Former Lebanese finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil walks to attend a meeting in Baabda. Reuters
Former Lebanese finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil walks to attend a meeting in Baabda. Reuters
Former Lebanese finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil walks to attend a meeting in Baabda. Reuters
Former Lebanese finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil walks to attend a meeting in Baabda. Reuters

MENA

Lebanon

Lebanon prosecutor issues warrant for MP charged over Beirut blast

Public prosecutor instructed police to carry out warrant in January when current parliamentary session ends and MPs lose immunity

Reuters

December 14, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Lebanon's public prosecutor on Tuesday instructed security forces to arrest a top politician on charges pertaining to the Beirut port blast, a senior judicial source said, setting the stage for a possible confrontation with the member of the Lebanese Parliament and his powerful ally, Hezbollah.

Tarek Bitar, the judge investigating last year's catastrophic port explosion, first issued a warrant for the arrest of Ali Hassan Khalil, a former finance minister, on October 12 after he did not attend a scheduled interrogation.

He is the right-hand man of House Speaker Nabih Berri and one of several current and former senior politicians and security officials charged in connection with the blast that killed more than 200 people. All have refused to be interrogated by Mr Bitar, saying he lacks the authority to do so and is biased.

The arrest warrant called for Mr Khalil to be detained once parliament is out of session, which the constitution says will be the case on January 1.

Read more

Politicians accused of stalling Beirut blast probe as judge suspension lifted

The constitution bars the arrest of parliament members while the legislature is in session unless they are caught in the act of a crime or a vote is held to allow for their prosecution.

Mr Bitar had originally issued the warrant when parliament was out of session but security forces held off enacting it, leading Mr Bitar on Friday to call on them to carry it out or risk facing prosecution themselves.

On Monday, the Amal Movement, of which Mr Khalil is a senior member, said in a statement that the judiciary was being used in the case “to strike internal stability".

An October protest called for by Hezbollah and Amal against Mr Bitar two days after he issued the warrant against Mr Khalil descended into the worst street fighting in Beirut in more than a decade.

