Economy

Iraqi Airways Set to Resume Flights to Lebanon Monday
Iraqi Airways Set to Resume Flights to Lebanon Monday

Iraqi Airways will resume flights to Lebanon on Monday, December 30, according to the country's Minister of Transport, as reported by the official Iraqi news agency. The airline had suspended flights to Lebanon on December 8, citing security concerns related to the situation in Syria.

Old $100 Bill Still Valid
Old $100 Bill Still Valid

The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) has issued a statement denying rumors circulating on certain social networks, claiming that the old printing of the hundred-dollar bill is still in circulation in the country. According to these rumors, the distribution of these bills has been suspended worldwide. However, the ISF said ...

BDL: Two Payments to 158 and 166 Beneficiaries in January
BDL: Two Payments to 158 and 166 Beneficiaries in January

On Friday, the Banque du Liban (BDL) issued a circular asking banks to pay two monthly installments to beneficiaries of circulars 158 and 166, which concern exceptional bank withdrawals of fresh dollars, at the beginning of January. Depositors benefiting from Circular 158 will receive $800 in cash instead of $400, while those benefiting from ...

BDL Reserves Rise to $10.176B: Will Payments Continue in January?
ExplainerBDL Reserves Rise to $10.176B: Will Payments Continue in January?

The relevant departments of the Banque du Liban (BDL) have finalized a comprehensive study on deposits and accounts held in Lebanese banks. This study distinguishes between “fresh accounts,” opened after October 17, 2019, and “dollar accounts,” which refer to legacy accounts established before that date. Commissioned by the acting ...

Rates Between Hospitals and Insurance Companies Increase by 15%
Rates Between Hospitals and Insurance Companies Increase by 15%

In order to continue offering insured patients high-quality care, hospitals will have to raise their prices with insurance companies by 15% as of January 2, 2025. Under the direction of its President, Sleiman Haroun, the Syndicate of Hospital Owners in Lebanon convened on Thursday. Participants talked about “the contractual relationship ...

Turkey Lowers Interest Rate for First Time in Two Years
Turkey Lowers Interest Rate for First Time in Two Years

Turkey’s central bank lowered its key interest rate on Thursday for the first time since February 2023, cutting it by 2.5 percentage points to 47.5%. This move comes in response to a slowdown in inflation, which remains above 47% year-on-year. The rate had been held steady at 50% since March as part of efforts to curb inflation. The central ...

UAB Secretary General Shares Opportunities and Challenges Awaiting Lebanon in 2025
UAB Secretary General Shares Opportunities and Challenges Awaiting Lebanon in 2025

According to Wissam Fattouh, the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Lebanon is set to enter a new phase aimed at restoring financial and monetary stability as the year 2025 approaches. In a recent statement, Fattouh emphasized that regaining confidence in the Lebanese pound is critical for achieving economic stability. This, he ...

El-Hajj Hassan Calls for Action Against Smuggling of Agricultural Products
El-Hajj Hassan Calls for Action Against Smuggling of Agricultural Products

Caretaker Minister of Agriculture Abbas el-Hajj Hassan sent letters to the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Municipalities, the Supreme Customs Council, the General Directorate of Customs, the Lebanese Army Command and the General Directorate of State Security, calling for action to combat the growing phenomenon of smuggling of agricultural ...

NSSF Transfers 57 Billion Lebanese Pounds to Hospitals in December
NSSF Transfers 57 Billion Lebanese Pounds to Hospitals in December

Mohammad Karaki, the Director General of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), has requested that 27 billion Lebanese pounds be sent to hospitals through the appropriate financial services. This raises the entire sum given to hospitals since the start of December to 57 billion pounds, and for 2024, it will be approximately 207 billion ...

EDL: Increased Electricity Hours Over the Holidays
EDL: Increased Electricity Hours Over the Holidays

Electricity of Lebanon (EDL) announced on Monday that throughout the holiday season, the daily energy supply will be extended from around 4 to 6 hours to approximately 6 to 8 hours. "An additional gas unit and a half-steam unit have been installed at the Zahrani power plant, increasing output by 200 megawatts," the public energy supplier said in a ...

Abu Haidar: War Losses Estimated Between $12 Billion and $15 Billion
Abu Haidar: War Losses Estimated Between $12 Billion and $15 Billion

The Director General of the Ministry of Economy, Mohammad Abu Haidar, stated that the war inflicted losses estimated at $12 billion to $15 billion on Lebanon’s economy, with direct losses exceeding 50%. In an interview with the local channel MTV, he explained that the war’s repercussions have deprived the country of revenues typically ...