Middle East Experience

IMF team leader said “strong upfront actions will be necessary to start turning the economy around and rebuilding confidence.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: IMF says more work needed for Lebanon aid programme

Bahrain’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that what was circulated in some foreign media about appointing an Israeli officer in Manama, comes within the frame work of arrangements related to an international coalition of more than 34 countries.According to a statement carried by the Bahraini foreign ministry, the coalition’s tasks include securing freedom of navigation in territorial waters of the region, protect international trade, and confront acts of piracy and terrorism in the region.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.On February 2, Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz landed in Bahrain, the latest high-profile diplomatic trip since the countries normalized ties, his office said.Gantz, who is the first Israeli defense minister to ever officially visit the Gulf country, traveled with several top military and security officials, including navy chief Admiral David Saar Salama.In November 2019, the US-led naval coalition in the Gulf, established in response to a series of attacks on oil tankers, opened a command center in Bahrain, the US Fifth Fleet said in a statement. This coalition is known as the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC).The United States blamed the attacks on Iran. Tehran denied the accusations.With agenciesRead more:US-led naval coalition opens command center in Bahrain to protect oil tankersIsrael defense minister on first-ever visit to BahrainAn international coalition against the terrorism of Houthis is a must
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israeli officer stationed in Manama part of intl coalition: Foreign ministry

Baghdad can’t rebuild its infrastructure and agricultural sector when its land remains littered with thousands of explosive devices..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In Iraq, the Bitter Legacy of War Still Lies Hidden Underground

A senior State Department official said the Biden administration would continue diplomatic efforts to "ensure that Ukraine does not become a war zone."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US pulls out most staff from Ukraine embassy over fears of Russian invasion

Tension has mounted as Russia has built up more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine and carried out large-scale exercises.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Thousands march in Kyiv to show unity against Russian threat

Qatar Charity picks up where previous projects left, delivering a resourceful initiative which benefits Syrian farmers, manual workers and families alike. Qatar Charity is preparing two plantations in Aleppo, Syria, for the second year in a row, for the propagation of wheat in a sustainable manner that will benefit Syrian livelihoods. The “Wheat Value Chain Support ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar Charity provides Syrians with livelihoods from sowing seeds to bread distribution

Russia's defense ministry summoned the US military attache on Saturday after complaining of an incident in which it said a US submarine violated its territorial waters
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russia says US submarine violated its waters in far east

UK Jews told MK Bezalel Smotrich to leave the UK during his trip to Europe to get support against the Knesset's religious reforms.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UK Jews were wrong to ban Smotrich - editorial

The frozen funding combined with sanctions and a drop off in development funding have sent the country's economy into freefall.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Afghan central bank says US plan for frozen funds an 'injustice'

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has transferred four percent of Saudi Aramco to the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the government said on Sunday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Crown Prince said the state remains the largest shareholder in Saudi Aramco after the transfer process, as it retains more than 94 percent of the company’s shares.A 4 percent stake would be worth nearly $80 billion, based on the company’s market capitalization.The transfer of existing shares would help to boost PIF’s assets under management, which are targeted to grow to about 4 trillion riyals ($1.07 trillion) by the end of 2025, the Crown Prince said in a statement.Saudi Aramco said in a statement the transfer was a private transaction between the government and the state fund. “The company is not a party to the transfer and did not enter into any agreements or pay or receive any proceeds from that transfer,” it said.It said the move would not affect the number of issued shares or the company’s operations, strategy, dividends distribution policy or governance framework. It added that the shares transferred would rank equally among other existing ordinary shares.Saudi officials had previously raised the possibility of Aramco share sales. The PIF did not comment.The head of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund Yasir al-Rumayyan said last year that Saudi Aramco may consider selling more shares if market conditions are right.The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the kingdom is planning to list more shares in Aramco and is targeting a stake sale of as much as $50 billion.Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, completed the world’s largest initial public offering in late 2019, raising $29.4 billion.The proceeds of that offer were transferred to the PIF, the Crown Prince’s vehicle of choice to transform the Saudi economy and diversify away from oil revenues.Read more: Saudi Aramco seals long-term partnership with F1’s Aston Martin teamSaudi Aramco mulls up to $50 bln stake sale via fresh share listing: WSJSaudi Aramco to establish presence in China to focus on non-metals in construction
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia transfers 4 percent of Aramco shares to sovereign wealth fund