Seven years into the crisis, Lebanon’s retirees are selling property, considering returning to work, or turning to their children. Their savings remain illegally trapped and their retirement plans shattered, while the state, banks and BDL wrangle over prerogatives, sectarian considerations and who should bear the financial sector’s losses. Many saved for decades because they could not count on a regular pension. That safety net is now beyond their reach, as inflation, soaring bills and medical insurance costs eat into what little they have. The pension system adopted in 2023 has yet to take effect and will exclude those who have already reached retirement age. “The situation has become catastrophic,” one retiree tells me. Another no longer has hope of recovering his savings in his lifetime: “The money will probably go to my children … even to my children’s children.” My report @LOrientLeJour @lorienttoday today.lorientlejour.com/arti…

Qatari electricity lifeline for Lebanon includes two power plants, LNG supply deal - reuters.com/business/energy/…

The Monday recap of the econ news that moved Lebanon and the world ⏪: ⚡ Qatar will finance, build and operate an electricity project in Lebanon with no upfront Treasury investment: today.lorientlejour.com/arti… ⚡ BDL revoked Iranian Bank Saderat’s license amid growing U.S. pressure, with Gov. Karim Souhaid citing the need to protect Lebanon’s banking sector from sanctions: today.lorientlejour.com/arti… ⚡ BDL is reportedly considering raising monthly payments under Circulars 158 and 166 to $1,200 and $600 respectively, with the additional $200 and $100 restricted to card payments. ⚡ Beirut airport lacks valid certification, adding a hurdle to restoring direct U.S. flights: today.lorientlejour.com/arti… ⚡ Lebanese workers in the Gulf face shorter contracts, reduced bonuses and slower hiring as the regional war compounds an existing slowdown, potentially weighing on remittances to Lebanon: today.lorientlejour.com/arti… 📊 Lebanon’s passport ranked 86th in Arton Capital’s 2026 index; the IMF forecast a 0.3% GDP contraction for the Middle East and Central Asia this year. 🌎 France saw one of its most turbulent protest days in decades, while demonstrators also rallied in Brussels, Milan and Lisbon over living costs, housing and education; Syria and the World Bank agreed to establish a multi-donor recovery and reconstruction fund, according to SANA; the Iran war has cost U.S. consumers an estimated $265 billion since late February, roughly $2,000 per household, according to Moody’s Analytics. ‼️ Things to look out for: FATF’s Oct. 26-30 meetings in Paris will review Lebanon’s progress in tackling money laundering and terrorist financing. Early indications suggest it will remain on the grey list.

The Finance Ministry’s AI spox is in Bangkok and you’re not 👀

Au Liban, publier en français ne suffit plus à trouver ses lecteurs 👉🏻 French is an increasingly dying language in Lebanon, with a shift towards English which has gained prominence, particularly among younger generations. Au-delà d’un contexte de crise, d’une baisse du pouvoir d’achat et d’un glissement vers les réseaux sociaux, s’ajoute « l’érosion du français dans le paysage culturel libanais, particulièrement perceptible chez les jeunes générations ». « Alexandre Najjar, avocat, écrivain et fondateur des éditions L’Orient des Livres. Ardent défenseur de la francophonie, il constate un net glissement vers l’anglais : “Les moins de quarante ans ne lisent quasiment plus en français”, affirme-t-il, rejoignant ainsi le diagnostic de nombreux professionnels du secteur. » via @LOrientLeJour lorientlejour.com/article/15…

Will be interesting to see: - the types of turbines/power projects Qatar may be considering for Lebanon - whether Qatar has players that have already secured slots in the queues at global manufacturers given the global gas-turbine crunch, which has pushed delivery wait times to 5-6 years (GE Vernova & others had previously told me) 👇🏻

Somewhere in the world, someone is probably considering a very, very long-term bet: buying one of the few Lebanese bank licenses available on the market, ideally one with no liabilities, baggage or name associated with the crisis (note: BDL isn’t issuing new licenses right now). In a post-restructuring (far away) era, people will be more willing to trust a bank and a new name they don’t associate with the collapse.

Qatar will finance, build and operate an electricity project in Lebanon under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with no upfront investment costs for the Lebanese Treasury, PM Nawaf Salam announced Friday. The investment amount and implementation timeline have not been specified. via @LOrientLeJour