Economy

End-of-Service Benefits: The Only Social Safety Net at Risk Since the Crisis

Liliane Mokbel 16:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

economy Lebanon Indemnities National Social Security Fund retirement

There is no doubt that employees remain the most vulnerable group in the struggle to ensure a dignified retirement. Their end-of-service benefits, intended to preserve part of their purchasing power, have been almost completely eroded by the multidimensional crisis that hit the country at the end of 2019. Employers Plead Powerlessness Employers ...

Swiss Exports to US Tumble After Tariff Punch

This is Beirut 12:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Swiss

Swiss exports to the United States fell to their lowest level since 2020 in August when massive US tariffs came into effect, official data showed Thursday. The Alpine country's exports to the United States reached 3.1 billion Swiss francs ($3.9 billion) in August, a 22.1 percent drop from July, customs figures showed. Donald Trump imposed a ...

AI May Boost Global Trade Value by Nearly 40%: WTO

This is Beirut 17/09 15:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

AI WTO Technology Economy

Artificial intelligence could boost the value of global trade by almost 40 percent by 2040 thanks to cost reductions and productivity gains, the World Trade Organization said Wednesday. In its latest annual World Trade Report, the WTO identified AI as one of the few bright spots as the global trading system has been upended by the United States ...

SpotlightNew Banknotes to Boost the Lebanese Pound

Liliane Mokbel 17/09 10:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Banknotes BDL

Issuing higher-denomination banknotes for the Lebanese pound is simply common sense, given that the largest note currently in circulation is LBP 100,000—worth about USD 1. The others are worth even less: LBP 50,000 (roughly USD 0.50), LBP 20,000, LBP 10,000, and LBP 5,000. Lebanon has been in the grip of a currency collapse for six years, with ...

Ministry of Finance Announces Fiscal Stamps Available at Accredited Centers

This is Beirut 16/09 19:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon economy finance stamps

After months of chronic shortage that fueled frustration and a black market, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday that fiscal stamps of all categories are now available, but only at accredited centers. In a statement, the Ministry of Finance specified that their distribution will be expanded to a larger number of accredited centers as ...

AnalysisHawk III: A Ship, Fuel, and the Enduring Shadows of Lebanon’s Power Crisis

Christiane Tager 16/09 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

EDL ship fuel

In Lebanon, even a single fuel ship can spiral into a political-judicial drama. Between Friday night and Saturday morning, the Lebanese navy intercepted Hawk III, carrying fuel destined for Électricité du Liban (EDL), as it attempted to evade territorial waters. Behind this incident lies a story of contradictions, suspicion, and opacity, ...

Google says to Invest £5bn in UK Ahead of Trump Visit

This is Beirut 16/09 09:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United Kingdom USA Google

Google said Tuesday it was investing £5 billion ($6.8 billion) in the UK over the next two years to help power the country's AI drive, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump. The funds would go towards the company's "capital expenditure, research and development ... and encompasses Google DeepMind with its pioneering AI research in ...

Nvidia says Complies with Law After China Antitrust Finding

This is Beirut 16/09 09:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Washington China Nvidia

US chip giant Nvidia said Tuesday it follows all laws after a Chinese investigation found it had breached antitrust rules, the latest development in a fierce tech battle between Beijing and Washington. "We comply with the law in all respects," a spokesperson for Nvidia said in a written statement to AFP. "We will continue to cooperate with all ...

Lebanon: Real Estate Market Tied to Political and Economic Outlook

Liliane Mokbel 13/09 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks real estate

A study by the Research and Studies Department of Bank Audi, published in September 2025, lays out three scenarios for the next twelve months: a positive scenario with a 55 percent probability, a moderate scenario at 30 percent, and a negative scenario at 15 percent. In a positive scenario, such as the state gaining full control over weapons, ...

Figure of the weekBack to School in Lebanon Is No Celebration, It’s a Struggle !

Liliane Mokbel 13/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Europe Saudi Arabia

In Lebanon, the back-to-school season is no longer about fresh notebooks and new backpacks. Instead, it unfolds in the shadow of economic hardship and painful trade-offs. Families, overwhelmed by the ongoing financial crisis, are slashing their spending on school supplies, even as private schools continue to require new textbooks every year, often ...

Lebanon’s Battle for Wheat: Between Aid, Loans and Food Security

Christiane Tager 13/09 08:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Wheat

Lebanon, which is already weakened by an unprecedented economic collapse, has for years faced a vital challenge: ensuring steady access to wheat. The destruction of Beirut Port’s silos in the August 4, 2020, explosion laid bare Lebanon’s food insecurity, erasing a vital storage hub and turning every shipment and agreement into a matter of ...

BDL, Lebanon’s Anchor of Trust on the Path to Recovery

Liliane Mokbel 12/09 15:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Central Bank of Lebanon Banks Banque du Liban Lebanon economy BDL

In a country where figures are often subject to interpretation and fiscal data remains scarce or unreliable, Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) seeks to reaffirm its role as a reference point for institutional investors and international markets. It also aims to provide citizens with clear benchmarks to better understand the rationale and direction ...