Lebanon’s president calls for new government of technocrats to push economic reforms
Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on Thursday for the formation of a new government of technocrats following the resignation of prime minister Saad al-Hariri amid nationwide protests against a sectarian elite blamed for mishandling the economy.
Syria’s Assad says Kurdish controlled northeast of Syria to fall eventually under state control
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday his country’s ultimate goal was to restore state authority over Kurdish controlled areas in northeast Syria after an abrupt U.S. troop withdrawal but said this would happen gradually.
British Columbia moves to introduce permanent daylight saving time
(This October 31 story corrects paragraph 5 to clarify that California has introduced legislation to move to permanent DST and not yet passed it, and sources Yukon’s plans to BC press release, para 6)
Bolivia election audit ready to start after street clashes turn deadly
Bolivia was set to start a politically charged review of its recent presidential election on Thursday, as the country contended with fresh protests and street clashes that left at least two dead and others injured.
Argentina sets floor under peso as reserves dwindle
Argentina’s central bank is setting a price floor under the volatile peso in hopes to avoid a sharp plunge in the currency after an opposition-won presidential election last Sunday shifted the country firmly back to the left.
Lebanon’s president Aoun pledges cabinet of technocrats in new government
Lebanese President Michel Aoun pledged on Thursday to form a new government in which ministers would be chosen by expertise rather than political affiliation, after the resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri following weeks of nationwide protests…
Iraqi protesters reject leadership changes, demand systemic overhaul
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi will step down only if parliament’s main blocs can agree on his replacement, the country’s president said on Thursday, but tens of thousands of protesters said his resignation would not be enough.
UK will not appoint new BoE chief before December 12 election: official
Britain’s government will not name a successor to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney before a national election due on Dec. 12, a finance ministry official said.
Lebanese banks to reopen; association asks customers to show consideration
Lebanon’s banking association said on Thursday that banks would reopen on Friday to meet “urgent” needs after being shut for two weeks as an economic crisis and nationwide protests rage, but asked customers to keep “the interests of the country” in min…
Islamic State vows revenge against U.S. for Baghdadi killing
Islamic State confirmed on Thursday that its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a weekend raid by U.S. special forces in northwestern Syria, and vowed revenge against the United States.
