Middle East Experience

Hundreds of people protested in Kabul on Friday, demanding that the US release billions of dollars in central bank reserves blocked outside Afghanistan as the new Taliban government struggles to contain a deepening economic crisis.The well-organized demonstration, featuring banners with messages printed in English, came as Taliban officials stepped up demands for more than $9 billion in foreign reserves held abroad to be handed over.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“We want them to unfreeze this money as it's only Afghanistan's money,” said Nooruddin Jalali, a member of the Afghan Muslim youth association NAJM, who attended the protest.“It is Afghans' and our businessmen's money which is used for buying food and medicine.”Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted about the protest, underlining the new government's support for the demonstrators and their demands.Pressure to release central bank funds has increased as the economic crisis following the collapse of the Western-backed government last month worsened, leaving millions struggling to afford spiraling prices for food and other basic necessities.Severe drought has threatened famine in many parts of rural Afghanistan, but the problems have also reached cities like Kabul, where many government workers have been unpaid for weeks while banks have imposed strict limits on cash withdrawals.People have been forced to queue for hours outside banks and are limited to taking out $200 or 20,000 afghanis a week to try to prevent a run of withdrawals that could push the financial system into collapse.The Taliban have accused officials from the previous administration of making off with millions of dollars as President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul, but the crisis has put them under heavy pressure as they seek to adapt to peacetime rule.At Friday's protest, demonstrators focused their anger on U.S. officials, with banners carrying slogans like: “Ordinary Afghans should not pay the price for America's defeat.”Kabul resident Rematullah said the issue was unrelated to problems Washington may have with any individuals.“It's the public's money,” he said.Read more:Taliban will bring back executions, cutting off hands, feet as punishment: OfficialCurbs on women, beard length, use of force: Taliban detail morality police ‘rulebook’US will not force Taliban to replicate Western culture with frozen funds: Official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Hundreds protest in Kabul to demand release of Afghan foreign reserves

Rosenbaum emphasized that his religion prevents him from working on those days, and took the time off anyway, notifying his superiors at Unilever via email about the situation.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jewish man fired by Unilever for taking time off during Rosh Hashanah in 2019 - report

Abbas said Israel was "destroying the prospect of a political settlement based on the two-state solution" through its settlements on West Bank land it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Abbas tells UN Israeli actions could lead to 'one state'

Earlier this year, Cuomo was forced to apologize to CNN viewers for giving advice to the staff of his brother, Andrew Cuomo, who at the time was facing calls to resign as governor of New York.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: CNN's Chris Cuomo accused of sexual harassment by former boss

In its bid for IMF support, Lebanon must address a question it has evaded since the economy imploded two years ago: how should it distribute the huge losses caused by its financial collapse?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon faces tough question in bid for IMF support

The StandWithUs Interfaith Alliance will air a concert that features Christians and Jews with a guest appearance by President Isaac Herzog.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: StandWithUs fights antisemitism with music

The ongoing Turkey-Cyprus conflict was a major theme of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades speech at the United Nations General Assembly summit in New York.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Cyprus president criticizes Turkish policy in Iraq, Syria at UN summit

Earlier this year, Pew Research Center reported that a majority of the US public had faith in Biden's handling of the coronavirus and its health impacts.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Joe Biden’s job approval falls sharply - PEW survey

The US on Friday further paved the way for aid to flow to Afghanistan despite US sanctions on the Taliban, who seized control of the country last month, issuing general licenses amid concern that Washington's punitive measures could compound an unfolding humanitarian crisis.The US Treasury Department said it issued two general licenses, one allowing the US government, NGOs and certain international organizations, including the United Nations, to engage in transactions with the Taliban or Haqqani Network - both under sanctions - that are necessary to provide humanitarian assistance.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The second license authorizes certain transactions related to the export and re-export of food, medicine and medical devices.“Treasury is committed to facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support their basic human needs,” Andrea Gacki, director of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in the statement.She added that Washington will continue to work with financial institutions, NGOs and international organizations to ease the flow of agricultural goods, medicine and other resources while upholding sanctions on the Taliban, Haqqani Network and others.The United Nations said that at the start of the year more than 18 million people - about half of Afghanistan's population - require aid amid the second drought in four years.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that Afghanistan is on “the verge of a dramatic humanitarian disaster” and has decided to engage the Taliban in order to help the country's people.US President Joe Biden's administration has said it is committed to allowing humanitarian work in Afghanistan to continue despite Washington listing the Taliban as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.The sanctions freeze any US assets of the Islamist militant group and bar Americans from dealing with them, including the contribution of funds, goods or services.Reuters reported last month that Washington issued a license authorizing the US government and its partners to continue to facilitate humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.Friday's move expands on that specific license, allowing international organizations and NGOs to pay taxes, fees, import duties or permits, licenses or other necessary transactions for assistance to reach the people of Afghanistan.A Taliban offensive as foreign forces withdrew from Afghanistan after a 20-year war culminated in the capture of the capital Kabul on Aug. 15, two decades after they were driven from power by a US-led campaign in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US.Read more:Hundreds protest in Kabul to demand release of Afghan foreign reservesTaliban will bring back executions, cutting off hands, feet as punishment: OfficialCurbs on women, beard length, use of force: Taliban detail morality police ‘rulebook’US will not force Taliban to replicate Western culture with frozen funds: Official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US grants licenses for more aid flow to Afghanistan despite sanctions on Taliban

Petrofac made admission as part of deal to end four-year corruption investigation by Serious Fraud Office..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tory donor’s oil firm admits employees paid bribes to get contracts