A UN investigation into the Beirut port blast could eventually be carried out as a result of a joint statement issued before the Human Rights Council on Tuesday in Geneva, a French diplomatic source has told The National.
Thirty-eight countries at the council, a UN intergovernmental body, urged Lebanon to conduct “a swift, independent, impartial, credible and transparent investigation into the explosion”.
A domestic inquiry in Lebanon has been suspended for over a year amid political meddling into the investigation, which has sought to determine the cause of the explosion on August 4 2020.
Around 220 people died and more than 7,000 were injured when nearly 3,000 tonnes of poorly-stored ammonium nitrate, a chemical mainly used in fertiliser, caught fire and exploded in the port.
The statement denounced the “systemic obstruction, interference, intimidation,” and hampering of the local probe.
“We urge Lebanon to abide by its international human rights obligations to take all the necessary measures to safeguard in law and in practice, the full independence and impartiality of the Lebanese judiciary,” it said.
The statement, delivered by Australia's ambassador to Geneva, Amanda Gorely, on behalf of the 38 member states, followed a speech by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who called for a “serious investigation” into the Beirut Port explosion, “without political interference or further delay”.
Tuesday's joint statement, initiated by Australia, homeland of the blast's youngest victim, laid the foundation for the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission, a French diplomatic source confirmed to The National — even if it is not explicitly mentioned in the text.
“The statement is a first step towards a swift, independent and impartial UN fact-finding mission,” the source said, stressing that France, which is one of the 38 signatories of the statement, has pushed for an international investigation from the beginning.
“It was Lebanon's sovereign choice to refuse an international investigation. But faced with the slowness of the domestic probe, we support the establishment of a UN mission into the explosion to push for accountability,” the source said.
The next step would be the presentation of a country-led resolution before the Human Rights Council in Geneva at the next session in June. Such a resolution will have to be adopted by a majority vote for the UN mission to be established.
Lebanon rejected the opening of an international investigation, despite widespread calls, with Michel Aoun, who was Lebanon's president at the time, dismissing it as an attempt to “dilute the truth”.
But more than two-and-a-half years since the devastating blast, which destroyed swathes of the capital, no senior official in Lebanon has been held accountable for the tragedy.
The domestic probe stopped again in January after lead investigator Tarek Bitar, who charged multiple top-ranking officials in connection with the blast, tried to resume his inquiry.
Mr Bitar was blocked by Lebanon Prosecutor General Ghassan Oueidat, also named in the case, who filed charges against Mr Bitar for rebelling against the judiciary.
Unlike international inquiries, a UN fact-finding mission does not require an invitation from the receiving state.
The last UN fact-finding mission has been established in Iran, looking at Tehran's rights violations in crackdowns against protesters, especially with respect to women and children
Growing campaign for justice
Civil society and opposition groups have long supported the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission.
The August Fourth Collective, which brings together families of the victims, has advocated a UN fact-finding mission since the end of 2020, Paul Naggear, a member of the collective, told The National.
In collaboration with non-governmental organisations such as Legal Action Worldwide, Human Rights Watch, lawyers and activists, it has been working to identify the best way to look for justice abroad, he said.
“We identify the UN fact-finding mission as the best option among the ones available,” said Mr Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter died in the explosion.
“Its mission will be the establish the facts: from the arrival of the ammonium nitrate leading to the moment of explosion. The team will work in collaboration the local lead investigator, Mr Bitar, and add their expertise to his investigation.”
Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, told The National, that the move is a “good first step towards accountability”.
The joint statement, “put pressure on Lebanese authorities and called them out in their shameful efforts to block the domestic investigation,” she said.
“But in the absence of meaningful measures to resolve the blockage of the investigation, we call on the international community to escalate the response and establish an international fact-finding mission into the explosion,”
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
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Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
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HOW TO WATCH
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The years Ramadan fell in May
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
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- That's about it
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Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
Results
Female 49kg: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) bt Thamires Aquino (BRA); points 0-0 (advantage points points 1-0).
Female 55kg: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Amal Amjahid (BEL); points 4-2.
Female 62kg: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR); 10-2.
Female 70kg: Thamara Silva (BRA) bt Alessandra Moss (AUS); submission.
Female 90kg: Gabreili Passanha (BRA) bt Claire-France Thevenon (FRA); submission.
Male 56kg: Hiago George (BRA) bt Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA); 2-2 (2-0)
Male 62kg: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) bt Joao Miyao (BRA); 2-2 (2-1)
Male 69kg: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Isaac Doederlein (USA); 2-2 (2-2) Ref decision.
Male 77kg: Tommy Langarkar (NOR) by Oliver Lovell (GBR); submission.
Male 85kg: Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE); 2-2 (1-1) Ref decision.
Male 94kg: Kaynan Duarte (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL); submission.
Male 110kg: Joao Rocha (BRA) bt Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE); submission.
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Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
