Business

RIYADH, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Qatar’s foreign minister has made an unannounced visit to Riyadh, amid signs that a 2-1/2-year rift among US-allied Gulf Arab states could soon subside.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met with senior Saudi officials last month, said a source familiar with the trip, the highest-level visit since May when Qatar’s prime minister attended an Arab summit in Mecca.

It was unclear if the visit, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, included a face-to-face with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Delhi; 30 Nov 2019 (UMM): BJP member Subramanian Swamy, a Harvard-trained economist, said the real growth rate of Indian economy is 1.5%, and the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman “doesn’t know any economics”.

“If you look at the economy with a discerning eye, you see that growth may have come down,” Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha on November 27. “But it is not a recession yet,”.

Seoul, Nov 29 (AFP) South Korea's central bank on Friday cut its growth forecast for this year to two percent, which would be the weakest rate in a decade as the economy is battered by trade disputes.

The world's 11th-largest economy is highly dependent on international commerce but is grappling with the fallout of a prolonged China-US trade dispute and embroiled in a spat of its own with neighbouring Japan.

ISTANBUL, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized government have signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea as well as a deal on expanded security and military cooperation, the Turkish government said.

There were no immediate details on the maritime accord, which could further complicate disputes over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean where Turkish drilling has angered Greek Cypriots, Athens and the European Union.

BEIRUT, Nov 28 (NNN-NNA) – The Lebanese Syndicate of Gas Station Owners, announced Wednesday, that, it will start an open strike on Thursday (today), because of its huge losses caused by the increase in the price of U.S. currency to the Lebanese pounds.

Gas stations in Lebanon are losing money because they are buying fuel from oil importing companies by paying in U.S. dollars, while they are selling it to clients in Lebanese pounds. Meanwhile, gas stations’ owners need the U.S. dollars, because they pay their suppliers with the U.S. currency.

DHAKA, Nov 29 (NNN-BSS) — A home-minister level meeting between Bangladesh and Turkey was held at the conference room of the Turkish Home Ministry in Ankara.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal led a 20-member Bangladeshi delegation while Turkish Home Minister Suleyman Soylu led his country’s side, said an official press release here.

Both the ministers discussed the issues of Rohingya crisis, counter-terrorism, irregular migration, security and enhancing efficiency of law enforcement agencies.

SYDNEY, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Tram drivers in the Australian city of Melbourne stopped work today (Thursday), demanding higher pay and more reliable work schedules.

The halt of the world’s largest tram network, forced thousands of passengers onto replacement buses, following an ongoing dispute between the workers’ union and private operator, Yarra Trams.

The action took place between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. local time, with passengers riding on a tram at 10:00 a.m. requested to disembark at the next stop.

SEOUL, Nov 28 (NNN-Bernama) — Kuala Lumpur welcomes Seoul’s proposal to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership to mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship next year.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the governments of both countries will discuss the details of the proposal, which will be in line with Malaysia’s intention to tap into South Korea’s strength in advanced technology and innovation.

Beijing, Nov 28 (PTI) China on Thursday accused the US of harbouring "sinister intentions" and warned of "countermeasures" after President Donald Trump signed a bill supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statements came just hours after Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 into law.

Tripoli, Nov 27 (AFP/PTI) Libya's National Oil Corporation said fighting triggered a suspension of production Wednesday at a key field in the country's southwest.

Forces loyal to eastern Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar said they carried out air raids against "armed groups" that had attacked Al-Feel field.