麻豆约拍

A falling oil price has led to tax hikes and allowance cuts in Saudi Arabia. The 麻豆约拍's Middle East business correspondent, Sameer Hashmi, tells us the scale of a drop in profits at state oil giant Saudi Aramco still caught analysts by surprise. And we consider the wider implications of a period of austerity on Saudi citizens with Madawi al-Rasheed, visiting professor at the London School of Economics Middle East Centre. Also in the programme, with massive rescue spending programmes initiated all around the world to stave off the economic effects of coronavirus lockdowns, the 麻豆约拍's Ed Butler asks what lessons have been learnt from the last time widespread bailouts were dished out, after the 2008 financial crisis. Plus, as governments encourage people to take to their bikes when they return to work, to reduce the pressure on public transport, we ask whether it's likely to be successful, and hear about a scheme in France where bike users can get the cost of repairs reimbursed.

(Picture: A Saudi Aramco facility. Picture credit: Getty Images.)