In its updated outlook on the global economy, the World Bank revised downward its economic growth forecast for Lebanon to 2.5 percent in 2009 from an earlier forecast of 4 percent at the end of last year, and compared to

Lebanon's fiscal performance up to the end of April showed a broad increase in the government's revenues by 28 percent to LBP 4.2 trillion or $2.8 billion in the first four months of 2009 compared to LBP 3.3 trillion or

A hardline Iranian cleric called on Friday for the execution of leading "rioters" to teach a lesson to the tens of thousands who have protested against the result of the presidential election two weeks ago. Iran's top legislative body, the

A booby-trapped motorcycle loaded with nails and ball-bearings exploded in a crowded bazaar Friday in Baghdad, killing at least 19 people and wounding 50, Iraqi officials said. The attack occurred just four days before the deadline for US combat troops

Group of Eight powers on Friday deplored violence in Iran after the disputed presidential election and called on Tehran to resolve the crisis peacefully. But the G8 foreign ministers were careful not to slam the door on possible talks with

Spiraling violence in Somalia's capital Mogadishu is taking its toll, with more than 250 civilians killed and 160,000 forced to flee their homes over the past seven weeks, aid agencies said on Friday. Fighting between government forces and the Islamist-led

The Hamas speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, freed by Israel this week after three years in prison, has urged Israel to accept a long-term truce offered by the Islamist group. Although Hamas refuses to recognize Israel, it is offering "some

China's planning agency is likely to reject a Chinese company's bid to acquire General Motors Corp.'s Hummer unit, in part because its gas-guzzling vehicles conflict with Beijing's conservation goals, state radio reported. The National Development and Reform Commission is also

Oil traders are relying on an unwitting ally, OPEC, to help them quietly exit what experts say is one of their most lucrative gambits ever - storing vast oil supplies at sea to sell later for profit. Trading firms like

Qantas Airways Ltd. said Friday it had canceled orders for 15 Boeing 787s and delayed the delivery of a further 15 aircraft due to turbulent market conditions. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the decision had not been influenced by

The UN trade chief said Thursday there is a "missing link" in the international financial system that is becoming more critical as the global economic crisis drags on: What happens when a country is bankrupt and can't pay its debts?

A new global free trade accord could help fight climate change by making clean-energy products more widely available, the World Trade Organization and United Nations Environment Program said on Friday. Bucking conventional thinking about the climate hazards of shipping products

The number of diagnosed cases in Lebanon of A(H1N1), otherwise known as swine flu, has risen to 35 after the discovery of five new cases, the Health Ministry said Friday. All the patients have or are to receive medical treatment,

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) announced on Friday that Lebanese Judge Ralph Riachy was unanimously elected to be the tribunal's deputy president. STL president Judge Antonio Cassese said he was glad to work with Riachy, who has experience in

Of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most." These words, uttered by the legendary American rock star Jimi Hendrix, sound lighthearted at first. But bearing in mind Hendrix's premature death of a possible drug overdose

The trials and tragedy of Michael Jackson are being communicated around most of the world, with the passing of this global icon. He had many appellations, whether it was singer, dancer, entertainer or "King of Pop," but let's consider him

Films about the "war on terror" have not been high on audiences' must-see list. Yet the makers of the latest, "The Hurt Locker," hope they have the ingredients that box-office duds about Iraq and Afghanistan have lacked. Advance word is

Nada Kano does not make life easy for her dancers. During the Beirut Dance Company's latest outing, "Attraction" at Theater Monnot, her performers interact with a giant bouncing ball, deal with multiple onstage costume changes and swing oversize suitcases round

Friday's attacks came just four days before U.S. forces pull out of Iraqi cities and towns, and remain only as trainers and advisers to Iraqi forces