Must Read
Carrot and Stick Policy: No Aid Without Reform
Since 2019, Lebanon has been engulfed in one of the most severe economic collapses in modern history—a crisis marked by triple-digit inflation, mass currency devaluation, a frozen banking system, and an unprecedented sovereign debt default. As the country’s once-vibrant financial sector imploded and public institutions faltered, Lebanon’s economy became increasingly…
Net foreign assets of financial sector up $8.9bn in first seven months of 2025
Figures issued by Banque du Liban (BdL) show that the net foreign asset of the financial sector, which are a…
2026 Draft Budget Shows Balanced Scores ; How True ?
Draft budget for 2026 projects balanced revenues and expenditures at $5.7bnThe draft budget for 2026 that the Ministry of Finance…
Red Sea Submarine Cable Bombing in the Red Sea: 25% of MENA Traffic Affected
In the early hours of September 6, 2025, a critical blow was dealt to the backbone of global internet connectivity…
Inside the Damascus Operation: What the Israeli raid was likely after — and why
In the early hours of late August 2025, Damascus witnessed an operation unlike any seen in years—yet it has gone…
Minority Rights, Defense Treaty, Disarmament: Guns, Leverage, and Loyalties: U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon and the Strategic Push to Sideline Hezbollah (3/3)
Part 1 Part 2 Read Part 3 “We’re here because Lebanon’s pluralism is worth protecting. This country…
Minority Rights, Defense Treaty, Disarmament: Leveraging the Language of Minority Rights and Pluralism (2/3)
Part 1 Part 2 Read Part 3 During the visit and in comments in front of the…
Who needs reforms when you got YouTube ads?
The continued paralysis over reforms reflects entrenched political resistance and fears of upsetting Hezbollah’s influence splurging thousands of dollars on YouTube advertisements will drive international foreign direct investments in. Yes, while the country drowns in economic chaos and cries out for real reforms, our leaders have heroically decided that flashy online ads are the answer. Who needs actual progress when…
New Stories
Minority Rights, Defense Treaty, Disarmament: Understanding the Quiproquo Between Lebanon and US Delegation (1/3)
Over the past three months, Lebanon has become the focal point of a concerted U.S.-led diplomatic effort aimed at reshaping…
UNIFIL’s Mandate Renewal and the Stalemate over South Lebanon’s Demilitarized Zone ( 1/2 )
As the United Nations Security Council prepares once again to renew the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in…
China Tug Of War : Dropping US Treasury Bonds – Usd dominance challenged (2/2)
As of 2024, China has reduced its holdings by approximately 30% over a four-year period. China was able to use…
Embrace Swiss Timekeeping Tradition
Embrace the tradition of Swiss precision and innovation. Explore and learn about the meticulous craftsmanship that defines the unparalleled quality of Swiss timepieces.
Editor's Picks
China Tug Of War : Dropping US Treasury Bonds – Usd dominance challenged (1/2)
Executive Summary China’s retreat from U.S. Treasuries marks a quiet but consequential shift in global finance. From a peak of $1.3 trillion in 2013, Beijing’s holdings have dropped to $756 billion by mid-2025, their lowest in 15 years. The move reflects a strategic recalibration: diversifying reserves into gold and non-U.S. assets, insulating against the sanctions risk exposed by Russia’s frozen…
Lebanon Political Impasse Tied to The Future of the Shia Community in the Region
The political impasse in Lebanon as of 2025 is marked by deep-rooted sectarian divisions, with significant challenges stemming from both…
Market Fluctuations During the Past Week: Focus on Commodities
The past week has been marked by significant volatility across global markets, with commodities experiencing pronounced fluctuations driven largely by…
Iran’s Strategic Calculus: Retaliation and Resilience
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the United States has directly intervened in the ongoing conflict between Israel and…
Exclusives
Deposits Restructuration Plan on the Burner
A new attempt to resolve the deposit crisis is being "cooked" over a slow fire in the kitchen of the Central Bank of Lebanon. The chef taking the time to…
Starlink Make Its Way To Lebanon Through Distorted Legal Endowment
Starlink is on its way to being implemented in Lebanon, seemingly without any remaining legal obstacles. Despite initial concerns over data sovereignty and the need for competitive procurement, the Ministry…
The Beirut blast justice saga —a microcosm of broader governance and entrenched political patronage
The Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020, remains one of the most devastating disasters in Lebanon's history, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands, and ravaging large parts of Beirut.…
HSBC’s $300 Million Scandal Resurfaces — Swiss Probe Reopens Risk for Global Bank
Swiss and French authorities have opened a new investigation into HSBC Holdings Plc's (NYSE:HSBC) Swiss private bank, reigniting concerns over legacy compliance risks that had long been buried. The probe centers on…
Middle East
Markets Torn Between Inflation and Weakening Investments
From now on the Federal Reserve faces a harder balancing act, as Donald Trump reenters the political fray with threats against Fed Chair Jerome Powell. On one side, economic momentum…
OMT Too Big to Fail??? to be valued at $1 bln, Western Union at Usd2.8bln
The Lebanese payment provider OMT (Online Money Transfer) is rumored to be valued at $1 billion, while Western Union, a global remittance giant, is publicly valued at approximately $2.7–$2.8 billion…
Business
Strait of Hormuz: The ‘New Jargon’ Merchants Choose to Profiteer From
Over the past three months, food prices have been on a relentless upward march, climbing by more than 20% year-on-year and leaving Lebanese consumers wondering if their next meal will…
How Lebanon’s Blacklisting Hampers Humanitarian Operations
On June 10, 2025, the European Commission formally moved Lebanon into its “high-risk” category for money laundering and terrorist financing, a stark signal that, despite years of incremental reforms, the…
Qatar, Kuwait, UAE see steady June PMI growth; Lebanon slows decline
Business activity across Middle Eastern economies showed mixed trends in June, with Qatar leading growth, Kuwait and the UAE holding steady, and Lebanon remaining in contraction despite easing declines, market…
Lack of government decisiveness and incentives push economy down the drain
With an advanced score on the 2025 World Citizenship Index and nine Lebanese universities among the top universities in the world the Lebanse economy is stil suffering more than a…
World
Suwayda Conflict Brings All Out Syrian-Israeli Confrontation
The unfolding situation in Suweyda, Syria, where Druze–Bedouin clashes have drawn sharp Israeli military involvement is threatening to go our…
Meet The New The Tiffany & Co. Atlas Watch, Clap Ibiza Arrives, And The Peninsula Paris Unveils A Pretty Afternoon Tea
Every week CapitalIssues brings you the latest news in fashion and beauty, luxury and lifestyle, straight from our desks to…
The Emerging Trump Doctrine in the Middle East
The Middle East remains a critical and complex theater for U.S. foreign policy, and the second administration of President Donald…
