More than two weeks after Nawaf Salam was designated as Lebanon's next Prime Minister, the extensive and complicated consultations that lead to the creation of the country's cabinet continue.
It's the highly coveted Finance Ministry – whose head in recent years has been named by parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri – that is proving most controversial.
Historically, the ministry has been held by ministers aligned with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement. Allocating the ministry to them again would likely spark controversy, as Lebanon aspires to usher in a new era under a president and prime minister seen as independent from the entrenched ruling elite widely blamed for the country’s many crises.
Mr Salam is seen as a newcomer and a break from the traditional political system. The work of Change MPs – lawmakers who emerged after the October 2019 protests against Lebanon's ruling elite – was instrumental in his appointment.
On Wednesday night, after meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Mr Salam reiterated his government would not be comprised of MPs or figures from political parties. He insisted that no decision had been made, adding “no ministry is exclusive to a certain sect and no ministry is prohibited to a certain sect”.
But a key obstacle remains the Finance Ministry.
Mr Berri, leader of the Amal Movement, insists the Finance Ministry has been historically reserved for the Shiite community – whose parliamentary representation comes from Hezbollah and Amal. He said this week that his party's choice is Yassine Jaber, a former minister of economy and financial expert.
A senior parliamentary figure close to both parties said that Mr Jaber is not a member of Amal. He pointed out that he is also not an MP, which would not affect his chances of becoming a minister, under Mr Salam's conditions.
However, such a move by Mr Berri and his allies has been met with short shrift by opponents, riding on a wave of optimism.
“Let me be frank. It is not normal to not apply the same rules to everyone. When you do a shuffling of the ministers, you have to have no exceptions,” said Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb, one of Lebanon's oldest political parties.
“Any privilege given to anyone is a door for discrimination and a door for people to feel that they are not equals,” he told The National. “So, based on that, we are clear that we should not give the financial keys of the government to Amal and Hezbollah.”
Imposing conditions
The election of Mr Aoun on January 9, following a two-year presidential vacuum, was influenced by pressure from the US, France and Saudi Arabia. Lebanon urgently requires financial support to tackle an economic crisis that began in 2019, further exacerbated by the destruction caused by a war between Hezbollah's military wing and Israel, which inflicted billions of dollars in damage.
A ceasefire deal to end the conflict, reached in November last year, needs strong leadership to ensure it holds.
On Wednesday, caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam said Lebanon must regain the trust of the international community to unlock financial aid for reconstruction after the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Opponents of Hezbollah and Amal are resisting attempts by the parties to impose candidates on any ministry − not just the finance portfolio − accusing them of having a stranglehold over a government that has persisted longer than a decade. Some 84 out of Parliament's 128 MPs voted for Mr Salam; Hezbollah and Amal abstained after seeing that their choice, incumbent Prime Minister Najib Mikati, would not win.
“Since the beginning, there was a group of people who voted for Nawaf Salam against the will of another group. Hezbollah didn't vote for Nawaf Salam, nor [did] Mr Berri. And the others did,” said a senior political source from the faction who voted for Mr Salam.
“We were in agreement that no party will impose on Mr Salam any portfolio or any case or any condition.”
“It's not acceptable that the people who chose Mr Salam to lead a government of reform and sovereignty will end up losing in front of people imposing conditions who don't support his agenda,” added the source.
The source insisted it was not “about the Finance Ministry, it's about a certain party imposing its conditions on the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic against the discipline of the other parties”.
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Company%20profile
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
India cancels school-leaving examinations
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
