FRANCE 24 | February 15, 2018 Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn suddenly resigned on Thursday in what he described as a bid to smooth reforms, following years of violent unrest that threatened the ruling party’s hold on Africa’s second most populous nation. The prime minister leads the nation under Ethiopia‘s political system and Hailemariam‘s decision to quit underscores the depth of division… Read more »
In recent news, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called for an international UN conference to discuss the possibility of Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations. Abbas stated that he was willing to, “step up efforts to achieve full UN membership for Palestine and urged countries that have yet to recognize it to do so.” This comes as an effect of… Read more »
FRANCE 24 | February 19, 2018 Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, Gaza medical sources said Sunday, after four soldiers were wounded in an apparent bomb attack on the border with the Palestinian enclave. The Saturday explosion and ensuing Israeli air strikes marked one of the most serious escalations in the Hamas-ruled enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in… Read more »
The tiny oil- and gas-rich Gulf state of Qatar has been cut off by some of its powerful Arab neighbours over its alleged support for terrorism. Qatar refused to comply with an initial list of 13 demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law. The emirate has now been told by… Read more »
Source: Independent.co.uk Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have long lured foreign workers with the promise of a tax-free lifestyle, plan to impose a 5 per cent tax next year on most goods and services to boost revenue after oil prices collapsed three years ago. The value-added tax, or VAT, will apply to a range of items like food, clothes, electronics… Read more »
Globalization is a key component for trying to diminish violence in the middle east. Along with globalization comes an influx of western values such as women’s rights and clean energy etc. These ideals have begun to take root in the middle east and are spreading fast. Saudia Arabia is certainly acting like a mother state and trying to expand its… Read more »
Morocco has approved a motion allowing women in the country to become public notary officials, an occupation that has traditionally only been held by men. King Mohammed VI on Monday endorsed the decision through a royal decree, which would amend an existing law. The move authorises women across the country to perform a number of duties in accordance with Islamic law,… Read more »
Saudi women train to become baristas at the Starbucks headquarters in Riyadh. “Both the girls in my team have bachelor’s degrees, but they were drawn to the challenge and opportunity that working for a multinational company like Starbucks offers,” Ghazwan says. They are among the trendsetting Saudis moving away from lucrative government jobs to compete for posts in the private… Read more »
The share of renewables in the Middle East energy mix is forecast to triple over the next 17 years — but natural gas will remain the dominant power source in the region. That’s one of the key findings of a new report published this week by Siemens. It predicts that by 2035 the Middle East will require a total of… Read more »
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (NYTIMES) – Life in Saudi Arabia has long been defined by the oil that flows from the kingdom. Over decades, the vast wealth it pumped out paid not just for gleaming towers and shopping malls but also for a government sector that employs a majority of working Saudis. Now, Saudi Arabia is trying to tie its future… Read more »