Economics and Policy
Intent on supplying his government with arms, oil and food, Syrian President Bashar Assad has turned to Russian banks to access world markets, and the lenders could open more doors to him, despite a risk of isolation from the U.S. banking system.
Lebanon’s impoverished class will suffer the most from the long-running Syrian crisis, the World Bank has said.
Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region plans to build a second new oil export pipeline to Turkey within the next two years as it ramps up output independently of Baghdad.
Morocco has secured a $895m loan from German state-owned bank KFW to part-finance two solar power plants totalling 300 megawatts worth an estimated €1.7bn.
Companies and Business
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has said its nine-month net profit surged 13.8 per cent as the bank maintained its solid balance sheet and strong capital position.
Kuwait's Gulf Bank posted a 2.4 percent rise in net profit in the third quarter.
