<rss version="0.91">
<channel>
<title>www.bi-me.com RSS feed for &#8211; Lebanon</title>
<link>http://www.bi-me.com</link>
<description>Middle Eastern Business News and Data</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Thirty Hezbollah fighters killed in Syrian town, say activists]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61888</link>
<description><![CDATA[SYRIA. The assault on Qusair appeared to be part of a campaign by Assad&#039;s forces to consolidate their grip on Damascus and secure links with their strongholds on the coast.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[AUB workshop on energy and natural resources highlights latest advances in sustainable energy research]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61793</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The latest advances in sustainable energy research were discussed at the Fourth Annual International Masri Institute Workshop on Energy and Natural Resources, held at the American University of Beirut.

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<title><![CDATA[Hezbollah says Syria will supply &#039;game-changing&#039; weapons]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61784</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Hassan Nasrallah said Syria has several options to respond to Israeli strikes, including sending sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah and opening the Golan Heights to action. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Syria threat over Israel air strike risks wider conflict]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61731</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. &quot;Israel is taking a calculated risk that Assad, Iran and Hezbollah are right now fighting a war against the Syrian rebels and probably don&#039;t want to open up a second front.&quot;]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Israel bombs Syria, targets weapons shipment]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61713</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Israel conducted an airstrike in Syria overnight targeting a weapons shipment headed for the militant movement group Hezbollah based in neighboring Lebanon, US media reported.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Hezbollah taking part in Syria fighting, says Nasrallah]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61685</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Hezbollah fighters are aiding troops in Syria to combat the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, the head of the Lebanese Shiite movement confirmed. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Are SMEs up for the digital marketing challenge in Lebanon?]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61639</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. &quot;One of the major challenges that marketers and communication specialists in Lebanon face is the need to educate clients on the basics of online technology, web presence and social media - and how these can be adopted into their company&#039;s growth strategy.&quot;]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61632</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. The Israeli military said the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was detected in Lebanese skies and intercepted by a F-16 fighter jet some five nautical miles from Haifa.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Friedman, the world is flatter than I thought]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61604</link>
<description><![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA. &quot;And after I left his office, I said to myself... Thomas Friedman, maybe you should write a book titled &quot;From St. Louis Park, Minnesota, to Al-Olaya street, Riyadh.&quot;

]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Air Arabia increases Beirut flights to double daily]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61606</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Leading low-cost carrier to provide 14 weekly flights to Lebanon&#039;s capital city, starting May 1st, 2013.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Beirut City Centre attracts more than 400,000 visitors in its first two weeks of operation ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61593</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Highest footfall ever for a shopping mall opening in the Levant region.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Shubbak 2013: Mayor of London unveils plans for international festival of Arab culture]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61588</link>
<description><![CDATA[QATAR. London&#039;s celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world was first launched in 2011.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Standard Chartered appoints new Chief Executive Officer in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61516</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. This is the first time that the bank appoints a Lebanese with global expertise, Dan Azzi, to lead its strategy in the country. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Prince Alwaleed tops Forbes Middle East&#039;s &#039;World&#039;s Richest Arabs&#039; for 2013]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61507</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The year&#039;s list of global billionaires has been published by Forbes Middle East, featuring some of the wealthiest Arabs on the planet.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Global Information Technology Report highlights role of digital technologies in creating much needed jobs in the Middle East]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61480</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The report ranks three GCC countries in the top 30 list globally, and another two in the top 40: Qatar (23), the United Arab Emirates (25), Bahrain (29), Saudi Arabia (31) and Oman (40), demonstrating that they continue to embrace ICT to boost their country&#039;s competitiveness.  ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon ratings affirmed at &#039;B/B&#039;, outlook remains negative ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61468</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Despite the ongoing Syrian civil war, bank deposits have continued to grow over the past year, which has financed the sovereign&#039;s borrowing needs.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Consumer confidence in Lebanon drops to near record low in second half of 2012, reveals Byblos Bank/AUB index]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61456</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Consumer confidence affected by domestic political volatility, repeated security breaches, wave of kidnappings, the resumption of political assassinations, increasing concerns about spillovers from the escalating Syrian crisis, and the dispute over the public-sector salary adjustment.

