Economy

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

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 ...

Kulluna Irada: Millions Spent on Elections and Ongoing Budget Falsification

On the surface, there is an intention to build a nation based on institutions, transparency and proper governance. However, in reality, Kulluna Irada has become nothing more than a breeding ground for theft, corruption, deception and falsification, all with destructive objectives for the country. The association, which was originally tasked with ...

US Congress Averts Government Shutdown

The United States averted a government shutdown with hours to spare Friday as lawmakers already reeling from President Donald Trump's radical federal spending cuts voted to keep the lights on through September. Facing a midnight deadline to fund the government or allow it to start winding down, Democrats dropped plans for a blockade on a ...

Kulluna Irada's Strategy: Writing Off Deposits and the Bankruptcy of Banks

Demands for accountability from Kulluna Irada have intensified over its actions in recent years, particularly since the 2019 financial crisis. This includes the decision by former Prime Minister Hassane Diab's government to declare Lebanon bankrupt, its failure to repay debts, and its role in destabilizing the country's monetary and financial ...

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 ...

Official Start of Negotiations with IMF, Jaber Confirms: No Write-Off of Deposits

Lebanese authorities announced the resumption of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reach a final agreement that would grant the country loans while advancing its reform agenda. Talks between the Lebanese government and the IMF began on Wednesday, aiming for a staff-level agreement as a step toward broader negotiations to ...

Trump Doubles Down on Plan to Annex Canada

The United States and Canada traded angry tariff warnings Tuesday, as trade tensions soared and President Donald Trump doubled down on provocative plans to annex his country's northern neighbor. Despite a compromise arising after a day of threats and counter-threats, Canada and other US trading partners will still be hit at midnight by a ...

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

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 ...

Jaber Reaffirms the Government's Commitment to Financial and Customs Reforms

Yassine Jaber, the Minister of Finance, reiterated that “the ministry is resolutely pursuing the necessary and fundamental reforms to improve the country's financial and customs systems.” He emphasized that “the government remains fully committed to advancing reforms aimed at enhancing financial transparency, improving the business ...

Global Markets Shaken by Trump’s Tariff Policies

Shortly after assuming office, US President Donald Trump announced in February the imposition of a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, bringing the total to 20%. He criticized Beijing, Ottawa and Mexico for not doing enough to “combat the flow of fentanyl (a potent opioid) into the ...

Combating Paramilitary Financing: Key to Keeping Lebanon Off the Gray List

Lebanon's inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list can largely be attributed to the lack of cooperation from Lebanese authorities in combating the financing of paramilitary groups, particularly Hezbollah, as well as other organizations like Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement. The failure to address this issue was largely ...