lebanon

Are Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?

A year after Israel defanged Hezbollah, and in the wake of the annual opening of the UN General Assembly and several developments related to the Middle East, it may be a good time to take stock. In my 38-year career of diplomacy in the Middle East, anytime someone expressed optimism, I would suggest a head examination might be in order. However, ...

Building Modern, Accessible Digital Finance for All

At a press conference on Friday at the Ministry’s headquarters, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber unveiled a roadmap to establish a digital financial administration that is efficient, transparent and citizen-focused. This transformation is built around four key pillars: Electronic Notifications Registered taxpayers now receive all official ...

Juvenile Detention in Lebanon: Roumieh to Warwar

Juvenile detainees in Lebanon are generally between 12 and 18 years old. Some are arrested for minor offenses, such as stealing a phone or reasons linked to homelessness, while others face more serious charges related to organized crime or national security. For years, these children shared the daily life of adult inmates at Roumieh, Lebanon’s ...

PMI Hits Record Increase in September

The BLOM Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for September shows a historic rebound in Lebanon’s private sector, driven by a rapid rise in production and new orders, despite ongoing concerns over inflation and security. According to BLOM’s September 2025 PMI results, Lebanon’s private sector activity saw a notable improvement. The index rose ...

Touch to Upgrade Network: Temporary Service Outage on October 5

Mobile operator Touch announced on Friday a major technical migration of its customer base to a new operational system, scheduled overnight from Sunday, October 5, to Monday, October 6, 2025. The upgrade, carried out with the support of Nokia and Huawei, may cause a temporary interruption of certain services. Touch stated in a press release that ...

Lebanon, EU Discuss Return of Syrian Refugees

Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Raggi met with European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele to discuss the return of Syrian refugees to their country. Raggi emphasized the need to accelerate the process and urged the EU to intensify its efforts, stressing that aid should prioritize Syrians inside Syria to encourage their ...

Why Did the Government Overlook the Report on District 16?

Different considerations govern expatriate voting, an issue on which Speaker Nabih Berri was adamant, declaring that “Bible and Quran precede electoral law,” meaning the article in question will not be amended under any circumstances. This leaves us with two possibilities: either proceed with the law as it stands with District 16 included in ...

Washington Allocates $230 Million for Lebanese Army and ISF Ahead of Shutdown

Just hours before a government shutdown, the United States confirmed a new security aid package for Lebanon. The Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) will receive $230 million in funding, a strong political signal of support for state institutions. According to Reuters, the US administration approved the funding on September 30, ...

Lebanon under Scrutiny: Weapons and Army Moves!

Countries concerned with the Lebanese situation are awaiting the army’s first report, expected in the coming days, on the implementation of the plan to ensure weapons are exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state. The focus is both on timing: whether the report will be released before the 5th of this month or be delayed; and on content, ...

When Art Becomes a Safe Haven

In an uncertain economic landscape, art is no longer just about decorating walls. For some, it represents a financial refuge where value can literally skyrocket in just a few years. A canvas like Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) sold for more than $179 million, while Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (1982) fetched $110 ...

Ministry of Finance: No Containers Blocked at Tripoli Port

The Ministry of Finance has denied, in a statement issued by its press office, rumors circulating on social media claiming that Minister Yassine Jaber blocked the entry of containers at Tripoli Port. These accusations, the statement says, have been presented through a sectarian lens and are “misleading.” The statement clarifies that no ...

Banks: Khalaf Sees 2026 as a Key Year for Crisis Resolution

The Secretary General of the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), Fadi Khalaf, believes that 2026 could mark the beginning of implementing definitive solutions and relaunching the banking sector on a stronger footing. This milestone, he argues, would also allow depositors to recover their rights and help restore confidence in financial ...