The value of the beleaguered Lebanese pound rose slightly on Sunday, after the decision by two of Lebanon's most powerful political parties, Hezbollah and Amal, to end their three-month-long boycott of the government's Cabinet meetings. After weeks of Lebanese depositors enduring unprecedented devaluations in their savings, a bump in the pound is merely the smallest consolation. Many of them would much rather see an end to the political turmoil that underpins the country's economic crisis.
The boycott has held up any progress towards discussions with the International Monetary Fund over much-needed financial assistance to Lebanon's state coffers. The IMF has said that Beirut must present an economic reform plan that includes lowering its deficit, cutting wasteful spending and improving its tax collection, among other things, in order to avail itself of any aid. And the need for aid is dire, to say the least. A majority of Lebanese citizens have slid into poverty over the past two years, as widespread corruption and graft have resulted in their country sliding into economic ruin. Last year, the World Bank warned that Lebanon's situation was among the worst man-made economic crises in human history.
At the centre of the problem is the political gridlock created by Hezbollah and its ally Amal. Hezbollah doubles as a militant group and Iranian proxy. The two parties have effectively held the country hostage to the demands of Tehran, which wants to see Lebanon alienated from the West and the country's allies in the Arab world. In seeking to take control of the country's future, the parties have set up what amounts to a parallel state, complete with a separate, Iranian-supported economy and militia forces that undermine the national government's monopoly on the use of force.
The boycott has held up any progress towards discussions with the International Monetary Fund
The extent to which Hezbollah, in particular, has jeopardised Lebanon's development is clear in the way governance has stalled over the course of its boycott. The boycott was declared to protest an ongoing independent probe by Judge Tarek Bitar into the causes and circumstances surrounding the devastating explosion at Beirut's port in August, 2020. More than a year later, many former and current government officials, including some allied with Hezbollah, have been investigated. None have been convicted. Mr Bitar's investigation has been hampered every step of the way by lawsuits, threats and outright violence from Hezbollah or supporters of its agenda.
Editorials from The National
On the surface, the probe into the Beirut port explosion ought to have nothing to do with the political process needed to push economic reforms through in Lebanon. But the two manifestly are obstructed by the same corruption that has become endemic in the Lebanese system, at the centre of which is Hezbollah's ruthless sectarian agenda. What for the IMF ought to be a very straightforward prescription of policy measures to get Lebanon back on track and improve the welfare of its citizens has instead become just another political game, with increasingly deadly consequences.
While the real reasons for the end of the boycott remain unclear – many analysts suspect they are motivated more by Lebanon's upcoming elections, or an Iranian desire to gain concessions in Tehran's ongoing nuclear negotiations with the West – an earnest attempt at reconciliation and progress is unlikely to be among them. In rejoining the political process, Hezbollah and Amal have certainly taken a step. But it will be for them to prove whether it is a step forwards or backwards.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
Read more about the coronavirus
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RESULTS
Men – semi-finals
57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.
67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.
60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28
63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.
71kg – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28
81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27
86kg – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
RESULT
Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')
Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
More coverage from the Future Forum
FIXTURES
Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
Note: d/n = day/night
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
