Middle East Experience

President Kais Saied is facing a growing wave of opposition from civil society and political actors as he takes new powers and attempts to transform the political system.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Coup fears grow as Tunisian president shores up power

The airline said in a statement when the announcement was made on September 9 that it would be operating two flights per week on the route.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The airline said the move comes as part of the “political, commercial and civil aviation agreements signed last year between the two countries.”Bahrain signed the US-brokered Abraham Accord, agreeing to normalize relations with Israel last year.The Gulf country had named its ambassador to Israel in March and Israel named its first ambassador to Bahrain at the beginning of this month.Bahrain is one of four Arab countries to have normalized relations with Israel alongside the UAE, Sudan and Morocco.Read more: Israel’s foreign minister lands in Bahrain on landmark visitIsrael gears up to take part in Expo 2020 DubaiBahrain’s Gulf Air launches direct flights with Israel’s Tel Aviv on September 30
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Gulf Air begins first commercial flight from Bahrain to Israel

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun on Thursday asked Lazard to continue its financial advisory role in preparation for a resumption of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Aoun made his request while receiving a delegation from the company, a statement on the official presidency Twitter account said.Lebanon is battling a deep economic meltdown that has seen its currency lose around 90 percent of its value in the past year and propelled three quarters of its population into poverty.Lazard is the firm that drafted the original financial recovery plan for Lebanon before IMF talks stalled last year.Aoun stressed during the meeting that the plan should be revised to strengthen Lebanon’s position during the talks as the figures have changed in more than a year.Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Monday he would discuss in a meeting with Lazard how the plan could be developed into a “more realistic” vision for getting the country out of its crisis.In Lazard’s rescue plan, originally drawn up to help the previous government, losses of some $90 bilion in the financial system were identified.But the plan was shot down by objections from the banks, which said it made them foot too much of the bill for the collapse, in addition to opposition from the central bank and the ruling political elite that got Lebanon into its crisis.An agreement over the distribution of the huge losses in the financial system, the main sticking point during last year’s negotiations, is seen as key prior to the resumption of talks with the IMF.Lebanon’s economy minister said on Wednesday the country’s banking sector, central bank and other players in its financial system were working in “harmony” to agree on the size and distribution of losses sustained during the economic crisis.Read more: In apparent reference to Hezbollah, UN calls on Lebanon to commit to disassociationLebanon in danger of complete blackout within one week: State electricity companyJordan has asked US to help Lebanon overcome its crises
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon’s Aoun asked Lazard to continue advisory role ahead of IMF talks

Iran will hold a military exercise on Friday near the border with Azerbaijan, the Iranian army announced on Thursday, amid tensions between the two countries over drills.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The exercise will be held “with the aim of improving combat readiness” in northwest Iran, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heydari, commander of the army’s ground forces, as saying.The drill is dubbed “Conquerors of Khaybar” in reference to the battle of Khaybar, fought in 628 CE between Muslims and Jews. Iran has been wary of Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel, a major supplier of arms to Baku.The announcement comes after Azeri President Ilham Aliyev earlier this week criticised Iran for holding military drills near his country’s borders.‘Why now? Why on our border?’“Every country can carry out any military drill on its own territory. It’s their sovereign right. But why now, and why on our border?” Aliyev said in an interview published Monday with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.“Why weren’t the drills held when the Armenians were in the Jabrayil, Fizuli and Zangilan regions? Why is this being done after we liberated these lands, after 30 years of occupation?” he added.Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday the drills near the border with Azerbaijan were a “question of sovereignty,” adding that Tehran “will not tolerate the presence of the Zionist regime” near its borders – a reference to Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel.Iran and Azerbaijan share a border of around 700 kilometers (430 miles).Iran also has a large ethnic Azeri population, the majority of whom live in its northwestern regions. They make up Iran’s largest minority group.Read more:Iran says military exercises near Azeri border an issue of ‘sovereignty’Azerbaijani territories under Armenian control must be ‘liberated’: Iran’s Khamenei
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran to hold military drill near border with Azerbaijan amid Tehran-Baku tensions

The Cabinet Wednesday formed a ministerial team to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund, a key demand of donors, in a positive signal to the international community about the new government’s intention to press on with the talks with the IMF on a bailout package..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon forms team to negotiate with IMF on rescue package

It is the first such trip since the two countries established diplomatic relations last year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel foreign minister makes historic visit to Bahrain

The unemployment rate of the total working age population (Saudis and non- Saudis aged 15 years and above) decreased to 6.6 percent in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 9 percent during the second quarter of 2020, as per latest Labor Force Survey in Saudi Arabia.Moreover, the total unemployment rate among Saudi nationals (males and females 15 years and above), decreased to 11.3 percent in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 11.7 percent during the first quarter of 2021, reaching the lowest level during the last 10 years.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.These latest figures were revealed by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) when it released on Thursday the “Labor market statistics Q2, 2021”, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).Two main sourcesThe labor market statistics are based on two main sources. The first source is the Labor Force Survey (LFS), a sample household survey that is conducted by GASTAT. Information is collected by calling an updated sample of households over the phone. The survey provides estimates of the population inside and outside the labor force. It also provides the most important indicators of the labor market, such as the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate.The second source is administrative data from the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development, National Information Center, General Organization for Social Insurance, among others.The unemployment rate of Saudi males decreased to 6.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 7.2 percent in the first quarter of 2021, while the unemployment rate of Saudi females was 22.3 percent during the second quarter of 2021.The results of the survey also showed that the labor force participation rate of the total working age population (Saudis and non-Saudis aged 15 years and above) reached 60.8 percent during the second quarter of 2021, compared to 61.1 percent in the first quarter of 2021.Furthermore, the results indicated that the labor force participation rate of the total male working age population in the second quarter of 2021 reached 79.2 percent.The labor force participation rate of the total female working age population increased during the second quarter of 2021 to reach 33.8 percent, compared to 33.6 percent in the first quarter of 2021.Saudi Arabia has been pushing through economic reforms since 2016 to create millions of jobs and aims to reduce unemployment to 7 percent by 2030, but those plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that sent oil prices plummeting, according to Reuters.Ratings agency S&P Globl Ratings said this week it expects growth to average 2.4 percent between 2021 and 2024.Read more:Saudi Arabia holds meeting to discuss current, future investments in smart citiesSaudi Arabia has conducted more than 28 mln COVID-19 tests to date: SPASaudi central bank extends deferred payment stimulus program by three months
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi unemployment decreases marginally to 11.3 pct in second quarter

The European Union is preparing to open a mission in Doha next year, the Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell told a presser in the Gulf state on Thursday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: EU to open mission in Doha next year: official – Doha News | Qatar

Over 83.9 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE: 34,365 Covid vaccine doses administered in 24 hours

The Saudi government expects a 2022 revenue of $240.8 billion, with the Kingdom’s budget deficit forecast to fall to $13.9 billion, Al Arabiya reported.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia’s finance ministry expects the economy to grow by 7.5 percent in 2022.This year’s budget deficit is approximately $22.6 billion, less than the predicted $37.6 billion.By 2023, the government expects the deficit to be eliminated and turn into a surplus of $7.2 billion, rising to $11.2 billion the following year.The kingdom forecasts total spending of around $255 billion next year, down from an estimated total expenditure of around 1 trillion riyals this year, it said.With ReutersRead more: US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK voice concern over Yemen economyGulf rebound seen as Saudi Arabia, UAE to top 4pct growth in 2022: Reuters surveySaudi economy grows of 1.5 pct in second quarter 2021, shows recovery from pandemic
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi government expects budget deficit to shift to surplus in 2023