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Daily News Egypt
a day ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Union of Arab Banks names Hassan Abdalla ‘Governor of Year 2025'
Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), has been named 'Governor of the Year 2025' by the Union of Arab Banks. The award was presented during a high-profile ceremony in Paris, on the sidelines of the Arab International Banking Summit, held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron. The award recognises Abdalla's significant contributions to maintaining the stability of Egypt's banking sector, his prudent management of monetary policy, and his active support for economic reform. It also reflects the increasingly prominent status of the Egyptian banking system—both regionally and internationally—and its key role in advancing economic growth and supporting the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Union of Arab Banks bestows this honour annually on distinguished Arab banking leaders whose achievements have made a lasting impact on the banking sector at both national and regional levels. Abdalla was unanimously selected by the Union's Board of Directors, which includes representatives from 20 Arab countries, during its meeting in December last year. Headquartered in Beirut, the Union of Arab Banks operates as a key regional institution and is a member of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action within the League of Arab States. Its mission is to strengthen ties among Arab banks, foster cooperation, coordinate activities, and promote a shared Arab identity in the financial sector. The Union currently includes over 360 financial and banking institutions across 20 Arab countries, as well as in Europe, Africa, and Turkey. It also counts 16 Arab central banks as observers, alongside several national banking associations. The Union's influence on the regional and global stage has expanded in recent years. Since 2019, it has held special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York and Geneva and serves as a supporting member of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) in Geneva.
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Roundup: On World Refugee Day, Sudanese still taking perilous routes in search of safety
KHARTOUM, June 20 (Xinhua) -- As the world observes World Refugee Day on Friday, thousands of Sudanese continue to embark on dangerous and uncertain journeys to escape a war that has shattered their country and made safety an increasingly distant prospect. For Ekhlas Abdul-Rahim, a 41-year-old widow and mother of four, the flight from Sudan's conflict has become an exhausting odyssey across borders and continents. After months of hardship, she and her children reached Egypt. "The plan was to stay in Egypt and find work to support my children, but I encountered major difficulties," Abdul-Rahim told Xinhua. Without legal residency or stable employment, they spent days sleeping on the streets before finding shelter with acquaintances. Unable to secure a future in Egypt, Abdul-Rahim decided to press on, setting her sights on Libya. But the journey grew even more perilous. After four months in Libya, she secured passage on an overcrowded rubber boat headed for a Greek island. "That was the biggest risk, the most dangerous part of our escape from Sudan," she said. "I feared for my children in the rough seas." Now living in a refugee camp outside Athens, Abdul-Rahim remains uncertain about what lies ahead. "We don't ask for much - only to live in peace, safety, and dignity, and for my children to grow up in a nurturing environment," she said. Others fleeing Sudan have taken different routes. Abdel-Aal Siddiq traveled east to Ethiopia's Metema region, where he spent more than 18 months in a refugee camp. "It was a painful experience, relying on meager aid. I'll never forget it," Siddiq said. Eventually, as security in Khartoum improved slightly, he returned home, but concerns remain. "Clean drinking water is scarce, electricity is mostly out, and diseases like malaria, fevers, and cholera are widespread. It's still tough, but we persevere," he said. Yahya Abdalla, a Sudanese journalist living in exile in Kampala, Uganda, for nearly two years, described being a refugee as "a fate imposed by war." "Being a refugee is not a choice; it is a destiny forced upon us by conflict and the collapse of livelihoods," Abdalla said. He warned that the world is losing sight of Sudan's crisis. "Sudan's crisis has become a forgotten one," he said, adding that even basic refugee registration often meets obstacles and assistance is minimal. Abdalla has no plans to return. "There is nothing left for us to return to," he said. "Everything was looted -- our homes, our offices. We lost everything." Despite limited improvements in security in parts of Sudan, migration and asylum expert Ahmed Abdel-Halim expects the exodus to continue. "Even before the war, Sudan struggled with poor services and limited livelihoods. Since the war, the suffering has only deepened," he said. "Anyone who finds a chance to migrate won't hesitate. All the conditions for migration are still there." According to the United Nations, one in three Sudanese have been displaced. Of those, 3.8 million have crossed into neighboring countries, primarily Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan. Sudan has been locked in a brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes.
