Economy

Foreign Competition Chokes Lebanese Agriculture
Foreign Competition Chokes Lebanese Agriculture

With fields overflowing and fridges full, Lebanon’s potato and poultry producers are pleading with the government: curb chaotic imports, reopen land exports to Arab markets and guarantee fair prices to ensure their survival. The situation is both serious and absurd. In the agricultural sector, the talk is no longer about the weather but about ...

Lebanon Connects to the Stars with Starlink
Lebanon Connects to the Stars with Starlink

In a country where a simple power outage can plunge entire neighborhoods offline, this marks a major turning point for a telecommunications sector long lagging behind and an ambitious gamble: connecting a fragmented country, from southern villages to northern towns and through downtown Beirut, not with cables but with stars. On Wednesday, October ...

Commercial Leases: Pharmacists Call for Amendments to Prevent Chaos
Commercial Leases: Pharmacists Call for Amendments to Prevent Chaos

The recently enacted commercial lease law in Lebanon is far from being universally welcomed, particularly among pharmacists, who have voiced strong opposition to its provisions. In late October, the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists submitted a proposal to the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Justice, seeking amendments to what they view ...

Bitcoin Reserves on Exchanges Plunge to Lowest Level Since 2019
Bitcoin Reserves on Exchanges Plunge to Lowest Level Since 2019

Bitcoin, long hailed as “digital gold,” is showing signs of becoming increasingly scarce on major trading platforms. According to Matthew Sigel, head of digital research at investment firm VanEck, exchange reserves are “almost out of Bitcoin,” a phenomenon not seen in seven years. His comments, relayed by TradingView, suggest that ...

BIA: 10% Rise in Passenger Traffic
BIA: 10% Rise in Passenger Traffic

Beirut International Airport (BIA) is showing clear signs of recovery, with passenger numbers climbing steadily in 2025. According to data published in Byblos Bank’s Lebanon This Week bulletin, 5.41 million passengers passed through the airport between January and September 2025, a 10.2% increase compared to 4.88 million during the same period ...

Port of Beirut Sets Record Container Volume
Port of Beirut Sets Record Container Volume

The Port of Beirut achieved a major milestone on October 5, 2025, handling its highest container volume since operations began in 2004. Omar Itani, Chairman of the Port’s Board of Directors, announced on Wednesday that 10,166 standard containers (TEUs) were processed on October 5 aboard the CMA CGM ARGON, a new-generation methanol-powered ...

From Crisis to Record: Why Gold Just Topped $4,000 an Ounce
From Crisis to Record: Why Gold Just Topped $4,000 an Ounce

Gold's relentless rise reached another milestone on Wednesday as the precious metal hit $4,002.95 an ounce for the first time. "Investors continue to bid up the price of gold, with the precious metal rising more than 50 percent year to date and nearly 12 percent in September alone – one of the strongest monthly performances on record," said ...

NSSF Reports Strong Recovery in Healthcare Services
NSSF Reports Strong Recovery in Healthcare Services

The Director General of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Mohammad Karaki, announced a notable rebound in healthcare services and a gradual restoration of public trust, amid ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance transparency within the institution. Karaki said the NSSF is working to update medical tariffs and ensure the continuity of ...

Touch Addresses Service Disruptions Following System Upgrade
Touch Addresses Service Disruptions Following System Upgrade

Mobile network operator Touch announced on Monday that some subscribers using older SIM cards experienced service issues following the overnight migration of its customer base to a new operating system, part of the company’s ongoing upgrade of its CS Core Network. In a statement, the operator said that its technical teams were working ...

Port of Beirut Terminal Earns International Security Certification
Port of Beirut Terminal Earns International Security Certification

The management of the Port of Beirut announced on Monday a significant achievement in collaboration with the CMA Beirut Terminal container station, which has obtained certification of compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The accreditation was granted after the terminal successfully met all required ...

Constitutional Council Upholds Banking Authority and Ties Bank Reform Law to Gap Law
Constitutional Council Upholds Banking Authority and Ties Bank Reform Law to Gap Law

Lebanon’s Constitutional Council issued a ruling partially annulling Law No. 23/2025 on banking reform and restructuring, following an appeal filed by ten MPs. In form, the Council accepted the appeal, as it was filed within the legal timeframe and met all procedural requirements. In substance, it decided to annul parts of the contested ...