Lebanon bank chief turns up for European probe into his wealth

• He faces allegations of crimes including embezzlement in separate probes in Lebanon and abroad. He rarely appeared before investigating judges, despite numerous complaints.
• France, Germany and Luxembourg seized assets worth 120 million euros ($130 million) in March last year in a move linked to a French probe into Salameh's personal wealth.

No recent crossings of Lebanon-Israel border, say UN peacekeepers

• UNIFIL acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, neighbors that remain technically at war and have no diplomatic relations.
• United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon urged both sides to exercise restraint and use UNIFIL coordination mechanisms to "avoid misunderstandings".

Will only talk to Erogan if Turkey exits Syria: Assad

• His comments come one day after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is seeking to repair ties between Erdogan and Assad
• Erdogan and Assad had amicable relations in the 2000s after years of tensions between their countries following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire

JCC discusses trade, commerce in economic summit in France

• Jordan Chamber of Commerce spoke of closer ties with trade and commercial bodies in the European Union member states.
• Topics like environment and water, industry, modern construction projects, food, nutrition, healthcare, banking, medicine, funds, climate were discussed.

China, Russia, Iran conduct joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

• China's Defense Ministry, in a statement, said the exercises will conclude on Sunday and will include the participation of China's guided-missile destroyer Nanning
• Russia will be represented by a detachment of ships from the country's Northern Fleet, including the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kama medium sea tanker

Saudi-Iran pact should offer momentum toward peace in Yemen: UN

• The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg appealed to the parties to the conflict to seize the opportunity of the breakthrough
• The war in Yemen has since claimed hundreds of thousands of lives -- direct and indirect victims -- and displaced millions and pushed many into poverty

Lebanon’s central bank chief snubs European investigators’ team

• Riad Salameh, 72, is part of the Lebanese political class widely blamed for a crushing economic crisis that began in late 2019.
• The investigators are examining the fortune he has amassed during three decades in the job. He denies all the allegations.

Bashar al-Assad meets Putin in Russia to discuss Syria-Turkey ties

• The outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011 has strained relations between Damascus and Ankara, which has long supported rebel groups opposed to Assad.
• Damascus is a staunch ally of Moscow, which intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015, launching air strikes to support the government's struggling forces.

Saudi Arabia sees ‘lot of’ investment opportunities in Iran

• Saudi finance minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said Iran has a lot of business opportunities, which could enhance investments in the country.
• Saudi Arabi and Iran agreed to restore their ties and reopen embassies in the next two months after a peace deal mediated by China.

WEF23 continues to impact global policies, events