Members of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces lay flowers in front of a memorial to the victims of the explosion in Beirut's port last year.
Members of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces lay flowers in front of a memorial to the victims of the explosion in Beirut's port last year.
Portraits of victims of last year's Beirut port blast.
Portraits of victims of last year's Beirut port blast.
A man, right, hangs a giant Lebanese flag on a building that was damaged in last year's blast.
A man, right, hangs a giant Lebanese flag on a building that was damaged in last year's blast.
France's President Emmanuel Macron remotely attends a Lebanon donors' conference one year after the Beirut port blast.
France's President Emmanuel Macron remotely attends a Lebanon donors' conference one year after the Beirut port blast.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of Beirut's 2020 port blast on August 5.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of Beirut's 2020 port blast on August 5.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of Beirut's massive 2020 port blast.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of Beirut's massive 2020 port blast.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion.
Police hold flowers to mark the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion.
Banners reading 'Here starts your end and our beginning' and 'Hostages of a murderous state' hang on a building damaged in last August's port blast, as Lebanon marks a year since a the cataclysmic explosion devastated Lebanon's capital.
Banners reading 'Here starts your end and our beginning' and 'Hostages of a murderous state' hang on a building damaged in last August's port blast, as Lebanon marks a year since a the cataclysmic explosion devastated Lebanon's capital.
A gavel monument symbolising justice can be seen in front of the damaged grain silos at Beirut port, as Lebanon marks a year since an explosion ravaged the country's capital.
A gavel monument symbolising justice can be seen in front of the damaged grain silos at Beirut port, as Lebanon marks a year since an explosion ravaged the country's capital.
Supporters of Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement release white balloons to mark one year since the huge explosion in Beirut's port. At least 200 people were killed, and more than 6,000 injured in the blast on August 4, 2020.
Supporters of Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement release white balloons to mark one year since the huge explosion in Beirut's port. At least 200 people were killed, and more than 6,000 injured in the blast on August 4, 2020.
Supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement release paper lanterns to mark one year since a huge explosion in Beirut's port.
Supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement release paper lanterns to mark one year since a huge explosion in Beirut's port.
A man in a wheelchair flies a Lebanese flag during a protest demanding justice for the victims of last year's Beirut port blast.
A man in a wheelchair flies a Lebanese flag during a protest demanding justice for the victims of last year's Beirut port blast.
Demonstrators gather outside Beirut port on the anniversary of the blast that ravaged the city last August. Hundreds of Lebanese marched on August 4 to mark the explosion, protesting against impunity over the country's worst peacetime disaster at a time when its economy was already in tatters.
Demonstrators gather outside Beirut port on the anniversary of the blast that ravaged the city last August. Hundreds of Lebanese marched on August 4 to mark the explosion, protesting against impunity over the country's worst peacetime disaster at a time when its economy was already in tatters.
Relatives of Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the site of the explosion on the first anniversary of the disaster.
Relatives of Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the site of the explosion on the first anniversary of the disaster.
Relatives of Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the site of the explosion on the first anniversary of the disaster.
Relatives of Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the site of the explosion on the first anniversary of the disaster.
Demonstrators gather by the statue of 'The Lebanese Emigrant' near Beirut port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city.
Demonstrators gather by the statue of 'The Lebanese Emigrant' near Beirut port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city.
A demonstrator marches with a sign showing one of the young victims of the 2020 Beirut blast.
A demonstrator marches with a sign showing one of the young victims of the 2020 Beirut blast.
People carry flags and banners as they march to mark the anniversary of Beirut's port blast.
People carry flags and banners as they march to mark the anniversary of Beirut's port blast.
Priests pray near the remains of Beirut port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city.
Priests pray near the remains of Beirut port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city.
Demonstrators in Lebanon's capital march past a statue symbolising "Beirut rising from destruction" on their way towards the port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the city.
Demonstrators in Lebanon's capital march past a statue symbolising "Beirut rising from destruction" on their way towards the port on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the city.
France's President Emmanuel Macron talks to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun during a remote international conference to raise aid for the country. France has pledged about €100 million ($118.3m) in emergency aid as well as 500,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses for Lebanon.
France's President Emmanuel Macron talks to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun during a remote international conference to raise aid for the country. France has pledged about €100 million ($118.3m) in emergency aid as well as 500,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses for Lebanon.
Nuns pray during a mass organised at the Beirut port with the relatives of last year's blast victims.
Nuns pray during a mass organised at the Beirut port with the relatives of last year's blast victims.
A priest comforts the relative of a blast victim at a Mass organised in Beirut.
A priest comforts the relative of a blast victim at a Mass organised in Beirut.
Families and relatives of people killed in the blast carried portraits of their loved ones to the commemoration Mass in Beirut.
Families and relatives of people killed in the blast carried portraits of their loved ones to the commemoration Mass in Beirut.
Families and relatives of victims of the explosion at Beirut port attend a Mass held to commemorate the anniversary.
Families and relatives of victims of the explosion at Beirut port attend a Mass held to commemorate the anniversary.
Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai arrives to lead a Mass in memory of people who died in the explosion.
Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai arrives to lead a Mass in memory of people who died in the explosion.
Relatives of people who died in the 2020 Beirut blast attend a Maronite Christian Mass at the city’s port.
Relatives of people who died in the 2020 Beirut blast attend a Maronite Christian Mass at the city’s port.
A relative of a victim of the blast weeps as she attends the Mass.
A relative of a victim of the blast weeps as she attends the Mass.
A fire engine carrying portraits of blast victims is driven during a remembrance ceremony at the port of Lebanon’s capital.
A fire engine carrying portraits of blast victims is driven during a remembrance ceremony at the port of Lebanon’s capital.
Relatives of the Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the Lebanese capital’s port.
Relatives of the Beirut port blast victims arrive for a remembrance ceremony at the Lebanese capital’s port.
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MATCH INFO

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
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Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

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SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

Tomorrow 2021
ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:

1. Reynaldothewizard
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Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
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Based: Tunisia 
 
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Updated: December 15, 2021, 9:00 AM`
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