Middle East Experience

Jose Tomas Zambrano says Honduras could move its embassy back to Tel Aviv.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Honduran embassy in Jerusalem ‘at real risk,' says MP

The war in Ukraine has killed 121 children so far, the office of the prosecutor general said on Wednesday in a message on the Telegram app, adding that the number of wounded children stood at 167.Reuters could not immediately verify the details.Read more: At least 112 children die in Russia’s war with Ukraine: Prosecutor generalUAE offers civilian assistance amid Russia invasion of Ukraine: Foreign ministerRussia used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine: Defense ministry
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine prosecutor’s office says 121 children killed in war

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced five leading Saudi businesses have signed memoranda of understanding to become its first potential partners of the Middle East and North Africa regional Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), the wealth fund said in a statement released late Tuesday.Saudi Aramco, SAUDIA airlines, ACWA Power, mining and metals company Ma’aden, and ENOWA (a subsidiary of NEOM) were the five companies that signed agreements with PIF.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The VCM aims to connect the supply of carbon credits with demand from investors and institutions wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by offsetting the emissions they generate.Carbon credits are a mechanism used to reduce greenhouse gas or carbon emissions. They act as a permit to enable the owner of the credit to emit a certain amount of emissions. One credit allows the emission of one ton of carbon dioxide or the equivalent in other greenhouse gases.The carbon credit works as a “cap-and-trade” model – a common term for a government regulatory program designed to cap or limit the total level of emissions – so when companies pollute, they are given credits, it allows them to continue polluting but only up to a certain limit. That limit is then reduced periodically and during this time, the company can sell any unneeded credits to another company that needs them.As part of the agreements, the partners will aim to support PIF in the development of the VCM through supply, purchase and trading of carbon credits as the market is expected to be established in 2023, the statement read, adding that additional partners will be announced in the coming months ahead of an initial round of auctions expected in the fourth quarter of 2022.“We would like to thank our Partners for their commitment to the Voluntary Carbon Market, the first of its kind in the MENA region. The support of Saudi businesses, which are world leaders in their fields, is a strong demonstration of the exciting potential of this market,” said PIF Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan.“PIF contributes to Saudi Arabia’s efforts through driving the investment and innovation required to address the impact of climate change and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060,” al-Rumayyan added.The internal decarbonization targets of private companies will also remain a priority, PIF said, adding that the VCM can effectively complement these efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.The move comes following the announcement of the VCM initiative by PIF and Tadawul in September 2021 where the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and PIF Chairman, stated Saudi Arabia’s role in contributing to the reduction of the impact of climate change as part of several initiatives that were launched.Earlier this year during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, the Crown Prince also announced Saudi Arabia’s aim to achieve net-zero emission by 2060 through the Carbon Circular Economy approach, which is in line with the Kingdom’s development plans in the way that it enables economic diversification.Also in line with Vision 2030, such initiatives contribute to the development of the Kingdom’s green economy, create more jobs and open up new avenues for investments in the private sector.PIF also published its Green Finance Framework through which it set out a number of initiatives to help it achieve its goal to be a leader in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), including the establishment of a VCM.Read more:Masterplan revealed for new planned city in Saudi ArabiaCatalyze Saudi: MISA, Jada partner to bolster Saudi Arabia’s start-up ecosystemSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince launches new strategy for National Development Fund
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi’s PIF signs 5 agreements in push to establish MENA voluntary carbon market

The United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a federal law allowing the use of foreign reserves and international debt instruments to maintain balance in the UAE’s 2022 general budget, the finance ministry said on Wednesday on Twitter.Read more:UAE-India logistics corridor to boost bilateral trade suggested at Dubai meetingDubai Airports announces 45-day runway closure at DXB, some flights redirected to DWCDubai firm Cypher Capital says launches $100 mln digital asset fund
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE President issues law to maintain balance in 2022 general budget: Finance ministry

MBC Group’s video-on-demand streaming service Shahid will now feature WWE content for viewers in the Middle East, making Saudi Arabia its new regional home, a statement released on Wednesday revealed.The new partnership will ensure that all WWE premium live events are available to subscribers, kicking off with WrestleMania 38 on April 3 and 4, live episodes of Raw and SmackDown and the WWE Network’s vast library of original programing and archived content.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“It’s no secret that WWE is massively popular in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the MENA region,” said Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Shahid Natasha Hemingway.“This new partnership is sure to be incredibly exciting for fans, and with more and more live sporting events – including WWE – coming to the Kingdom, we cannot wait to see where this partnership takes us. We’re delighted that Shahid will be the home of WWE!” MBC Action, a free-to-air TV channel by MBC Group, will also broadcast one-hour highlight versions of SmackDown and Raw on a weekly basis as well as WWE magazine shows Afterburn and Main Event.Set to be broadcast 52 weeks a year, starting March 26, Shahid will air SmackDown live on Saturdays at 4:00 a.m. KSA in Arabic, with a one-hour version of SmackDown airing the same-day in English but with Arabic subtitles on MBC Action at 9:00 p.m. KSA. Shahid will also air Raw live on Tuesdays on the streaming platform and MBC Action at the same show times.Shahid will also launch a dedicated WWE channel making the entire WWE Network archive – which consists of over 10,000 hours of content – available to subscribers to stream them on-demand.Read more:Snapchat to feature exclusive MBC, Al Arabiya news content, Ramadan specialsMBC Group’s Ramadan 2022 line-up showcased at exclusive Riyadh eventRiyadh Season: MBC, Saudi Arabia’s GEA to debut ‘Boulevard al-Mawaheb’ talent show
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: MBC Group’s Shahid, MBC Action to stream WWE content

The grant, offered by the US State Department, has raised concerns for the potential of abuse by organizations to act against Israel within the frameworks of BDS and international law tribunals.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US offering million to report on Israeli human rights violations

"These innocent citizens, haven’t done anything wrong – and were murdered just because they are Jews," said Beersheba's mayor.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Victims of Beersheba terror attack brought to burial

The Labor Party will be holding an online convention on Thursday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Conflict in Labor as Michaeli aims to solidify control

A kol koreh (declaration) to prevent child abuse not being reported was originally opened in 2015.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Orthodox petition urging people to report child abuse reopens for more signatures

Saudi foreign ministry said the two diplomats had discussed “bilateral relations to serve the interests of the two countries.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hopes of new chapter as Turkey, Saudi Arabia agree to improve ties