interaction aimed at the implementation of projects that are supposed to improve the combat readiness of the Iranian and Russian armed forces.

Heidari and Salyukov agreed to continue to promote mutual ties between the ground forces of the two countries in various fields.

Prior to the meeting, the Iranian commander, accompanied by Salyukov, visited the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden and laid a wreath to honor them.

Heidari also plans to tour a number of military training institutions of Russia’s ground forces and military-industrial complexes in Moscow.

On Monday, Iran put on display its domestically-manufactured Ababil ballistic missile for the first time, alongside a range of other cutting-edge Iranian military equipment, including drones and electronic warfare systems at Russia’s Army-2023 International Military-Technical Forum in Patriot Park near Moscow.

For the first time, Iran also showcased a replica of its Tactical Sayayd air defense system in the Russian exhibition.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great progress in developing a broad range of military equipment, making the Armed Forces self-sufficient in the defense sector.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing that such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will be never subject to negotiations.

Iran has previously reiterated that its military and defense ties with Russia sit in the framework of mutual interests of the two states and are not against any third country.

Egypt says to fully restore ties with Iran

Raisi and Sisi

The head of Egyptian Foreign Relations Council, Mohamed El-Orabi, said in an interview with Iran’s Arabic-language Alalam news network on Monday, “The resumption of full relations with Tehran will take place, but Egypt has its own limitations and considerations.”

El-Orabi said Cairo considers Arab national security on top of the agenda for restoration of bilateral ties and tied the issue to the developments in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon.

He noted that setting a time frame for the resumption of relations is a major sticking point.
Egypt cut off its diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after it welcomed the deposed shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and recognized the Israeli regime.

Some officials in both countries have in recent months sounded upbeat that the relations between Tehran and Cairo will be restored in the near future and the embassies of the two countries will reopen.

UN says over 200 Palestinians, nearly 30 Israelis killed in 2023

Palestine Israel

Tor Wennesland, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the UN Security Council on Monday that escalating violence is being fuelled by growing despair about the future among Palestinians and a lack of progress towards achieving an independent state.

“Palestinians and Israelis are killed and injured in near-daily violence – including just hours before this briefing when another fatal shooting attack killed an Israeli in the West Bank,” he told the Security Council, speaking from Jerusalem.

“The lack of progress towards a political horizon that addressed the core issues driving the conflict has left a dangerous and volatile vacuum, filled by extremists on all sides,” Wennesland added.

While Israelis and Palestinians have taken some actions towards stabilising the current situation, Wennesland stated unilateral steps have continued to heighten hostilities.

He pointed to the unabated expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes, operations by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank areas under Palestinian administrative and police control, and attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages.

Wennesland also cited Palestinian “militant activity”, and he said that the current situation is compounded by “the fragility” of the Palestinian Authority’s financial situation as well as severe funding shortages faced by UN agencies including the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

“While we must urgently focus on addressing the most critical issues and on de-escalating the situation on the ground, we cannot ignore the need to restore a political horizon,” he continued.

“The Council members were clear today that the violence must stop. I urge leaders to act now to calm the situation. This spiral of violence is leading nowhere but to more bloodshed,” Wennesland said on social media.

United States Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who chaired the meeting on Monday, called for immediate steps to reduce the escalating violence and reiterated her government’s support for a two-state solution.

Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council that long-term stagnation of the peace process was “compounded by the ongoing illegal unilateral actions of Israel to create irreversible facts on the ground”, and described the “unprecedented pace” of Israel’s illegal settlement expansion as a huge threat.