The Healthcare Crisis: A Standoff Between Hospitals and Insurance Companies

Christiane Tager 20/03 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hospitals Insurance medical health

The conflict between the hospital owners' syndicate and insurance companies remains unresolved. Hospitals say they are grappling with soaring inflation and steadily rising operating costs, prompting them to demand a 15% increase in hospital fees. According to hospital executives, this adjustment is essential to offset the rising costs of ...

Stock Markets Retreat on Revised US Economic Outlook

This is Beirut 20/03 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Banks Europe

Major European and Asian stock markets retreated Thursday following a weaker-than-forecast US economic outlook and despite the Federal Reserve trying to calm fears over President Donald Trump's tariffs. Fed boss Jerome Powell on Wednesday suggested that any increase to consumer prices caused by tariffs would likely be short-lived, even as the ...

Europe Games Industry on Edge as 'Assassin's Creed' Hits Shelves

This is Beirut 20/03 11:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

'Assassin's Creed Shadows'

Thursday's release of action-adventure epic "Assassin's Creed Shadows" marks a make-or-break moment not just for struggling French games heavyweight Ubisoft, but for the entire European gaming ecosystem. With its almost 18,000 employees and global footprint, Ubisoft has nevertheless suffered one setback after another in recent years with ...

US Fed Holds Rates Again and Flags Increased Economic Uncertainty

This is Beirut 19/03 20:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA White House

The US Federal Reserve paused interest rate cuts again on Wednesday and noted an increase in economic uncertainty, as it navigates an economy unnerved by President Donald Trump's stop-start tariff rollout. Policymakers voted to hold the US central bank's key lending rate at between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent, the Fed announced in a ...

Rising Prices, Stagnant Wages: An Ever-Harder Daily Struggle

Liliane Mokbel 19/03 18:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Salaries Minimum wage Government inflation GDP

In one of his first statements to the press, the new Minister of Labor, Mohammad Haidar, said that raising the minimum wage is among his priorities. He noted that the matter would be discussed with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber but did not specify a figure. Recently, some have called for a minimum wage of $1,000—five times the current ...

Turkish Lira Hits Historic Low Against Dollar as Istanbul Mayor Detained

This is Beirut 19/03 10:30 - Reading : less than a minute

The Turkish lira plunged to an all-time low against the dollar on Wednesday, after police raided the home of Istanbul's powerful opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The currency was trading at 39 liras per dollar after the mayor, a key opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained over a corruption probe, a move denounced by his ...

Agriculture: Rationalizing Water Consumption in the Face of Reduced Rainfall

This is Beirut 18/03 20:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

agriculture water global warming

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Directorate of Agricultural Research called on Tuesday for rational management of water consumption this year due to a significant drop in rainfall, which has only reached 30% of the usual annual average. In addition to low rainfall, temperatures have been higher than normal, due to climate change. The ...

The Lebanese Industrial Sector: 18,542 Factories Producing 1,656 Products

This is Beirut 18/03 19:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Industry

Based on the latest statistics from the Guide to Lebanese Exports and Industrial Institutions for the end of 2024, Lebanon has 18,542 factories producing 1,656 products. This includes 8,771 factories classified according to the international harmonized system, and 1,179 products exported internationally, meeting the legal and technical standards ...

Gold: A Strategic Asset

Liliane Mokbel 18/03 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gold Price BRICS central banks

Gold price surged past $3,000 per ounce last Friday, setting a new all-time record. By Tuesday morning, around 08:30 GMT, the precious metal climbed even higher to $3,020 per ounce, fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and lingering trade wars initiated during Donald Trump’s presidency. Meanwhile, BRICS central banks ...

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Introduces New Direct Flight to Beirut

This is Beirut 18/03 16:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Wizz Air Airlines Direct flight Beirut

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the low-cost airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced on Tuesday the launch of a new direct route connecting Beirut and Abu Dhabi. Starting in June, the service will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, offering budget-friendly fares starting at $61.99. Positioning itself as the only low-cost ...

Digital Transformation in Lebanon: A Step Towards the Future

Joe André Rahal 18/03 14:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Administration Digital Transformation AI

Amid Lebanon’s ongoing crises, the need to modernize public administration and improve services has never been greater. Digital transformation has emerged as a strategic path to drive progress, enhance transparency and rebuild trust between citizens and the state. The Cabinet has to discuss a comprehensive plan to digitize government ...

The New Governor of BDL Will Be Nominated Outside the Mechanism of Administrative Appointments

This is Beirut 18/03 14:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

FPM Lebanon BDL Economy

Ministerial sources said that the Cabinet will continue discussions on the mechanism of administrative appointments on Friday. The focus will be on addressing gaps in the plan originally prepared by Minister Mohammad Fneish and approved by Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government in 2010—a plan that was never implemented due to a legal ...