Economy

Numbers & FiguresDeal or Tariffs? The World Under Trump’s Trade Rule

Christiane Tager 07/08 11:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union United Kingdom Tariffs Trade

On August 7, the Trump administration is touting a major win: its vision for global trade has taken root, driven by tweets, tariff threats, and real-world results. Under the “America First” banner, a new wave of trade agreements is redrawing the commercial map between the US and the rest of the world. From compliant partners to the Trump Tower ...

Syria Inks Infrastructure, Real Estate Deals Worth $14 Billion

This is Beirut 06/08 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Syrian Investment Authority

Syria held a signing ceremony on Wednesday for agreements worth more than $14 billion, including investments in Damascus airport and other transport and real estate projects, state media reported. Since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria's new authorities have worked to attract investment for the ...

Apple to Invest Additional $100 Billion in US

This is Beirut 06/08 18:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Apple Technology

Apple will invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, taking its total pledge to $600 billion over the next four years, a senior White House official said Wednesday. The announcement, which was first reported by US media, will be officially made later Wednesday at 4:30 pm (2030 GMT) at a White House event with President Donald ...

Natural Disasters Caused $135 BN in Economic Losses in First Half of 2025

This is Beirut 06/08 13:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

switzerland insurance climate Economy

Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that ...

Beirut Airport Sees Surge in Passenger Traffic in July 2025

This Is Beirut 06/08 12:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Beirut International Airport

Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport experienced a significant increase in activity during July 2025, both in terms of passenger numbers and airline traffic to and from Lebanon. The most notable rise was in the number of incoming passengers, which jumped by over 15% compared to July 2024. A total of 873,095 passengers traveled through ...

Lebanon’s Cost of Living: A Nation Still Under Pressure

Liliane Mokbel 05/08 17:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel

As of June, Lebanon’s Consumer Price Index recorded an annual increase of around 15%, a sharp drop from the staggering 253.55% seen during the same period in 2023. This decline is largely due to the stabilization of the exchange rate following months of severe devaluation of the Lebanese pound (LBP). Yet, despite this slowdown in inflation, ...

Climate Disruption Drives Up Grocery Costs

Christiane Tager 05/08 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

New York United Kingdom lebanon Japan Climate

There was a time when fuel prices were the main concern. Today, it’s the cost of food that’s raising eyebrows. What ends up on our plates is no longer determined solely by supply, demand or inflation. Temperature has become a key factor. Behind the sharp rise in food prices, a quieter but increasingly decisive force has emerged: climate ...

Saudi Aramco Profit Drops 22 Percent on Lower Prices

This is Beirut 05/08 10:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf Middle East Saudi Energy Oil Aramco

Saudi Aramco's profit slid 22 percent in the second quarter to 85 billion riyals ($22.67 billion) as a slump in prices hit revenues, the oil giant said on Tuesday. Aramco, the world's biggest oil exporter and driver of the Saudi economy, has now seen profits decline for 10 straight quarters since record results in late 2022. "The decrease in ...

Eight OPEC+ Countries Raise Production by 547,000 Bpd

This is Beirut 03/08 17:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

OPEC+ Oil & Gas

Saudi Arabia, Russia and six key members of the OPEC+ alliance said Sunday they will increase production by 547,000 barrels a day in a move that analysts say aims to regain market share amid resilient crude prices. Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, along with the Saudis and Russians, together nicknamed the ...

Figure of the weekBeirut Port Scans 60 Containers per Hour with AI-Powered Technology

Liliane Mokbel 02/08 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Beirut Port European Union

The Ministry of Finance is accelerating its efforts to modernize Lebanon’s customs operations. With a clear goal of enhancing public revenue collection, a large-scale digital transformation is underway, impacting both the Directorate of Revenues and the Customs Directorate. Key initiatives include the gradual rollout of electronic payment ...

Beirut Port: The Dormant Strategic Hub

Liliane Mokbel 02/08 12:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Beirut Port Damascus

The Levant’s maritime landscape is rapidly shifting. Since the easing of Western sanctions on Syria, investors have flocked to its shores. Emirati logistics giant DP World has launched an $800 million investment plan to modernize Tartus port. Meanwhile, CMA CGM is investing $262 million in Lattakia, and China is expanding its footprint in ...

HighlightTrump's Tariffs: What Has Changed and Who is Affected

This is Beirut 01/08 09:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Trade Tariff

A range of new tariffs due to take effect in one week were announced Thursday on most US trading partners, with separate sector specific duties -- on copper -- also being implemented. President Donald Trump unveiled an array of import levies that ranged as high as 41 percent on Syria and included a hike on Canadian imports from the current 25 ...