Source: Kataeb.org
Security & Justice
Lebanon Receives Interpol Warrant for Syrian Regime's Air Force Intelligence Chief
Lebanon has received an Interpol warrant issued by the United States for the arrest of Jamil Hassan, the former chief of Syria’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate. Judicial sources told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that the warrant was handed over to Lebanon’s Public Prosecutor, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, on Thursday. The judge promptly disseminated it to all relevant security agencies.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Lebanon’s Border Villages Face Renewed Devastation Amid Israeli Withdrawal
The Israeli army withdrew from the southern Lebanese village of Bani Hayyan on Friday morning, two days after entering the area in the Marjayoun district. According to local reports, Israeli forces demolished multiple homes as they retreated.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Opinion
Lebanon After the Assads
The United States has important equities in Lebanon, including a desire for a generally friendly government’s economic and political stability; security cooperation; long-standing relations with the large Christian community in Lebanon and Lebanese diaspora in the United States; and ultimately peace between Israel and Lebanon within a broader regional settlement. Achieving these objectives will require navigating a tumultuous period in the country’s history following a war between Hezbollah and Israel that has devastated a large part of the country, exacerbating Lebanon’s already challenging economic conditions. But perhaps the most important dynamic will be how a likely Sunni-dominated state of uncertain composition in Syria will differ in its intentions toward Lebanon from the previous Alawite-led minoritarian Assad regime.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Europe’s Syrian Dilemma
The news of the sudden and unexpected demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has met a mixed response in Europe. The jubilation that a murderous dictator and close ally of Russia and Iran has fallen is not just good for the Syrian people but serves as a morale booster for Eastern Europeans wondering whether Russia can be defeated
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Unveils New Private Jet Worth $73 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the richest global athletes, has unveiled his upgraded private jet reportedly worth $73 million. With its top-notch design, exceptional speed and range of 7500 nautical miles, the Gulfstream G650 is among the fastest jets in the world.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Guardiola Accepts Man City May Need to Sign More Players to Cope with Schedule
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he will need a bigger squad to handle soccer’s ever-expanding fixture schedule.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Friday 9 June 2023 10:37:11
Assets of Banks Amounted to 1,734.63 Trillion LBP as of End of April
Statistics from the Central Bank of Lebanon showed a significant increase in the aggregate balance of commercial banks operating in Lebanon in the first four months of 2023, reaching 1,734.63 trillion LBP compared to 254.85 trillion at the end of 2022. This increase is attributed to the adoption of an official exchange rate of 15,000 LBP per USD since February.
On an annual basis, resident banking sector assets increased six-fold to 1,475.16 trillion LBP compared to 259.47 trillion in April 2022. Customer deposits rose by 654.19% to 1,482.54 trillion LBP until April 2023.
The increase in deposits is due to resident private sector deposits rising by 640.82% to 1,142.71 trillion LBP, and non-resident private sector deposits rising by 815.81% to 323.01 trillion LBP. Public sector deposits increased by 138.48% to 16.82 trillion LBP.
Deposits denominated in LBP grew by 40.43% to 73.62 trillion LBP in the first four months of the current year, while deposits in foreign currencies decreased by 1.74% to reach $94.19 billion.
By the end of April 2023, the dollarization rate of private sector deposits reached 96.40%, compared to 76.25% at the end of 2022 due to the change in the official exchange rate. The deposit portfolio recorded a yearly growth rate of 645.47% to 1,283.67 trillion LBP from 198.87 trillion in April 2022.
Additionally, "Annahar" newspaper reported an increase in bank loans to the private sector by 117.05 trillion LBP (387.22%) in the first four months of the current year, reaching 147.28 trillion LBP, compared to 30.23 trillion LBP in December 2022.
