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Lebanon needs political stability and dialogue before it can begin rebuilding from the $10 billion in damage and destruction caused by Israel’s war on Hezbollah, Environment Minister and head of the government emergency committee Nasser Yassin told The National in an interview.
Last week, US President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, bringing an end to the conflict with Hezbollah, which claimed more than 4,000 Lebanese lives and destroyed entire villages.
However, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are displaced after their homes were left in ruins, while the country, already grappling with a years-long economic crisis, faces further challenges as sectors such as healthcare have suffered severe blows, limiting their ability to adequately respond to the emergency.
“We need to have more stability in the country, we need to have more dialogue between the different entities in Lebanon before we actually move to start the reconstruction,” said Mr Yassin, who was speaking on the sidelines of the annual Doha Forum conference in the Qatari capital.
“We have to elect, hopefully early next year, a new [president] and government. All of these are needed for reforms to be enacted. If reforms are enacted, then we can actually move towards the whole. It’s a long journey of reconstruction and rehabilitation and reform that we need to do, but this needs to start.”
Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022. The US, France, and other countries have been calling for the election of a head of state to avoid a power vacuum and help to stabilise the country's political life. US envoy Amos Hochstein, who mediated the ceasefire talks between Hezbollah and Israel, said that the election of the president is vital for Lebanon.
The country's deeply divided parliament, where no faction holds a majority, has repeatedly failed to agree on a successor to Michel Aoun. Last week, the state news agency announced that a session would be held on January 9, marking the first presidential election attempt since June last year, when votes were largely split between Jihad Azour and Suleiman Frangieh, neither of whom drew enough support to win.
Lebanese official sources in Beirut told The National earlier that the country “must” elect a president during the first 60-day truce with Israel as part of the ceasefire deal that ended the war with Hezbollah.
Assessing the damages
The war that started on October 8 last year, a day after Hamas launched unprecedented attacks in Israel, escalated in September with Israel intensifying its military campaign against Hezbollah. These actions included air strikes and a ground invasion aimed at degrading its capabilities, which had been significantly bolstered in recent years. Israel's war killed thousands of civilians.
Mr Yassin, whose team led the government emergency plan during the all-out war, said it was not clear yet the time frame to rebuild and that the financial cost is now at about $10 billion but it could be more.
“We know that's in the range of $10 billion, but we're still assessing the damages now so this will take us more [time] to understand,” he said, adding that the government is dedicating funds for basic emergency services.
“This will definitely need and require aid to flow from friends of Lebanon. We cannot have it. I mean, this is almost half of the GDP in Lebanon.”
Several Lebanese political sources said the aid, especially from the Gulf countries, could be preconditioned on a stable political life and a bigger security role for the army inside the country and at the border areas.
Lebanon is also facing the threat of Israel breaking the ceasefire, with several Lebanese killed by Israeli fire during the past week, before an overseeing committee that has representatives from the US, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the UN started its work in the last two days.
“Things are moving. We really want to push to get this mechanism to work and to have the Lebanese army being deployed all over the south,” said the minister.
Syria's war
During the height of the war, the emergency committee worked with international agencies and civil society to maintain the system and help more than one million displaced people find shelter, according to Mr Yassin. This was also supported by the quick aid that kept flowing from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others.
“They really helped us fill the huge gap because they were coming quickly by planes.”
One day after the ceasefire in Lebanon was reached, the civil war in neighbouring Syria was reignited with a lightning offensive launched by rebel forces to take major cities out of the hands of the army, pushing thousands of people to flee, with many heading to Lebanon and more expected.
“This will be tough for Lebanon if we are going to be open again to an influx of Syrian refugees. Lebanon already is hosting a million plus, maybe around 400,000 or 500,000 left,” said Mr Yassin.
“So, if you expect people coming back for an already displaced Lebanese community – keep in mind 100,000 houses are destroyed or damaged, at least half a million Lebanese need shelter and support – it will add more with the weaknesses that we have at the moment in the health system and the social system and the infrastructure and every other system.
“We’re going to face a lot, a lot of challenges, and we really cannot do it. Lebanon cannot take this responsibility again on its shoulders.”
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Rating: 4/5
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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
SHAITTAN
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
Film: Raid
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Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
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Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
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Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
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Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
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British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
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Heard It in a Past Life
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(Capital Records)
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