For weeks now, Lebanon’s cabinet has failed to meet, showing once again how politics remains far more important to the country’s leaders than urgent economic revitalisation. The principal reason for this is that Hezbollah and its main Shiite ally, the Amal movement, have boycotted cabinet sessions since October 12. They are demanding the removal of Tarek Bitar, the judge investigating the Beirut port explosion on August 4 last year.
On Monday, there were reports that an agreement had been reached between the president Michel Aoun and parliament speaker Nabih Berri to remove Mr Bitar, though Mr Aoun’s supporters denied this. The judge has pursued his investigation against rising pressure from Hezbollah and its allies, who have accused him of “politicising” his inquiry. They are angry that Mr Bitar has called in former government ministers for questioning, including Amal members and politicians loyal to Hezbollah’s allies.
There has been a strong sectarian component to the standoff, which has complicated any compromise solution. The vast majority of those killed or injured in the port blast were Christian, so that many Christians today would consider an effort by the political class to curtail the investigation as an unacceptable cover-up.
With elections scheduled for the coming spring, the main Christian parties have sought to avoid creating the impression that they are hindering Mr Bitar’s efforts. The fear of losing seats has been particularly felt among Mr Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which has put up a facade of support for an independent judiciary, worried that it could lose Christian votes if it was seen as leaning in the direction of its ally Hezbollah.
Over the weekend, however, before reports of the alleged deal, there was a shift in the Aounists’ position, when the FPM issued a statement criticising the Bitar investigation. Officials close to the Aounists are in prison because of it, and many believe the president’s partisans see a continuation of the cabinet deadlock as a cause of more economic woe. This could undermine Aounist fortunes in the parliamentary elections, but also the presidential prospects next year of Gebran Bassil, Mr Aoun’s son-in-law.
Many observers believe that Hezbollah was somehow involved in securing and storing the over 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at Beirut port, probably to use against rebels in Syria. Yet, the party was not alone responsible. Ministers and officials named by Hezbollah’s allies also covered the presence of the material, which exploded and destroyed large swathes of Beirut.
Particularly interesting has been the judiciary's refusal to bend to repeated appeals by lawyers of the ministers – called in by Judge Bitar – to have Mr Bitar himself removed from the case. Lebanon’s judiciary, despite the high quality of some of its judges, has been notoriously prone to political influence, but it seems that this time Mr Bitar’s determination has stiffened the back of some senior judges.
In November, three judges resigned over political interference in judicial matters. Last week, Souhail Abboud, the president of the Higher Judicial Council, called on judges to defend their independence from political affairs.
All this is not likely to guarantee a positive outcome for Mr Bitar’s investigation. Lebanon’s politicians cannot tolerate an independent judiciary, and now that the Aounists have shifted on Mr Bitar, the probable outcome is that some sort of arrangement will be worked out that prevents him from interviewing ministers. However, reaching that point may be more complicated than anticipated, largely because of public anger.
A takeaway from this episode is that Hezbollah continues to struggle when it enters the viper’s nest of Lebanese sectarian politics. The party will not be greatly weakened by the Bitar investigation, and the judge has not levelled any accusations at party members, but something else is taking place. Increasingly, as Hezbollah has adopted divisive positions on public issues, it has been exposed to criticism from other sects, and this has eroded the system the party set up in 2006 to defend its interests.
At the time, Hezbollah had allied itself with Mr Aoun, and had used this and intimidation to gradually impose its domination of the political system. As significantly, it also gained government endorsement of its weapons and resistance in successive cabinet statements. The party built up a protective system around itself that allowed it to retain the commanding heights of the state and limit opposition.
This came crashing down after the economic collapse of 2019. Hezbollah, in trying to defend the hegemony of the political class, was accused by many Lebanese of being the primary prop of the corrupt order. Lebanon's economic deterioration increased resentment against the party nationally, even if it retains Shiite support.
This situation has meant that Hezbollah no longer enjoys the layers of protection it once did. For some this is meaningless, because Hezbollah remains strong. Perhaps, but amid widespread domestic hostility, the party’s margin of manoeuvre, especially in a conflict with Israel, has been reduced. Had the party been indifferent to the environment in which it operated, it would not have worked so hard to shape it to its advantage.
Hezbollah’s frustration has been increasingly evident. Recently, its deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, made a speech that was much remarked upon, in which he declared that Lebanon was known in the four corners of the word thanks to its resistance. This was the Lebanon Hezbollah wanted, and those Lebanese who disagreed could “search for another solution.” Hezbollah’s problem is that most of its Lebanese antagonists don’t want to. They're not going anywhere.
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
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.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
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
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
