عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News

Egypt’s Religious Institutions Call for Fighting 'Hate Speech'

People gather in front of the Bois d'Aulne college after the attack in the Paris suburb of Conflans St Honorine, France, October 17, 2020. (Reuters)
People gather in front of the Bois d'Aulne college after the attack in the Paris suburb of Conflans St Honorine, France, October 17, 2020. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Egypt’s Religious Institutions Call for Fighting 'Hate Speech'

People gather in front of the Bois d'Aulne college after the attack in the Paris suburb of Conflans St Honorine, France, October 17, 2020. (Reuters)
People gather in front of the Bois d'Aulne college after the attack in the Paris suburb of Conflans St Honorine, France, October 17, 2020. (Reuters)

Egyptian religious institutions stressed the need to confront hate speech which would ensure the safety of societies and strengthen relations between peoples.

The country's top religious authority, al-Azhar called for the enactment of international laws to criminalize insulting religions and their sacred symbols.

In a statement, al-Azhar described the incident of the beheading of a teacher by an extremist in Bois d'Aulne college in the Paris suburb of Conflans St. Honorine, as a “heinous crime”, stressung that murder is a crime that cannot be justified in any way.

The statement also urged everyone to “respect the beliefs of others, and reject hate speech and violence, regardless of its form, source, or cause."

Dar al-Iftaa also called for the need to adhere to the morals and teachings of religion that affirm respect for the beliefs of others, emphasizing the necessity of activating the laws against hate speech.

For his part, Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam condemned the recent attack in Paris, saying it is a crime categorically rejected by Islam and cannot be justified, because Islam has called for the protection of human life.

Allam called on the French government not to hold Islam and Muslims responsible for this crime.

“It would be wise to deal with this issue as an individual crime in order not to spread hatred against Muslims,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Observatory of Islamophobia, affiliated with Dar al-Ifta, warned of a wave of attacks against Muslims and their places of worship in France.

It cautioned that recent events would lead to a wave of violence and counter-violence, unless intervention is made to stop extremism and hatred rhetoric.

The Observatory confirmed, in a statement, that attacking Islam is an extremist act that must be criminalized, and confronted as a first step to prevent terrorist operations.

There is no point in fighting ISIS and terrorist organizations unless extremism and terrorism of the Western-right are fought equally.

According to the Observatory, the world is at stake and extremism is a grave danger to all societies, calling on advocates of peace and coexistence to play their important and vital role in preserving the security of society.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Gold Heads for Weekly Loss as High Oil Prices Feed inflation worries

A jeweller holds gold bars in Cairo, Egypt, March 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A jeweller holds gold bars in Cairo, Egypt, March 9, 2026. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Gold Heads for Weekly Loss as High Oil Prices Feed inflation worries

A jeweller holds gold bars in Cairo, Egypt, March 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A jeweller holds gold bars in Cairo, Egypt, March 9, 2026. (Reuters)

Gold prices fell more than 1% on Friday and were headed for a weekly loss of a similar magnitude, as elevated oil prices continued to fan inflation concerns that would discourage central banks from cutting interest rates.

Spot gold was down 1.1% at $4,573.33 per ounce at 1149 GMT, and on track for a weekly loss of 2.8%. US gold futures for June delivery fell 1% to $4,585.20.

"Gold remains negatively correlated to oil in the short term, as it impacts interest rate expectations," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Iran said on Thursday it would respond with "long and painful strikes" on US positions if Washington renewed attacks, reiterating its claim to the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Brent crude prices have touched double the levels seen at the start of the year, raising concerns about a global economic slowdown and higher inflation as fuel prices surge.

US inflation accelerated in March as the war raised gasoline prices, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates on hold well into next year.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, following similar decisions this week by the Fed and the Bank of Japan.

Gold, traditionally seen as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty and inflation, can come under pressure in a high interest rate environment as it loses its appeal to yield-bearing assets like US Treasuries.

However, Staunovo said UBS retained a constructive outlook over the next six to 12 months.

