This is Beirut

In Washington, Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Calls for a Structured National Recovery

This is Beirut, 24/04 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Washington International Monetary Fund Banque du Liban

During the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, Banque du Liban Governor Karim Souhaid delivered a stark and candid assessment of Lebanon’s critical condition. Speaking to an audience of international experts and policymakers, Souhaid described a country “at a crossroads—between fragility and ...

Abbas Urges Hamas to Free Gaza Hostages as Israeli Strikes Kill 18

This is Beirut, 23/04 15:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas Palestine Banks Fatah Israel

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday urged Hamas to free all hostages in Gaza, saying their captivity provided Israel with "excuses" to attack the territory, as rescuers recovered charred bodies from an Israeli strike. At least 18 people were killed across the Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes, while Germany, France and Britain urged ...

Lebanon’s Banking Secrecy Reform: A Threat to Privacy, Legal Security, and Economic Trust

This is Beirut, 22/04 12:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Economy Lebanon Banks Parliament

As Lebanon grapples with a deep financial crisis and seeks to overhaul its banking system, a proposed amendment to the country’s banking secrecy law has sparked major controversy. Though introduced under the banner of transparency and reform, the changes raise serious concerns about individual privacy, data protection, investor confidence, and ...

Gold Hits Record above $3,500, Stocks Slip as Trump Fuels Fed Fears

This is Beirut, 22/04 10:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Banks New York Republicans USA

Bullion hit another record Tuesday while the dollar steadied and equities mostly fell as Donald Trump's latest salvo against Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell added fuel to fears about the central bank's independence. With the US tariff blitz still causing ructions on global trading floors, investors are now dealing with the added worry that the ...

US stocks fall amid lingering tariff uncertainty

This is Beirut, 21/04 16:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Banks Donald Trump International Monetary Fund United States

Wall Street stocks opened lower Monday amid lingering uncertainty over President Trump's trade policy as markets looked ahead to major earnings later in the week. China on Monday hit out at other countries negotiating trade deals with the United States at Beijing's expense, vowing countermeasures against those who "appease" ...

'No-Reform' Banking Bill: Where Is the Responsibility of the Defaulting State?

This Is Beirut, 21/04 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Banks Law

Following the adoption of the draft law for reforming and reorganizing the banking sector in Lebanon, the government will begin preparing a law to address the financial gap, intended to restore financial system stability. However, the implementation of the banking reform and reorganization bill is suspended until the law on the financial gap is ...

'Deadly' Loans Behind 'False Hope': Beware the IMF Trap

This Is Beirut, 19/04 12:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

IMF Finance Economy Banks

The experiences of many countries with international financial institutions—chief among them the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—show that such partnerships often lead to counterproductive results. Instead of rescuing economies from crisis, the so-called reform programs have deepened structural and financial problems. In many cases, these ...

EBRD Launches New SME Support Programs in Tripoli

This is Beirut, 16/04 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks European Union

The Lebanon office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli and the North, and the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT), held a session this week to present its latest consulting programs for small and medium-sized enterprises ...

Amendments to Banking Secrecy: The Danger of Retroactive Effect!

This is Beirut, 16/04 12:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Economy Lebanon Banks

The joint parliamentary committees are currently discussing the draft law amending banking secrecy. The version approved by the government is under review and modification in Parliament. This amendment — referred from the government to Parliament by Decree No. 103 — is the second in just three years. In 2022, the banking secrecy law ...

Europe Seeks to Break its US Tech Addiction

This is Beirut, 16/04 09:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Europe Donald Trump European Union Banks

With President Donald Trump more unpredictable than ever and transatlantic ties reaching new lows, calls are growing louder for Europe to declare independence from US tech. From Microsoft to Meta, Apple to Uber, cloud computing to AI, much of the day-to-day technology used by Europeans is American. The risks that brings were hotly debated before ...

Stocks Rise on Bank Earnings, Auto Tariff Hopes

This is Beirut, 15/04 19:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Banks New York USA Stocks Market

Stock markets rose Tuesday as investors digested strong bank earnings and shares in several auto giants surged over hopes of tariffs relief from US President Donald Trump. Some stability has returned to markets after last week's roller-coaster ride over Trump's stop-start tariff announcements, but uncertainty remains over speculation of new ...

Rasamny Aims to Strengthen Lebanon’s Key Infrastructure

This is Beirut, 14/04 20:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Beirut International Airport Banks Beirut Port

In an interview with Al-Anbaa newspaper, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny affirmed that the security of Beirut International Airport (BIA) is a national priority, emphasizing that all current security measures are managed exclusively by the competent Lebanese authorities. He stated that this commitment is reflected in ...

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