Banks

IMF Mission Concludes Meetings in Beirut

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber made reassuring remarks regarding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following an extensive meeting held at the Ministry of Finance with the IMF mission. During the meeting, Jaber affirmed that the elimination or partial deduction of bank deposits is a sovereign and national decision, ...

Kulluna Irada: A Law-Breaking Association – Should Its License Be Revoked?

Kulluna Irada is an organization that claims to uphold the law, pursue corrupt individuals, and fight corruption in the name of good governance and reform. However, in practice, the activities of Kulluna Irada violate both the law and the objectives for which the organization was granted official recognition by the Ministry of Interior and ...

Stocks advance on US inflation slowing, Ukraine ceasefire plan

Stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday on both sides of the Atlantic as investors shrugged off the latest US tariff moves to focus on cooling US inflation and a Ukraine ceasefire plan. Global markets have endured severe swings this month as US President Donald Trump looks to ramp up pressure on global partners by imposing or threatening ...

BDH: $100,000 to Support Aspiring Lebanese Homeowners

The Housing Bank (BDH) is set to dramatically increase its loans, raising the amount from $50,000 to $100,000 with support from the Qatari Development Fund. BDH President Antoine Habib confirmed to This is Beirut that “the bank will soon offer $100,000 housing loans to low and middle-income individuals, as well as those with special needs, with ...

Israel says Three Palestinian Militants Killed in West Bank

The Israeli military said its forces shot dead three Palestinian militants during an operation in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, while Palestinian sources reported a woman killed. During a raid in the areas of Qabatiya and Jenin, Israeli forces "encountered several armed terrorists who had barricaded themselves inside a structure in Jenin," ...

Washington Suspends Iranian Electricity Imports to Iraq: What Are the Consequences?

A significant blow to Iran came on March 8, when the United States decided not to renew the waiver that allowed Iraq to import electricity from Iran, despite sanctions imposed on Tehran. Since 2018, Baghdad had benefited from this exemption, which covered nearly a third of its energy needs, despite the country’s considerable oil potential, which ...

Nawaf Salam: 'We Have to Succeed, or the Situation Will Deteriorate Further'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized on Monday evening that a new phase was on the horizon for Lebanon. He stressed the need for the government “to preserve the trust granted to it by both MPs and citizens, which requires daily effort on its part.” The Prime Minister made these remarks during the iftar reception organized on Monday evening ...

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 ...

BDL’s Gold: An Untouchable Treasure or a Last Resort?

Following the government’s policy statement and the president’s inaugural speech, it is clear that a new momentum is emerging to address the pending economic issues. Controversial proposals are emerging, notably the idea of using Lebanon's Central Bank gold reserves (BDL) to partially bridge the financial deficit. However, it is evident that ...

Partition of Syria, the 'David Corridor'… What’s Really at Stake?

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel has ramped up its operations in Syria, seemingly seeking to assert itself as the dominant player against Turkey, which is trying to fill the vacuum left by Iran’s retreat. It has carried out strikes on military positions of the former regime and pro-Iranian militias, expanded its presence in ...

82% of Lebanon's 2024-2025 Budgets Allocated to Public Sector Operational Costs

According to Labora, a Lebanese NGO focused on reducing unemployment, 82% of the 2024 Finance Law and the 2025 budget proposal are allocated to cover the public sector's operational costs. This exceeds the World Bank's 30% threshold, beyond which it refuses to finance budgets, as it views such high spending as a risk of public fund mismanagement ...

World Bank Commits $250 Million to Lebanon’s $1 Billion Fund

The World Bank (WB) has allocated $250 million toward Lebanon’s recovery, as confirmed by Ousmane Dione, the WB Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, following a meeting with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Friday. Dione further emphasized the aim to secure an additional $250 million by partnering with a group of international ...