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India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Dasheri, Langra, Haribhanga and diplomacy: The many flavours of mango
Amid Dhaka's strained relations with New Delhi, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, sent 1,000 kg of Haribhanga mangoes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gesture came about a month after PM Modi extended Eid al-Adha greetings to Yunus and the people of Bangladesh. The gift might be a signal of continuity as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who's now in self-imposed exile, too sent mangoes. Mangoes, a fruit that is native to the Indian subcontinent, have played a juicy role in diplomacy, including one involving China's Mao Zedong and consignment of Haribhanga mangoes – a premium variety from northern Bangladesh – was dispatched to PM Modi last weekend, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Not just the Prime Minister, the mangoes will also be shared with PMO dignitaries, diplomats, and other Dhaka-based newspaper added that the interim government is also sending mangoes to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, continuing the long-standing relationship between Bangladesh and the state. Last Thursday, Yunus sent 300 kg of Haribhanga mangoes to Tripura CM Manik Saha, said the Dhaka Hasina would send mangoes and Hilsa fish to CMs of Bengal and some Northeast states due to their proximity to the mangoes were routed to India through the Akhaura land gesture is significant against the backdrop of India-Bangladesh tensions since Hasina's August 2024 ouster. Her seeking asylum in India following student-led protests stirred anti-India sentiments in Yunus government, too, has shown signs of leaning toward China, with Beijing ramping up investments and loans under its Belt and Road this move by Yunus mirrors Hasina's balancing act, tiptoeing between Indian and Chinese this is not the first time mangoes have been used as a diplomatic gift. It's been in practice for decades, especially in the Indian subcontinent. Here are the instances when mangoes sweetened ties between MANGO DIPLOMACY IN THE 1950sIn the 1950s, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru leveraged mangoes as a diplomatic tool to foster goodwill with foreign reportedly gifted mangoes to dignitaries during their state visits to India. When travelling abroad, Nehru carried mangoes as gifts.A report in The Indian Express narrates a notable instance from 1955 when Nehru gifted eight saplings of Dasheri and Langra mangoes to then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. The saplings were meant for planting in Guangzhou's People's mangoes were a return gift for Zhou, who, in November 1954, had showered Nehru with a slew of exotic and precious gifts, that included a pair of spotted deer, a pair of red crested cranes, and 100 goldfish, according to the reports suggest that Nehru also gifted mangoes to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during his 1955 visit to instances established mangoes as a soft power tool in India's early MANGO GIFT TO MAO ZEDONGIn August 1968, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mian Arshad Hussain gifted a crate of mangoes to Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong during a diplomatic reported by the BBC, Mao, uninterested in the fruit himself, redistributed the mangoes to factory gift arrived at a time when Mao was seeking to reassert his authority amid factional struggles, and the mangoes became an unexpected propaganda at Beijing's Tsinghua University, where Mao sent one mango, preserved it in formaldehyde and created wax replicas for display across the weren't common in China replicas were paraded in processions, with one factory even placing a mango replica on an altar, where workers paid daily BBC notes that a worker ignorant of the fruit's significance was executed for comparing a mango to a sweet imagery also appeared on posters, badges, and household gesture seemingly strengthened Pakistan-China ties, as Pakistan sought to counterbalance India's regional influence, particularly after the 1965 India-Pakistan UL-HAQ'S GIFT OF MANGOES TO INDIRA GANDHIIn 1981, Pakistan's military ruler Zia ul-Haq sent mangoes to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a goodwill gesture, as per a report in the news agency the gesture did not resolve deep-seated conflicts between India and Pakistan, it was seemingly a gift that Indira Gandhi appreciated, as per mangoes gifted by Zia to Indira Gandhi was known as Anwar Rataul in Pakistan and Rataul in India. Named after a Uttar Pradesh village, it sparked a cultural tug-of-war between the two nations over its activist and mango aficionado Sohail Hashmi told PTI that soon after the gift, mango enthusiasts and experts said Ratauls only grew in India and what was gifted to Indira were "fakes". Hasmi said farmers from Rataul presented their case to Gandhi, asserting the mango's Indian roots.'The mango is called Rataul because it was developed here,' Hashmi told PTI. 