Citroën TV commercial sparks backlash among social media users in Egypt
Plus: drones shot down in Iraq, Arab countries to normalize relations with Syria's Assad, Turkish Lira continues to fall, and much more.
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Iraq
Two armed drones were shot down as they approached an Iraqi military base hosting US forces near Baghdad's international airport, Iraqi security sources said on January 3, adding that nobody was hurt in the incident. The attack came as Iran and its allies in Iraq marked the second anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, killed in a drone strike ordered by Donald Trump near Baghdad airport.
Numerous rapes and violent crimes against women in Iraq highlighted the need to involve Iraqi women in more effective representation and decision-making opportunities. Journalist Shelly Kittleson reports a series of violent crime cases against women, stressing that the lack of respect for women can also lead to broader security issues, inter-tribal conflict, and radicalization while destroying trust in government institutions and security forces. Read the full article on Al-Monitor.
Syria
After Afghanistan's hectic withdrawal, the US wants to become less decisive in the Middle East. As a result, Arab countries welcome normalizing relations with Syria's Assad. But the human cost of such a change of direction will have a dangerous impact on Syrian refugees living in Arab countries. Read the full story by journalist Alex Lederman on Foreign Policy.
Egypt
A Citroën car advertisement starring iconic Egyptian singer Amr Diab has been pulled after backlash from social media users, who claimed it enabled sexual harassment.
The Egyptian TV commercial promoted a camera feature in the vehicle's front mirror. Diab uses the camera to take a picture of a woman crossing in front of his car without her consent. The woman is later seen sitting in his car, and at one point, rests her head on the Egyptian star's shoulder while they stand next to the vehicle. However, the commercial has been heavily criticized by social media users. Read more on The New Arab.
Turkey
Turkish Lira has weakened 5% since the end of last year. Furthermore, according to several experts, the leap in annual inflation to 36.1% showed the need to reconsider Turkey's policy steps. Despite the central bank rate cuts, market interest rates were rising, and dollarisation continued to increase. In late December, Erdogan unveiled a deposit-protection scheme to encourage savers to convert deposits from foreign currency to Lira and support the currency after it hit a record low of 18.4. Read more on Reuters.
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About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, a freelance journalist. I am interested in human rights and international news focusing on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
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Cover photo: Citroën/UNILAD