Missing Moroccan drivers' lorries found in Sahel conflict area
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Saudi Gazette
03-06-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Dutch government collapses as Wilders' far-right party leaves coalition
THE HAGUE — The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is leaving the Netherlands' government over its policy for asylum-seekers, its leader Geert Wilders said on Tuesday, toppling the governing coalition. 'I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands,' Wilders told reporters Tuesday morning. 'And our responsibility for this cabinet therefore ends here.' Wilders' decision to withdraw support for the most right-leaning government in Dutch history has plunged the country's politics into chaos. It leaves the government, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, with just 51 out of 150 seats in parliament. Opposition leaders have called for immediate elections. Schoof, who has clashed with Wilders over policy, has not yet commented. Polls suggest that, were elections to be held today, the PVV would lose seats but remain the largest party, just ahead of the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. But that's no guarantee that it would be able to enter a new government. Dutch politics features a constellation of parties, none of which has ever been able to command a majority of Dutch votes. Polls suggest that both center-right and center-left parties would gain from new PVV was the clear winner of a November 2023 election. But a coalition accord struck after months of haggling dictated that, while his party would join the government, he would remain on the sidelines, in has a long history of anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric, He was convicted of discrimination after insulting Moroccan immigrants at a 2014 campaign rally, and his party calls for 'no Islamic schools, Qu'ran, and mosques.'Wilders last week held a rare, formal press conference to present the government with an ultimatum for hardening the country's asylum policy – despite the fact that the minister for asylum and migration is a member of his own party.'The PVV promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever, aiming to make it the strictest in all of Europe,' Wilders said Tuesday. 'We proposed a plan to close the borders to asylum seekers, to stop them, to send them away. To stop building asylum-seeker centers, to close them.'But the coalition, he said, refused his proposals.'I could do nothing other than say that we are now withdrawing our support for this cabinet.' — CNN
Leaders
18-05-2025
- Leaders
Morocco, Syria to Reopen Embassies after 13-Year Closure
Morocco said that it would reopen its embassy in Damascus to support the Syrian state after the fall of longtime ruler Bashar Al-Assad, according to AFP. The announcement was made by the Moroccan Foreign Minister at the Arab League summit in Baghdad after receiving a letter from King Mohammed VI to Syria's interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Morocco backed the Syrian people 'in their quest for freedom, security, and stability,' according to the letter. The Foreign Ministry stated that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani held a meeting with his Moroccan Counterpart Nasser Bourita on the sidelines of the Arab summit and that 'the two sides agreed to establish bilateral diplomatic relations.' Moreover, Syria will also 'begin procedures to reopen its embassy in Rabat.' In 2012, Rabat cut diplomatic ties with Damascus in the light of the Syrian civil war which began in 2011. Since the fall of Al-Assad in December, the new Syrian government has been attempting to build strong relations with Western countries in order to alleviate the harsh sanctions of US and its allies imposed during Asaad's rule. Importantly, the US and the UK have recently lifted sanctions on Syria, allowing the new government to build its economy and achieve the aspirations of Syrians. Currently, the new government seeks to restore relations with Western and Arab countries as well as establishing new diplomatic relations to boost its stability and security. Related Topics: Crown Prince, U.S. President, Syrian President Discuss Syria's Future Qatar to Support Syria, Pay Syrian Salaries Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Strike Near Syrian Presidential Palace Short link : Post Views: 17
Arab News
04-05-2025
- Arab News
Region must urgently invest in cybersecurity capabilities
Five years since the Pegasus spyware attacks astonished states across the Middle East and North Africa, cybercrime continues to pose a threat to the region. Just last month, Morocco's national social security agency faced a data breach and Iran averted a 'major and sophisticated cyberattack' on critical national infrastructure. Amid the geopolitical volatility in the region today, such attacks further threaten internal stability. Significantly, almost 17 percent of all global hacktivist incidents occur in the Middle East and Africa. In 2024, 27.5 percent of the incidents of hacktivism and security breaches in the region were linked to state-backed espionage. In early April, the Moroccan social security agency announced the theft of sensitive data from its platform, including details of the income, benefits and pensions of employees in the Moroccan private sector. Salaries of high-profile figures in business and politics were also accessed. This information was then leaked on Telegram. Later in the month, the Iranian authorities announced the thwarting of a major cyberattack. Iran previously faced similar attacks on its national fuel system in 2021 and a steel mill in 2022. In an era defined by artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies, such cyberattacks highlight the dark side of the technological revolution. As the region goes online and relies on digital databases, information security will continue to be a challenge. This region is particularly vulnerable to such sabotage given the long-standing political rivalries that perpetuate regional instability. State and nonstate actors alike are increasingly using cyberwarfare in response to these tensions. Thus, cybersecurity is a strategic imperative for the region as it grapples with increasing sophistication in attacks. These not only lead to data breaches but can also disrupt power and energy supplies or transport and communication systems. If this trend continues, the consequent erosion of public trust will create an additional challenge for states in the region. In an era defined by AI and advanced digital technologies, cyberattacks highlight the dark side of the technological revolution. Zaid M. Belbagi While cyberwarfare has been hailed as the future of defense, it is also the future of national security threats. The evolution of hacking capabilities and spyware has made it easier than ever to access sensitive information remotely, with minimum costs and the possibility to deny responsibility. At a time when the region is turning toward fintech, AI and digitization, addressing this challenge is critical. These cybercrime incidents come in a context where the region's digital transformation has outpaced its cyber defense capabilities. Outdated systems and a shortage of cybersecurity professionals remain prevalent, making the region vulnerable to this new form of warfare. Moving forward, the region must invest in cyber education and training locally, while also attracting global talent. Indeed, investing in this field will generate new employment opportunities in the region. To counter these threats, Middle East and North African states must prioritize robust cybersecurity frameworks, agencies and regulations. According to the Global Cybersecurity Index, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and Oman rank top among the Arab countries strategically advancing in cybersecurity. Morocco's National Cybersecurity Strategy, Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority and the UAE's Cybersecurity Council are some promising examples. Regional cooperation is also critical for mitigating this risk. Independent efforts will significantly benefit from consolidation at the regional level to encourage dialogue and share best practices. As the challenge of cyber threats to the security of energy, food and digital infrastructure is shared across the region, the solution must also be designed collectively. The 2023-27 Arab Cybersecurity Strategy offers hope for regional cooperation in this field.
