Osama Habib| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Lebanon will experience its worst inflation in history once the Central Bank’s subsidies are totally lifted on fuel oil and diesel, economists and experts warned. The warning came as Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati desperately struggles to overcome all the obstacles in the formation of a new Cabinet, which is expected to restore some confidence in the country as well all reduce the dollar exchange rate against the Lebanese pound. Observers and international organizations are also closely monitoring the intensive discussions in the Lebanese parliament to approve the capital control law and the ration card.

The Central Bank is expected to lift all subsidies on fuel oil and diesel at the end of September 2021, a move that is expected to have a devastating impact on the already fragile economy if this action was not matched with the issuance of the ration card and serious attempts to implement reforms. Marwan Barakat, group chief economist and head of research at Bank Audi, told The Daily Star that full subsidy removal is expected to have additional significant inflationary effects expected at close to 180 percent (On top of the 316 percent inflation reported between June 2019 and 2021). “This additional inflation is driven by the direct effects of the increase in oil prices on transport cost and housing energy, but also on the indirect effects caused by this supply push inflation on all other sectors in the economy. It is yet worth mentioning that the subsidy lifting has become a necessary evil following the significant drop in BDL liquid reserves to $14 billion, which is equivalent to the required FX deposits of banks at the Central Bank,” Barakat explained.

by dohanews.co -- Qatar’s Embassy in Beirut has announced that all Lebanese nationals will be granted a free visa upon arrival at Hamad International Airport, for a period of 30 days. This is subject to an additional 30 days, within 180 days of issuance, the embassy said in a statement on Twitter. All travellers most be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed return ticket and confirmation of a hotel reservation in Qatar for the duration of their visit. Travellers must also be full vaccinated with a vaccine recognised by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, with the last dose administered at least 14 days before arrival. A negative PCR test result within 72 hours of arrival is compulsory, and all passengers must register on the Ehteraz platform to obtain approval from the Ministry of Public Health at least 12 hours before travel.

Passengers who have not received two doses of the vaccine 14 days before arrival will not be permitted to enter. Vaccines approved in Qatar include Pfizer / Biontech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Covishield (AstraZeneca), and Johnson & Johnson. Qatar accommodates around 35,000 Lebanese nationals in the country. Speaking to Doha News, Lebanon’s ambassador to Qatar, Farah Berri, said that “the State of Qatar has always been the first to provide moral, financial, humanitarian and political support to Lebanon.” “The Lebanese Embassy in Doha is proud to say that Qatar has become a second home to many Lebanese,” Berri added. The new decision will allow Lebanese families to reunite in Qatar as Lebanon faces a multitude of financial, economic, and political challenges that have prevented many Lebanese expats from visiting this summer.

المكوّناتُ اللبنانيّةُ ترفضُ المسَّ بلبنانَ الكبير، وإذا أحدٌ نَفَضَ عنه الغُبارَ اتَّهمَته

بالتقسيم. لكنَّ تصرفاتِ هذه المكوّنات، بالمقابل، جَعلت لبنانَ رَمادًا حتى بات غيرَ قابلٍ

للوِحدةِ ولا للتقسيم. السلامُ فيه موقِفُ لحظة، والحربُ موعدٌ رابِض. الأخطرُ من أن يكونَ

لبنانُ جُزءًا من قوميّةٍ أخْرى، هو أن يكونَ جُزءًا من مشروعٍ آخَر. لم تَحصُل حروبٌ

قوميّةٌ في العالمِ العربيّ، لكنَّ صِراعَ المشاريعِ فَجَّر حروبًا مُستدامَة. التعصُّبُ الدينيُّ أقوى

من الشعورِ القوميّ، والجَهالةُ أقوى من الاثنين. الصراعُ الحقيقيُّ في الشرقِ ليس بين

في الثاني من ايلول ٢٠٠٧ سقطت منظمة فتح الاسلام التي سيطرت على مخيم نهر البارد وتم اقتلاعها من جذورها وسقط معها مشروع …