Four years into economic meltdown, Lebanon pledges to ‘police corruption’

The crisis, caused by rampant corruption in the financial sector, plunged over 80 percent of Lebanon's population below the poverty line and slashed nearly 100 percent of the currency's value

EU prosecutors grill Lebanon’s finance minister over central bank corruption

Youssef Khalil claimed that during his nearly 30-year tenure at the central bank he was unaware of any corruption or embezzlement of public funds

Lebanese judiciary dismisses judge probing banking sector corruption

Ghada Aoun has been leading an investigation into the illicit dealings of commercial banks and the central bank that sparked Lebanon's catastrophic crisis

Jordanian lawmaker denounces corruption, calls on Saudi Arabia to halt aid deliveries

Jordan has been gripped by street protests in recent days caused by skyrocketing fuel prices and a lack of job opportunities

EU suspends Qatar-related activities due to corruption scandal

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor announced an 'inspection operation' targeting the offices of the European Parliament in Brussels

Israel’s Lapid investigated for corruption over maritime agreement with Lebanon

Despite all of Netanyahu's efforts to nullify the agreement, it is unlikely to happen, as the maritime deal was reviewed by the supreme court and various heads responsible for Israel's security

Germany, France ask to bypass Lebanese judges ‘impeding’ corruption probe into central bank chief

Riad Salameh faces money laundering and embezzlement charges in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and Lebanon

Israel investigates corruption, harassment scandals in Morocco consulate

Among several other scandals within the consulate, Israeli officials have been extorting money from the country’s Jewish community, as well as from the Moroccan authorities

Riyadh detains officials in new anti-corruption clean-out

The investigation suggests MbS plans to rid himself of political rivals to the throne, as Nazaha authorities carry out over 3000 inspections on corrupt officials from several ministries

Lebanese PM wants to freeze corruption case against central bank chief

The PM-designate made his suggestion after Lebanese security forces raided the Beirut headquarters of the central bank in search of Riad Salameh

Lebanon CB chief carried out ‘self-audit’ to clear himself of corruption: Report

Salameh’s lawyer has maintained that the financial review constitutes an audit under international standards

Dollars for democracy: Corruption was the real winner in Lebanon’s election

Bribing desperate voters during an economic crisis may have led to Lebanon’s parliamentary impasse. If candidates are bought, how can the country fix anything?

Israel inks multi-billion submarine deal with Germany ahead of corruption probe

In the coming days, the occupation cabinet will discuss forming a commission into corruption in the acquisition of submarines and other warships under former PM Netanyahu

Iraq’s ex-PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi: ‘The US doesn’t defeat terror, it only tries to balance it’

In an exclusive interview, The Cradle speaks to former Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, who reveals the challenges, foreign conspiracies, and controversies that defined his truncated two-year tenure, amidst political and economic turmoil that shook the nation.

IMF official looks to become Lebanon’s next president

Jihad Azour's nomination comes as the US has made it clear to Lebanese officials that the only way out of crisis is an IMF bailout

Pakistan to trade oil and gas with Russia, Iran, Afghanistan outside US dollar

The agreement is meant to help relieve Pakistan’s foreign reserves crisis while bypassing US sanctions imposed on the South Asian countries’ neighbors

US mulls sanctioning Lebanese officials over presidential deadlock

Foreign powers, including the US and Saudi Arabia, have been accused of meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs as the country has gone seven months without a president

Hundreds of thousands of resistance fighters ready to fight Israel: Hezbollah chief

Hassan Nasrallah also hailed the 'failure' of a US-Israeli normalization plan with Arab states and called on Lebanon's wanted central bank governor to step down

Judge imposes travel ban on Lebanon’s Central Bank governor

Despite a red notice issued against Riad Salameh by Interpol, Lebanon does not extradite its own citizens

From democrat to dictator to diplomat: Western media’s shifting narratives on Erdogan

Over 20 years of Erdogan's rule, the western media narrative has shifted from calling him a 'reformer' to labelling him a 'dictator.' Now, with the Turkish president's unexpected electoral comeback, western media's tone has softened yet again. 

European banks begin severing correspondent relations with Lebanon: Report

European banks are looking to slash ties with Lebanese commercial banks as the country faces being 'grey listed' by the FATF and the central bank chief is wanted by Interpol

70 percent of US voters fear intel agencies will interfere in elections: Harvard poll

As polarization grows unabated among the US population, distrust of law enforcement agencies and news media is also spiking

Informal dollarization of Lebanon’s economy curtails recovery: World Bank

Prices have skyrocketed in Lebanon as the local currency has shed nearly all of its value, in a situation largely ignored by financial elites and the political class

$51 billion lost by Lebanese depositors since 2019: Bank official

Reforms recommended by the IMF, including a halt to government borrowing from the central bank, have yet to be implemented

Lebanon’s cenbank chief disappears ahead of French money-laundering hearing

Riad Salameh reportedly ducked Lebanese police to avoid being handed an official summons

Imran Khan’s arrest and Pakistan’s struggle for stability

The brief arrest of the former PM has again unleashed political turmoil in Pakistan, amid speculation that powerful military opponents may have orchestrated the unrest for their own interests.

Turkiye leaves Baghdad waiting over resumption of oil exports

For years, the Kurdistan Regional Government gained billions of dollars in cash by exporting crude oil to Turkiye without the approval of the Iraqi federal government

Imran Khan released on bail to avert further unrest

The decision to grant bail for Pakistan’s ex-prime minister comes a day after the country’s top court declared his arrest in a corruption case ‘unlawful’

Pakistan rounds up Imran Khan’s party leaders as protests turn deadly

Khan has had over 100 corruption cases registered against him since his ousting in a parliamentary coup in April 2022

Exclusive: Iraqi finance committee deputy calls for diversification away from US dollar

The Cradle speaks to Iraqi parliamentarian Hussain Mouanes on the various economic, financial, and political challenges facing Sudani's government.