Economy

83% of USAID programs to be scrapped, according to Rubio
83% of USAID programs to be scrapped, according to Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the United States was cancelling 83 percent of programs at USAID, as the Trump administration guts spending not aligned with its "America First" agenda. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) distributes humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 ...

Stock Markets Slump on US, China Economic Fears
Stock Markets Slump on US, China Economic Fears

Stock markets slipped on Monday as investors fretted over the impact of President Donald Trump's trade policy on the economic growth of the United States and China, the world's biggest economies. Wall Street's three main indexes opened in the red, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq falling two percent, after Trump himself declined to rule out the risk of ...

New Car Sales in 2024: A 25% Increase, But Still Below Pre-2018 Levels
Figure of the weekNew Car Sales in 2024: A 25% Increase, But Still Below Pre-2018 Levels

In 2024, a total of 8,226 new cars were sold, representing a 25.05% increase compared to the 6,578 units sold in 2023, according to the International Chamber of Navigation of Beirut. However, despite this growth, the market for new car imports remains significantly below pre-2018 levels. By comparison, 21,991 vehicles were sold in 2019, 33,012 ...

Global Stocks Mixed As Trump Shifts on Tariffs Weighs on Sentiment
Global Stocks Mixed As Trump Shifts on Tariffs Weighs on Sentiment

Global stocks were mixed Friday as President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff tinkering weighed down sentiment even as Wall Street stocks shot higher following reassuring comments from the head of the Federal Reserve. After a down day in Europe, US stocks looked poised for another rocky round following mixed employment data. Briefing.com ...

Trump's Tariff Rollback Brings Limited Respite As New Levies Loom
Trump's Tariff Rollback Brings Limited Respite As New Levies Loom

US President Donald Trump imposed vast tariffs this week on key partners Canada and Mexico, roiling cross-border ties before offering temporary relief to manufacturers—but with more levies kicking in next week, the respite may be fleeting. US companies faced a series of duties starting Monday, with Trump doubling an additional levy on ...

Continued Growth in Private Sector Business Activity in February 2025
Continued Growth in Private Sector Business Activity in February 2025

The PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) published by BlomInvest for February 2025 revealed that business activity among Lebanese private sector companies recorded new growth. Commenting on the results, Mira Said, Chief Research Analyst at Blom Business Bank, noted that the PMI slightly declined from 50.6 points in January 2025 — its highest ...

Lebanon: Proposed Heavy Surtax on Alcohol Sparks Outrage
Lebanon: Proposed Heavy Surtax on Alcohol Sparks Outrage

The massive surtax on alcoholic beverages proposed in the 2025 budget has sparked outrage among hotel and restaurant owners, who fear it will negatively impact consumption and, consequently, their businesses and the overall tourism sector. The tax rates have been multiplied by 225 and up to 750 times, which is utterly staggering. This tax hike is ...

Minister of Economy Launches Electronic Service for Market and Exhibition Organizers
Minister of Economy Launches Electronic Service for Market and Exhibition Organizers

The Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Bsat, announced in a statement the launch of a new electronic service that allows market and exhibition organizers in Lebanon to submit their license applications online. This initiative is part of the ministry's digital transformation project, aimed at simplifying procedures and enhancing ...

Jaber: The 2026 Budget Will Guarantee Financial Regularity and Support Social Spending
Jaber: The 2026 Budget Will Guarantee Financial Regularity and Support Social Spending

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber affirmed on Friday that the 2026 budget plan would include measures aimed at ensuring financial regularity while paving the way for increased spending in social sectors. He emphasized that this budget would highlight the government’s development strategies and priority reform objectives. Among the measures planned ...

Now a believer, Trump hosts White House crypto summit
Now a believer, Trump hosts White House crypto summit

Donald Trump on Friday hosts top cryptocurrency players at the White House, a political boost for an industry that has struggled to gain legitimacy -- and where the Republican president faces conflict of interest concerns. US crypto investors were major supporters of Trump's presidential campaign, contributing millions of dollars toward his ...

World Bank says Lebanon needs $11 bn for post-war reconstruction
World Bank says Lebanon needs $11 bn for post-war reconstruction

The World Bank on Friday estimated Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction costs at $11 billion following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire last November. "Reconstruction and recovery needs following the conflict that affected Lebanon are estimated at US$11 billion," the World Bank said in a report assessing damage ...

Launch of the “Digital Gates” Project at Beirut Airport
Launch of the “Digital Gates” Project at Beirut Airport

The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rassamni, inaugurated the automatic gates project at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Friday morning, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with the support of the German Federal Police. The project aims to enhance security and facilitate airport ...