Economy In a push to assert its authority over Iraq's fractious oil sector, the federal Oil Ministry has stated its intention to seize crude, natural gas and fuel shipped outside the country without its approval and to prosecute offending companies. More from Iraq Oil Report Egypt’s central bank said Thursday that a $2 billion loan from Qatar arrived in December, suggesting that the money had already been eaten up defending the currency before the foreign reserves crisis became public late last year. More from Reuters Lebanon's Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui has announced that the Cabinet had finally agreed to release the $1.2 billion of cash to the municipalities to help them carry out crucial development projects. More from The Daily Star Saudi Arabia has cut oil production substantially, moving to fend off a growing overhang in world oil supply and defend prices well above $100 a barrel.
