Economy

World Bank: $34M for Public Service Budget Management
World Bank: $34M for Public Service Budget Management

The World Bank's Board of Directors approved on Wednesday a $34 million project to assist Lebanon in restoring essential budget management functions within the public administration. This initiative aims to reinstate public services, ensure citizen welfare and facilitate sustainable economic recovery. According to a communiqué issued by the ...

Entry Into Force of Circular 166
Entry Into Force of Circular 166

Circular 166, which allows certain depositors to withdraw $150 a month from their accounts, came into force on Thursday. Those concerned can now submit their applications to the banks. Lebanon's Central Bank (BDL) has informed banks of the application mechanism and sent them the form to be used in order to lift the banking secrecy of the accounts ...

The Concept of Financial Chaos
The Concept of Financial Chaos

The chaos that has prevailed over the Lebanese financial sector for four years has recently jumped to a new level. It has become an economic concept, just like capitalism or socialism. And it is governing the country. The newly-coined concept of “financial chaos” involves this sticky mess surrounding the value of the lollar, the dollar, ...

Government Plan for Bank Resolution Put on Hold?
Government Plan for Bank Resolution Put on Hold?

On Tuesday, the administrative court ruled on the dispute between the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) and the State. The Council of State invalidated the government's plan to abolish bank reserves at the Banque du Liban (BDL). A major blow, which calls into question the validity of the banking resolution proposed by the government. On ...

The State Council Delivers a Heavy Blow to Mikati’s Plan!
The State Council Delivers a Heavy Blow to Mikati’s Plan!

In its final "constitutional" session before transitioning into a caretaker government, on May 20, 2022, Najib Mikati’s Cabinet endorsed a plan for financial and economic recovery. It included a document titled "Strategy for Financial Sector Revitalization," which, in its third clause, outlined the cancelation of a significant portion of the ...

Alfa and Touch: Suspension of the Strike
Alfa and Touch: Suspension of the Strike

Following an intervention by MP Farid el-Khazen, the employees of Alfa and Touch decided to take a break in their dispute with the caretaker Minister of Telecommunications, Johnny Corm, by suspending the open strike they began on February 5. In a bid to defuse the prevailing crisis in the cell phone sector, Keserwan MP Farid el-Khazen received a ...

Tax Figures and Percentages
Tax Figures and Percentages

Should the approval of the Finance Law within constitutional deadlines be enough to presume that "the country is operating effectively"? Taxes and fees have increased by 10 to 46 times, while Lebanese citizens struggle to keep their heads above water. Under the Finance Law, taxes on goods and services, the primary revenue source, are estimated at ...

No Looming Solutions for Telecom Employees!
No Looming Solutions for Telecom Employees!

No signs of a solution loom on the horizon for the escalating crisis between the Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications, Johnny Corm, and the unions of employees of the telecommunications companies in Lebanon, Alfa and Touch. So far, the Minister has refused to sign the new collective labor contract requested by the employees, arguing that given ...

Cell Phone Operators' Strike: Pressure Rising
Cell Phone Operators' Strike: Pressure Rising

According to information obtained by This is Beirut, the strike observed by employees of Lebanon's cell phone companies, Alfa and Touch, has led to the shutdown of several transmission stations, which is beginning to affect cell phone networks. At the same time, there is a shortage of top-up cards on the market. Against this backdrop, the Alfa ...

Lebanese Cannabis: The Green Gold
Lebanese Cannabis: The Green Gold

Lebanese cannabis is often hailed as among the finest in the world, a sentiment echoed by former Minister of Economy Raëd Khoury, MP of Baalbek-Hermel, Antoine Habchi, and supported by a 2018 report from the consulting agency McKinsey & Co. Let’s focus on showcasing the profitability of legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes. National ...

Million Platform Launched in the Middle East
Million Platform Launched in the Middle East

Million, a revolutionary content monetization platform, was launched on February 8 in the Middle East. Promising to revolutionize the digital content creation landscape, Million aims to fundamentally change the dynamics between creators and their audiences. Conceived by CEO Julien Hawari, Million is driven by the desire to empower creators and ...

Public Sector Strike Will Be Extended
Public Sector Strike Will Be Extended

The Lebanese public administration, which has been on strike since January 30, decided to extend its protest until February 23. In a press release, the Civil Servants League denounced “the disparate policy adopted by the government since the beginning of the financial and economic crisis, and its obstinacy in restricting the rights of civil ...