Economy

China Sales to US Slump Even as Exports Beat Forecasts
China Sales to US Slump Even as Exports Beat Forecasts

China said Friday sales to the United States slumped last month while its total exports topped forecasts, as Beijing fought a gruelling trade war with its superpower rival. Trade between the world's two largest economies has nearly skidded to a halt since US President Donald Trump imposed various rounds of levies on China that began as ...

Al-Zein: Over 8,000 hectares of Agricultural Land Destroyed in Southern Lebanon
Al-Zein: Over 8,000 hectares of Agricultural Land Destroyed in Southern Lebanon

Environment Minister Tamara al-Zein conducted a field tour of several southern border villages—Ramia, Aita al-Shaab, Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Bint Jbeil, and Ainata—on Thursday to assess the environmental impact of recent Israeli attacks. Al-Zein reported that over 8,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land had been destroyed due to the ...

Stocks Rise as US-UK Unveil Trade Deal
Stocks Rise as US-UK Unveil Trade Deal

Stock markets mostly rose Thursday as US President Donald Trump unveiled a trade deal with Britain, boosting hopes for other countries' tariff negotiations. After the turbulence sparked by Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs on April 2, markets have settled in recent weeks on optimism that countries will reach agreements with Washington to avoid his ...

Starmer Says UK-US Trade Deal a 'Fantastic, Historic Day'
Starmer Says UK-US Trade Deal a 'Fantastic, Historic Day'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday it was a “really fantastic, historic day," after he agreed a US-UK trade deal with President Donald Trump. The agreement lifts tariffs on UK steel and aluminum products and slashes levies on British car exports from 27.5 percent to 10 percent, Downing Street said. "This is a really fantastic, ...

Suitcases Full, Spending Big: Emiratis Rediscover Lebanon
Suitcases Full, Spending Big: Emiratis Rediscover Lebanon

After being away from Lebanon for years, the Emiratis are finally coming back. The lifting of the travel ban – announced on Sunday and taking effect today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – has been welcomed by tourism industry professionals, who see it as a potential boost for a struggling sector. Pierre Achkar, the President of the Federation of ...

Karim Souhaid: The Banking Reform Law Undermines the Independence of the Central Bank
SpotlightKarim Souhaid: The Banking Reform Law Undermines the Independence of the Central Bank

Presenting a 33-page document containing substantial remarks on the banking reform bill submitted by the government, the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Karim Souhaid, attended a session of the Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee held mid-week. The session was chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan and attended by 40 parliamentarians, along ...

Lebanon’s Public Debt Shows Signs of Stabilization
Lebanon’s Public Debt Shows Signs of Stabilization

Lebanon’s public debt, long a symbol of its financial instability, is showing tentative signs of improvement. Recent data indicates a decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio, suggesting a modest stabilization following years of economic turmoil. At the peak of the crisis in 2021, Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio soared to an unprecedented 357.7%, ...

Disney to Open First Middle East Theme Park in Abu Dhabi
Disney to Open First Middle East Theme Park in Abu Dhabi

The Walt Disney Company announced plans Wednesday for a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the country's growing prominence as a global financial and entertainment hub. The waterfront resort will be located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island and developed in partnership with local firm Miral. Disney stated that it aims to attract ...

EU eyes targeting 100 bn euros of US goods with tariffs
EU eyes targeting 100 bn euros of US goods with tariffs

The EU is preparing to hit US goods worth nearly 100 billion euros ($113 billion) with tariffs in retaliation for President Donald Trump's sweeping levies if talks fail, European diplomats told AFP Wednesday. Trump has slapped a series of higher tariffs on Europe since March and in his biggest move, he imposed a 20-percent tariff on a majority of ...

Lebanon Ranks 124th Globally in 2024 Environmental Performance Index
Lebanon Ranks 124th Globally in 2024 Environmental Performance Index

Lebanon ranked 124th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), published by Yale and Columbia Universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. With a score of 40.1 out of 100, Lebanon also placed 10th among Arab nations, falling below both regional and global averages. The EPI assesses countries based on ...

Outdoor Advertising: How Political Propaganda Fuels the Advertising Market
Outdoor Advertising: How Political Propaganda Fuels the Advertising Market

In Lebanon, the current legal framework does not prohibit the display of portraits of political or religious figures, nor does it draw a clear line between commercial advertising and political propaganda. This legal ambiguity has created a gray area that, according to industry insiders, is actively exploited. “Political propaganda is not just ...