This is Beirut, 2025-12-13 19:55 - Reading : less than a minute
GapLaw Lebanon Economy CentralBank
The “Gap Law” project promises 85% reimbursement. The text itself makes no such commitment. With no real state contribution, billions written off, and the risk of banking collapse, depositors emerge as the clear losers.
Hala Abdallah, 2025-11-26 09:30 - Reading : less than a minute
As Lebanon prepares for Pope Leo XIV, businesses are hopeful and hotels are offering discounts, but security fears continue to shape expectations.
This is Beirut, 2025-11-25 11:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy Banks Nawaf Salam
This Is Beirut has learned that the legal committee tasked by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam—in coordination with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber—with drafting the financial gap law is composed of a three-member team operating within the orbit of the Kulluna Irada organization. The committee includes attorney Ali Zbib, Judge Rana Al-Akkoum, ...
Salam El Zaatari, 2025-11-22 15:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy Cash Hezbollah
Lebanon finds itself in a paradox. While its broader economy is collapsing, the food-and-beverage (F&B) sector is showing surprising vitality. It may look like a feel-good tale of resilience, but in fact it reveals one of the greatest structural threats to Lebanon’s recovery: a cash-based economy that undermines transparency, fuels illicit ...
This is Beirut, 2025-11-19 15:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
A cautiously tense meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and a delegation from the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), dedicated to discussing the points related to the Financial Gap Law. The talks focused on how the banks, the Lebanese state, and the Central Bank would handle the existing gap and on reassessing the banks’ ...
This is Beirut, 2025-11-19 09:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump United States Bitcoin Value Economy
What Has Caused the Latest Price Drop? Prior to the recent slump, Bitcoin broke a series of record highs in the wake of Donald Trump's return to the White House. The US president came out strongly in favor of cryptocurrencies before his re-election, and has continued to do so. Bitcoin first surpassed $100,000 in May before reaching its latest ...
Liliane Mokbel, 2025-11-17 15:30 - Reading : less than a minute
Byblos Bank chief economist Nassib Ghobril answers This is Beirut’s questions about the consequences of the systemic crisis.
This is Beirut, 2025-11-14 20:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Tehran Iran inflation drought poverty economy
Iran is facing a crisis its leaders can no longer downplay. During his address to parliament, Pezeshkian confronted the issues affecting daily life across the country. He spoke of inflation without blaming external factors and acknowledged what citizens are already feeling in their kitchens, at their taps, and in their wallets. Prices are ...
Liliane Mokbel, 2025-11-14 18:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Central Bank of Lebanon Lebanon Hezbollah US Treasury economy money laundering
On November 14, 2025, BDL issued Decision No. 13769, Circular No. 3, introducing a new “Know Your Customer” (KYC) form for all cash, foreign exchange, and money transfer transactions of $1,000 or more, and their equivalent. The measure applies to all non-banking financial institutions under BDL’s supervision, including financial companies, ...
This is Beirut, 2025-11-12 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanese economist and columnist Antoine Farah told Huna Lubnan that the Lebanese state bears full responsibility for the misuse of public funds both before and after the financial crisis, noting that what was once unclear prior to the 2019 collapse has now become indisputable. Farah argued that the state, working hand-in-hand with the ...
This is Beirut, 2025-11-10 19:35 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
The Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka’s visit to Lebanon over the past two days has added an unexpected but timely dimension to the country’s search for economic and political stability. His meetings with local officials and policy advisors reportedly centered on policies to cut off ...
Nadia Hallak, 2025-11-08 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy IMF Banks Central Bank
As the financial collapse continues and losses keep mounting with no clear plan yet for their distribution, attention is once again turning to the stalled negotiations between the Lebanese government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amid conflicting official approaches on how to address the crisis and restructure the banking sector. The ...