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<title><![CDATA[Saudis save US$1 billion a week as Egypt counts remaining wheat stocks, says HSBC report]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61448</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Oil-rich Gulf Arab countries, led by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are widening the wealth gap with the region&#039;s energy importers as political turmoil from Egypt to Lebanon stifles economic growth.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Alabbar to lead speaker panel on fifth ASDA&#039;A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61419</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Survey results based on face-to-face interviews with 3,000 Arab youth between the ages of 18 to 24 in 15 Arab nations.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[New Lebanese PM vows to safeguard country from Syria war]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61414</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Moderate MP Tamam Salam was named on Saturday as Lebanon&#039;s new prime minister, pledging in his first address to the nation to safeguard the country from the war raging in neighbouring Syria.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Joumana Kayrouz launches Foundation to help families &amp; children in need ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61350</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON.  Michigan Accident Attorney announced the launching of the Joumana Kayrouz &amp; Daughters Foundation with a initial US$50,000 endowment.
]]></description>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Alwaleed Foundation supports UNICEF education project in Yemen]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61315</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Rehabilitation of 15 Schools with 15,000 Children, mostly girls; Teacher training and ensuring child and gender equality.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Social media empowering MENA businesses to innovate like never before]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61298</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Pioneering study by Dubai School of Government and SAP focusing on Arab youth, reveals 86% believe social media empowers entrepreneurs.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati resigns]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61282</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The resignation came after a two-day ministerial meeting remained deadlocked by a dispute with the Shi&#039;ite group Hezbollah which has dominated Lebanese politics in recent years.
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<title><![CDATA[Social media can help MENA youth find jobs and spark entrepreneurship ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61272</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Findings revealed in most comprehensive study by Dubai School of Government and SAP on region&#039;s social media trends. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon offshore oil &amp; gas update: pre-qualification process launched]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61237</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Pre-Qualification Decree ushers the official opening of the Pre-Qualification Round for oil and gas companies wishing to participate in Lebanon&#039;s first offshore icensing round.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Syrian warplanes attack areas in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61238</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Syrian warplanes struck targets on the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Ersal days after telling the Lebanese government it was exercising &quot;the utmost degree of self-restraint.&quot;]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[44% of MENA professionals expect their personal finances to improve in the next six months]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61234</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. 55% of MENA residents believe business conditions will also become better, according to the latest MENA Consumer Confidence Index Survey conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Syria threatens to strike at rebels in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61220</link>
<description><![CDATA[SYRIA. &quot;Syria expects the Lebanese side to prevent these groups from using the borders as a crossing point, because they are violating Syrian sovereignty.&quot; ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Urgent job creation on a mass scale key to stability in the Arab region, says UNDP report]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61212</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Arab States could reap a major &quot;demographic dividend&quot; if they can convert their advances in education into employment opportunities for youth, says the 2013 Human Development Report.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Al Ahli Holding, LEO District 351 and ESA Launch &quot;Business for a Cause&quot; in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61168</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. &quot;Business for a Cause&quot; is a first of-its-kind initiative in Lebanon that aims at creating and raising awareness about social entrepreneurship and promoting it among the youth as a viable career option.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Business travel in MENA on road to recovery, finds YouGov survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61058</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. 43% of respondents report an increase in business travel budgets during 2012; KSA and UAE most popular business travel destinations among respondents in 2012; 29% of business travelers surveyed flew in a premium class in 2012.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Salary tops list of reasons MENA professionals quit, reveals Bayt.com survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61057</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The majority of employees stay no longer than five years in a job; Multinationals seen as having highest retention rates; 60.2% state that retention today is lower than in previous generations. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Hala Badri presides over MENA Cristal Festival Advertisers Grand Jury]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=61029</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The Advertisers Grand Jury consists of clients who are recommended by agencies from around the MENA region.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Energy update: Oil discovery in northern Lebanese waters]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60993</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Lebanon&#039;s estimated oil &amp; gas reserves have been boosted by the recent discovery of offshore oil reserves estimated between 440 million to 675 million barrels.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[67% of UAE employers planning to hire in 2013]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60985</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. 30% of MENA employers are &quot;definitely hiring&quot;, an additional 27% say they are &quot;probably hiring&quot;; In the UAE, 35% of the companies are &quot;definitely hiring&quot; in the next three months.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[ATM meets Lebanese exhibitors in Beirut]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60905</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The Arabian Travel Market 2013 road show opportunity for industry to strategise ahead of May show.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lanvin opens new boutique in Beirut]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60892</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Lanvin announces the opening of its new men&#039;s store in Beirut&#039;s Park Avenue which will also be offering to customers the Lanvin made-to-measure service. 
