Lebanon confirmed its first coronavirus case on Friday, a 45-year-old woman who had arrived from Iran and was being quarantined in a Beirut hospital. Two other suspected cases were being followed and authorities were taking all necessary precautions in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization, Health Minister Hamad ... Read More »
World is approaching coronavirus tipping point, experts say
78,000 cases confirmed, as Italy and Iran scramble to contain major outbreaks The world is fast approaching a tipping point in the spread of the coronavirus, according to experts, who warn that the disease is outpacing efforts to contain it, after major outbreaks forced Italy and Iran to introduce ... Read More »
Wuhan eases coronavirus lockdown as Xi warns of historic ‘crisis’
Communist party expected to reveal whether it will delay annual parliamentary session and South Korea reports new spike in cases Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in China, has loosened lockdown measures and several provinces have lowered their emergency alert levels, as top officials sought to assure the public ... Read More »
Lebanon president: We will hold those who tampered with our economy accountable
Lebanese President Michel Aoun today said that measures would be taken to hold accountable all those who contributed to the country’s financial crisis through illegal actions by transferring money abroad or manipulating bonds in foreign currencies. “There is information that we are still in need of with regards to the ... Read More »
Russia says ‘no’ to Syria ceasefire, top UN diplomats say
Russia opposed the UN Security Council’s declaration for a ceasefire in north-west Syria, top UN diplomats said, after a tense closed-door meeting in New York, AFP reported. “Basically, Russia said no, which is very painful,” Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, president of the United Nations Council for February, told reporters. “There ... Read More »
Doctors look to HIV and Ebola drugs for coronavirus cure
Early results of trials on Covid-19 patients expected in March Doctors are likely to know within two to three weeks whether drugs being used to treat patients infected with the new coronavirus are working, according to the World Health Organization. The timetable for early results from two trials taking ... Read More »
US intelligence warned House members Russia is working to get Trump re-elected
Briefing to members of Congress is said to have led to abrupt removal of acting director of national intelligence US intelligence officials are reported to have warned members of Congress last week that Russia was trying to interfere in the 2020 election campaign in favour of Donald Trump, in ... Read More »
Coronavirus claims first lives in Middle East as two die in Iran
Unconfirmed number of suspected sufferers also quarantined in Qom hospital The coronavirus has killed two Iranian citizens, state media reports, marking the first such deaths in the Middle East since the outbreak began. The elderly victims were first announced to be suffering with the virus, named Covid-19, on Wednesday ... Read More »
Diab, IFC Team Discuss Development of Transport Sector, Airport
A delegation from the World Bank’s private lending arm met Tuesday with Prime Minister Hassan Diab, as the debt-ridden country seeks assistance to rescue its moribund economy. The meeting tackled the possibility of “launching joint cooperation projects between the public and private sectors and the issue of developing the transportation ... Read More »
Fitch Ratings: Lebanon Finances Point to Debt Restructuring
Lebanon’s financial situation points to a likely restructuring of the country’s massive debt and financial sector to preserve declining foreign currency reserves, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday. The credit rating agency’s report comes as Lebanese officials are debating whether to pay back $1.2 billion worth of Eurobonds that mature on March ... Read More »