Middle East Experience

Abbas “did not hide his anger” over being sidelined during the mediation efforts with his rivals in Hamas, according to an unnamed official.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: PA’s Abbas ‘outraged’ as Hamas takes center stage in mediation efforts

After meeting Grundberg, the council will travel to Yemen to be sworn in, though Alimi refused to specify exactly where..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Yemen new leaders signal intent to prioritise peace

There are questions about whether the UAE, Bahrain and the Saudis will continue their progress with Jerusalem even as their relations with the US have frayed.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Success of Abraham Accords doesn't excuse gov't handling of terror - analysis

In early October, an Egyptair-branded plane landed in Israel for the first time, a flight described as..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Direct flights start between Tel Aviv, Sharm el-Sheikh

Three explosions rocked a high school in western Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least six people and injuring children, according to Afghan security and health officials.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Many residents in the neighborhood belong to the Shia Hazara community, an ethnic and religious minority frequently targeted by Sunni militant groups, including ISIS.“Three blasts have taken place ... in a high school, there are some casualties to our Shia people,” said Khalid Zadran, the spokesman for Kabul’s commander. He later added that six had been killed and 11 injured in the explosions.The head of a hospital nursing department, who declined to be named, said at least four people had been killed and 14 wounded in the blasts.Another medical center, Emergency Hospital, said in a Tweet they had received seven children injured in the explosions.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which followed a lull in violence over the cold winter months and after foreign forces withdrew last year.The Taliban say they have secured the country since taking power in August, but international officials and analysts say that the risk of a resurgence in militancy remains and ISIS has claimed several major attacks.Read more: Afghanistan death toll in ‘Pakistan strikes’ rises to at least 47: OfficialsPakistan calls for action against militants on Afghan soilHand grenade wounds at least six in Kabul mosque
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Explosions rock boys’ school in Kabul, killing at least six: Officials

Saudi Arabia ranks first in the Arab world and 25th globally in the field of scientific publishing, the official Saudi Press Agency reported citing the Scimago Index on Tuesday.Saudi universities have reportedly contributed 93 percent of the national output of scientific research.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.This translates into a sustainable knowledge-based economy that aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, according to SPA.As per the latest figures reported by SPA, there is a hike in the rate of scientific research publication in 2021 to 104 percent.There also seems to be an improvement in the quality of research published in Q1 scientifically classified journals by 247 percent. The ministry’s initiatives are credited with contributing to an increase in the number of active researchers by 75 percent in the same period.National universities are reporting an increase in the number of published scientific research, bringing their total to more than 57,000.Read more:Saudi Princess passes away, neighboring rulers send condolencesSaudi Arabia condemns ‘deliberate abuse’ of Holy Quran by ‘extremists’ in SwedenSaudi Arabia, US extend research and science collaboration for 10 more years
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia ranks first in scientific publishing in the Gulf: Scimago index

Saudi Arabia’s Radio and Television Corporation signed a strategic partnership with MBC Group on Monday to display its content on the media giant’s streaming platform Shahid.The partnership will ensure that the corporation’s films, programs, documentaries, and TV series will be displayed on Shahid.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The signing ceremony on Monday was attended by MBC Chairman Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim, CEO of Saudi’s Radio and Television Corporation Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, and the Kingdom’s Minister of Information Dr. Majid al-Qasabi.“We are certain that the authority’s qualitative content contributes to enriching the unique media experience that our leading platform provides to the audience of millions of followers, subscribers, and those interested in the Kingdom and abroad,” Sheikh Waleed said in a statement.The partnership “comes within the framework of conveying the Kingdom’s message, voice and image to the region and the world,” according to a tweet by the Saudi Broadcasting Authority’s (SBA).Based in Riyadh, the SBA comprises of several Islamic and official TV channels such as the Saudi Channel, SBC, Saudi Sports, and Memories.MBC Group’s Shahid recorded a 43 percent increase in year-on-year subscriptions to the platform with over two million users by the end of Ramadan in 2021.Shahid offers exclusive and original Arabic TV shows and movies and is operated by MBC Group, the Middle East and North Africa’s largest media company. The platform was relaunched in January 2020, with activity surging throughout the year as coronavirus restrictions on movement aimed at slowing the spread of the virus prompted customers to turn online for entertainment.The platform was expanded to territories outside of the Middle East and North Africa region, including the United States and Canada, in 2020 and showcases uninterrupted and ad-free content.Read more:Twitter, MBC expand partnership to include exclusive contentSnapchat to feature exclusive MBC, Al Arabiya news content, Ramadan specialsMBC Group’s Shahid, MBC Action to stream WWE content
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: MBC’s Shahid VOD partners with Saudi Arabia’s Radio and Television Corporation

