BEIRUT // For four decades, Ibrahim Fawaz has watched Lebanon's political struggles and wars unfold from his small stationery shop in central Beirut. As the country was gripped by yet another crisis yesterday following the collapse of the government, the 71-year-old was unfazed.
"I don't think anything much will happen," said Mr Fawaz, originally from Tibneen in the country's south. "I am happy [with the collapse of the government] because I don't think Hariri [the prime minister] was doing anything, everything has become too expensive and life is hard."
While politicians grappled with the fallout from the resignation of 11 cabinet ministers over the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon's investigation into the 2005 assassination of Rafiq Hariri, people across the country waited for signs the crisis would be solved.
Some feared that supporters of the opposing groups would take to the streets in the coming days. Others expressed concern over a protracted political impasse.
"I am angry," said Wissam el Ghali, 35, a courier from the city's Talet al Khayat area. "All the people in Lebanon want peace and now maybe we will lose work. I am angry because of this uncertainty."
On Wednesday night, army patrols roamed the city in anticipation of possible unrest.
Most people, however, appeared to be taking the crisis in stride, which befits a country that has seen more than its fair share of troubles.
Yesterday, the streets were calm and the downtown cafes and restaurants remained busy and as people appeared to simply be going about their lives. Roupen Sulahian, 52, from Meten on the outskirts of the capital, said he had become "accustomed" to dramatic events.
"We were disappointed in our politicians a long time ago, not just now," said Mr Sulahian, who works as an engineer in the Gemmayze area.
"I personally don't think anything major will happen. I think the parties will reach an arrangement - not an agreement, but an arrangement. If there is a catastrophe no one will benefit. Everyone is trying to avoid another war."
For Ali Khamees, from the city's Clemenceau area, the political crisis felt "normal".
"I am 40 years old now - in 1975 it was war, and after came the Israelis. So for us, this is very normal," he said, seated with a friend on Beirut's Corniche strip as joggers ran past and men sunbathed on rocks against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Doha Nassabeih, originally from the Bekaa region but who now lives in the capital with two friends, said their families insisted they leave Beirut and return home on Wednesday night, fearing possible violence.
"But I'm optimistic that nothing will happen. People are more mature now than before. Mostly they have to work and get money to live, to eat and to learn," said Ms Nassabeih, 25, a manager of a restaurant in the Raouche area.
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Champions League Last 16
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Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points to remember
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Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
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Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Rating: 3/5
The specs
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets