This is Beirut 23/05 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Japanese inflation spiked at a two-year high in April, data showed Friday, as rice prices almost doubled, turning focus on the central bank as it mulls more interest rate hikes amid Donald Trump's trade war. The news also puts pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections in July and after a minister was forced to resign over a ...
Maurice Matta 22/05 20:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
It appears that the crisis over the non-residential lease law in Lebanon is far from over—especially after a recent decision by the Constitutional Council declaring the law unenforceable, which has sparked fresh constitutional interpretations regarding its fate. Last Tuesday, the Constitutional Council issued Decision No. 5 concerning the appeal ...
This Is Beirut 22/05 15:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Banks Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon Finances Parliament Lebanon
Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) announced in an official statement that it remains committed to transparency and integrity within the financial sector. It is actively pursuing legal procedures in collaboration with specialized law firms across several European countries and other international jurisdictions. This effort aims to initiate judicial ...
This is Beirut 22/05 11:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Gulf Saudi Arabia Homeownership Lebanon
A recently published report by the U.S.-based financial and economic magazine CEOWORLD, known for its global rankings and comparative studies, sheds light on the disparities in homeownership rates across Arab countries. The findings reflect significant socio-economic differences within the region. At the top of the Arab world, Bahrain boasts the ...
This is Beirut 22/05 10:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
USA Donald Trump Economy Bitcoin
Equities sank and Treasuries remained under pressure following sharp losses on Wall Street fuelled by US economy fears as Donald Trump tries to push through fresh tax cuts that could balloon the already huge deficit. A weak auction of 20-year US government debt flashed a warning sign that the bond market was worried about the country's finances, ...
Christiane Tager 21/05 20:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Let’s dive into the world of Bitcoin – a digital currency that is transforming global finance. Bitcoin (BTC) is much more than just a cryptocurrency: it is a decentralized currency, without a central bank or intermediaries, based on blockchain technology – a public and secure ledger. In other words, it’s money that never sleeps, doesn’t ...
Maurice Matta 21/05 20:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Economy Banks Karim Souhaid Nawaf Salam
It seems that the relationship between Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor Karim Souhaid and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is far from ideal. In fact, it can be described as tense – a situation that didn’t arise recently but dates back to Souhaid’s appointment as Governor of the Central Bank, which was secured through a majority vote in the ...
This is Beirut 21/05 19:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Iraq signed a major energy deal Wednesday with a Chinese petroleum company in the southern province of Basra, aiming to boost oil production and build a refinery and electricity plants. China has gained a major foothold in oil-rich Iraq in recent years, becoming a major player across various sectors and now one of the largest importers of Iraqi ...
This is Beirut 21/05 12:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
commercial lease rent law Lebanon Property rights Landlords
In a statement issued following the Constitutional Council's decision on May 20, 2025, the Syndicate of Property Owners of Leased Buildings responded to the ruling concerning the new law on commercial leases. The syndicate clarified that the Constitutional Council did not rule on the content of the law, which aimed to liberalize long-standing ...
This is Beirut 21/05 11:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Agriculture Lebanon Sustainability Climate Food Security Farming
An agricultural conference titled “Agriculture is the Earth’s Pulse” was held on Wednesday, gathering key political, agricultural and economic figures to address the challenges and future of Lebanon’s agricultural sector. In the opening session, Charles Arbid, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC), noted the ...
This is Beirut 21/05 10:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Lebanon HDI UNDP Education Development
In its 33rd Human Development Report, titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World,” the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) ranks Lebanon among countries with high human development, assigning it a Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.752 for the year 2023. Lebanon ranks 102nd out of 193 globally and ...
This is Beirut 21/05 10:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Crude prices surged Wednesday following a report that US intelligence suggested Israel was planning a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which would send geopolitical tensions into overdrive and fuel regional conflict fears. While safe haven gold pushed almost two percent higher, the news from CNN appeared to be having little detrimental ...