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<title><![CDATA[Syria protests over Israel attack, warns of &#039;surprise&#039;]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60829</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Details of Wednesday&#039;s strike remain sketchy and, in parts, contradictory. Syria said Israeli warplanes crossed into its airspace from Lebanon and struck the Jamraya military research centre.

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<title><![CDATA[Israel strikes convoy near Syria-Lebanon border]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60802</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Israeli jets attacked a weapons- transport convoy near Syria&#039;s border with Lebanon, Agence France-Presse reported, citing people it didn&#039;t identify by name. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MENA Hotel RevPAR up by 8% in 2012]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60775</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Most markets in the Middle East and North Africa region post an increase in RevPAR in 2012, driven mainly by better demand according to MKG Hospitality. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Alain Mouawad becomes Guardian of the Mouawad Watch Division]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60773</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Alain Mouawad, a fourth-generation member of the Mouawad family, developed an early passion for horology and the luxury watch business. This passion, coupled with his marketing expertise, has enabled him to make his mark in the timepiece industry. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon&#039;s leading ISP boosts customer experience and reduces costs with Blue Coat]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60677</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. IDM enhances delivery of bandwidth-intensive web content and applications with advanced caching technology.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Work-life balance is the most motivating factor for employees in the UAE, reveals survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60578</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. 38% of UAE respondents claim to receive very little or no company support towards achieving a healthy balance, according to Bayt.com and YouGov survey.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[UAE urges citizens not to travel to Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60499</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The UAE urged citizens not to travel to Lebanon, a popular New Year holiday destination for Gulf Arabs, after Syria&#039;s civil war fanned sectarian clashes in north Lebanon.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[University Presidents launch network to support higher education reform in the Arab World ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60430</link>
<description><![CDATA[MOROCCO.  Widespread embrace of World Bank-designed University Governance Screening Card (UGSC),  a tool for evaluating institutional performance. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Rigid ideologies are battling political pragmatism at the expense of economic growth and reduced investment, says IIF report]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60390</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Byblos Bank hosts the launch of IIF new report on the Middle East and North Africa; Lebanon: recovery hinges on political stability and reforms.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[UNICEF to help the Syrian children refugee and displaced survive the icy weather]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60292</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. UNICEF is urgently mobilizing more than 100,000 children&#039;s clothing kits and around 160,000 blankets, including baby blankets, along with other winter supplies for displaced children in Syria and surrounding countries. 
