“Where were you on August 4?”
One question, six words, that are enough to make the colour drain from any Lebanese person's face and bring a rush of catastrophic and chaotic scenes to mind.
Five years ago today, the lives of many changed forever. A devastating blast, described as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history, rocked the heart of Beirut. It killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and scarred an entire population.
Those who were in the capital recall blood on the streets, screams and sirens cutting through the air, as well as fear and panic suffocating the city. Some who survived did so by chance, courtesy of Covid-19 lockdown measures and last-minute cancelled plans. But for those who lost a loved one, it has been five years of seeking justice and answers, to no avail.
The National has marked half a decade since the explosion – that continues to cast a long shadow over Lebanon – with a series of stories and reports looking at the aftermath of the blast from many perspectives.
From the human toll and the families left with no closure to the economic price and renewed hope for justice from Lebanon's new government, our team of correspondents have put together a package to commemorate a tragic day. This newsletter brings you the best of our coverage.
Also, you can join our correspondents who were in Beirut when the explosion happened for a live Q&A today to discuss the aftermath and progress of the investigation. Register here
Fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The%20specs
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Barbie
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
