lebanon

Economy on Hold: Lebanon Trapped in Other People's War

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 ...

Rasamny: Qlayaat Airport Rehabilitation Project Gaining Momentum

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny on Wednesday reviewed progress on the long-anticipated Qlayaat Airport rehabilitation and reactivation project, in the presence of representatives from Dar Al-Handasah – Shair and Partners, the consultancy firm behind the master plan, which was presented as part of ...

BDL Raises Monthly Withdrawal Limits

The Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) announced on Wednesday a one-year extension of Circulars 158 and 166, initially set to expire on June 30, 2025. The decision, which comes amid a prolonged financial crisis, aims to address the pressing needs of depositors and help preserve social stability. As part of the extension, BDL also increased the monthly ...

Breathe if You Can: The Toxic Underside of Our Generators

They appeared in the 1990s, just after the end of the civil war. Four decades later, they are still here and are more powerful, more numerous, louder. These diesel giants have colonized the streets, balconies, rooftops and backyards. Lebanon lights up through explosions of decibels and toxic clouds. As if that Weren’t Enough... To this ...

Rai Says Neutrality Key to Lebanon’s Future

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed the need for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, as a necessary step for the President to act effectively on the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament. Speaking from Bkerke on Wednesday during a special media forum organized by the Catholic Center for Information, Rai emphasized that neutrality ...

Jean-Pierre Lacroix to Discuss UNIFIL Mandate in Beirut Visit

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is expected in Beirut on Wednesday for a multi-day visit focused on the renewal of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mandate, two months ahead of the UN Security Council’s scheduled session. According to informed sources, the visit could pave the ...

Health Ministry Distributes Surgical Kits to Boost Emergency Hospital Care

The Ministry of Public Health distributed on Tuesday 33 Surgical Instrument Sets (SI Sets) to government hospitals to enhance their capacity to treat trauma and provide emergency treatment. The initiative, carried out in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is part of a national emergency preparedness plan set in motion during ...

All-Risk Insurance in Wartime

While Lebanon remains officially neutral in the military escalation between Israel and Iran, it is already feeling the first economic tremors. Rising regional tensions are starting to weigh on the insurance sector, particularly in maritime and air transport, as well as war-related coverage, all of which rely heavily on reinsurance. Premiums in ...

Israeli Army Kidnaps Elderly Shepherd in Kfarchouba

An Israeli infantry force advanced east of the town of Kfarchouba on Tuesday and kidnapped Mohammad Qasim Ghanem, a 75-year-old shepherd. In related developments, Israeli drones flew at low altitudes over Beirut’s southern suburbs. Earlier today, explosions were heard in the Beqaa Valley, reportedly caused by interceptor missiles in the ...

Jezzine Rally: Ryan Khneisser Shifts Into High Gear

At just 19 years old, Ryan Khneisser put in a remarkable performance at the 2025 Jezzine Rally. The young driver from Achrafieh won the Junior Cup, as well as finishing first in the R2 category, second in RC4/Rally4, and eighth overall. At the wheel of his Peugeot 208 RC4, accompanied by his co-driver Chris Bechara, Khneisser clocked a time of ...

'Rising Lion' Operation: Could It Be the Middle East’s Final War?

Israel’s “Rising Lion” operation against Iran, which began at dawn on Friday, was not merely a security response, it marked a pivotal step in a broader campaign of direct US pressure on Tehran. Coinciding with the expiration of President Donald Trump’s 60-day deadline for Iran to respond to nuclear deal proposals, the strike represented a ...