Saudi Arabia's Bold Reforms: Tax Exemptions, Water Security Initiatives, and Global Health Leadership Amid Middle East Tensions
Saudi Arabia advances tax and environmental reforms while addressing global health concerns with plans for a conference on antimicrobial resistance. Lebanon faces rising tensions as calls for new leadership and stable humanitarian channels intensify amid conflicts with Israel and Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia is making waves with its latest policy reforms, as the Council of Ministers approved a law exempting certain real estate transactions from the Real Estate Transaction Tax, providing a one-year Hijri grace period to document predated transactions and set strong measures to prevent tax evasion.
In line with their transformative vision, the nation is also expanding its Cloud Seeding Program to boost water security, increasing rainfall and vegetation through new technologies and aircraft, aligning with broader green initiatives in the region.
Meanwhile, turning our gaze to Lebanon, Christian leader Samir Geagea stresses the need for electing a new president to help halt the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, amidst Lebanon's political and economic turmoil.
Echoing the call for stability, the United Nations urges Lebanon to keep its ports and airport operational, emphasizing the vital need for these channels to remain open for food and humanitarian aid amidst rising tensions.
Yet, tensions are indeed intensifying as Hezbollah fired approximately 320 projectiles into Israel on Yom Kippur, a stark reminder of the volatile situation in the region, further complicated by projectiles detected from northern Gaza.
Shifting focus to global health, Saudi Arabia joined the G7 meeting in Italy, where they underscored the importance of tackling antimicrobial resistance and announced plans to host a high-level conference on this critical health issue in Jeddah this November.