Three more remain on death row over financial crimes after convictions in quickie trials that critics say fail to meet Iranian or international legal standards By: Borzou Daragahi Convicted with “spreading corruption on earth,” the execution of two Iranian gold traders this week has raised concerns that the authorities are seeking to use the two men as scapegoats to […]
Trump studying Turkey’s demands to expel Gulen, report
The Trump administration is exploring possible ways to expel US-based Muslim cleric and Turkey foe Fethullah Gulen to convince Ankara to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, according to a US network. White House officials last month asked federal law enforcement agencies to examine legal ways of removing Gulen, a […]
Israeli PM to take over defence job as speculation of early elections soar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take over the defence portfolio in his government after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned this week, a spokesman for his Likud Party said on Friday, fuelling speculation of an early election. Earlier Netanyahu met with key coalition partner Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home Party who had sought the […]
UK business backs May’s Brexit deal but plans for the worst
UK business lined up to help Prime Minister Theresa May sell her draft Brexit agreement but continued to plan for Britain to crash out of the European Union without a deal as May fought for her political survival on Friday. “This agreement is only a draft,” Chief Executive Warren East told BBC radio on Friday. […]
Lebanon’s Geagea, Franjieh reconcile after decades of enmity
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh struck on Wednesday a historic reconciliation, ending four decades of enmity triggered during Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war. The two Christian leaders shook hands and kissed each other on the cheeks at the headquarters of the Maronite patriarchate in Bkirki. The reconciliation was sponsored by Maronite […]
Lebanon aims to resolve pain over 17,000 missing since civil war
Beirut, Lebanon – “Do you see the empty chair with a guitar next to it? Only the musician is missing.” In the middle of her living room surrounded by dozens of paintings in her apartment in Haret Hreik, a suburb in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, Mariam Saidi describes her art, which is dedicated to her son. “This […]
Lebanon calls for more int’l support to cater to education needs of Syrian refugees
Lebanese Education Minister Marwan Hamade said Thursday that Lebanon needs more international support in order to cater to the education needs of the big number of Syrian refugees. “Our willingness to offer education services to this big number of students is linked directly to the support we receive from the international community,” Hamade was quoted […]
Bank deposits up 4 pct on year, says Lebanon Central bank chief
BEIRUT – Bank deposits in Lebanon have risen by 4 percent on the year, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh said on Thursday, and he maintained his economic growth outlook for 2018 at 2 percent. In July Salameh had said he expected bank deposits to grow by more than 5 percent in 2018. In October the […]
Hand recount ordered in Florida’s divisive U.S. Senate race
TAMPA, Fla. – Florida election officials on Thursday ordered a hand recount of ballots in the closely fought U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and his Republican challenger, Governor Rick Scott, after a machine recount showed them divided by a razor-thin margin. But in another tight contest, Republican Ron DeSantis appeared to secure […]
Netanyahu coalition at a crossroads after Israeli defence minister quits
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plotted his next moves Thursday after his defence minister resigned over a controversial Gaza ceasefire, throwing his coalition into crisis and raising the possibility of early elections. After Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, Netanyahu was clinging to a one-seat majority in parliament and one of his main right-wing […]