French President Emmanuel Macron will fly to Lebanon on Friday for a one-day visit to show support for the country's new leadership and work towards preventing Hezbollah's rearmament, two months after France and the US brokered a ceasefire between the group and Israel, French officials have said.
Unlike his previous trip in 2020, Mr Macron will not meet Hezbollah's political leadership, even though it is not listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU. Its military arm is.
"Today, there is a possibility for Hezbollah to return to a political framework because of the simple fact that it has less weapons, less ability to be supplied with weapons, and less external support," an adviser to Mr Macron told journalists.
He will hold a one-on-one meeting with Lebanon's new President, Joseph Aoun, its prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam, veteran Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the current caretaker head of cabinet, Najib Mikati. A meeting between Mr Macron and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who will be in Beirut on the same day, may also take place.
'Deal with Hezbollah's weapons'
France's objective is to "strengthen the Lebanese army and support Mr Aoun in the efforts he has announced to achieve a national defence strategy that will allow us to deal with the issue of Hezbollah's weapons", a diplomatic source said.
In his meeting, Mr Macron will "pass certain messages to a certain number of lawmakers on the subject of Lebanon's sovereignty", another adviser said, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah-aligned MPs.
In his inaugural speech on January 9, Mr Aoun received a round of applause – which Hezbollah MPs refused to join – when he said he would work to ensure the state's "monopoly on arms". The Shiite-majority group is the only militia that kept its weapons after the end of the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war, ostensibly to protect against against Israel, which has never signed a peace treaty with Lebanon.
In Beirut, Mr Macron is also expected to say that the power balance in Lebanon, which disproportionately benefited Hezbollah for the past 35 years due to its military arsenal, should be replaced by a "sort of government contract that will restore normal institutional operations in Lebanon", the first adviser said.
The election of Mr Aoun, a widely respected former army chief, and the choice of Mr Salam, until last week the president of the International Court of Justice, after more than two years of presidential vacancy has created "favourable conditions" for Lebanon, the adviser said.
This was made possible by Israel's spectacular attacks against Hezbollah and its leadership between September and November, about a year after the Iran-backed group started firing cross-border rockets in support of Hamas after its October 7 attacks against Israel. More than 3,000 Lebanese, mostly civilians, were killed during the two-month war. Hezbollah has been further isolated by the downfall of an important ally, Bashar Al Assad, in neighbouring Syria.
Hezbollah had, until recently, blocked the election of a president viewed as close to its political opponents, and no parliamentary session, which was necessary to elect a president, had been held for 19 months until January 9.
By joining the Gaza war, Hezbollah has a "clear responsibility" in the destruction of southern Lebanon, the second adviser to Mr Macron said.
"We see that Lebanese civil society is demanding change and the restoration of sovereignty," the adviser said. "Hezbollah must be able to hear that message, which is first and foremost a Lebanese message, and which has our support."
Lebanon must have full control of its territory and be protected both from Israeli attacks and Iranian interference, the adviser said.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel's army is expected to leave southern Lebanon, Hezbollah's historic heartland, by January 26, but Israeli media reports have claimed this deadline may not be respected.
France, a former mandatory power in Lebanon, has historic ties with the Mediterranean country, which has a sizable francophone population. During his visit to Beirut, Mr Macron will also continue indicating supporting for the Lebanese Armed Forces, which is expected to increase its presence in southern Lebanon. At a conference organised in October in Paris to support Lebanon, Mr Macron said $200 million had been raised for its security forces.
International co-operation to support the Lebanese army is under discussion, Mr Macron's advisers said. "We understand that Saudi Arabia is ready to re-engage with the Lebanese Armed Forces financially, but also with equipment," they said.
Saudi Arabia may join France, the US and the UK in training Lebanese army recruits. A large part of soldiers' salaries are paid by Qatar, more than five years since the start of the Lebanon's financial crisis.
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
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
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.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
