I will never forget the moment Hassan Nasrallah walked on to the makeshift stage in Dahieh to the shrieks of thousands of ardent fans and supporters. It was hot and humid, a typical July evening in Beirut, and sundown had done little to alleviate the heat.
It was 2008 and Nasrallah had not been seen in public for more than two years, since Hezbollah fought Israel to a draw after 34 days of war. But on that evening, Nasrallah decided to risk a public sighting in order to celebrate what he saw as his latest victory over Israel.
He had just negotiated the release of Samir Kuntar, who was convicted by an Israeli court of murdering five people, and four others in exchange for the bodies of Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture sparked the 2006 war.
As I stood in the press box surrounded by thousands of people, I was immediately struck by the idea that I was witnessing history. I was in university at the time back in Canada and was spending the summer interning at the Daily Star, Lebanon’s English-language newspaper. Halfway through my internship, I knew I loved the Middle East but hadn’t yet committed to journalism.
That changed the moment Nasrallah took to the stage. Sweat seeped through my shirt and chills ran down my back. I was hooked. The charged atmosphere, the thrill of watching history unfolding and a slight undercurrent of danger – I distinctly remember looking up to the sky and hoping that no Israeli jets were passing by.
I realised then that few professions offered the same mix of excitement and importance. Chronicling history matters and witnessing and speaking to those who shape it and are shaped by it matters.
In many ways on that July night, Nasrallah – and by extension Hezbollah – were at the peak of their powers. Under Nasrallah, Hezbollah had transformed from a fringe militant group, created in large part in opposition to Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, into a ferocious militia and political juggernaut.
Nasrallah was still basking in the glow of the 2006 war, which despite ending in a stalemate on the battlefield, was seen as a significant victory for Hezbollah and solidified its place at the top of Lebanon’s complex political hierarchy. But as its successes mounted, the group’s ambitions grew and its regional role as Iran’s biggest proxy, saw it weigh in on the side of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in that country’s devastating civil war.
Hezbollah played an instrumental role in helping Mr Al Assad stay in power and brutally repel rebel efforts. The group’s involvement in the war changed the way many in the region perceived it. For many, it was an unforgivable stance that risked dragging Lebanon, a country that was still grappling with the ghosts of its own civil war, back into the fray.
As Lebanon’s own economic and political crisis has worsened in recent years, much of the people’s anger, which manifested in widespread protests in 2019 and 2020, has been directed at Nasrallah and Hezbollah. The charismatic leader leaves behind a complicated legacy, having been instrumental in undermining the Lebanese state.
I have spent the better part of the past two decades fuelled by that night in Dahieh and dozens since that remind me that we live in an amazing, challenging world and it needs to be witnessed, chronicled and reported.
Love him or hate him – and many Lebanese did both – Nasrallah mattered. He controlled the most powerful army and party in the country and his death marks the end of a difficult chapter in the country’s rich but painful history and the beginning of something new.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The five pillars of Islam
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
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.
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
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
Company%C2%A0profile
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How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
