The Buzz

Economics and Policy Plans by Gulf countries to crack down on Hezbollah may pose a bigger threat to Lebanon’s fragile public finances than to the party itself. More from Bloomberg …

Economics and Policy The European Union has placed Lebanese party Hezbollah's military wing on its terrorism blacklist because of its alleged role in plots in Europe and the Syrian civil …

Economics and Policy Iran has denied it failed to make payments on its loans to the World Bank for the last six months, blaming Western sanctions for preventing an intermediary …

Economics and Policy Israel is set to drill for oil in a geological layer beneath its Leviathan gas field. The field could provide up to 1.5 billion barrels of oil. …

Economics and Policy The U.S. has again offered to help mediate a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over the demarcation of maritime borders, Lebanese officials said after meeting with the …

Economics and Policy The Syrian government is providing new subsidies on basic items in a bid to counter rising inflation and a plunging currency. More from The Daily Star   …

Economics and Policy Growth in Saudi Arabia's GDP, adjusted for inflation, slowed to 2.13 percent in the first quarter of 2013 from 6.5 percent a year ago, data from the …

Economics and Policy A number of the companies bidding on Lebanon's oil and gas have withdrawn over security concerns. More from The Daily Star   The International Monetary Fund is …

Economics and Policy Twelve billion dollars in aid from Egypt’s wealthy Gulf allies have bought Cairo a window of several months to try and stabilize its politics and repair its …

A high-end watch is today the unequaled symbol of your status. It really represents who you are and what you stand for. It defines you.” So says Paul Kupelian, chief …