Christiane Tager, 18/06 20:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
With regional tensions mounting, Lebanon’s economy teeters between stagnation and potential collapse. Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist at Byblos Bank, tells This is Beirut that the conflict’s primary consequence is widespread instability, discouraging investment, slowing trade, and deterring tourism. The looming threat of war—particularly ...
Liliane Mokbel, 15/06 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Gulf Israel Strait of Hormuz Iran economy energy
As the Middle East flares up amid mounting tensions between Iran and Israel, one urgent question dominates global attention: Is Tehran ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial lifeline for the world’s energy supply? On Friday night, Emmanuel Macron sounded a stark warning. In a statement, the French president cautioned, “We must brace ...
Christiane Tager, 14/06 15:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Beirut recorded less than 350 mm of rainfall between November and March—well below the annual average of 800 mm—making the winter of 2024-2025 one of the driest in the last 20 years, according to official data. In the Beqaa, a vital agricultural hub, precipitation fell by over 45% compared to the seasonal average. This severe drop disrupted ...
Liliane Mokbel, 14/06 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Economy Lebanon World Food Program
According to the World Food Program, the survival food basket has reached LBP 44.2 million, or around $492, an increase of $42 since January. That's how much it now costs for a family of five to cover its basic food needs for a month in Lebanon. This basket, which includes rice, wheat, pulses, oil, sugar, salt and sardines, represents the bare ...
Liliane Mokbel, 12/06 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
European Union Saudi Arabia Syria economy reconstruction Lebanon Qatar
The international community appears determined to reintegrate Syria both economically and politically after decades of isolation. This momentum stands in stark contrast to neighboring Lebanon, which fears that Syria’s reconstruction will monopolize international attention, pushing its own geopolitical and economic challenges into the ...
This is Beirut, 11/06 15:40 - Reading : less than a minute
According to official statistics and reports from several local banks, Lebanon's public debt has exceeded the $100 billion mark. This historic level reflects years of accumulated budget deficits, inefficient public management, poor financial governance and a lack of structural reforms. This debt includes both domestic and external debt incurred ...
This is Beirut, 11/06 11:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The latest round of kabuki theater between Lebanon’s government and the IMF has produced what all such high-level summits inevitably do: a mixture of forced smiles, indecipherable jargon, and the vague scent of scorched-earth diplomacy. It also revealed something everyone in the room knew but no one had the courage—or funding—to fix: Lebanon ...
Mario Chartouni, 10/06 11:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
United Arab Emirates US economy sanctions nuclear program Iran Hong Kong
With nuclear talks stalled, Washington has opened a new front in its standoff with Tehran: financial warfare. On Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on more than 30 individuals and entities tied to a sprawling money-laundering network that covertly funnels funds to the Iranian regime. This clandestine financial system — a covert, ...
Liliane Mokbel, 07/06 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
In times of crisis, gold stands as the ultimate pillar of stability. Timeless, reassuring and resistant to passing trends, it shines brighter as financial markets falter. But a critical question remains: which form of gold offers better protection in turbulent times — jewelry or bullion? And is resale truly profitable? Historically, when ...
Johnny Kortbawi, 03/06 18:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Banks Central Bank of Lebanon economy finance
Lebanon’s economic crisis cannot be measured solely by the six years since its visible eruption in September 2019. Its roots extend much further back—to 1992 and the first government formed after the Taif Agreement. This period marked the beginning of Lebanon’s modern economic policies, shaped by the country’s financial establishment with ...
This is Beirut, 22/05 10:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
USA Donald Trump Economy Bitcoin
Equities sank and Treasuries remained under pressure following sharp losses on Wall Street fuelled by US economy fears as Donald Trump tries to push through fresh tax cuts that could balloon the already huge deficit. A weak auction of 20-year US government debt flashed a warning sign that the bond market was worried about the country's finances, ...
Maurice Matta, 21/05 20:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy Banks Karim Souhaid Nawaf Salam
It seems that the relationship between Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor Karim Souhaid and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is far from ideal. In fact, it can be described as tense – a situation that didn’t arise recently but dates back to Souhaid’s appointment as Governor of the Central Bank, which was secured through a majority vote in the ...