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 »
Information Minister tackles general situation with Frem
Minister of Information, Dr. Manal Abdel Samad Najd, welcomed on Tuesday in her office at the Ministry MP Neemat Frem, with whom she discussed the Country’s general situation. NNA Read More »
Factbox: Latest on coronavirus spreading in China and beyond
The death toll from the coronavirus in mainland China passed 2,000 on Wednesday, although new cases fell for a second straight day, as authorities tightened containment measures in the worst-hit city of Wuhan. ** China’s National Health Commission reported 1,749 new cases, the lowest daily rise since Jan. 29, bringing ... Read More »
Turkish lira weakest since last May, as tensions rise in Syria
Reuters reports that Turkey’s lira weakened against the dollar on Tuesday to its lowest point in regular trading since last May, as a central bank policy decision loomed and investors fretted over tensions in Syria’s Idlib, where Ankara is bulking up its military. Turkey’s central bank, which has slashed its ... Read More »
Japan’s economy on brink of recession after shrinking 6.3% in latest quarter
Tourism industry set to take further hit from coronavirus, adding to impact of higher sales tax and damage from typhoon, experts warn Japan’s economy is on the brink of recession after shrinking dramatically in the final three months of 2019. The world’s third-largest economy contracted 6.3 per cent in ... Read More »
Turkey to arrest 228 for links to cleric in probe of military, ministry: Anadolu
Turkish prosecutors investigating the military and justice ministry on Tuesday ordered the arrest of 228 people over suspected links to the network that Ankara says was behind a 2016 coup attempt, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. There has been a sustained crackdown on alleged followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah ... Read More »
Oman sees biggest Gulf clash risk in Strait of Hormuz
The risk of a military confrontation is higher in the Strait of Hormuz than anywhere else in the Gulf region, Oman’s foreign minister said, due in part to the growing number of military vessels from different countries that are guarding it. The waterway between Iran and Oman – 33 km ... Read More »