]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Oil, gas and petrochemicals are top industries in MENA, reveals survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60282</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Industry is a regional leader in terms of current employee satisfaction, and respondent perceptions, according to Bayt.com and YouGov survey.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[ACT for the Disappeared campaign launched in Beirut]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60252</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. &quot;Enough Waiting. We Want to Know.&quot; A nation-wide campaign for the disappeared with the help of Grey Beirut took on the monumental task of getting the message across to all concerned parties.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The World in the eyes of Arabs...and how Arabs are seen by the rest of the world is explored in Arabian Nights]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60205</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. The Arabian Nights programming segment of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) offers the best picks from Arab cinema around the world.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Oman ranked top five in Economic Freedom of the Arab World report]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60190</link>
<description><![CDATA[OMAN. Bahrain and the UAE occupy the top two positions followed by Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon and Oman in joint fifth position ahead Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Analysis: Hezbollah remains wary amid Israeli operations in Gaza]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60116</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. While Hamas is preparing for an Israeli ground assault into Gaza, many are looking in the direction of Lebanon, where Hezbollah, Iran&#039;s most capable militant proxy, could open a second front against Israel. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Analysis: Lessons from two Lebanon assassinations]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60086</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. An examination of the Rafik al-Hariri and Wissam al-Hassan assassinations provides an important lesson to security practitioners everywhere: protective security measures alone are not enough to keep a marked target alive. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Consumer confidence in Lebanon drops to record low in first half 2012 ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=60048</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Domestic political volatility, security breaches, concerns about spillovers from the escalating Syrian crisis, and the dispute over the minimum wage, were the main factors, reveals Byblos Bank/AUB Consumer Confidence Index.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Arabic digital content booming in Saudi Arabia]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59951</link>
<description><![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA. 40% of all Arabic tweets, half of Wikipedia&#039;s Arabic content and 35% of all Arabic content on the web coming from Saudi Arabia.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Investors frustrated by constrained liquidity across the region, reveals survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59825</link>
<description><![CDATA[QATAR. Investors remain positive about Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman; Dubai enjoys a comeback; Worries about Lebanon and Jordan, and to a lesser extent Kuwait, as political unrest waxes and wanes across the region, says latest QFC Authority/FTSE Global Markets MENA asset management survey. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Middle East conflicts engulf Hezbollah, keep its ascendancy in check]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59808</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. &quot;The conflict in Syria and the pressures mounting on Iran will certainly test Hezbollah&#039;s resilience and maturity, and this will only get harder for the organization.&quot; 
]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[ArabNet Riyadh opens doors to entrepreneurs, sheds light on GCC digital landscape]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59811</link>
<description><![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA. ArabNet, the hub for Arab digital professionals and entrepreneurs to connect and learn comes to Saudi Arabia.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Gunfire in Beirut after clashes at funeral of security chief ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59797</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The clashes come after Sunday&#039;s funeral of General Wissam al-Hassan, which itself was followed by skirmishes between mourners and the security forces in Beirut.

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<title><![CDATA[Syria denounced at Beirut funeral rally for slain official]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59790</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Thousands of people gathered in central Beirut on Sunday for the funeral of an assassinated senior intelligence officer, accusing Syria of involvement in the killing.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon&#039;s Mikati delays resignation as nation reels over blast]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59782</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Lebanon&#039;s premier, under intense political flak over a car bombing that killed a senior security official, said he would stay on for now, after the president said it would be in the national interest.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Anti-Syria coalition demands Lebanese cabinet resign]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59772</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Prime Minister Najib Mikati was responsible for the Beirut bombing and should resign, the coalition said in a statement. Mikati&#039;s Cabinet is backed by the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah, which supports Syria&#039;s President Bashar al-Assad.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Top security chief killed in Beirut bomb blast]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59771</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. A huge car bomb exploded near Sassine Square in Ashafriyeh; Lebanon&#039;s police intelligence chief, Wissam al-Hassan, is among eight people reported killed.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Start-ups in MENA grow eight fold since 2005 with UAE attracting 17% of new enterprises]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59744</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the UAE attracted most early stage investments, reveals Dubai Internet City and Frost &amp; Sullivan report.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Hezbollah confirms it sent drone downed over Israel]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59692</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged sending a drone aircraft that was shot down last weekend after flying into Israel.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Infrastructure investment key to Lebanon&#039;s meetings and events sector]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59687</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. GIBTM 2013 road show to wrap up in Beirut as government and tourism leaders meet to discuss ways to capitalise on the country&#039;s international appeal.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Qatar emir calls for Arab-led intervention in Syria]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59496</link>
<description><![CDATA[QATAR. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani hinted at the use of military means &quot;to do what is necessary to stop the bloodshed in Syria.&quot; ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Egypt tops Middle East markets in financial literacy, UAE moves up in ranking, finds MasterCard survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59459</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Saudi Arabia came second, followed by the UAE and Lebanon; UAE consumers were the most informed in the Middle East when it came to knowledge about investments.
