The death toll from the coronavirus epidemic in mainland China soared past 1,000 on Tuesday with a record daily rise in fatalities, while the prolonged disruption to factories and businesses played havoc with the world’s second-largest economy. Hundreds of Chinese firms say they will need billions of dollars in loans ... Read More »
Philippines to terminate troop agreement with US
President Rodrigo Duterte, who has openly disapproved of the military alliance, made the decision after an ally’s visa was rescinded Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, has told his foreign minister to give formal notice to the United States of his termination of a visiting forces agreement (VFA) between ... Read More »
U.S. steps up warnings on Russia over Syria’s Idlib, military de-confliction
The United States on Wednesday stepped up warnings to Russia over its Syria policy, saying Moscow was trying to challenge the U.S. presence in northeastern Syria by violating the terms of a de-confliction agreement and was also helping escalate the fighting in the northwestern province of Idlib. James Jeffrey, U.S. ... Read More »
Plane skids off runway in Istanbul, killing three and injuring 179
– A Pegasus Airlines plane flying into Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport skidded off the end of a wet runway and broke into three pieces after landing on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring 179, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said. The three had died in hospital, with 179 of the 183 ... Read More »
Donald Trump acquitted on both articles in Senate impeachment trial
President becomes third in US history to be impeached by the House and acquitted in Senate trial Donald Trump has been acquitted in his Senate trial on both of the articles of impeachment he faced, ending the threat that he would be removed from office and concluding the impeachment ... Read More »
Coronavirus: death toll passes Sars virus as dozens more die in Wuhan
Wuhan hospitals need more staff and supplies as residents describe increasingly desperate conditions Dozens more people have died in the city at the centre of China’s coronavirus outbreak, where hospitals are severely undersupplied and understaffed and residents have described increasingly desperate conditions. Chinese state media reported 57 new deaths ... Read More »
Cabinet session to approve final policy statement Thursday
A Cabinet session to approve the final draft of the Cabinet’s policy statement is set to take place Thursday, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said Monday. “We are implementing short and medium-term plans, with clear and targeted goals,” Abdel Samad told reporters after the ministerial committee tasked with drafting the ... Read More »
This Chinese doctor tried to save lives, but was silenced. Now he has coronavirus
By Yong Xiong and Nectar Gan, CNN (CNN)On December 30, Li Wenliang dropped a bombshell in his medical school alumni group on the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat: seven patients from a local seafood market had been diagnosed with a SARS-like illness and quarantined in his hospital. Li explained that, ... Read More »
The Daily Star temporarily suspends print edition
The Daily Star BEIRUT: Lebanon’s English-language newspaper The Daily Star regrets to announce the temporary suspension of its print edition due to the financial challenges facing the Lebanese press which have been exacerbated by the deterioration of the economic situation in the country. The Daily Star’s website – http://www.dailystar.com.lb – ... Read More »
Lebanon banks tighten withdrawal caps, sparking outcry
Major banks in Lebanon began tightening banking controls this month, halving the amount of dollars depositors are allowed to withdraw every month, despite growing public anger. Faced with a dollar liquidity crunch, banks have imposed informal controls on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad since September amid widespread anti-government protests and ... Read More »