'Some people who migrated to Pakistan took cuttings and began cultivating the variety in Multan.'Though both countries claim it, its role as a diplomatic gift between two arch-rivals shows how important mangoes have been in India-Pakistan diplomacy since the TIES WITH THE USDuring his visit to India in March 2006, US President George W Bush reportedly expressed a keen desire to taste Indian mangoes. At the time, a nearly two-decade-long ban had barred Indian mango exports to the interest prompted a deal with then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leading to the launch of the "mango initiative".As a result, Indian mangoes re-entered the American market. On April 27, 2007, a shipment of 150 boxes arrived at New York's John F Kennedy Airport in what The New York Times called "probably the most eagerly anticipated fruit delivery ever".US officials reportedly said the export marked the commitment of both nations to deepen trade relations and create fresh economic opportunities for their SHARIF TO NARENDRA MODIIn July 2015, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent a box of mangoes to PM Modi, as well as then-President Pranab Mukherjee, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, in a gesture aimed at fostering goodwill, The Dawn Modi and other recipients acknowledged the gift, it did little to ease tensions between India and the decades, mangoes have served as a form of diplomatic currency across Asia, especially within the Indian subcontinent. Though such gestures may not have notably eased India-Pakistan tensions, Yunus' continuation of Hasina's tradition might be a signal from Bangladesh to India.- EndsMust Watch
Shafaq News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's unpaid wages: A crisis of trust and federalism
Shafaq News The prolonged failure to disburse public sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region has pushed Baghdad-Erbil relations to a critical juncture. With over 70 days of unpaid wages affecting nearly 1.5 million employees, the dispute has intensified political tensions, sparked protests, and raised questions about the viability of Iraq's federal framework ahead of the November parliamentary elections. While the issue is far from new, recent rounds of high-level meetings and political outreach have yet to produce a sustainable solution. 'This crisis is not just about unpaid wages—it's about the collapse of trust between Baghdad and Erbil,' said Analyst Ranj Alaaldin in remarks to Shafaq News. 'What we're witnessing is a system failing to deliver on its most basic obligations.' Dispute Reignited The latest escalation came after the delay of May 2025 salaries, and then Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani approved a one-time loan to cover wage payments. The decision, intended to ease hardship ahead of Eid al- Adha, did little to calm public discontent. Protests soon erupted in Al-Sulaymaniyah and other cities, as teachers and civil servants demanded immediate action. At the same time, Kurdish political parties convened in Erbil to condemn Baghdad's handling of the situation, describing the use of salaries as leverage as both unconstitutional and politically dangerous. The episode revived a familiar cycle—emergency disbursements, legal disputes, and mutual accusations —with no permanent resolution in sight. To de-escalate tensions, the Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani met on July 12 to announce a joint initiative. Both figures highlighted the humanitarian urgency of the issue and called for separating public entitlements from political conflicts. The following day, Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani led a joint meeting of their parties to reaffirm Kurdish unity on the matter. 'The coordination between the KDP and PUK is critical,' observed Political Scientist Zana Ahmed. 