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indonesia can be a guiding light for other Islamic nations: BJP leader Hemang Joshi in Jakarta
Jakarta (Indonesia), May 30 (ANI): BJP leader and Member of the All-Party Delegation Group 3, Hemang Joshi, praised Indonesia's inclusive governance and strong stance against extremism, noting the enthusiastic response the Indian delegation has received during its ongoing diplomatic visit to Southeast and East Asia. 'This is our third day in Indonesia, and we have engaged with several high-ranking government officials and ministers who lead various political parties here. We've had meaningful discussions and gained insight into their perspectives,' Joshi said. He further added, 'Based on my experience and that of our entire delegation, I can confidently say that Indonesia can serve as a guiding light for other Islamic countries in terms of governance and how to function as a civil society. Indonesia wholeheartedly believes that terrorism, murder, or violence have no place in Islam.' Reinforcing this shared commitment, KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, highlighted the deepening strategic and cultural ties between India and Indonesia. Speaking during a meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation in Jakarta, he emphasized the common challenges both countries face in combating terrorism and promoting peace. 'Both India and Indonesia have gone through this challenge of terrorism. I shared our experience of tackling the problem of extremism with our colleagues from India. Both countries have similar desires to achieve economic development, political stability, peace and harmony. We share a similar vision and aspirations,' Abdalla said. Abdalla said that if people exploit religion to legitimise violence, then it can be very dangerous. 'Of course, certain groups in Islam promote violence in the name of Islam. This is not right because Islam is a peace-loving religion and Muslims are peace-loving people. I said to our colleagues from India that the biggest victims of terrorism are not Hindus, Buddhists, or Christians. The biggest victims are Muslims themselves... That's why the first people who are concerned about tackling this problem are Muslims themselves... People living in South and Southeast Asia want peace and harmony because economic development and political stability cannot be achieved without it... If people do not have a proper and correct understanding of religions, and exploit religions to legitimise violence, that's dangerous... I told our colleagues from the Indian Parliament that the deepest geological layer in Indonesian history is shaped by Indian history and civilisation... So, India and Indonesia should collaborate on a people-to-people basis too,' he said. Echoing the shared commitment to counter terrorism and promote peace, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, leader of Group 3 of the All-Party Delegation, highlighted KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla's empathy towards India's concerns during their meeting in Jakarta. Jha noted that Abdalla, a Muslim leader, expressed understanding of India's pain and assured support within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Jha recalled Abdalla mentioning his visit to the Mahakumbh and emphasizing that India's Muslim population is larger than Pakistan's. Yet, Pakistan often mobilizes the OIC to pass resolutions against India. Abdalla assured that he would look into the matter, signaling potential support for India within the Muslim world. The delegation, which includes MPs Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar, alongside JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, continues its diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening India's international partnerships and counterterrorism efforts. (ANI)
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Jakarta's Nahdlatul Ulama Board Chairman acknowledges India's pain, says exploiting religion for violence wrong
Jakarta [Indonesia], May 30 (ANI): In a reaffirmation of the deepening strategic and cultural ties between India and Indonesia, KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, underscored the shared challenges both countries face in combating terrorism and promoting peace. His remarks came during a meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation in Jakarta. 'Both India and Indonesia have gone through this challenge of terrorism. I shared our experience of tackling the problem of extremism with our colleagues from India. Both countries have similar desires to achieve economic development, political stability, peace and harmony. We share a similar vision and aspirations,' Abdalla said. Abdalla said that if people exploit religion to legitimise violence, then it can be very dangerous. 'Of course, certain groups in Islam promote violence in the name of Islam. This is not right because Islam is a peace-loving religion and Muslims are peace-loving people. I said to our colleagues from India that the biggest victims of terrorism are not Hindus, Buddhists, or Christians. The biggest victims are Muslims themselves... That's why the first people who are concerned about tackling this problem are Muslims themselves... People living in South and Southeast Asia want peace and harmony because economic development and political stability cannot be achieved without it... If people do not have a proper and correct understanding of religions, and exploit religions to legitimise violence, that's dangerous... I told our colleagues from the Indian Parliament that the deepest geological layer in Indonesian history is shaped by Indian history and civilisation... So, India and Indonesia should collaborate on a people-to-people basis too,' he said. Echoing these sentiments, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, who is leading Group 3 of the All-Party Delegation, shared insights from the same meeting, noting Abdalla's empathy towards India's concerns and his assurance of support within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Jha