Who Needs a Haircut in The Draft Reform Plan When It’s Already in Place?

If you're relieved that the most recent proposed haircut on bank depositors was dismissed, don't be. The reality is that there's already an "indirect" haircut happening on your accounts and BDL just issued yet another circular that forces banks to pay all depositors, except the small ones, in Lebanese Liras at the rate set by the bank. In other words, if you have an account with a $20K balance and wish to withdraw 300$, you…

Lebanon on “Brink of Collapse”, Yet Parliament Wants to Pass an Amnesty Law

You'd think that Lebanese lawmakers have more imminent laws to pass and topics to discuss these days, but instead the current hot topic is passing a controversial amnesty law that would pardon thousands arrested or wanted for non-violent crimes and also reduce prison sentences. Many are opposed to this law as it might pardon those accused of attacking the Lebanese army or committing terrorist acts, while those in favor are trying to make political gains…
Critiques

Supporting Lebanon’s Struggling Hospitality Industry

5 years ago
I woke up today to the news that Le Bristol Beirut is shutting down after 70 years. Even though this was not confirmed yet by the hotel’s management, it goes without saying that Lebanon’s hospitality ...
Critiques

New BDL Circular Forces Money Transfer Offices to Pay Out Cash in LBP Only

5 years ago
In January 2019, BDL restricted dollar trade by calling for all money transfer offices (such as Western Union) to only pay out cash in Lebanese Pounds (LBP) rather than US dollars, even if the transfer ...
Critiques

Lebanese Agriculture Minister Wants You to Eat More Chicken

5 years ago
The Lebanese Minister of Agriculture & Culture (Don’t ask how these two ministers are together) shared on post on his Facebook page yesterday asking the Lebanese to cut down the consumption of red meat and ...
Critiques

US Dollar Trading at 3000 Lebanese Pounds

5 years ago
A week after BDL issued a circular aimed at “facilitating” money withdrawals, and with news of a 50% haircut spreading around, the US dollar today is trading over 3,000 LL in the black market. This ...
Critiques

UNESCO Expresses Concerns Over Construction Project in Nahr el Kalb

5 years ago
UNESCO director Mechtild Rössler published an open letter expressing concerns to the Lebanese authorities, over the announcement of a construction project at the Archaeological Site of Nahr El-Kalb. She continued saying: In particular, the World ...
Critiques

Interior Minister Puts in Place License Plate-Based Driving Restrictions

5 years ago
Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi issued a circular today stating that – Vehicles with a license plate ending in an odd number may now only be driven Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. and – Vehicles with a ...
Critiques

With BDL’s Latest Circular, We Now Have Four Lebanese Lira Rates

5 years ago
Leave it to the BDL geniuses to figure out new ways to screw us over while pretending to “facilitate” cash withdrawals for people. It took me a couple of hours today to understand the latest ...
Critiques

Lebanese Government Wants to Go Ahead With the Bisri Dam

5 years ago
Lebanon’s Energy Minister tweeted today that the government has decided to go ahead with the construction of a controversial dam in the Bisri Valley. The same government that just defaulted on its foreign debt, that ...
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