Lebanon's Finance Minister: 'Steps Needed After Long-term Investment Rating Downgraded '

FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
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Lebanon's Finance Minister: 'Steps Needed After Long-term Investment Rating Downgraded '

FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.

Lebanon's Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said a report by Moody's Investors Service that downgraded the country's long-term investment ratings reflects the need for quickly forming a new government and implementing reforms, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Khalil's statement came in a tweet Tuesday after Moody's downgraded the Lebanon's issuer ratings to Caa1 from B3.

The outlook was changed to stable from negative.

Moody's said its decision reflects the heightened risk that the government's response to increased liquidity and financial stability risks will include "a debt rescheduling or other liability management exercise that may constitute a default under Moody's definition," according to AP.

Lebanon's economy has been under pressure with a debt of $85 billion equal to 150 percent of its GDP and little growth.



Saudi Arabia Inks Mining Agreements with Several Govts at Fourth Future Minerals Forum

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed a series of MoUs and cooperation agreements with six countries during the fourth Ministerial Roundtable, the flagship opening meeting of the Future Minerals Forum. (SPA)
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed a series of MoUs and cooperation agreements with six countries during the fourth Ministerial Roundtable, the flagship opening meeting of the Future Minerals Forum. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Inks Mining Agreements with Several Govts at Fourth Future Minerals Forum

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed a series of MoUs and cooperation agreements with six countries during the fourth Ministerial Roundtable, the flagship opening meeting of the Future Minerals Forum. (SPA)
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed a series of MoUs and cooperation agreements with six countries during the fourth Ministerial Roundtable, the flagship opening meeting of the Future Minerals Forum. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed on Tuesday a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements with six countries during the fourth Ministerial Roundtable, the flagship opening meeting of the Future Minerals Forum.

The meeting marked a significant step in advancing international partnerships and fostering the development of the Kingdom's mining and minerals sector.

The agreements were signed by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, and Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer.

The counterpart signatories included the minister of energy and natural resources from Djibouti, the minister of energy and mineral resources from Jordan, the secretary of state for business and trade from the United Kingdom, and the minister of mines and mineral development from Zambia.

Additional agreements were signed with the Ministry of Finance of Austria and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of France.