Saudi Arabia’s national airline SAUDIA, carried 5.1 million guests in the first quarter of 2022, representing a 75 percent increase in travelers compared to the corresponding quarter last year, the carrier’s performance report showed.SAUDIA operated over 40,000 flights in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 44 percent compared to the first quarter of 2021.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Director-General of the airline Ibrahim al-Omar said that as the momentum for travel continues to grow, SAUDIA will “increase frequencies and introduce new destinations” on their network throughout 2022.“This strategy is especially important in light of the Kingdom’s megaprojects and transformation agenda for the tourism industry, as we continue to serve as the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’ and welcome the world to Saudi Arabia,” al-Omar added.The airline’s fleet of 144 aircraft flew a total of 101,600 hours throughout this period, accounting for a 77 percent increase compared to the first quarter of last year.SAUDIA’s CEO, Captain Ibrahim Koshy, said that the strong travel traffic results represented “the culmination of efforts of the airline’s staff, who have been the driving force behind the airline’s comeback to pre-COVID levels of activity.”“As demand returned, our strong airline business fundamentals have translated into a significant improvement in our performance. This achievement has been made possible by the commitment of our hardworking employees combined with our business agility,” he added.Over the past few months, Saudi Arabia has hosted numerous exciting entertainment and cultural events which have contributed to the surge in the number of guests traveling to the Kingdom.The strong uptick in air travel is an indication that the Kingdom is well on its way to a full recovery from the pandemic period, a statement released by the carrier on Tuesday stated.SAUDIA recently announced several new destinations to its global network in anticipation of a busy summer, including Bangkok, Barcelona, Malaga, Marrakech, Moscow, Seoul, Entebbe, Amsterdam, Chicago, and Mykonos. Additionally, the Kingdom’s national carrier plans to add extra flights and seats where necessary to cater to soaring demand.Read more:Saudi Arabia resumes visa on arrival for US, UK, Schengen valid visa holdersCamel travel insurance introduced in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia increases Hajj pilgrimage capacity to one million
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘Wings of Vision 2030’: SAUDIA airline carried over 5 mln guests in 2022 so far

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has wreaked havoc on both the countries’ economies, causing a ripple effect across Europe and the rest of the world.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In a televised interview with Al Arabiya on Tuesday, Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) research department Petya Koeva Brooks talked about the impact the war has had on Russia and Ukraine’s economies, the international organization’s projections for the upcoming years and its concerns about persistent inflation.Ukraine economic forecast, uncertain future ahead Ukraine’s economy is expected to contract by 35 percent this year, according to Brooks who also anticipated that reconstruction of the war-torn country will be a “multi-year project.”“We have a forecast of this year for the Ukrainian economy to contract by 35 percent. But this is subject to enormous uncertainty. And of course, we all hope that there will be a peaceful resolution to the war,” said Brooks, which would then be followed by discussions about the reconstruction of Ukraine.Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in which it calls a “special operation,” leading to the displacement of millions and the killing of thousands, as the war enters its eighth consecutive week.“The loss of life that we have seen has been mounting, and just the overall devastation, including of critical infrastructure and physical capital, has just been unimaginable,” she added.Brooks said that at this stage in the war, it is still very difficult to make any future economic projections.“[Rebuilding Ukraine] is going to be a multi-year project,” she said.Russia’s future uncertain amid sanctions The IMF’s baseline projections for the war-weary country did not take into account the escalation of sanctions on Russia.“It [the forecast] just assumes that sanctions stay broadly at the level they are [at now] and even with that assumption, we have significant downgrades of growth forecast in Europe,” Brooks said.“In that sort of setting, the growth numbers that we’ve put forward… would be significantly worse than what we’ve put forward so far. And of course, the impact of that on the Russian economy is going to be even larger,” she added.Sanctions imposed by countries that are against the war in Ukraine have crippled Russia’s economy. The West has imposed sanctions on an array of sectors including military goods, aviation, luxury goods, financial institutions, and most importantly, the energy sector.The energy sector has long been one of Russia’s most prominent industries, contributing to around 40 percent of the country’s federal budget reserves and up to 60 percent of its exports in 2019, according to a BBC report released in November last year.Brooks said that further energy sanctions would have a “substantial impact” on the Russian economy, especially when coupled with “much reduced export earnings.”Without these further escalations, the IMF projects a decline in real growth in Russia, but Brooks noted that further sanctions on the country’s energy sector would be “much, much worse.”“In the adverse scenario that we consider the escalation of sanctions do include the energy market, together with further effects through higher commodity prices as well as higher inflation, the cumulative loss in terms of Russian GDP by the end of 2027 is in the order of 15 percent,” said Brooks, adding that it could also contribute to around 3 percent loss in the European Union member states’ overall GDP in 2023.Inflation, global supply shocks With the global supply shock brought on by the Ukraine war and sanctions imposed on Russia, inflation has become a serious cause for global concern. The rise in food and gas prices worldwide has contributed a great deal to the problem at hand especially since inflation has been consistently on the rise before the war due to the COVID-19 pandemic which already had a substantial and damaging impact on the global economy.“With the supply shock of the high commodity prices that we have seen, we have seen even further upward pressure, especially when it comes to food and energy prices. So, in that context, I think the main job of central banks is to tackle that inflation problem, and to make sure that there is no kind of spiral between higher prices and then higher wages and high inflation expectations that then feed back into higher prices [again],” said Brooks.“Ultimately severing that link and making sure that it does not become an even bigger problem is what is going to protect real incomes and make sure that growth proceeds going forward.”The IMF’s upcoming report has taken the persistent inflation issue into consideration.“This is going to be really challenging, especially in an environment of higher commodity prices,” she said. “Our forecasts, which are based on market pricing are for average oil prices to be around 1.6 this year, which is a significant increase relative to last year when that number was $69 per barrel.”She added that ensuring these higher headline inflation numbers “do not spill over into inflation expectations” and that the “silver lining so far is that medium-term inflation expectations have remained reasonably well-anchored in most countries.”Brooks also said, “we are now projecting global growth this year at 3.6 percent, which is a significant downgrade,” especially since the forecasted growth rate of the global economy just a few months earlier stood at 4.4 percent.Read more:Russia urges Ukrainian forces to ‘immediately’ lay down arms in new ultimatumUK not looking to help Russia, minister says on prospect of prisoner swapRussia seeks to ‘liberate’ east Ukraine: Defense minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: IMF representative talks Ukraine economy, Russia sanctions, global inflation

Algiers’ special envoy said his country wants “clarifications” from Spain regarding its recent policy U-turn on the disputed Western Sahara..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Algeria says return of ambassador depends on ‘clarifications’ from Spain