said that Abdalla, being a Muslim, expressed that he understands the pain of India. He also recalled visiting the Mahakumbh and pointed out that the Muslim population in India is larger than that of Pakistan. Yet, Pakistan mobilises support within the OIC to pass resolutions against India. Abdalla, Jha said, assured that he would look into the matter. Speaking about the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jha told ANI, 'The innocent people were killed in Pahalgam after ascertaining their religion... They wanted to destroy the communal harmony of India. We conveyed our concerns to them... They also appreciated India's economic growth.' The delegation also met with leaders of Indonesia's National Mandate Party (PAN), where Jha emphasised Pakistan's role in promoting terrorism while contrasting it with India's economic progress. The Indonesian leaders acknowledged the involvement of the Pakistan Army in supporting such activities and assured their full support. 'This dialogue is part of our broader effort to counter misinformation about India's internal security challenges at international platforms like the OIC, while also showcasing India's economic trajectory,' Jha said. In addition to political engagements, the delegation interacted with leading Indonesian think tanks and academic institutions such as the Indonesian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), The Habibie Center, Indo-Pacific Strategic Intelligence (ISI), Center for Indonesia Policy Studies (CIPS), University of Indonesia, and Indonesia Air Power Studies Center. According to the Embassy of India in Jakarta, the delegation conveyed a strong and unified national message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism. Discussions with Indonesian counterparts reflected an understanding of India's position and a shared commitment to tackle false narratives propagated by vested interests. The delegation includes MPs Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar, alongside JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha. (ANI)
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Federal Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil's Detention as 'Unconstitutional'
This week, a judge ruled that the Trump Administration's effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil—the Columbia University graduate who organized student encampments to protest Israel's genocide in Gaza—is unconstitutional. On Wednesday, Judge Michael Farbiarz issued an order stating that the state's grounds for Khalil's arrest—that his anti-genocide stance is a potential threat to the nation's foreign policy—could give way to carte blanche detentions and deportations. As the Guardian noted, Farbiarz's ruling is the first one by a federal judge regarding the constitutionality of the president's pursuit of deportation of any non-citizen deemed a peril to U.S. foreign policy. However, Farbiarz has yet to grant Khalil's release as he claims his attorneys have yet to address another charge by the government: that Khalil didn't include his personal affiliations to some organizations—namely, a United Nations agency that works with Palestinian refugees and a Columbia protest group. In a statement to the Guardian, Khalil's attorneys said they would give Farbiarz the additional argument as quickly as possible. Until then, Khalil will remain in detention at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana. Most Popular Woman Accused of Microaggressions Disputes Claims Microaggressions You're Doing Great, Pete Hegseth! Hugh Jackman's Ex-Wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, Calls Their Split a 'Traumatic Journey of Betrayal' 'Every day Mahmoud spends languishing in an ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, is an affront to justice, and we won't stop working until he is free,' the lawyers said. It's been nearly three months since Khalil—a green card holder—was arrested and detained by ICE agents without a warrant and in the presence of his then eight-month pregnant wife, Noor Abdalla. Over one month later, Abdalla gave birth to their son. In an op-ed for the Guardian published earlier this month, Khalil wrote what he characterized as his 'first words' to his son, and described how he was only able to support his wife during childbirth by speaking to her over a 'crackling' phone. 'During your first moments, I buried my face in my arms and kept my voice low so that the 70 other men sleeping in this concrete room would not see my cloudy eyes or hear my voice catch,' he wrote. 'I feel suffocated by my rage and the cruelty of a system that deprived your mother and me of sharing this experience. Why do faceless politicians have the power to strip human beings of their divine moments?' This week, Abdalla spoke publicly about navigating life after the birth of their first child as Khalil remains miles away. 'I walked into the house by myself with this beautiful baby, and I think it just kind of hit me,' Abdalla told The Cut. 'I have to do this alone.' 'I rely on him a lot,' Abdalla added. 'It was always a fear of mine that he was not going to come to the birth.' Still, she told the publication that she tried to maintain optimism that Khalil would be home before her water broke. When it did, her attorneys asked ICE to grant him a temporary release to be present for the birth. 'I still had a feeling that, maybe, they're going to feel that we are humans,' she said, before describing how she learned the request was cruelly denied as she was contracting in the hospital. 'I was angry with everybody,' Abdalla added. 'Giving birth is not easy.' Frankly, hell is too kind of a place for everyone who's had anything to do with Khalil's detention. Like what you just read? You've got great taste. Subscribe to Jezebel, and for $5 a month or $50 a year, you'll get access to a bunch of subscriber benefits, including getting to read the next article (and all the ones after that) ad-free. Plus, you'll be supporting independent journalism—which, can you even imagine not supporting independent journalism in times like these? Yikes.