'But without legal guarantees and implementation mechanisms, unity alone won't bring results.' A joint statement from both parties underscored the need for constructive engagement on constitutional rights and equitable revenue sharing. Institutional Gaps Exposed Many experts view the impasse as symptomatic of deeper dysfunction in Iraq's fiscal system. Legal Expert Huda Al-Taie described the situation to Shafaq News as a 'recurring pattern in which Baghdad invokes legal justifications selectively' while avoiding the creation of transparent, lasting frameworks. Meanwhile, Prime Minister al-Sudani formed a ministerial committee to evaluate policy proposals from both sides, focusing on the transfer of oil and non-oil revenues and a mechanism for salary domiciliation. A Kurdish political source told Shafaq News later that the committee is expected to submit its final report on July 15, with recommendations that could determine whether salaries resume and whether the KRG agrees to hand over oil exports to SOMO under federal terms. Political Fallout and Strategic Risks Inside Parliament, frustration is also mounting. KDP MP Nasser Yousef Mohi criticized successive federal administrations for marginalizing the Kurdistan Region despite constitutional guarantees ratified in 2005. He also questioned the transparency of parliamentary processes, noting that decisions are frequently crafted behind closed doors and presented for routine approval. 'What we are witnessing is the erosion of constitutional order,' argued constitutional scholar Salam Qazaz. 'The salary issue reveals just how politicized and inconsistent Iraq's fiscal governance has become.' PUK MP Dilan Ghafour warned that the deadlock is harming citizens and called for urgent depoliticization of basic services. In her view, boycotts or withdrawal from the government would only deepen the crisis. Instead, she emphasized negotiation as the only viable path forward. Outlook and Consequences Analysts caution that failure to resolve the dispute could have far-reaching consequences, undermining the credibility of the upcoming elections, widening institutional divides, and weakening public confidence in governance. Alaaldin warned that external actors could exploit Iraq's internal vulnerabilities. 'An unresolved Kurdish crisis opens doors for regional players to deepen instability,' he said. 'Baghdad, Erbil, and Iraq's neighbors all have a stake in preventing that outcome.' Much also hinges on stalled national legislation. Iraq's inability to pass a comprehensive oil and gas law remains a core obstacle, leaving federal-regional fiscal ties in legal and political limbo. The path forward depends on whether Iraq's leaders choose to entrench old patterns or lay the groundwork for a more stable arrangement.
The Herald Scotland
12-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
The King and I, a tiger skin rug and a bottle of Bell's
I have travelled a lot and as global tourist infrastructure has improved, so has the 'Airbnbfication' of even the furthest flung places, hitting the road feels an ever more homogeneous experience. Côte d'Ivoire? This felt like an opportunity for real adventure, to discover somewhere no one else I knew had ever been. I'm ashamed to say I knew almost nothing about Côte d'Ivoire, the French speaking West African country of 31 million, neighboured by Ghana, Liberia, Guinea and Mali. Its troubled history of two civil wars in the noughties, was my main point of reference. Certainly, I couldn't have imagined its pristine beaches rivalling Thailand, an incredible culinary scene, the unforgettable nightlife of Abidgan or the thriving contemporary art movement. I did read in advance about how diverse this country is - Abidjan with so many skyscrapers it's known as the Manhattan of West Africa, the cocoa cooperatives producing more than 40% of the world's cacao, more than 60 ethnicities and 70 languages. 'I'm ashamed to say I knew almost nothing about Côte d'Ivoire, the French speaking West African country of 31 million' (Image: Kerry Hudson) But, how did I end up drunk in a King's compound, wearing traditional tribal dress? I wake up under a mosquito net in a stilted hut overlooking wildlife reservation N'zi Lodge. As we drive the minibus down the rocky road, we catch glimpses of antilope, warthogs and a rescued White Rhino - once given as a gift to the first President. On the journey to the political capital, Yamoussoukro, where we'll spend the next 24 hours, I watch as life spills out of roadside markets. It's two days before Eid al-Adha, also known as, The Feast of Sacrifice, and, with almost half the country Muslim, there are hundreds of goats - being led by ropes like stubborn dogs, lying on top of bright buses and crammed into red dust cattle markets - unaware of their fate. In the middle of traffic, men sell Space Hoppers, machetes and bags decorated with seashells. Beside us, a truck drives by with a row of hammocks strung across the flatbed where labourers sleep, a bus passes featuring a mural of Che Guevara looking uncannily like Robbie Williams. We pass something called a 'China Mall', mannequins by the side of the road with large round backsides that make me optimistic I might find clothes that fit me. A woman balances a huge basket of limes on her head, laundry is laid out flat on scrubby patches of grass to dry and stalls are piled high with sun-faded Manchester United tops. Read more Kerry Hudson It is said you cannot visit Yammousoko without also visiting The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, which holds the Guinness World Record as the biggest church in the world. To murder a Groucho Marx quote, 'I refuse to join any religion that would have me as its member' but, in the way I have felt in mosques, temples and cathedrals around the world, I feel a tearful sense of peace in this construct of hope over experience. Built in the 1960s by the first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who wanted to honour what he believed was a time of 'God given' peace. Its 24 epic stained glass windows were designed and created by artisans in Burgundy, France and I'm told not a single pane broke in transit - an act of God indeed. There is also an altar carved with marble from Carrera, Italy, and a teak Virgin Mary statue carved by a prisoner of Muslim faith and it was designed by a Lebanese Ivoirian architect, Pierre Fakhoury. Quite the international affair. The next stop is to the village of Kondéyaokro via, sure, why not, a river of two-hundred crocodiles, in the centre of the city. They are apparently very popular and judging from the way they all swim to the edge and stare at us with unsettling gimlet eyes, I can only assume they're expecting dinner in one form or another. We are accompanied to the village, 40 minutes out of town, by a truck of armed guards with automatic rifles. I'm told reassuringly, this is normal for official delegations. After a Goli Dance, a traditional masked performance, we're invited into King Nana Yao Daniel's compound, a large, squat bungalow with five gold and velvet thrones accommodating the fully-robed king and with his most trusted advisors. The decor is gilded maximalism, there are swan vases stuffed with plastic flowers, carved teak elephants, a tiger skin rug, and, on the back wall, a big TV with the 'Action Channel' on mute showing a very young Dwayne Johnson. I don't know what I expected from a king - I turned down my last invite to Buckingham Palace - but I'll come here any time. We're given large measures of Bell's whisky (as the only Scot, I am given double). The men in our party are bestowed a tuft of tiger fur from the rug, the women a strand of horse tail, both for good fortune. Côte d'Ivoire is off the beaten track for tourists (Image: Kerry Hudson) Then there is more, so much more, whisky and photos before we're called outside for a dinner of carp, tomato and onion salad, boiled yams and the gifting of our tribal robes. Each of the armed guards is given a carton of local red wine, the visitors, a bordeaux as a sign of hospitality. A dog called Commander and a straggle of rangy ginger kittens roam about. It's a party. Even when the heavens open with thunder and lightning and we carry our tables to the porch, the night is full of laughter. At around 11pm, as is tradition, we ask the king, 'for the road' and drive through a man-made slalom of sandbags and plastic barrels, ingeniously designed to stop speeding. Was it all a show for us visitors? Perhaps. But it felt deeply genuine. Everyone in our group, most far better travelled than me, agreed, 'This is the sort of thing you get on a plane for!' The Côte d'Ivoire offers a perfect adventurous experience, to see things others don't, to connect with people you might never have met, to raise a glass of Scotch, maybe even a double, to an entirely different way of life. Kerry Hudson is an award-winning, bestselling novelist and memoirist. You can find her on Instagram and on Threads @ThatKerryHudson
Jordan News
08-07-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Real Estate Trading in Jordan Rises 4% in First Half of 2025 to JD 3.13 Billion - Jordan News
