Lebanon's prime minister-designate was to begin talks on Wednesday on forming a crisis government within two weeks to start enacting desperately needed reforms in the disaster-hit country.
Government formation is usually a drawn-out process in multi-confessional Lebanon where a complex political system seeks to share power between different religious groups.
But a traumatic explosion at Beirut port last month has created intense pressure for swift reforms to lift the country out of its worst economic crisis in decades.
The last government, only in power since the start of the year, resigned in the wake of the August 4 explosion that killed at least 190, wounded thousands and laid waste to entire districts of the capital.
With the clock ticking, prime minister-designate Mustapha Adib was to meet the parliament speaker, former prime ministers and parliamentary bloc representatives.
Lebanese MPs rushed to approve the nomination of the little-known 48-year-old diplomat on Monday on the eve of a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Visiting Lebanon to mark the centenary of the former French protectorate, Mr Macron on Tuesday said all sides had pledged to help Mr Adib form a cabinet within two weeks.
He promised to host two conferences in Paris in the second half of October – one to help drum up aid and the other to discuss political reform.
He said he would be back in Lebanon in December for a progress report.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, was due in Lebanon Wednesday to "urge Lebanese leaders to implement reforms that respond to the Lebanese people's desire for transparency, accountability, and a government free of corruption", the embassy said.
The Beirut explosion compounded Lebanon's worst economic crisis since the war, which has reached the point where the UN has warned that more than half of the population risk food shortages by the end of the year.
On August 9, international donors pledged more than 250 million euros ($300 million) in emergency aid, during a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations.
Mr Macron said he was ready to host a second Lebanon aid conference in the second half of October.
He said he had also invited the president, the prime minister and parliament speaker to a second political conference at the same time.
Mr Macron had begun his trip not by visiting political leaders, but by spending more than an hour on Monday with veteran singer Fayrouz, who at 85 is a rare unifying figure in Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Mr Macron attended a series of events to mark 100 years since French mandate authorities proclaimed the creation of Greater Lebanon.
In the Jaj forest north-east of Beirut, he planted a cedar tree – Lebanon's national symbol – to express "confidence in the future of the country", his office said.
Mr Macron also returned for a second visit to Beirut port, ground zero of the colossal blast.
French air force jets flew overhead, leaving trails of red, white and green smoke, the colours of the Lebanese flag.
Some on social media criticised the aerial manoeuvre, saying it could trigger traumatic memories among people who experienced the port blast and the 1975-1990 civil war.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
The five pillars of Islam
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
