Former US president, Jimmy Carter, announced on Friday that current US President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” breaches international law, CNN and other international agencies reported. According to Carter, Trump’s deal: “Breaches international law regarding self-determination, the acquisition of land by force, and annexation of occupied territories.” In a ... Read More »
Draft of Lebanese financial rescue plan promises ‘painful’ steps
Lebanon’s new government will look to reduce interest rates and recapitalise banks as part of a broad plan that includes taking “painful” steps to escape a deep financial crisis, according to a draft policy statement seen by Reuters. The 17-page statement, which may still be amended, will form the basis ... Read More »
Coronavirus: Chinese stocks plunge as markets reopen
The Shanghai Composite index fell nearly 9% before recovering slightly, while commodity prices also slumped. Manufacturing, materials, and consumer goods companies are among the hardest hit, as healthcare shares soar. The fall came despite China’s central bank announcing new measures to ease the impact of the outbreak. The People’s Bank ... Read More »
Japan sends warship to Gulf to protect oil tankers as US-Iran tensions simmer
A Japanese warship has departed for the Middle East to ensure the safety of the country’s oil tankers in waters where tensions between the US and Iran are high The destroyer Takanami with some 200 sailors left Japan’s main naval base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo. Its main task is primarily to ... Read More »
State of emergency declared as bushfire threatens Australian capital
Australian officials declared a state of emergency for the capital city of Canberra and surrounding regions on Friday, as soaring temperatures and strong winds threatened to propel a large bushfire beyond the control of firefighters. Andrew Barr, Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), said the decision to declare ... Read More »
Global fears spread over coronavirus
The World Health Organization has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, after an emergency meeting on Thursday. The decision came after cases of human-to-human transmissions were confirmed outside China, where the outbreak started. A first such case was confirmed in the United States on ... Read More »
Diab: Several ways out of ongoing crisis
Lebanon’s new prime minister said Wednesday that there were ways out of the economic and financial crisis that the country was facing after he held a number of meetings with ministers and senior World Bank officials. Prime Minister Hassan Diab headed a number of meetings in Beirut Wednesday where he ... Read More »
Brexit: MEPs ratify UK withdrawal agreement
Britain’s departure from the EU on 31 January was set in stone in a historic moment for the nation as MEPs in Brussels ratified the withdrawal agreement before breaking out in a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. As the president of the European parliament, David Sassoli, announced the result of ... Read More »
Minister of Information discusses means to revamp Ministry with heads of divisions
Discussions featured high on a plan to revitalize the ministry’s work in its different departments, as well as on the importance of cooperation and positive interaction so as to bolster media creativity in line with future challenges — most particularly in the field of digital media. The meeting also reviewed ... Read More »
Iran missile strike: 50 US troops now diagnosed with brain injuries
The Pentagon said on Tuesday 50 US service members were now diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after missile strikes by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month, 16 more than the military had previously announced. Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Iran’s 8 January attack had ... Read More »