Latest Beirut News
Lebanon Central Bank chief questioned by European lawyers
BEIRUT (AP) — Under heavy security, Lebanon's embattled Central Bank chief was questioned for the first time on Thursday before a visiting European legal team in a money-laundering probe linked to the governor. Several European countries are investigating Gov. Riad Salameh, who in...
Lebanon's Central Bank chief again charged with corruption
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s Central Bank chief was again charged with corruption on Wednesday, this time after failing to show up for questioning before a European legal team visiting Beirut in a money-laundering probe linked to the governor, officials said. According to the judicial...
France asks Lebanon to question 2 suspects in 1983 bombing
BEIRUT (AP) — French authorities have asked Lebanese prosecutors to detain two people suspected of involvement in a 1983 bombing in Beirut that killed dozens of French troops, Lebanese judicial officials said Wednesday. It is highly unlikely that Lebanese authorities will detain...
Lebanon leans on US dollar to cope as currency, economy tank
BEIRUT (AP) — When Moheidein Bazazo opened his Beirut mini-market in 1986, during some of the fiercest fighting in Lebanon’s civil war, he didn't expect it to thrive. But several years later, he had shelves full of food and needed 12 employees to help him manage a bustling business. ...
Lebanon's Central Bank governor charged with corruption
BEIRUT (AP) — Beirut’s public prosecutor on Thursday charged the governor of cash-strapped Lebanon's Central Bank, his brother and an associate with corruption, Lebanese officials said. The development comes one month after a European judicial delegation from France, Germany,...
IS attacks on Syria truffle hunters are deadliest in a year
BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State group has carried out its deadliest attacks in more than a year, killing dozens of civilians and security officers in the deserts of central Syria, even as people of northern Syria have been digging out of the wreckage from the region’s devastating earthquake. ...
Key developments in the aftermath of the Turkey, Syria quake
SAMANDAG, Turkey (AP) — Demolition teams are clearing mounds of rubble from the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, as emergency responders scramble to shelter survivors — who were traumatized anew by Monday's magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Turkey's already badly battered province...
Lebanon sets new exchange rate, dramatically devalues pound
BEIRUT (AP) — Three years into a crippling financial crisis, Lebanon's Central Bank on Wednesday set a new exchange rate that effectively devalued the country's currency by 90% but did little to bridge the gap with the soaring black market rate. The dramatic measure is meant to...
Amid standoff in Beirut blast probe, US national released
BEIRUT (AP) — Scores of protesters Thursday scuffled with riot police in Beirut as they tried to break into the offices of Lebanon’s judiciary, after the country’s chief prosecutor filed charges against the judge investigating the massive 2020 port explosion and ordered the release of all...
Top prosecutor orders release of Beirut port blast detainees
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s top prosecutor Wednesday ordered the release of all suspects detained in the investigation into the deadly 2020 port blast in Beirut and filed charges against the judge leading the probe, he told The Associated Press. The move by chief prosecutor Judge...
