Middle East Experience

In a dramatic development within the Fatah movement, its members in Gaza announced their resignation in protest against the policy of marginalization and exclusion by President Mahmoud Abbas.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Marginalization leads Fatah in Gaza to stage coup against Abbas

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has launched the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to upgrade all services and means of transport, according to Saudi Press Agency SPA.The Crown Prince added that the strategy would enable Saudi Arabia to invest its geographical position in the middle of the three continents in diversifying its economy.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He added that the strategy also relies on effective governance models to enhance institutional work in the transport and logistics system.“The strategy focuses on developing infrastructure and launching several platforms and logistic areas in the Kingdom, the logistics sector is a major axis in the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and a vital sector that enables economic sectors to achieve sustainable development,” the Crown Prince added.The strategy aims to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center, improve the quality of life in Saudi cities, achieve balance in the public budget, and improve the performance of the government apparatus.The Crown Prince added that the strategy also aims to advance the Kingdom to become the fifth globally in air transit traffic, increase destinations for more than 250 international destinations, in addition to launching a new national carrier and adding new capabilities in the air freight sector that raise its capacity to more than 4.5 million tons.The strategy aims to reach a capacity of more than 40 million containers annually and aims to improve the Kingdom’s logistic performance index to be among the top ten countries in the world.The Crown Prince added that the strategy aims to achieve interconnection with the Arab Gulf states by a railway line.The strategy also seeks to achieve multiple goals in terms of sustainability and preservation of the environment along with a reduction in fuel consumption by 25 percent.The strategy will contribute to increasing the contribution of the transport and logistics sector in the national GDP to 10 percent and will also contribute to increasing the non-oil revenues that the sector pumps to the state’s general budget by about 45 billion riyals annually in 2030.Read more:US, France, Saudi Arabia push jointly for Lebanon action on the sidelines of G20Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal, US Secretary Blinken meet in Italy for G20
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince launches National Transport and Logistics Strategy

Unemployment among Saudi citizens dropped to 11.7 percent in the first quarter of this year from 12.6 percent at the end of 2020, official data showed on Wednesday, as the economy of the world’s biggest oil exporter picked up after a sharp contraction last year.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 coronavirus crisis that sent oil prices plummeting.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Unemployment hit a record high of 15.4 percent in the second quarter last year.“In the first quarter of 2021, the overall Saudi unemployment rate decreased to 11.7 percent compared to 12.6 percent in the last quarter of 2020, reaching a level below pre-pandemic,” the General Authority for Statistics said on Wednesday.The Saudi economy is expected to grow 2.1 percent this year after shrinking by 4.1 percent in 2020, the International Monetary Fund has said.In the first quarter, real gross domestic product shrank 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter mainly because of a drop in the oil sector, reflecting the kingdom’s voluntary oil output cuts.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The non-oil economy grew by 4.9 percent compared with the last three months of last year, driven by a 6.3 percent private sector expansion.Recent data suggest economic activity picked up further in the second quarter, London-based Capital Economic said this week, estimating a 3.5 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in Q2.“Saudi Arabia’s economic recovery seems to have got back on track in Q2 and, as virus restrictions are eased further and oil production cuts are scaled back, a strong second half of the year lies in store,” it said.Read more: Saudi minister says 1000 companies have been established in the entertainment sectorSaudi Arabia net foreign assets drop 1.9 percent to $436 bln in AprilCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: No plans for income tax in Saudi Arabia at all
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s unemployment level drops to pre-pandemic levels in Q1

Saudi Arabia has foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 4.5 million captagon pills hidden in a shipment of oranges, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority announced on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In collaboration with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, the shipment was seized in the Jeddah Islamic Port after it underwent routine and X-ray searches in accordance with customs procedures, authorities said in a statement.Authorities also said those were scheduled to receive the shipment were arrested in the Kingdom.The statement did not mention the origin of the drugs, however, Saudi Arabia had previously banned imports of Lebanese produce in April citing increased attempts to smuggle drugs from that country..Saudi authorities announced on Saturday the seizure of 14.4 million amphetamine pills from Lebanon, hidden in shipment of iron plates. In April, they said they discovered 5.3 million such pills hidden in pomegranate shipments from Lebanon.With ReutersRead more: Saudi Arabia foils two attempts to smuggle 306 kgs of hashishSaudi Arabia seizes over 14 mln Captagon amphetamine pills coming from LebanonHezbollah behind shipment of seized Captagon in Saudi Arabia: Independent Persian
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia foils attempt to smuggle 4.5 mln captagon pills hidden in oranges

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has spoken boldly of correcting "mistakes" between the United States and Israel.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Lapid calls shots as new Israeli government shapes foreign policy

An official from an Iran-backed militia in Iraq accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of allowing the United States to launch bombing runs from Erbil.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraqi Kurdistan government denies letting US bomb Iran-backed militia

The additional airline would help position the Gulf state as a global logistics hub, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Saudi Arabia plans second national airline in tourism push

Lebanon registered 161 new coronavirus cases and three deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry reported Wednesday, while the proportion of the population fully vaccinated reached 10 percent..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon's virus cases plateau, 10 pct fully vaccinated

Since her arrest in February, Entisar Al-Hammadi has been accused of committing an indecent act and drug possession.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Human Rights Watch speaks out for Yemeni model in Houthi custody

Iran's vaccine rollout has been marked by delays as the virus continues to spread rapidly across the country.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran approves second Iranian-made COVID-19 vaccine