In a month’s time, Lebanon will mark the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri, the tycoon and visionary prime minister who espoused non-violence but was murdered in a Beirut bombing. Almost 20 years after the attack, one of the architects of the UN-led international tribunal to investigate the killing has been chosen as Lebanon’s new prime minister.
Delving into the murky circumstances surrounding Mr Hariri’s death would be a tough assignment for anyone. However, Nawaf Salam’s background as a veteran diplomat, jurist and academic who was already steeped in the realities of high-stakes Lebanese politics made him a good fit for the job. Almost two decades later, Mr Salam has received the backing of more than 80 Lebanese MPs for another vital task – that of guiding the country through its latest challenges.
Mr Salam brings a lot to the table. Along with newly elected President Joseph Aoun, he is regarded as being outside the country’s contemporary political class, a group in which many Lebanese have lost their trust. His professional history presents a figure of competence and international credibility – he is the first Lebanese and the second Arab to lead the International Court of Justice and served for 10 years as Lebanon’s permanent representative to the UN.
Lebanon’s new prime minister also has domestic credibility. From his pro-Palestinian and leftist activism in the 1970s to a consequential career in academia, Mr Salam has focused on reforming the country’s electoral code and judicial system as well as building a civil state that could transcend Lebanon’s sectarian divisions. He also has deep roots in Lebanese politics and culture; his grandfather, Salim Salam, was the deputy of Beirut in the Ottoman parliament in 1912. His uncle Saeb Salam, who is regarded as one of the country's founding fathers, and his cousin, Tammam Salam, both served as prime minister.
Mr Salam will need to draw on all his professional experience and political nous for the challenges ahead. The ceasefire with Israel is brittle. Building new homes and finding jobs for the tens of thousands of Lebanese caught in the crossfire between Hezbollah and Israel’s latest war is a huge task. Many other issues remain unresolved, such as a proliferation of arms and many of Lebanon’s estimated 175,000 migrant workers who have been left homeless after the truce.
A legal-minded technocrat – not another ideologue – may just be what Lebanon needs as it tries to move forward
Those parties in parliament who did not vote for Mr Salam have had their say. Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad called for a government that takes into account Lebanon's multi-confessional state, essentially saying the Shiite community must be represented. However, although Mr Salam should not take any community’s support for granted, his legal background and demonstrable commitment to better governance stands in contrast to others’ track record of revolutionary rhetoric and confrontation. In his first remarks following his nomination, Mr Salam struck a positive tone, saying he was “not in favour of exclusion but rather committed to unity and partnership”. He also called for an end to Lebanon’s “wasted opportunities”.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon to examine Mr Hariri’s 2005 death eventually blamed Hezbollah operatives for the bombing. Lebanon’s new prime minister will be keenly aware that the price for political failure can be high. However, Mr Salam’s appointment could represent a break from the past. A legal-minded technocrat – not another ideologue – may just be what Lebanon needs as it tries to move forward.
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
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
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on animal trafficking
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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HWJN
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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
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
