Christiane Tager, 05/03 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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 ...
Bassam Abou Zeid, 05/03 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Central Bank Economy Hezbollah
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 ...
Christiane Tager, 04/03 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Trade relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have long been prosperous, with Lebanese exports reaching over $800 million per year and Saudi imports totaling $1.3 billion. However, political tensions have severely affected these exchanges, reducing their volume by more than half and causing a considerable loss of revenue for Lebanon. Could the ...
This is Beirut, 21/02 15:25 - Reading : less than a minute
The Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) reported on Friday that Lebanon’s Consumer Price Index for January 2025 recorded a 1.1% increase, following a 0.18% decline in September 2024 compared to August 2024. This was the first increase in over a year, after record surges in 2023 (33.27% in March and 5.35% in May). However, the index saw a ...
This is Beirut, 21/02 12:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria would need more than 50 years to get back to its economic level before its devastating civil war at current growth rates, the United Nations said Thursday. "Fourteen years of conflict in Syria have undone nearly four decades of economic, social, and human capital progress," the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said. "At current growth ...
Maurice Matta, 21/02 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In line with the Lebanese Central Bank (BDL) policy to raise withdrawal limits, and following consultations with President General Joseph Aoun, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, BDL’s Central Council decided earlier this week to increase the ceiling under Circular No. 158 to $500 per month ...
Christiane Tager, 20/02 22:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy Banks Central Bank
In a highly anticipated move, Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) announced on Wednesday an increase in the withdrawal limits for Circulars 158 and 166, raising them to $500 and $250 per month, respectively, effective March 1. While the decision was welcomed by depositors, it has sparked concerns over its cost and potential impact on BDL’s reserves ...
Christiane Tager, 19/02 20:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon will close, on March 17, the third round of bidding for gas exploration in blocks 8 and 10 of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), located off its coast. This project could be a major breakthrough for the country in terms of energy security and economic development. These bids are seen as an opportunity to attract foreign investment and tap ...
Maurice Matta, 30/01 09:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
In a surprising move just days before her retirement, Judge Helena Iskandar, Head of the Litigation Department at the Ministry of Justice, filed two motions before the State Council, requesting the Lebanese State’s intervention in the lawsuits aimed at annulling Circulars No.151 and No.165, submitted by lawyers. The conclusion was that the ...
This is Beirut, 29/01 14:20 - Reading : less than a minute
The 2024 annual report from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Inspection and Internal Control Department highlights a significant rise in inspection missions, with 5,888 conducted in 2024 compared to 4,742 in 2023. A total of 25,240 employees were audited, and 185 lost undue health benefits and family allowances. This means approximately ...
Christiane Tager, 29/01 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Agriculture Economy Lebanon War
The Lebanese agricultural sector, already weakened by a complex economic situation, is now facing two major challenges. On one hand, an unusually mild winter threatens agricultural yields, and on the other, the repercussions of the war are affecting not only infrastructure but also production resources. The agricultural sector is navigating ...
This is Beirut, 28/01 20:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The Ministry of Energy and Water clarified on Tuesday several points regarding the rehabilitation project of the Harrach-Jeita hydroelectric plant, which has been assigned to the Union of Suburban Municipalities. In its statement, the ministry recalled that last September, the Directorate General of Water and Electricity Resources launched a ...