Chief economist at Bank Audi said that the Middle East economy was not immune from the negative effects of the global financial crisis."The regional economy was definitely not insulated from the global financial crisis. Most particularly, crisis spillovers manifested through fluctuations in oil prices and cuts in oil production, and through other transmission channels.

The inadequate use of chemical pesticides in spraying fruits and vegetables is affecting the agricultural exports and the consumption of these products in Lebanon said Zouhair Berro, head of consumers' protection association on Friday."Many countries have recently returned imported Lebanese agricultural products as a result.