At least 19 people have been killed in the Indian capital during violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups over a new citizenship law, a senior hospital official told Reuters, although there was an eerie calm on Wednesday in the riot-torn areas. “There are 15 patients in critical condition,” the ... Read More »
Report: EU Countries ‘Pleased’ with Govt. Performance
Countries of the European Union reportedly “support” the reform goals set by the Lebanese government and are “committed” to the goals agreed at the CEDRE conference, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday. Quoting western diplomatic sources, the daily said that “EU countries are fully committed to support Lebanon, its people, its ... Read More »
Drillship off Lebanon to start oil and gas exploration
A drillship anchored off Lebanon Tuesday to explore for oil and gas, an energy firm and the government said, raising hopes for a future boost to the country’s crumbling economy. Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said the first ever such exploration would start within 48 hours. The Tungsten Explorer was ... Read More »
Govt. Appoints Legal, Financial Advisers on Eurobond Debt
Lebanon on Tuesday took another step to try and deal with a massive debt that stands at more than $87 billion or more than 150% of the GDP. Manal Abdul Samad, the information minister, said the government has agreed to appoint Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as a legal ... Read More »
14 Saudi oil companies incur heavy losses
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has given companies listed on the country’s stock exchange, known as Tadawul, until the end of March to disclose its annual reports for 2019. Local media recently reported that Saudi Aramco – world’s largest oil producer – was yet to announce its business and ... Read More »
Hosni Mubarak death: Former Egyptian president ousted in Arab Spring dies, aged 91
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who reigned over Egypt for 30 years before he was ousted in the Arab Spring uprisings, died on Tuesday, state television reported. He had been taken to an intensive care unit the day before, according to reports, following complications from a previous surgery. He was 91. Mubarak, who ... Read More »
Post-Brexit Britain starts search for new global role
Britain will begin trying to define the new role it wants to play in global politics, the government said on Tuesday, launching a review of foreign policy, defense, security and international aid. Britain technically completed its protracted exit from the European Union on Jan. 31, ending more than four decades ... Read More »
In Lebanon, default is ‘virtually certain’ after stark credit downgrades
Investors holding Lebanese bonds are expecting the worst, as years of financial mismanagement may well push the country to default on its debt for the first time in its history. International Monetary Fund officials have been called in to help find a solution to manage Lebanon’s overwhelming debt — some ... Read More »
Australia spy chief warns of “unprecedented” foreign espionage threat
Australia is under an “unprecedented” threat of foreign espionage and interference, one of the country’s most senior spy chiefs said in a rare speech, citing the case of a “sleeper agent” who spent years building business links. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said several nations were working ... Read More »
Battle against coronavirus turns to Italy; Wall Street falls on pandemic fears
The coronavirus death toll climbed to seven in Italy on Monday and several Middle East countries were dealing with their first infections, sending markets into a tailspin over fears of a global pandemic even as China eased curbs with no new cases reported in Beijing and other cities. While health ... Read More »