Globe-trotting Lebanese lenders face toughest test at home
Lebanon’s economic crisis is a litmus test for the resilience and domestic support of its banks as well as their potential for sparking contagion abroad.
Factbox: ‘Fly up’ co-pilot urges in final moments of fatal Lion Air crash
A final Indonesian report on the fatal crash of Lion Air flight 610 published on Friday details stress and confusion in the cockpit as the Boeing 737 MAX’s MCAS software, misled by faulty sensor readings, repeatedly lowered the plane’s nose.
Despite loveless marriage, NATO to keep Turkey close
The U.S.-led NATO alliance has resolved to maintain military support for its ally Turkey despite anger over its operation in Syria and its ensuing border deal with Russia, five senior diplomats said.
Russia’s Lavrov says decision on pardoning convicted Norwegian spy will be made soon
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that a decision on whether to pardon a convicted Norwegian spy jailed in Russia, Frode Berg, would be made soon.
Colombian political clans seen set to win at Sunday’s polls
Colombians go to the polls on Sunday to choose provincial governors, mayors and regional legislators in elections that could influence the 2022 presidential contest, following campaigning marred by violent attacks on candidates.
Jailed Catalan leader says verdict risks criminalizing all dissent
In condemning Catalan separatist leaders to long prison terms, Spanish authorities have set a precedent that risks criminalizing any form of dissent against the state, one of the leaders said.
Father of Pakistani activist who fled to U.S. arrested
A Pakistani security agency said on Friday it had arrested the father of a prominent political activist for spreading hate of the state on social media.
Prominent activist won’t rule out election challenge to Ethiopia PM
Prominent activist Jawar Mohammed does not rule out challenging his erstwhile ally, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in next year’s election, he told Reuters on Friday, after days of demonstrations by his supporters resulted in dozens of deaths.
Russian conscript shoots dead at least seven other soldiers: Russian news agencies
A Russian conscript serving at a military base in the far east of the country shot dead at least seven other soldiers and badly injured at least two others, Russian news agencies reported on Friday.
Russian conscript who shot eight soldiers has been detained: Ifax
A Russian conscript was detained on Friday after he shot dead eight soldiers and wounded two more at a military base in Russia’s Far East, the Interfax news agency cited the defense ministry as saying.
