Middle East Experience

Bahrain’s foreign ministry has denounced Lebanon for hosting a press conference for individuals it described as “hostile personnel” on terror lists with the purpose of “broadcasting and promoting abusive and malicious allegations against the Kingdom of Bahrain.”“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep regret and denunciation that the Lebanese capital Beirut hosted a press conference for hostile personnel designated on supporting and sponsoring terrorism lists, with the purpose of broadcasting and promoting abusive and malicious allegations against the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the ministry said in a statement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Bahrain’s foreign ministry said it had submitted a “strong formal protest” to the Lebanese government regarding the recent move.The Ministry added that an official note verbale of protest was sent to the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in this regard, containing the Kingdom of Bahrain's denunciation of this unfriendly step by the Lebanese side. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Lebanese government to prevent such reprehensible practices that aim to offend the Kingdom of Bahrain, and are inconsistent with the most basic diplomatic norms and the brotherly relations between the two people,” the ministry added.In October, Bahrain asked the Lebanese ambassador to its kingdom to leave within the next 48 hours, against the background of a series of unacceptable and offensive statements and stances issued by Lebanese officials recently.Read more:Bahrain asks Lebanese ambassador to leave the country within 48 hoursLebanon says it wants dialogue with Saudi Arabia, not demands about HezbollahLebanon needs to show that Hezbollah can change behavior: Bahrain FM
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Bahrain condemns Beirut hosting press conference for ‘hostile personnel’

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and his first Formula One title with a last lap overtake on Sunday to deny championship rival Lewis Hamilton a record eighth crown in a race full of controversy.Hamilton’s Mercedes team won the constructors’ title for an unprecedented eighth successive year but Verstappen, 24, made sure it was not another double.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The season-ending race started and ended with an argument – tears of joy on one side and rage on the other, Mercedes furious with race director Michael Masi as the drivers’ title disappeared so close to the checkered flag.Red Bull had said they needed a miracle to win as Hamilton headed towards the title and a late safety car intervention provided just that opportunity.With one racing lap to the finish and the Dutch driver on fresher tires, Verstappen hunted down Hamilton and made the move.“It’s insane,” said the first Dutch world champion who had started the day on pole position and level on points with Hamilton and whose hopes sank and rose as the stewards intervened.“This is unbelievable guys! Can we do this for another 10-15 years together,” he had said over the radio.“We needed a bit of luck and we got it,” said team boss Christian Horner.Verstappen ended the season with 10 wins to Hamilton’s eight, having also led more laps and taken more poles and podiums.Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished the race in third place.Read more:Verstappen beats Hamilton to pole in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix deciderLewis Hamilton wins wild Saudi GP to level with VerstappenSaudi Crown Prince attends inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win the Formula One world championship

"In a hot country like this, with coronavirus and health issues, it’s not really possible to have customers drink from other kinds of cups. They need to have something which is single-use."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Utensil tax was wrong, say researchers, business owners, plastic makers

The religious services minister is reluctant to advance the Western Wall agreement due to political weaponization by the opposition, clarifying that he does not have authority over the issue.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Kahana wary over implementing Western Wall agreement

Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar wants a candidate who will agree to a historic breaking apart of the attorney general position into two separate roles: a chief legal adviser and a chief prosecutor.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Selection panel progresses toward picking next attorney general

Iran’s IRGC has immense power and sway in Iran’s strategy and also its development of new weapon systems.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran IRGC foresees advances in missiles, drones - analysis

The upcoming GCC summit set to be held in Riyadh will discuss several issues especially regional security, according to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.The foreign minister’s statement came at the end of a press conference in Riyadh after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the presence of their Egyptian counterpart.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.GCC Secretary General Nayef al-Hajraf told reporters on Sunday that there are continuing consultations between the Gulf states and Egypt to enhance the stability of the region and the world.Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman set off on a tour of fellow Gulf Arab states last Monday ahead of a Gulf summit set to be held mid-December in Riyadh.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: GCC summit will discuss several issues, especially regional security: Saudi FM

Israel’s Tourism Ministry worked to pour in a lot of money and effort into making this production high quality. But for the government, there’s another focus as well.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Miss Universe: Who will take home the crown from Eilat?

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund plans to invest up to 1 trillion riyals ($266.57 billion) in the domestic economy by 2025, Yasir al-Rumayyan, the sovereign wealth fund’s governor said on Monday.He was speaking at a forum in Riyadh following Saudi Arabia’s announcement of its 2022 budget.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it expected to post its first budget surplus in nearly a decade next year, as it plans to restrict public spending despite a surge in oil prices that helped to refill state coffers hammered by the pandemic.After an expected fiscal deficit of 2.7 percent of gross domestic product this year, Riyadh estimates it will achieve a surplus of 90 billion riyals ($23.99 billion), or 2.5 percent of GDP, next year - its first surplus since it went into a deficit after oil prices crashed in 2014.“The surpluses will be used to increase government reserves, to meet the coronavirus pandemic needs, strengthen the kingdom’s financial position, and raise its capabilities to face global shocks and crises,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was quoted as saying by Saudi state press agency SPA.Read more:Saudi Crown Prince: 2022 budget supports post-pandemic, Vision 2030 goalsSaudi Arabia approves 2022 budget, first without deficit in nearly a decadeBreakdown of Saudi Arabia’s 2022 budget in numbersSaudi Arabia posts budget surplus of over $1.7 billion in Q3: Finance ministry
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: PIF to invest up to 1 trillion riyals in Saudi Arabia by 2025

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday the first patient had died after contracting the omicron variant of the coronavirus, Sky news reported.Britain said on Monday that the Omicron coronavirus variant was spreading at a “phenomenal rate” and now accounted for about 40 percent of infections in London, so people should get a booster shot because the double-vaccinated are still vulnerable.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions and told the nation on Sunday that a “tidal wave” of Omicron was coming.Britain says that unless action is taken there could be a million people infected with Omicron by the end of the month.“It’s spreading at a phenomenal rate, something that we’ve never seen before, it’s doubling every two to three days in infections,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News.“That means we’re facing a tidal wave of infection, we’re once again in a race between the vaccine and the virus.”Read more:Boris Johnson: UK faces ‘tidal wave’ of omicron cases, two doses not enoughIsraeli study finds Pfizer COVID-19 booster protects against OmicronTwo weeks into the Omicron outbreak: Where to from here?Omicron may pose higher reinfection risk but could be milder than Delta: WHO
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: First UK patient has died from omicron variant