بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Headline News 08/03/2017
Headlines:
Trump's Round 2
Battle for Mosul
Egypt Bread Riots
Details:
Trump's Round 2
On 6th March 2017, it was announced that Donald Trump attempted to reinstate the controversial "Muslim" ban. This time he has decided to remove Iraq from the list alongside granting those already with permits to enter. This has been timed well with the SDP'S encirclement of al Bab, the Iraqi army offensive against Isis in Mosul, the repeated rhetoric of US subordinate nations needing to pay for their own security and other policy positions which demonstrate the grandeur nature of the US. This is necessary after facing such it can be argued that an international standard is being set for the Muslims on how they are treated, normalising their persecution.
Battle for Mosul
Iraqi forces say they have retaken the main government offices in Mosul as the offensive continues to oust the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. The advance could pave the way for an attack on the heavily-populated old city, where the militants are still entrenched. Thousands of civilians are streaming out of the city every day. Mosul is the last stronghold for IS in Iraq. The east of the city was recaptured in January. Civilians say it was the heaviest night of bombardment since the operation to retake the city's west began on 19 February. The Iraqi forces launched a surprise attack overnight to storm the government buildings. Although the structures are reported to be largely destroyed, they supposedly claimed a strategic and symbolic win. The UN estimates that there are up to 800,000 people still living in west Mosul. The organisation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says approximately 42,000 people were displaced last week alone. "Given the narrow streets and high population density in western Mosul city, civilians are at great risk of being caught in crossfire, and infrastructure is likely to sustain damage. Clean drinking water is also in very short supply," it said in a report released on Sunday.
Egypt Bread Riots
Egyptians took to the streets in several cities on Tuesday 7th February in angry demonstrations at government cuts to bread subsidies in the face of a deep economic crisis and food rationing.
Reports and videos on social media showed crowds in central Alexandria protesting after bakeries refused to take paper subsidy cards, which many poor Egyptians use to gain a government ration of bread. Protests were also reported in Minya, Desouk, and the Imbaba suburb of Cairo.
They come days after the Minister of Supplies, Ali Moselhy, cut by two thirds the number of subsidised loaves bakeries were allowed to dole out per day to cardholders. A separate electronic card scheme was not affected. Protesters clashed with police and blocked the main street in Imbaba as they demonstrated against the government decision. The government recently lifted subsidies on staple foods, and has suffered shortages of other basic foodstuffs, as Egypt faces a currency crisis and rampant inflation that has hit more than 20 percent.