This is Beirut 17/09 15:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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 ...
Liliane Mokbel 17/09 10:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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 ...
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 ...
Christiane Tager 16/09 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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, ...
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 ...
This is Beirut 16/09 09:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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 ...
Liliane Mokbel 13/09 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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, ...
Liliane Mokbel 13/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
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 ...
Christiane Tager 13/09 08:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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 ...
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 ...
This is Beirut 12/09 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Cryptocurrency Bitcoin Dubai Ethereum Emirates
Emirates announced it will begin accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum for ticket payments starting in 2026, following a strategic partnership with Crypto.com, Reuters reported. The move represents a significant step toward integrating cryptocurrencies into everyday transactions, moving them beyond purely speculative assets. Traditionally, airline ...
This is Beirut 11/09 12:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Global oil supply hit a record high in August as OPEC+ and other countries ramped up production, with a looming surplus keeping prices in check, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. Eight key members of OPEC+ group, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, have been gradually increasing production since April after restricting output in ...