Lebanon will launch a tender to run its two state-owned mobile phone operators, currently managed by Kuwait’s Zain and Egypt’s OTMT, as part of a plan to revamp the telecoms sector, a senior government adviser said. More from Reuters The Middle East’s freshwater reserves are drying up, according to a new study. More from Arabian Business Slight profit-taking pushed most Middle Eastern markets lower Thursday as investors failed to find a positive catalyst to advance prices that seem stretched. More from Reuters Demand for gold fell last year for the first time since 2009 as Asians bought less jewellery and Western investment dipped, the World Gold Council said in a report bears saw as new evidence the 12-year rally may be topping out. More from Reuters Egypt's pound weakened to a record low against the dollar in interbank trade after a foreign currency sale on Thursday,
