Middle East Experience

According to reports, 42 workers are in line to be laid off by the channel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Channel 13 continues round of layoffs amid financial crisis

Egypt’s oldest automotive manufacturing company has signed a deal with China’s Dongfeng Motor to produce electric cars for the first time in the country.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Chinese automaker to produce electric cars in Egypt

Iran has not placed the blame for a series of explosions targeting its missile and nuclear program, but says it knows who is behind them.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: A new direction in Israel's war-between-wars campaign?

Kuwaiti hate preacher and author Hakem al-Mutairi tells former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi of his plans to launch a media campaign against the leaders of the Arabian Gulf in the latest audio recording leaked by Qatari opposition activist Khalid al-Hail.Al-Mutairi is the leader of the Kuwaiti Ummah Party, an unrecognized political party with conservative and extremist views. He was previously a founding member of Kuwait’s Salafi movement and is critical of the US and Saudi Arabia.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In the undated recording, al-Mutairi tells Gaddafi that he plans to overthrow the ruling families in the Arabian Gulf “either by elevating the awareness by the people in the region toward the reform project or the need for change or to prepare the spirit of revolution.”“So we have Al Uma satellite channel and we have announced its goals. The royal families there, as they have controlled the wealth and power, they have also controlled the media. They have drowned us with channels that have glorified them and counts their praises day and night,” al-Mutairi is heard saying before he goes on to ask the Libyan dictator for support.Read more:I will expose the Qatar regime, ‘terrorists’ in more audio leaks: Opposition activistKuwait to investigate leaked audio of Libya’s Gaddafi and hate preacher al-MutairiGaddafi then replies to al-Hakem and says, “We are ready. We want to direct your attention to a certain topic. I met Dr. Madawi al-Rasheed once, and I directed their attention and I will direct your attention as well you can consider this a step toward constitutional monarchy. Let us assume these families were ahead of us and cut the road ahead of them and said we are a constitutional monarchy.”The new recording, which Al Arabiya English could not independently verify, is one of dozens of recordings that have been leaked in recent weeks, reportedly secretly made by the former Libyan dictator.Last week, al-Hail had released a recording of Gaddafi and al-Mutairi in which the two are heard discussing plans to overthrow the leaders of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.“We are facing a problem in changing these governments… If we cannot overthrow them, then reduce [their power] so that they have the same status as those in Britain, the families that do not rule, because they do not deserve to rule,” al-Mutairi said referring to the ruling families in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Al-Hail has released dozens of audio leaks of undated conversations that also involve Qatar’s former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, and the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.The recordings, which al-Hail says he has exclusively, have brought attention to what seem to be Qatar’s plots against the rulers of neighboring countries and ties with Gaddafi’s revolutionary Libyan regime.Qatar has not denied the authenticity of the recordings.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Kuwaiti preacher, Gaddafi planned media campaign against Gulf leaders: Audio leak

2,000 job cuts are likely at the airline, as well as salary reductions to pilots, according to Avi Edri, chairperson of the transport workers union at the Histadrut labor federation..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel's El Al to become leaner after government bailout

After conducting over 44,000 COVID-19 tests, the United Arab Emirates recorded 532 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced.This brings the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 52,600.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Two people died of due to complications caused by COVID-19 in the UAE, bringing the total number of virus-related deaths in the country to 326.Meanwhile the number of recoveries rose to 41,714 after 993 people recovered.The UAE on Tuesday began welcoming tourists for the first time in months as the country loosens restrictions as part of its plans to reopen and reignite the economy.The Dubai World Trade Centre, which was converted into a field hospital in April to treat coronavirus patients, shut its doors after the last COVID-19 patient recovered from the virus, the UAE announced on Tuesday.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai World Trade Centre closes after last COVID-19 patient recoversCoronavirus: UAE plans to conduct 2 mln COVID-19 tests in next two months
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE records 532 new COVID-19 cases after conducting over 44,000 tests

The Foreign Ministry appointed Ishmael Khaldi as Israel’s first Beduin ambassador on Sunday, to represent the country in Eritrea.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Foreign Ministry appoints Israel’s first-ever Bedouin ambassador

Israel’s flag carrier El Al and the government reached a bailout plan, which would mean huge layoffs and sizing down flights.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli airline reaches bailout deal with government

Saudi Arabia’s airports have had 756,644 travelers pass through since the Kingdom resumed the operation of domestic flights in May amid the coronavirus outbreak, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) revealed on Sunday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Nearly 10,000 flights have been operated between the Kingdom’s airports after authorities eased travel restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the novel virus.GACA also said that 55,000 Saudi citizens have returned to their country through the “Safe Return” initiative launched on April 5.The Kingdom suspended all international and domestic flights in March as part of its measures to combat the coronavirus. Flights associated with humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation aircrafts as well as private flights are excluded from the travel ban.On Sunday, the Ministry of Interior extended the validity of different entry visas and residency permits that expired during the travel ban period.Saudi Arabia has so far recorded 209,509 COVID-19 cases, 1,916 deaths and 145,236 recoveries as of July 5.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Saudi Arabia, UAE COVID-19 cases rise after lockdowns liftedCoronavirus outbreak in Saudi Arabia ranks at high risk: Experts’ COVID-19 mapSaudi Arabia extends expat visas, residency permits for three months
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia: 756,644 passengers take domestic flights since restart

Unemployment among Saudi Arabian citizens fell to below 12 percent to 11.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics said.The drop in the unemployment rate is largely due to women’s increased participation, the authority added.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In the first quarter, the female unemployment rate of Saudi Arabian citizens dropped by 2.7 percent to 28.2 percent from the last quarter in 2019.Saudi Arabia’s youth constitute the highest proportion of the unemployed, with citizens between the ages of 20-29 making up 62.9 percent.However, the numbers do not take into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the authority said.The drop comes as Saudi Arabia pursues its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and create millions of jobs for citizens in the next ten years.The reform plan, proposed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to decrease the unemployment rate to 7 percent by 2030.Read more:Saudi Arabia moving in positive direction on gender equality for women: UK AmbassadorSaudi Arabia’s tourism sector will provide 260,000 jobs by 2023, 1 mln by 2030
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s unemployment drops to under 12 percent in Q1, women join workforce