Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 20, 2026

French Cement Giant Lafarge Faces Trial for Terror Financing; Global Stories Unfold: Fake Bomb Threats in India, Egypt-Iran Diplomacy, and Student Debt Relief in the US

French cement giant Lafarge to face trial in unprecedented terrorism financing case, while global events see rising tensions and legal maneuvers from Syria to South Asia.
In a landmark corporate case, French cement giant Lafarge, now part of Holcim, is set to face trial in France for allegedly financing terrorism and breaching European sanctions in Syria, marking one of the largest corporate criminal probes in recent French history.

Meanwhile, in India, authorities are clamping down on a troubling surge of fake bomb threats against airlines, with over a dozen incidents reported this week, including severe disruptions to flights and the arrest of a minor suspected in some threats.

Over in the Middle East, Egypt and Iran are engaging in diplomatic talks to diffuse regional tensions as concerns rise over potential escalations involving Israel, marking a significant step as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visits Cairo for the first time in years.

In Eastern Africa, Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia are enduring violence amidst ongoing clashes between Ethiopian forces and militias, particularly the Fano militia, amidst broader regional instability and human rights concerns.

Across the Atlantic, President Joe Biden has cleared an additional $4.5 billion in student debt, benefiting over 60,000 borrowers, despite ongoing legal battles and GOP criticism labeling it as an overreach of executive power.

Finally, in South Asia, a Bangladeshi court has issued an arrest warrant for ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, complicating her extradition as Bangladesh seeks to address allegations of human rights abuses during her tenure.
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