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<title><![CDATA[Pope calls for Middle East leaders to work for peace]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59349</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON.  Pope Benedict XVI prayed on Sunday that Middle East leaders work toward peace and reconciliation, stressing again the central theme of his visit to Lebanon.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Iran admits its elite forces operating in Syria]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59348</link>
<description><![CDATA[SYRIA. Syrian troops on Sunday fought rebel fighters in the country&#039;s two main cities Damascus and Aleppo, as Iran acknowledged for the first time it has elite forces present in Syria and Lebanon as &quot;counsellors.&quot;]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Pope meets Muslim leaders in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59327</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Key moment in a visit aimed in part at bridging the gap between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.
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<title><![CDATA[Phoenix Energy to exhibit renewable energy solutions at Beirut Energy Forum 2012]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59306</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Phoenix Energy, renewable energy solutions supplier, will exhibit solar water heaters and biomass boilers at Beirut Energy Forum 2012.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MIT crowned world&#039;s top university while Middle East institutions consolidate standings ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59267</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Top 700 universities published today in 2012/13 QS World University Rankings; 26 institutions from the Middle East in the top 700; Highest ranked institution (197) remains  King Saud University]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Iran could strike U.S. bases if Israel attacks, says Hezbollah]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59144</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. &quot;The response will not be just inside the Israeli entity - American bases in the whole region could be Iranian targets,&quot; the leader of the Iranian-backed militant group said.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[White Mountain Technologies branches out with new offices in Lebanon]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59070</link>
<description><![CDATA[White Mountain, a local software development firm, specializes in education and learning management software, servicing the educational sector.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Beirut&#039;s &#039;DAMAC Tower&#039; raft foundation completed]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59063</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The US$300 million premium project, an innovative collaboration between DAMAC Properties and VERSACE HOME, will deliver the entire VERSACE lifestyle concept to discerning residents.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Kuwaiti kidnapped in Lebanon&#039;s Bekaa valley]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59012</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. The man was seized from his car in the town of Howsh al-Ghanam in the Bekaa valley a security official said, adding that the abduction did not appear to have a political motive.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Deadly flare-up in Lebanon stokes Syria spillover fears]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=59002</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON.  A sniper killed a Sunni sheikh in the north Lebanon city of Tripoli, sparking new clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian factions that dashed a tenuous truce]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mouawad, Premier Gem establish &#039;Premier Diamond Alliance&#039; joint venture]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58980</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Leading names in the diamond and jewellery industries unite assuring a vertical integration of the two companies through the value chain of the diamond pipeline, from rough diamond production to retail sales of polished diamonds and diamond jewelry.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanese Premier warns of Syrian spillover as gunbattles flare]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58973</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Najib Mikati urged national unity to insulate the country from &quot;the burning fires all around it,&quot; after gunbattles in his hometown of Tripoli. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Personal finances, employment conditions expected to improve across MENA region, reveals consumer confidence survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58951</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Respondents are optimistic for the upcoming year. The majority believe that their personal financial situation (51%), country&#039;s economy (44%), business conditions (49%) and employment conditions (35%) will improve, according to Bayt.com and YouGov survey. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Gulf citizens ordered to quit Lebanon as Syrian violence erupts in Beirut ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58907</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Rioters have blocked the road to Beirut airport, as dozens of Syrians were kidnapped and their shops vandalised in violence that triggered orders from Gulf nations for citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanese clan claims kidnap of 20 Syrians]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58904</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Violence in Syria has spilled over into Lebanon in the form of cross-border shootings, shelling by the Syrian army, tit-for-tat kidnappings and sectarian clashes.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Gulf Capital funds education of 100 underprivileged Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian children]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58830</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Supports &quot;Inaash&quot; education programme in Lebanon as part of its broader regional CSR program.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Middle East youth  rise to smarter mobility challenge]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58822</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE.  A total of 119 student teams from all over Asia and the Middle East came together to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2012 - an event that challenges young minds to see who can design and built the region&#039;s most fuel-efficient vehicle.

