On August 8, 2020, Rony Tabet’s world was turned upside down.
The 20-year-old Lebanese athlete lost his right eye to a rubber bullet, only days after surviving unscathed the deadly blast that shook Lebanon's capital.
The explosion, which involved a huge stockpile of chemicals stored at Beirut port, killed more than 200 people and injured thousands.
Mr Tabet, like thousands of other Lebanese, took to the streets of downtown Beirut days later.
Protesters were demanding justice for victims of the blast. Many said the government's negligence and rampant corruption across state institutions had caused the disaster.
Mr Tabet was among dozens of protesters who suffered serious injuries after being assaulted by unidentified people and security forces tasked with guarding Parliament.
"I was standing with my back to Mohamad Al Amine mosque, some 150 to 200 meters from where the scuffles were occurring at the time, when I was struck with a rubber bullet," Mr Tabet told The National.
Over the previous four days, Mr Tabet had been assisting in relief efforts across the capital, where thousands of people were displaced after their properties were damaged.
“Around 5pm on that day, I decided to stop and grab something to eat. But as I was about to leave the shop, I spotted demonstrators marching towards downtown Beirut and spontaneously decided to join them,” he says.
Mr Tabet says he doesn't regret that decision, though he fears the injuries he and others sustained were in vain with Lebanon's ruling class refusing to take responsibility for the blast.
While the investigation limps on, bogged down by delays and disputes, it is ordinary Lebanese who have been left to suffer the consequences.
“I lost many of my students simply because they cannot afford to stop training for six months,” Mr Tabet says, recalling how he rushed outside the gym along with around 20 of his students in the seconds that led to the major explosion after hearing what he said sounded like fighter jets.
His tragedy is not unique. Videographer Abdullah El Hajj, 54, also lost his right eye during the demonstrations.
He recalls facing the security agent as he raised his weapon and asking, “What threat do I pose to you,” before being shot in the eye.
Since then, Mr Abdullah, a father of two, has lost his job. But like the thousands of victims who had sustained injuries in the blast or during the demonstrations that followed, he is still awaiting justice.
His lawyer Ayman Raad said the security forces were still investigating the identities of those responsible for the crackdown that left over 700 people injured and at least 153 in need of hospitalisation, according to Human Rights Watch.
“Those in power don’t care for citizens. The ruling class only cares for its interests,” said Mr Raad.
Mr Abdullah has been a vocal critic of the ruling class and an active member of the October 17 movement that spawned nationwide demonstrations demanding radical reforms and an end to decades of corruption that has plunged the country into financial and economic crisis.
Despite the explosion, the movement has since lost momentum, gradually fading following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ali Solh, a 30-year-old salesman who joined a support group created by Abdallah to help victims of the blast, however, remains hopeful.
“We are inspired by your strength and courage,” Mr Solh, who also lost an eye that day, told Mr Abdallah as the latter drove to pursue his months-long treatment at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Envi%20Lodges%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Noelle%20Homsy%20and%20Chris%20Nader%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hospitality%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%20to%2015%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%20of%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)
Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
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
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
