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Analysis Israel’s Secret Japanese Investor

The Finance Ministry raised $140 million from a Japanese strategic institutional investor in a private bond placement this week. The amount isn’t particularly large, but the treasury’s decision to call the investor “strategic” is intriguing. It’s customary to distinguish between financial investors, whose aim is to turn a quick profit and move on, and strategic investors, who bring added value. ...

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Passenger to Lebanon gives birth mid-flight

A Middle East Airlines-Air Liban flight has gained a tiny passenger over the weekend when a woman gave birth mid-flight. Middle East Airlines confirmed the news: “Announcements were made to check if there was any doctor on board to assist with the delivery, but no doctors were on board that flight,” Rima Mikaoui, director of public relations for Middle East ...

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Rugby: Confident Argentina inching towards an overdue win

SYDNEY (Reuters) – For a team looking to end a six-match losing streak, Argentina are approaching Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against Australia in Brisbane with plenty of confidence. Buoyed by the Super Rugby success of the Jaguares, whose players make up a large majority of the squad, the Pumas will take on the Wallabies at Lang Park a week after running ...

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Michael Leitch set for first rugby match of the year

It’s been over seven months since Michael Leitch last played a match of rugby. On Saturday, he’ll finally suit up after spending the rest of the season watching on from the sidelines, recovering from a chronic groin injury. On Saturday Japan will play host to Fiji in the first round of the Pacific Nations Cup. Fiji have named a strong line-up, after giving most of their ...

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Rugby: Pointless effort in Athletic Park mud

The All Blacks and Springboks have played 97 tests. But the match played in 1921 at Athletic Park in Wellington may be the worst of them. The result read: New Zealand 0 South Africa 0. It was four points for a dropped goal, three for a try, three for a penalty, three for a goal from a mark and two ...

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Nasi Manu’s return to rugby will have to wait

Nasi Manu hasn’t played a game of rugby in over a year after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He missed the whole Pro14 season and last ran onto the rugby field for Tonga in their Pacific Nations Clash with Fiji last June. Today was supposed to mark Manu’s return to rugby after he was named to captain the ‘Ikale Tahi against Samoa, however the ...

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UK to Lebanon: Ban Hezbollah in exchange for aid

UK ordered Lebanese development bodies to ban both the political and military wings of Hezbollah in order to continue receiving economic aid, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported yesterday. In a document dated February, the UK Ministry of International Development said: “The British government is dedicated to expand its ban on Hezbollah to include its political and military wing; therefore, anybody who is to benefit or ...

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Lebanon slams Israel over ‘Port of Hezbollah’ claims at U.N.

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.N. Tuesday blasted Israeli claims at the Security Council that the Port of Beirut was being used to smuggle Hezbollah weapons, saying the accusations were a direct threat to peace and civilian infrastructure. “Before I read my prepared statement, I would like to address the accusations that the Israeli ambassador directed against Lebanon, taking into ...

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Lebanon civil war: From rival fighters to side-by-side bikers

Marwan and Elie fought for rival militias in Lebanon’s civil war, which divided Beirut into two isolated districts – east and west. However, their common passion for motorcycles unified them and they have become close friends and side-by-side riders. They have been joined by many other ex-fighters, who now organise trips and ride together through Lebanon

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