The total real estate trading volume in Jordan reached JD 3.132 billion during the first half of 2025, marking a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the monthly report issued by the Department of Land and Survey (DLS). اضافة اعلان The report, monitored by Al-Mamlaka, noted that trading volume in June alone hit JD 544.7 million, reflecting a 43% increase year-on-year, and a 1% rise compared to May 2025. Revenue performance also improved, rising 9% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, totaling JD 122.9 million. In June, revenue reached JD 17.3 million, up 29% year-on-year, but down 18% from May, due largely to the Eid al-Adha holiday, as noted by the department. Real estate sales activity rose 1% during the first half of 2025. Apartment sales increased by 6%, while land sales grew by less than 1% compared to the same period in 2024. In June 2025: Real estate sales rose 22% year-on-year, but dropped 13% compared to May. Apartment sales were up 14% year-on-year, but down 11% from May. Land sales surged 25% compared to June 2024, but fell 14% compared to May. A total of 5,552 properties were purchased by companies in Jordan during the first half of the year. Meanwhile, foreign ownership transactions declined 10% during the first half of 2025: Apartment transactions fell 9% Land transactions fell 11% However, in June alone, foreign ownership transactions rose 16% compared to June 2024, but declined 29% from May 2025: Apartment purchases rose 9% year-on-year, but dropped 24% from May Land purchases rose 26% year-on-year, but declined 36% from May The estimated value of foreign ownership transactions dropped 3% in the first half of 2025, totaling JD 90.6 million. In June alone, this value fell 39% year-on-year and 37% compared to May, registering at JD 9.9 million.
Ya Biladi
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Ya Biladi
Morocco faces extreme water scarcity by 2050 warns UN report
DR A recent international report titled « Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023–2025 », published this month by the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, presents alarming findings about Morocco's worsening water and climate situation. The report warns that if current trends continue, Morocco could enter a phase of «extreme water scarcity» by the middle of the century. Six Years of Drought… and a Drier Future While droughts are a natural part of Morocco's climate, the report notes that their frequency and severity have increased significantly since the early 20th century. Between 2018 and 2024, the country experienced its longest multi-year drought on record, with 2022 being the driest year in three decades. According to climate projection models, rainfall in the Atlas Mountain basins could decrease by up to 65% by 2100, posing a major threat to Morocco's water supply and agricultural productivity. The country currently has just 645 cubic meters of renewable water resources per person per year, compared to 10,000 in water-rich countries. That number is projected to drop to 500 cubic meters by 2050, pushing Morocco into the category of extreme water stress. The start of 2024 was particularly dire. The national dam fill rate averaged only 25%, while January marked record-breaking temperatures of 37°C and a 57% deficit in rainfall. The Al Massira Dam, Morocco's second-largest, dropped to critical levels, between 1% and 2% full. In response, cities across the kingdom implemented strict water restrictions, including bans on washing cars, watering gardens, and cleaning public streets. In some areas, hammams (public baths) were ordered to close three days per week. Turning to Desalination Despite High Costs In response to the crisis, Morocco has ramped up its investment in seawater desalination, despite the high costs associated with importing 90% of its energy needs. The country plans to construct 11 new desalination plants between 2024 and 2025, alongside the operation of 23 mobile units already deployed. Between 2021 and 2023, Morocco also invested approximately €15 million in cloud seeding programs, which are estimated to have increased rainfall by 4% and boosted agricultural yields by as much as 20%. The prolonged drought has severely impacted Morocco's agricultural sector, which employs about 35% of the national workforce. Just ahead of Eid al-Adha in 2023, meat prices soared to record levels, prompting the government to quintuple livestock imports and suspend customs duties to stabilize the market. By April 2024, agricultural output had declined by 20%, while a European report forecasted that wheat and barley yields would be 30% below average. The government was forced to extend subsidies for soft wheat imports through the end of 2025. The report also noted a 38% drop in sheep numbers compared to 2016 due to the prolonged drought. A Call to Action The report urges drought-affected countries, including Morocco, to assess risks and implement urgent adaptation strategies. Recommendations include reducing water consumption, diversifying supply through desalination and wastewater reuse, strengthening governance and early warning systems, and enhancing community engagement and regional cooperation to confront the growing threat of water scarcity.
