Ezzedine declared bankruptcy after his cheque to Hezbollah bounced
8 September, 2009
By Robert Fisk in Beirut
Everyone trusted Salah Ezzedine. A billionaire Shia Muslim businessman and financier from southern Lebanon, he organized pilgrimages to Mecca, ran a major Beirut publishing house and a children's television station, held major investments in east European oil and iron conglomerates,
Lebanese Real Estate: A Bubble About to Burst?
21 August, 2009
By Ghassan Karam
Special to Ya Libnan
What goes up must come down, especially if the rate of increase has resulted in lifting real estate prices into an orbit
Lebanon experiencing a tourist boom due to new-found stability
31 July, 2009
Lebanon has for decades been so unstable that most people prefer not to plan at all and even short-term government planning is rare. But, as Natalia Antelava reports, the country is experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom based in part on its new-found stability and calm.
Iran fires oil chief Torkan amid political unrest
25 June, 2009
By Oliver Klaus
Dubai - Iran has unexpectedly fired one of its senior oil officials amid ongoing unrest on the streets of Tehran. "I am no longer the deputy oil minister for planning from yesterday," Akbar Torkan told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone late Monday. He didn't provide a reason for his removal from office.
March 14 election victory is good news for Lebanon economy
11 June, 2009
By Bassem Mroue
Beirut- Lebanon's pro-West coalition's victory over militant group Hezbollah in the weekend election showdown is expected to boost confidence in the country's economy, analysts said Tuesday, as the "Switzerland of the Middle East"
Lebanon receives its first fire-fighting helicopter
2 June, 2009
Beirut - Lebanon received Tuesday its first ever Sikorsky helicopter as part of the Interior Ministry's "Forever Green" fund-raising campaign to help fight forest fires during summertime.
Analysis: Economic factors may decide Iran election
2 June, 2009
Tehran - Here are the economic factors to watch as Iran votes on whether to give President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term on June 12
IMF denies negotiating any loans with Lebanon's Hezbollah
28 May, 2009
Washington - The International Monetary Fund denied media reports on Wednesday that it had discussed possible loans with Lebanon's Hezbollah before parliamentary elections next month.
Lebanon's BLOM Bank Q1 net profit up 12.2 %
1 May, 2009
Beirut - Lebanese BLOM Bank's first-quarter net profit rose 12.2 percent to $63.3 million, beating its own expectations partly due to strong deposit growth, the bank's chairman and general manager said.
Bank of Beirut Q1 net income edges up
29 April, 2009
Beirut - Net income at Bank of Beirut edged up 0.3 percent to $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period a year ago, according to unaudited results released on Tuesday.
Lebanon: Byblos Bank first quarter net income rises 18.6 %
28 April, 2009
Beirut - Net income at Lebanon's Byblos Bank climbed 18.6 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to $25 million compared with the same period a year ago, a bank official said on Tuesday.
Lebanon's Solidere is confident about the future
6 April, 2009
By Yara Bayoumy
Beirut- Lebanon's largest company, real estate developer, Solidere (SOLA.BY: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(SOLB.BY: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), remains confident about the future of the company, in spite of recent falls in its share price, a top company official said.
Siniora: Lebanon must reform regardless of who wins elections
5 April, 2009
Beirut- Lebanon’s new government must send the right signals on economic reform regardless of who wins a June general election, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Sunday, warning that the debt-laden state was “operating on a short leash”.
Unemployment in US at 8.5 % as economy sheds 663,000 jobs
4 April, 2009
By: *Dean Baker
Washington - The unemployment rate jumped to 8.5 percent in March as the economy shed another 663,000 jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the job loss reported for March, and upward revisions of 84,000 for the prior two months, the economy has lost an average of 684,000 jobs per month since November 2008.
Lebanon's bond ratings upgraded one notch
3 April, 2009
Beirut - Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday upgraded Lebanon's local and foreign currency government bond rating one notch, citing the small country's improved external liquidity and its ability to weather crises.
WT exclusive: Hezbollah uses Mexican drug routes into U.S.
27 March, 2009
Hezbollah is using the same southern narcotics routes that Mexican drug kingpins do to smuggle drugs and people into the United States, reaping money to finance its operations and threatening U.S. national security, current and former U.S. law enforcement, defense and counterterrorism officials say.
Special report : The world's billionaires have gotten poorer
12 March, 2009
The richest people in the world have gotten poorer, just like the rest of us. This year the world's billionaires have an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23% in 12 months. The world now has 793 billionaires, down from 1,125 a year ago.
Baroud raises $200k for 'Forever Green' campaign
10 March, 2009
Beirut - Ziad Baroud, Lebanon's Interior Minister was able to raise $200,000 in donations to purchase a fire-extinguishing helicopter as part of government's "Forever Green" campaign.
Sao Paulo's mayor visits Lebanon
3 March, 2009
Beirut - President Michel Suleiman met today at the Baabda palace Gilberto Kassab the mayor of Sao Paolo . Kassab, who is of Lebanese decent is heading a Sao Paolo delegation, on an official visit to Lebanon
Lebanon's Central Bank chief rings NYSE opening bell
3 March, 2009
New York - The American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, NYSE Euronext, Auerbach Grayson, and The Bank of New York Mellon are delighted to host an inaugural Lebanon Capital Market Day today at The Palace Hotel in New York City.
