Middle East Experience

“We are in the last meters from forming a government,” Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said Tuesday after a new round of “positive” talks with President Michel Aoun..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Mikati seems upbeat after “positive” Cabinet talks with Aoun

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said he hoped a new Lebanese government would be formed within the next couple days, as efforts to agree one were spurred on by a fuel crisis that has brought much of the country to a standstill and sparked warnings of anarchy..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Momentum gathers on new cabinet as crisis bites deeper in Lebanon

Osama al-Rifai, head of the Turkish-backed Syrian Islamic Council, was criticized by secular opposition figures for his recent remarks about Syrian women.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian Islamist opposition leader slammed for misogynist remarks

International jobseekers are increasingly applying for roles within Saudi Arabia as they look to escape a post-pandemic slump and secure a position in one of the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding sectors, according to analysts.Sectors seeing a surge of interest include property, sales and marketing, healthcare, and consultancy roles for some of the Kingdom’s most ambitious large-scale projects created as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic reform plans.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The plan – put forth by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – aims to diversify the country’s economy and establish millions of new jobs.Several recruitment and HR specialists in the region have told Al Arabiya English they are seeing a surge in interest in roles within the Kingdom from job hunters from the Middle East region and the international market, such as Europe.More people than ever are seeking to land a job in a market they see as both safe and with attractive remuneration as they look to escape a lack of opportunities in the home country amid a global recission following the COVID-19 pandemic.Jagdish Bal, business manager of property and construction at Middle East recruitment specialist Michael Page, told Al Arabiya English that COVID-19 has had a hugely negative influence on the global economy.“It’s been a crisis unlike any other, with businesses and schools closing, borders closing, and half of mankind being put under lockdown in the spring of 2020.”The pandemic, he said, has undoubtedly thrown the global economy into a deep, but thankfully brief, recession.“For example, some countries have not had any lockdowns, but the economy has been harmed because of the neighboring countries and everything coming to a standstill.”“People were afraid of catching COVID-19 at the period, and this dread kept them from going anywhere,” Bal added.He also said the pandemic has led to job hunters eyeing up roles in countries that have bounced back quicker post-pandemic.“Job seekers, candidates, and families from across the Middle East and the world are migrating to Saudi Arabia due to the promising economic opportunities.”“Saudi Arabia has several ambitious development projects in the works aligned with achieving the Vision 2030 in the Kingdom. These developments will not only strengthen the Kingdom’s standing as a global hub but will also improve the quality of life in the country.”“As these initiatives begin to take shape, many applicants are considering relocating to Saudi Arabia, to explore career opportunities in a variety of industries such as property and construction.”Attractive benefitsThere is a variety of reasons on why expats want to relocate to Saudi Arabia, said Bal.“Reasons include financial opportunities. Salaries are tax-free, which is a significant benefit knowing that in many countries, taxes typically amount to 40-50 percent of their income.”“Secondly, working on infrastructure projects like the ones currently underway in Saudi Arabia, will demonstrate to future companies your capacity to work within different cultures and adapting to different ways of doing business”“Living and working in Saudi Arabia is a one-of-a-kind experience as you will get to experience new infrastructure and the application of advanced technologies,” Bal added.Chris Rea, senior manager of technology at Michael Page, has also noted a boost of interest in technology roles in the Kingdom.“We have seen an increase in international candidates that are willing and able to move to Saudi Arabia, in some cases this may even involve leaving the nuclear family in the home country,” he told Al Arabiya English.“This interest has been caused by a range of reasons. Firstly, the number of large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia where a company, concept or even industry are being grown from scratch (E.g., international tourism didn’t exist four years ago).”“A lot of the work is truly interesting for expats to use their experience of creating from scratch but now within a completely new environment.”A promising futurePay and stability are two other factors, he said.“With the expectations and timelines of projects set to continue at pace for the next three to 10 years there is an opportunity to stay in an organization for a significant period and earn well (tax free) to contribute to retirement plans.”Compared to Saudi Arabia, the UAE is relatively built with comparatively fewer projects with shorter timelines, said Rea.“When it comes to jobs in technology, there is a huge opportunity due to the demand for cloud services is increasing in Saudi Arabia, the need for implementation of cybersecurity frameworks and with smart city technology required for real estate projects.”Jamie Gilbert, manager of PMO and strategy at Michael Page, said candidates are increasingly looking at Saudi Arabia for strategy career opportunities, “especially for upfront strategy/build phase consultants.”“Moreover, many of the strategy houses and Big Four consulting firms are reporting that most of their client engagement work is in Saudi Arabia,” Gilbert added. “Therefore, we have candidates already comfortable with the idea of moving to the Kingdom as many of them have been stationed there for some time through their work with consultancies.”Valentin Demande, manager of sales and marketing and of healthcare and life sciences at Michael Page, also agreed that job seekers in the region or internationally are increasingly looking at opportunities in Saudi Arabia since COVID 19 hit.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Indeed, Saudi Arabia offers a lot of growth opportunities from entry level to senior executive roles and across sectors. Moreover, the pandemic has adversely impacted other markets (like Europe and Africa) leading to company-wide restructures and job losses – all these factors are making candidates more open to relocating to Saudi Arabia for the right opportunity.”Read more:Saudization of remote customer service jobs comes into effect in Saudi ArabiaEverything you need to know about Saudi’s Vision 2030 five-year progress: ReportMajority of businesses in the Gulf have recovered from impacts of COVID-19: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: International jobseekers eye roles in Saudi Arabia amidst COVID-19 recession: Analyst

Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Hifter visited Cairo and met with the US ambassador to Libya at a time of heightened tensions between Hifter and the new Libyan government of national unity.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt weighs Hifter's role in Libyan transition

The Afghan Taliban said on Tuesday (August 17) they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Sharia law, as they held their first official news briefing since their shock seizure of Kabul.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Taliban announcements, short on details but suggesting a softer line than during their rule 20 years ago, came as the United States and Western allies evacuated diplomats and civilians the day after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans thronged the airfield.As they rush to evacuate, foreign powers are assessing how to respond to the changed situation on the ground after Afghan forces melted away in just days, with what many had predicted as the likely fast unravelling of women's rights.During their 1996-2001 rule, also guided by Islamic law, or shariah, the Taliban stopped women from working and administered punishments including public stoning. Girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out.Women would be allowed to work and study and "will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam," the movement's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said.Mujahid said the Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government, adding the movement was granting an amnesty for former Afghan government soldiers as well as contractors and translators who worked for international forces.He said private media could continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan and that the Taliban were committed to the media within their cultural framework.He also said families trying to flee the country at the airport should return home and nothing would happen to them.Read more:Taliban takeover shatters dreams of Afghan Paralympic athletes trapped in KabulUS intelligence warned over the summer of Afghan military collapse: ReportUS will redeploy forces in Afghanistan to combat terrorism if necessary: Biden
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Taliban hold first official news conference after Kabul takeover

Egypt seeks more influence in Mali through Al-Azhar, which is organizing a training program for a number of Malian imams in a bid to counter extremism.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt counters Turkey’s influence in Mali via Al-Azhar

The Taliban on Wednesday killed two protesters who were carrying the flag of Afghanistan during demonstrations in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, according to several local media reports.Members of the extremist group opened fire on the crowd who had gathered in the city to protest the Taliban rule over the country, the reports said, adding that dozens were injured. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Local news agency Pajhwok Afghan News shared a video online that showed people carrying the Afghan national flag on the streets of Jalalabad before shots were fired.Several people had also reportedly taken down the Taliban flag which hung in the center of the city earlier, a video circulating on Twitter showed.Journalists on scene were also allegedly beaten for filming the protests, according to local news reports.A day earlier, the Taliban said that families who were trying to flee the country out of fear will not be harmed, during their first public press conference since taking over the capital Kabul.The extremist group’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that the Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government.Mujahid had said that private media could continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan and that the Taliban were committed to the media within their cultural framework.The extremist group would also grant amnesty to former Afghan government soldiers as well as contractors and translators who worked for international forces, Mujahid added.Read more:Taliban hold first official news conference after Kabul takeoverTaliban takeover shatters dreams of Afghan Paralympic athletes trapped in KabulJohnson says UK will try to avert humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Taliban kill two protesters carrying Afghanistan’s flag in Jalalabad: Reports 

Palestinians perceive the Israeli decision to allow them to build 1,000 residential units in Area C with skepticism, as they believe it is designed to mislead the public so as to construct new settlement projects in the West Bank.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli decision to allow Palestinians to build in Area C spurs skepticism

Seventeen people were injured on Wednesday in a stampede at a gate to the airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, a NATO security official said, as Western countries stepped up the evacuation of their diplomats and others.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Afghan civilians seeking to leave after the Taliban seized the capital on Sunday had been told not to gather around the airport unless they had a passport and visa to travel, said the official, who was working at the airport.The official, who declined to be identified, said he had not heard any reports of violence by Taliban fighters outside the airport.The group’s every action in their sudden sweep to power is being watched closely. They insist they have changed and won’t impose the same draconian restrictions they did when they last ruled Afghanistan, all but eliminating women’s rights, carrying out public executions and harboring al-Qaida in the years before the 9/11 attacks.But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and the violent response to Wednesday’s protest could only fuel their fears. Thousands are racing to the airport and borders to flee the country. Many others are hiding inside their homes, fearful after prisons and armories were emptied during the insurgents’ blitz across the country. Read more:Statue of prominent anti-Taliban figure blown up in Afghan city: ResidentsTaliban co-founder Mullah Baradar returns to Afghanistan for first time in 10 yearsTaliban kill two protesters carrying Afghanistan’s flag in Jalalabad: Reports
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: At least 17 injured in stampede near Kabul Airport: NATO Official