"Uncertainty surrounding upcoming (US) midterm elections, expectations of a weaker US dollar over time, and declining real interest rates (as the Fed cuts) will likely support investment demand alongside continued central bank demand," he said.

He added that these factors could drive prices towards $5,900/oz by late 2026.

Spot silver prices fell 0.3% to $73.53 per ounce, platinum was down 0.5% at $1,975.65, and palladium lost 0.1% to $1,522.18.

World

NATO and China: A Slow Alliance Confronts a Fast-Rising Rival

People visit the BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People visit the BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
TT
TT

NATO and China: A Slow Alliance Confronts a Fast-Rising Rival

People visit the BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People visit the BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)

NATO was established in 1949 to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union, based on the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all. At the time, US President Harry Truman also sought to anchor an American presence in war-ravaged Europe to ensure security and prevent a strategic vacuum.

The collapse of the Soviet Union, along with the socialist bloc, brought the Cold War to an end and forced NATO to adapt. The alliance expanded its operations beyond Europe, intervening in the Balkans during the Bosnia and Kosovo wars, then in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. It also undertook maritime missions to combat piracy, including off the Horn of Africa, alongside intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism cooperation.

NATO has since built partnerships with countries beyond its traditional scope and broadened its definition of threats to include cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, and energy security, as well as, more recently, the challenge posed by China.

In sum, NATO has evolved from a purely European defensive alliance into a broader global security actor, largely driven by the United States, while still maintaining a central focus on deterring threats within Europe.

In recent years, the Brussels-based alliance has expanded its attention toward the Indo-Pacific region for strategic reasons that extend beyond Europe. Chief among these are the interconnected nature of global security, particularly in cyberspace, the need to ensure resilient and unobstructed supply chains, and the rapid spread of advanced technologies that increasingly diminish the importance of geographic boundaries.

FILED - 03 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: A NATO flag flies in the wind in front of the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Anna Ross/dpa

China’s Rise

Another key factor is the view of China’s rise as a strategic challenge reshaping the global balance of power. For NATO’s 32 member states, up from 12 at its founding, safeguarding trade routes is a priority, especially maritime corridors in the Indo-Pacific that are critical to the global economy.

These include the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia, the world’s most important shipping lane, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and carrying roughly 25 percent of global trade annually. It is also a vital artery for oil and energy flows to major Asian economies such as China, Japan, and South Korea.

NATO member states express “strategic concern” over China for several core reasons. First, China is rapidly modernizing its military, particularly in areas such as missile systems, space capabilities, and cyber operations, developments that are shifting the global balance of power.

Second, and closely linked, is China’s economic rise, reflected in initiatives such as the Belt and Road, which provide Beijing with avenues to expand its economic and political influence across Asia, Africa, and Europe. This expansion risks creating dependencies among countries in or near NATO’s strategic periphery.

Concerns are also fueled by growing ties between China and Russia, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which could signal coordination between two major powers against the West.

At the same time, an indirect competition is underway over leadership in fields such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications networks, and semiconductors. NATO sees technological superiority as a core component of security.

The alliance has concluded partnership and cooperation agreements with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, encompassing joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and political coordination. However, NATO does not appear to be planning an expansion of membership into the Indo-Pacific, instead favoring flexible partnerships over a permanent military presence.

World

Iran Delivered New Proposal for US Talks via Pakistan

US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TT
TT

Iran Delivered New Proposal for US Talks via Pakistan

US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Iran has delivered a new proposal for talks with the United States via mediator Pakistan, state media reported on Friday.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran delivered the text of its latest negotiating proposal to Pakistan, as the mediator in talks with the United States, on Thursday evening," the official IRNA news agency reported, without elaborating.

This came as President Donald Trump's administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate on Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war. Under that rationale, the administration has not yet met the requirement mandated by a 1973 law to seek formal approval from Congress for military action that extends beyond 60 days.

While the ceasefire has since been extended, Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and the US Navy is maintaining a blockade to prevent Iran’s oil tankers from getting out to sea.