Economy

Egypt to Export Electricity to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon via New Submarine Cable
Egypt to Export Electricity to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon via New Submarine Cable

Egypt is preparing a major energy project to export electricity to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon via a new submarine cable through Jordan, with an initial capacity of 2,000 megawatts. The announcement follows a visit by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to Amman, where he met with his Jordanian counterpart to discuss expanding regional energy ...

Forget Stocks: Your Next Investment Could Be a Handbag
Forget Stocks: Your Next Investment Could Be a Handbag

Buying a Hermès or Chanel bag is no longer just a style statement – it has become a serious investment. Take the legendary Birkin. A Baghunter study found it delivered average annual returns of 14.2% over 35 years, outpacing the S&P 500’s 11.7% in the same period. Even more remarkable, some rare or exotic models have doubled in value in just ...

Beirut Traders Index Points to Fragile Economic Rebound
Beirut Traders Index Points to Fragile Economic Rebound

The latest index of the Beirut Traders Association-Fransabank (Q2 2025) shows the first signs of a recovery in local markets, a welcome development as the World Bank forecasts 4.7% GDP growth for Lebanon in 2025 and a sharp drop in inflation. The retail trade index rose to 33.13 points in Q2 2025, up from 30.01 the previous quarter (base 100 = Q4 ...

NSSF Reports Strong Recovery in Health Spending in 2025
NSSF Reports Strong Recovery in Health Spending in 2025

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has reported a sharp rise in health expenditures since the start of 2025, signaling early signs of recovery. Health benefits, including hospitalizations, medical care, and medications, have surged by 65% compared with the entire year of 2024. On August 18, the NSSF approved two new financial advances ...

Lebanon, a Transit Hub for Iraqi Oil
SpotlightLebanon, a Transit Hub for Iraqi Oil

Will Iraqi oil once again flow through Tripoli, capital of North Lebanon? The project is back on the table, but its outcome remains uncertain. Baghdad is signaling determination. Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani confirmed that the option is under serious study. To show goodwill, he also mentioned the possible rehabilitation of Kirkuk-Baniyas ...

Games Industry in Search of New Winning Combo at Gamescom 2025
Games Industry in Search of New Winning Combo at Gamescom 2025

The global games industry gathers for the vast Gamescom trade fair in Cologne this week, with hopes that upcoming heavy-hitters like "GTA VI" can help the industry escape its doldrums. Tuesday's opening night event will show off major releases slated for the months ahead, with the starring role going to "Black Ops 7" -- the new installment in the ...

‘Standard & Poor’s’ Maintains Lebanon’s Foreign Currency Rating at SD, Warns of Weak Governance
‘Standard & Poor’s’ Maintains Lebanon’s Foreign Currency Rating at SD, Warns of Weak Governance

The international credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s has raised Lebanon’s long-term local currency rating to CCC with a stable outlook, while maintaining its foreign currency rating at SD, according to Reuters. The agency explained that the risks of Lebanon defaulting on local debt remain, due to spending pressures, limited access to ...

Tourism: A Core Driver of Lebanon’s Economy
Figure of the weekTourism: A Core Driver of Lebanon’s Economy

In 2024, the travel and tourism sector contributed 19.8% of Lebanon’s GDP, more than double its share in 2023 (8.4%), according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). This marks a significant rebound from 2019, when the sector represented 18.9% of GDP, before Lebanon faced a series of overlapping crises. In terms of revenue, the sector ...

Golden Controllers: The Hidden Economy of Video Games
Golden Controllers: The Hidden Economy of Video Games

Free to play… yet astonishingly profitable, today’s video games turn our clicks into cash. Microtransactions, virtual concerts and blockbuster partnerships have made Fortnite, Candy Crush and their peers billion-dollar giants. And in Lebanon, players show no sign of putting down their controllers anytime soon. Video games, once seen as mere ...

Starlink in Lebanon: Hopes, Fears and the Battle for the Digital Sky
Behind the ScenesStarlink in Lebanon: Hopes, Fears and the Battle for the Digital Sky

On Wednesday, Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage removed from the Cabinet agenda a draft law aimed at regulating Starlink’s entry into Lebanon. Officially, the move allows for further study. Unofficially, the issue is already fueling political tensions and heated debate: Is it a threat to digital sovereignty or an opportunity to ...

The Court of First Instance in Mount Lebanon Allows the Lifting of Seizures on Bank Assets
SpotlightThe Court of First Instance in Mount Lebanon Allows the Lifting of Seizures on Bank Assets

The Court of First Instance in Mount Lebanon, through its Third Chamber handling real estate matters and composed of judges Yamen El-Hajjar (presiding), Elissia Abou Jaoudeh, and Fatima Bazzi, issued a key ruling in a case filed by Mrs. Sara Audi Attaya, represented by her attorney Riad Hallaj, challenging a decision by the Baabda Land Registry ...