Lebanese Republic
The Country of Lebanon

Lebanon (Arabic: لبنان Lubnān), officially the Lebanese Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية), is a small, largely mountainous country in the Middle East, located at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. The flag of Lebanon features a cedar in green against a white backdrop, bounded by two horizontal red stripes along the top and bottom.

Due to its sectarian diversity, Lebanon follows a special political system, known as confessionalism, meant to distribute power as evenly as possible among different sects.

Until the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the country enjoyed relative calm and prosperity, driven by the tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors of the economy. It was considered the banking capital of the Arab world and was widely known as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" due to its financial power. Lebanon also attracted large numbers of tourists, to the point that the capital Beirut became widely referred to as the "Paris of the Middle East."

Immediately following the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure. By early 2006, a considerable degree of stability had been achieved throughout much of the country, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete, and an increasing number of foreign tourists were pouring into Lebanon's resorts. However, the 2006 Lebanon War brought mounting civilian and military casualties, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and massive population displacement from July 12, 2006 until a ceasefire went into effect on August 14, 2006. As of September 2006, the Lebanese government has been implementing an early recovery plan aimed at reconstructing property destroyed by Israeli attacks in Beirut, Tyre, and other villages in southern Lebanon.

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What News is making headlines in the Lebanese Republic?
AME Info | Lebanon | Latest News

Lebanons credit ratings upgraded

Lebanon: Capital Intelligence, the international credit rating agency, today announced that it has raised <BR>Lebanons long-term foreign and local currency ratings to B from B- (B minus). [AMEInfo.com]

Citi Foundation, Injaz-Lebanon launch JA Banks in Action across Lebanons schools

Lebanon: Citi and Injaz-Lebanon, a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, announced the launch of JA Banks in Action across Lebanons schools. [AMEInfo.com]

2009 Airline IT Trends Survey shows sharp decline in new investment as airline losses mount

Lebanon: Airline investment in IT is set to reach a new low this year as aircraft operators cope with unprecedented financial losses, according to the 2009 Airline IT Trends Survey co-sponsored by SITA and Airline Business, which was launched today at the annual SITA Air Transport IT Summit in Cannes. [AMEInfo.com]

Beirut Arab University signs with UniversiTools

Lebanon: Beirut Arab University (BAU) in Lebanon has selected UniversiTools software to manage its full scheduling needs across university campuses in Lebanon and Egypt. [AMEInfo.com]

Fitch affirms Bank Audi at 'B-'; outlook stable

Lebanon: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Lebanon-based Bank Audi S.A.L.'s (Bank Audi) ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) 'B-' with Stable Outlook, Short-term IDR 'B', Individual 'D' and Support '5'. [AMEInfo.com]

Citi Foundation and Injaz Lebanon launch JA banks in action across Lebanons schools

Lebanon: How does a bank work? Not only did 160 students at selective Beirut schools learn about finance, they actually managed their own banks. [AMEInfo.com]

Holdal integrates its third facility on the Infor WM Solution with SNS

Lebanon: SNS, the leading provider of supply chain solutions in the Gulf and Middle-East, is proud to announce the Infor WM Solution go-live of the third facility at Holdal Premises in Beirut. [AMEInfo.com]

Travelport showcases new technology at product roadshow in Lebanon

Lebanon: Travelport, one of the worlds leading global distribution system (GDS) providers and operator of both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, recently hosted a highly-successful product showcase for travel agents in Lebanon aimed at highlighting the power of its cutting-edge travel technology. [AMEInfo.com]

Nandos opens branch in Kaslik

Lebanon: Nandos, the Afro-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken celebrated the opening of its new branch in Kaslik. [AMEInfo.com]

World Bank reduces Lebanons growth prospects

Lebanon: The World Bank has revised downward its economic growth forecast for Lebanon to 2.5% in 2009, from an earlier forecast of 4% at the end of last year. It said that Lebanons growth prospects as well as those of neighbouring economies - will depend on how well GCC economies perform, as well as to a lesser extent those of the international donor community. The GCC has been the main source of remittances, foreign direct investment and tourism to the Levant, while the international community has provided foreign aid, the World Bank said. Lebanon's current account deficit is equivalent to 14.7% of GDP in 2008. [AMEInfo.com]