Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam formed a government on Saturday, ending more than two-and-a-half years of caretaker leadership. The formation of a new government is a crucial step for the country before the expiry of a ceasefire agreement with Israel on February 18.
Mr Salam asserted that no party would have the power to obstruct the government's work. Over the past two decades, Hezbollah and its allies have held enough seats to challenge the cabinet and exert significant influence over decision-making. However, it is unlikely that they retain that influence in the current government, formed under international and regional pressure.
The new Prime Minister has said that the new cabinet, which still needs to be approved by parliament, will not consist of members of political parties, often accused of corruption, insisting instead that it would be a reform government.
But in a country where power is shared according to sectarian quotas, cabinet members were selected after consultations with political leaders.
Key ministers in Lebanon's new government
Deputy Prime Minister: Tarek Mitri
Mr Mitri is the President of Saint George University of Beirut since 2018. He is chairman on the boards of the Institute of Palestine Studies and Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum and is a member of the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies.
A former UN envoy to Libya, he served as the special pepresentative of the UN Secretary General (2012- 2014). From 2005 to 2011, he was member of four successive Lebanese governments as minister of environment, administrative reform, culture, information and acting minister of foreign affairs.
Finance Minister: Yassin Jaber
The vital Finance Ministry had been nominated by the Amal Movement, headed by long-time parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri – who Mr Jaber is close to. He is a former economy and transport minister and was previously a lawmaker and part of Mr Berri's Hezbollah-allied Amal bloc, although he is not officially a member of a party.
His naming had been leaked and criticised by some as being beneficial to Mr Berri.
Long dominated by the two Shiite parties, the portfolio will be key at a time when Lebanon needs funding to rebuild after years of an economic crisis and war with Israel.
Economy Minister: Amer Bsat
Mr Bsat is an important figure in a new government that will attempt to pull the country out of one of the world’s worst financial crises.
Mr Bsat, head of emerging markets fixed income at the US investment firm BlackRock, will be among the team tasked with preparing a recovery plan to unlock a stalled $3 billion International Monetary Fund package and oversee financial restructuring.
Foreign Minister: Youssef Rajji
Mr Rajji is a diplomat who built his career within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being appointed ambassador to Jordan. He also held other diplomatic posts at the Lebanese missions in South Korea, Morocco and Ivory Coast.
Social Affairs Minister: Hanin Sayyed
She is an economist and author who has worked extensively with the World Bank, including on its response to Lebanon's economic crisis and to the war in neighbouring Syria. Her appointment comes at an important time given the urgent need to unlock financial aid and amid political developments in Syria.
Energy Minister: Joseph Saddi
He holds an MBA from Cornell University in the US and worked in consulting. He was senior partner and chairman of consulting firm Strategy&'s Middle East business and had previously been a chairman of the board at Booz & Company.
His LinkedIn profile says he was based in the UAE and had led privatisation programmes in the energy, mining, and steel sectors and advised Middle East governments on deregulation and policy.
It is the first time in years that the energy minister was not named by the Free Patriotic Movement – a Christian party once close to Hezbollah before relations soured over hostilities with Israel. The party has no ties to the current government.
Environment Minister: Tamara Zein
Ms Zein has been secretary-general of Lebanon's National Council for Scientific Research since 2022. She is vice president of the Lebanese National Commission for UN cultural body Unesco. She holds a doctorate in physical chemistry from France's Universite de Haute-Alsace.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
More on animal trafficking
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
