Lebanon has just gone through a revolution – one that started more than five years ago with street protests demanding an end to corrupt political rule. It took all that time and a whole myriad of developments to get to a point where a president and prime minister have been elected outside the grip of the usual political parties that have dominated the country for decades.
In having former head of the Lebanese Armed Forces Joseph Aoun and former head of the International Court of Justice Nawaf Salam elected by Parliament this week, Lebanon has entered a new era. No longer is Hezbollah able to use its “veto” by having a third of parliamentary votes hold up all government activity.
The end of the constitutional paralysis of the country, with no president in power for more than two years and four months, is coupled with the return of political life to the country. It is a historic moment – Lebanon may be the closest it has been in at least 20 years to freeing itself from the chokehold of warlords of the previous civil war, Hezbollah and its regional backer Iran.
There is no denying that the devastating wars in Gaza and Lebanon since the Hamas attack of October 2023 led to major changes in the Arab world and particularly in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. Some of these changes are terrible, like the displacement of close to 90 per cent of Gaza’s population due to Israel’s continued war. Others are transformative, like the end of Bashar Al Assad’s rule in Damascus.
All came to a head in Lebanon last year, with Israel assassinating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior members of the paramilitary group, while also displacing over a million Lebanese from the south of the country. In addition to the loss of life, there was an intolerable strain on Lebanon after five years of a chaotic downward spiral in the country. From the collapse of the country’s banking system, to the Beirut port explosion that was one of the largest recorded in human history, to a political stalemate that meant the country was led by a fragile caretaker government – all of this was set against the backdrop of a hobbled state, with political parties taking advantage of that weakness to build their strength and influence.
No entity benefited more than Hezbollah from the weakness of the Lebanese state, and it is only with a weakened Hezbollah that the state is able to re-emerge. For the first time in years, Hezbollah was no longer the determining voice in deciding who was Prime Minister. Mohamed Raad, the head of its parliamentary bloc, made his anger clear after the decision to name Mr Salam as Prime Minister, saying Hezbollah extended a hand in allowing quorum in Parliament last Thursday, which led to voting in the President, “but that hand was cut”.
Mr Salam’s appointment was not a foregone conclusion. Hezbollah had banked on caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati being sworn in and maintaining existing power-sharing agreements. That order has been upended.
Lebanon may be the closest it has been in at least 20 years to freeing itself from warlords, Hezbollah and Iran
Equally, neither is Mr Salam’s success a foregone conclusion. Spoilers will be waiting for him to slip up, or will work at limiting his ability to implement change. Those with vested interests threatened by these changes are, of course, going to try their best to limit them. Some of the challenges are economic and political, but fundamentally the threat is linked to security and the threat of violence. With at least 13 per cent unemployment, a proliferation of arms in the country and undercurrents of sectarian tensions, the threats are real.
In his first public remarks after returning to Beirut from The Hague, Mr Salam promised on Tuesday a “just, strong, modern civic state” to emerge. Such a state would run contrary to the interests of those who object to a “civic” state and want to see sectarian interests dominate it. Equally, those who object to “justice” being served will have a lot to lose.
February will mark 20 years since the devastating assassination of Rafic Hariri. Justice for that crime was not served directly, and in a sweet irony, it was Mr Salam who established the special tribunal for Lebanon to bring those behind Mr Hariri’s killing to justice. Impunity has been one of the hallmarks of Lebanese politics in the past two decades; ending it will not be easy but it is necessary to ensure that change is institutional and not just dependent on a few personalities.
Mr Salam has promised that “the time is now for a new chapter, based in justice security, progress, opportunities and equality”, with a commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and a full Israeli withdrawal from the country. It is a tall order but at a revolutionary time within the country and with clear international support, Lebanon may just be able to deliver it.
And it is the street protests of five years ago, which led to independent parliamentary candidates winning more seats in 2022 than ever before that ultimately allowed the election of a new president and prime minister to happen. While a long time coming, Lebanon’s revolution seems to have borne fruit.
Ukraine%20exports
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Company%20profile%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20specs
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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
