Beirut - Lebanese banks have managed not only to survive the effects of the global economic crisis, but the country has even registered gains in its banking sector.

The head of research at Byblos Bank Group, one of Lebanon's biggest banks, Nassib Ghobriel, believes that the country's solid banks present "an attractive alternative to depositors lacking confidence in other international institutions during the financial crisis."

Beirut - Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora stressed at a conference in Beirut Thursday that security and stability are the key to healthy financial growth in the country.

The Friends of Lebanon for Investment and Finance conference, which was attended by 500 participants from 15 Arab and international institutions, was set to address the global financial crisis and its local repercussions and to explore investment opportunities in Lebanon.

Beirut - Former US President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to visit Lebanon in Decem

Beirut - Visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband started official talks with Lebanese leaders Wednesday, saying he hoped that stability would prevail in Lebanon until the upcoming parliamentary election due in May 2009.

"The entire world is looking at the upcoming parliamentary elections where politics, not violence, should determine Lebanon's future relations," Miliband said after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.

Beirut

 - A new Lebanese magazine that Focuses on body art, science and literature and aims to tackle subjects such as eroticism and fetishism, is due to hit the stands in the Arab world next month.

Joumana Haddad, editor-in-chief of Jasad (the Arabic word for body), said the publication aims to break taboos and will provide its writers, researchers and artists with the freedom they deserve.