Middle East Experience

President Donald Trump refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday, promising to legally challenge the outcome of the 2020 election and saying "this election is far from over.""We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over," Trump said in a statement.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Trump was at his Virginia golf course when the presidential race was called for Biden on Saturday. Biden clinched his victory with a win in Pennsylvania, the state where he was born.In recent weeks, Trump has alleged — without evidence — widespread fraud and misconduct in the election."Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor," he added."Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election."Trump accused the Biden campaign of wanting ballots counted "even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters.""Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access. So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands."- With APRead more:Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump, becomes 46th president of United States
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Trump doesn't concede to President-elect Biden, says election 'far from over'

Why do we keep mistaking data for knowledge?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Opinion | The Human Experience Will Not Be Quantified

The first Israeli politician to congratulate Biden was Yair Lapid, who said "I look forward to working with the new administration and members of both parties in Congress."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli officials praise Biden's projected win, Netanyahu yet to comment

"Harris has the ability to unify the Democratic coalition across racial and generational lines"
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Kamala Harris breaks barriers as America's next vice president

The US State Department gave Congress notification it plans to sell 18 sophisticated armed MQ-9B aerial drones to the United Arab Emirates in a deal worth as much as $2.9 billion, people briefed on the notification said.The move comes on the heels of last week’s notification of a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the middle-eastern country.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.This would mark the first armed drone export since the Trump administration reinterpreted a Cold War-era arms agreement between 34 nations to allow US defense contractors to sell more drones to allies.Reuters has reported that UAE has long shown interest in purchasing drones from the United States and would be among the first customers in line after US export policy changed this summer. A $600 million deal to sell four unarmed but weapons-ready MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan was the first to be formally notified to Congress on Tuesday.This informal notification for the Reaper-style drones is the precursor to the State Department’s formal and public notification.The US Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees have the ability to review and block weapons sales under an informal review process before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislative branch.The US State Department may wait to formally notify Congress of the sale once staff and members are briefed on the potential sale, one of the people said. The formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales.A US State Department spokesman told Reuters, “As a matter of policy, the United States does not confirm or comment on proposed defense sales or transfers until they are formally notified to Congress.”The armed MQ-9B drones will also be equipped with maritime radar and could be delivered in 2024. The package notified to Congress is for 15 with an option for three additional drones, one of the people said.The UAE is also seeking a package of Boeing EA-18G Growlers, an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, that are capable of jamming radar and other advanced capabilities. Growlers are operated buy the US and Australia.The United Arab Emirates, one of Washington’s closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal made when they agreed to normalize relations with Israel. The informal notification for 50 Lockheed Martin F-35 jets was made on Oct. 29.But any deal the US makes to sell weapons in the region must satisfy decades of agreement with Israel where the US-made weapon must not impair Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” guaranteeing US weapons furnished to Israel are “superior in capability” to those sold to its neighbors.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE to buy sophisticated armed drones from US: Reuters

The UN refugee agency said the 58-year-old man was hospitalized and is receiving the necessary care.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian refugee in Lebanon sets himself on fire

An agreement between rival Libyan military representatives this week made no mention of the UN-backed cease-fire's demand that foreign mercenaries leave by January
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Departure of foreign forces from Libya in question ahead of political talks in Tunis

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development on Thursday announced the conditions under which expatriate workers in the Kingdom can benefit from the new job mobility reforms that aim to improve the kafala sponsorship system.Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced plans to ease foreign workers’ contractual restrictions, which will take effect in March 2021.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The new plans grant foreign workers the right to change jobs and leave the country without employers’ permission.To benefit from the new reforms, the expatriate worker must have completed one year with their current employer from when they first entered the Kingdom, the ministry said in a statement.The worker must also have a notarized work contract. To receive approval to change jobs, the new employer must submit the job offer through the ministry’s Qiwa website. A notification will then be sent to the worker’s current employer requesting a transfer of services and stating a notice period, according to the ministry.The new employer must ensure that their place of work meets the requirements of obtaining visas under Saudi Arabia’s current regulations. The new employer must comply with the wage protection program, the documenting and digitizing program and the self-evaluation program. The visa transfer fee will not include any additional charges and will not affect the status of issued visas, the ministry said.The ministry also announced that workers will be eligible for a visa transfer without meeting any of the above-mentioned requirements if they fall under these conditions:-If their current employer approves the transfer.-If their current employer does not provide them with a notarized work contract three months after they first entered Saudi Arabia.-If their current employer has not paid their wages for three consecutive months.-If their current employer is absent due to travel, imprisonment, death, or other reasons.-If the worker’s job permit or residency permit (iqama) expired. -If the worker lodges a complaint about their employer’s involvement in a commercial cover-up.-If the worker lodges a complaint about their employer’s involvement in human trafficking.-If the current employer or their representative fails to attend two sessions of litigation during a legal dispute with the worker. The new reforms come as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy and attract high-skilled workers to the country.Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Group of 20 major economies (G20) this year, is also seeking to boost its private sector.Read more:Saudi Arabia to ease foreign workers’ restrictions under kafala system in March 2021Saudi ministry clarifies after report on pending decision to abolish kafala systemSaudi Arabia set to abolish sponsorship system soon: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia announces conditions for new labor reforms set to improve kafala system 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers for Donald Trump to stay in the White House, but will also know how to operate vis-a-vis his old acquaintance Joe Biden.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Is Netanyahu ready for Biden?

Recurring incidents of Kuwaiti citizens assaulting Egyptian workers and Egyptian social media posts that went viral have stirred tensions between the two countries.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egyptian government fires official who insulted Kuwait to avoid diplomatic crisis