international

US spacewalkers install ‘new eyes’ at space station

Miami - Muslimchronicle

Two US astronauts installed a high-definition video camera at the International Space Station Tuesday and made more progress on repairs to the lab’s robotic arm, NASA said. NASA spokesman Rob Navias described the camera equipment as offering “new eyes” to the orbiting outpost, as live video showed astronaut Randy Bresnik in sharp detail, floating in his white spacesuit. The previousRead more

S&P says could downgrade Catalonia’s debt rating

Paris - Muslimchronicle

The international credit rating agency Standard & Poors said it may downgrade the sovereign debt rating of Catalonia in the next three months as tensions with Madrid escalate over the region’s push for independence. “S&P Global Ratings placed its ratings on the Autonomous Community of Catalonia on CreditWatch with negative implications,” the rating agency said in a statement released lateRead more

Saudi Arabia to widen foreign investment access again in 2017 — CMA chairman

London - Muslimchronicle

Saudi Arabia plans to further open up its stock market to foreign investors later this year as it seeks to become an international capital markets hub, Mohammed Abdullah Elkuwaiz, chairman of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) told Reuters on Friday. Qualified foreign institutions (QFIs) were allowed to begin investing directly in Saudi stocks in 2015 and qualification requirements were easedRead more

Saudi Arabia raises $12.5bn in new bond sale

Riyadh - Muslimchronicle

Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced it had undertaken another multibillion-dollar bond sale to finance a persistent budget deficit left by low oil prices. The world’s top crude oil exporter raised $12.5 billion in its third international bond issue, the Finance Ministry said. It comes as Saudi Arabia pursues economic and social reforms including this week’s announcement that it will endRead more

Wounded Bayern Munich turn to Bundesliga as pressure mounts

Berlin - Muslimchronicle

Bayern Munich will look to Sunday's Bundesliga fixture against Hertha Berlin for a pick-me-up following their 3-0 Champions League loss to Paris St Germain as pressure continues to mount on coach Carlo Ancelotti. The German champions have failed to impress this season and sit third in the league after six games, three points off undefeated leaders Borussia Dortmund. They threwRead more

Iraq’s Kurds vote 'yes' to independent state in referendum — official results

Irbil - Muslimchronicle

Iraq’s Kurds announced a massive “yes” vote for independence on Wednesday following a referendum that has incensed Baghdad and sparked international concern. Official results showed 92.73 percent of voters backing statehood in Monday’s non-binding referendum, which Iraq’s central government rejected as illegal. Turnout was put at 72.61 percent. Longtime Iraqi Kurd leader Masoud Barzani said the vote would not leadRead more

Alba Line 6 Expansion Project on target

Manama - Muslimchronicle

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, is taking solid steps in building its present with Line 6 Expansion Project and creating its future with the pouring of its First Hot Metal (FHM) by January 01, 2019 according to a statement issued by the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa.Read more

Qatar laborer ‘sacked’ after speaking to UN team

Doha - Muslimchronicle

A Nepalese construction worker in Qatar was “sacked” the day after speaking to a UN delegation visiting the 2022 World Cup host country to examine labor conditions, sources told AFP. The incident is considered serious enough that the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) said it would be on the agenda when its governing body meets in two months to discussRead more

Japan kills 177 whales in Pacific campaign: government

Tokyo - Muslimchronicle

Japan said Tuesday it killed 177 whales off its northeast coast in an annual hunt that sparks anger among animal rights activists and others. Three ships which left port in June returned with 43 minke whales and 134 sei whales, the number stipulated beforehand, according to the country’s fisheries agency. Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC)Read more

Turkey vows to take ‘all measures’ if Iraqi Kurdish referendum endangers security

Istanbul - Muslimchronicle

Turkey will take “all measures” under international law if the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum being held on Monday generates threats to Turkey’s national security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The ministry issued the statement as voting started in northern Iraq in a referendum organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite regional and international fears that it will fuel instabilityRead more