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<title><![CDATA[Middle East leaders increasingly use Twitter to engage with citizens, finds &#039;Twiplomacy&#039; study]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58814</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has 13 other world leaders following him, making him the most followed by leaders in the region. Queen Rania is the fourth most followed world leader (2,222,872 followers) preceded by Barack Obama in first position (18,223,342 followers).]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Hawkamah and AUB - Rami Makhzoumi Chair join forces to raise regional corporate governance standards]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58742</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. Under the terms of the MoU, the two bodies will collaborate to raise awareness of corporate governance and will launch joint Hawkamah - Rami Makhzoumi Governance Seminar Series and workshops.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Abu Dhabi, Dubai are top Middle East cities to live in, according to Bayt.com survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58624</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. &quot;Top Cities of the Middle East&quot; survey factored in economic factors, entrepreneurial factors, labour rights, environmental factors, everyday life, socio-cultural factors, and quality of life.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Middle East energy: The Levant basin - a new frontier]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58599</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. With an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 122 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of recoverable natural gas, the Levant Basin Province in the eastern Mediterranean is an exciting new frontier for the oil and gas industry.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Deloitte trains over 2,000 Middle East students on entrepreneurial skills]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58559</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Deloitte volunteers in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Palestine and Qatar have been facilitating business and entrepreneurial training programs to high school students in schools across the Middle East since early 2012. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Geopolitical analysis: Halting Syrian chaos]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58427</link>
<description><![CDATA[INTERNATIONAL. Regional stability and moral considerations both require a transitional phase in Syria. If Turkey and Iran can reach some sort of agreement, it can then be blessed by both the United States and Russia.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Qatar,  UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia ranked in top 50 Global Innovation Index 2012]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58415</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Switzerland ranks first among 141 economies on innovation levels; Qatar and the United Arab Emirates lead the Middle East in overall innovation performance.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Saudi Arabia warns citizens against travelling to Lebanon ]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58389</link>
<description><![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA. The warning coincides with the tourist season in Lebanon, a major summer destination for nationals from the oil-rich Gulf region.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon&#039;s Butterfleye named winner of MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Business Plan Competition]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58367</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Over US$80,000 awarded in start-up funding; final award ceremony underscores entrepreneurial spirit throughout the Middle East region.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Dubai most transparent real estate market in the region but lags in global terms, says Jones Lang LaSalle]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58314</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. US, UK, Australia rank as world&#039;s most transparent real estate markets; MIST markets among leading improvers; African, Middle Eastern, Latin American markets lag; Lebanon has shown the greatest improvement in the region over the past 2 years.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MENA women seek financial independence, finds Bayt.com survey]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58285</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Survey conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov, reveals that working women in the region are motivated professionally mostly by monetary prospects.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Arab Entrepreneurs vie for start-up funding at MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Business Plan Competition]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58255</link>
<description><![CDATA[UAE. Of the fourteen finalist teams selected from more than 4500 applications received, seven are from Egypt, three are from Lebanon, two from Palestine, and one team each hail from Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[63.6% of Lebanese smartphone users use applications]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58132</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. New Arab Advisors Group&#039;s survey of cellular users in the Lebanon reveals insightful details on the smartphones adoption and usage patterns. ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon hosts international UNDP workshop on ICT best practices in urban management]]></title>'
<link>http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&amp;cg=3&amp;t=1&amp;id=58088</link>
<description><![CDATA[LEBANON. More than 100 officials from across the Mediterranean convene in Beirut to to hear how UNDP is helping to improve local development through bits and bytes. 
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