Banque du Liban is celebrating the first anniversary of its Circular 331 startup fund, and its amending circular 367, by hosting Lebanon’s 1st international startup conference - Banque du Liban Accelerate
2014 - on Thursday November 20 and Friday November 21, 2014 at Forum de Beyrouth on the shores of the Mediterranean in Beirut, a press release said.
Full StoryDubai, the emirate known for its celebration of over-the-top glamour and luxury, is racing ahead to dominate the Middle East's plastic surgery market with plans to attract half a million medical tourists in six years.
Where cosmopolitan Beirut was once the region's best known city for going under the knife, turmoil in Syria and violence often spilling into Lebanon is driving away wealthy Arab tourists. After splashing out on medical infrastructure over the past years, Dubai already ranks globally and aims to move up the list of top international destinations for medical tourism.
Full StoryLebanese businessman George Obaji's body was found in Cypriot territorial waters after his plane crashed en route to Beirut, his family and authorities said on Thursday.
The chief of Cyprus' aircraft accidents board said earlier that search crews found wreckage belonging to the small aircraft that vanished on Wednesday.
Full StoryU.N.'s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura met on Thursday with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and is expected to hold talks with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil later in the day, on the other hand, he pointed out the "agreement" with Hizbullah on "a political solution" to end the war there.
“A new turn of events are controlling the region, in particular regarding the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant... and the International community is deeply concerned,” De Mistura told reporters after talks with Salam at the Grand Serail.
Full StoryThe Army Intelligence referred on Monday two Syrians to the concerned judiciary for their belonging to terrorist groups.
The army announced that Ahmed Atef Jinyat, a member of the Monzer al-Hasan group, was referred to the concerned judiciary for providing the organization with explosives that were going to be used in terrorist attacks.
Full StoryInsults, attacks and curfews have become commonplace experiences for some Syrian war refugees in Lebanon, with rights watchdogs saying the community faces growing discrimination.
In many parts of the country, it is no longer unusual to see posters prohibiting "foreigners" -- understood to mean Syrians -- from being outside after 8:00 pm.
Full StoryThe head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who made a one-day visit to Beirut on Tuesday, said that Tehran will provide military assistance to Lebanon.
Ali Shamkhani made the announcement following talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.
Full StoryTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has informed the Lebanese government that Ankara is not willing to act as a mediator in the case of the soldiers and policemen who were kidnapped by jihadists last month, As Safir daily reported on Friday.
Turkish officials have also informed the Lebanese authorities that their rejection to mediate stems from the “sensitivity” of the case, Lebanese ministerial sources said.
Full StoryQatar's envoy, who is tasked with mediating the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen taken captive by jihadists from a border town, is expected to arrive in Beirut on Friday amid hopes by their families that the hostages will escape beheading.
The envoy, a Syrian, is scheduled to meet with members from the Muslim Scholars Committee and officials close to al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front away from media spotlight.
Full StoryA Middle East Airlines flight from Geneva arrived in Beirut on Sunday after landing in Rome over the absence of a passenger, the airline announced.
MEA said in a statement that the aircraft was heading from the Swiss city to Rafik Hariri International Airport in the Lebanese capital when it was revealed that a passenger with a boarding pass did not take the flight.
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