Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced the formation of a government on Friday afternoon, ending 13 months of caretaker governance.
The agreement over a Cabinet line-up headed by telecoms billionaire Najib Mikati as prime minister, came after weeks of wrangling over the distribution of government ministries between Lebanon’s various political parties.
Mr Mikati cut an emotional figure as he announced the government formation after a meeting with President Michel Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri at the Baabda Palace.
In his speech, Mr Mikati vowed to hold next year’s elections on time and promised a “governmental plan to rescue the country”.
He declared the end of Lebanon’s expensive blanket subsidy programme. “There’s no money for us to keep subsidies,” he said. The street value of the Lebanese lira surged to 15,600 to the dollar upon the announcement of the government. In recent weeks it had plummeted as low as 22,000.
Mr Mikati asked the Lebanese people to "fasten their seatbelts" because the nation was "in a state of an emergency landing".
Appearing to hold back tears, he said the new government would work until the end of the current parliament's term in May and then hold elections.
"We must hold elections on time, that is my intention," he said.
Mr Mikati addressed the growing hardships of the country over the course of the past year and said "there will be a governmental plan to rescue the country".
Former Lebanese ambassador to the United States Abdullah Bouhabib was named foreign minister, with central bank official Youssef Khalil announced as finance minister. Firas Abiad, the head of Rafiq Hariri University Hospital and one of the country’s most prominent figures in Lebanon’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, was announced as health minister.
Bassam Al Mawlawi, a nominee of former prime minister Saad Hariri’s Future Movement, was named interior minister. Charge of the interior ministry, which will have oversight of next year’s elections, was one of the most viciously contested seats in government negotiations.
Only one woman features in the Cabinet – Najla Riachi, Lebanon’s former representative to the United Nations, who was named as minister of state for Administrative Development Affairs.
Lina Khatib, director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa programme, said the cabinet would only placate those who were desperate to see a government of any shape formed, and that those looking for significant reform would likely be left disappointed.
“Lebanon’s new government will not convince the international community it is serious about reform, but is likely to still be acceptable to Western countries whose main concern has been political vacuum in Lebanon and who have been eager to see a government form even if many of its faces are familiar,” she told The National.
Ms Khatib added that civil society groups were the biggest losers, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah would likely consider the cabinet line up a success.
“The cabinet would not have been formed without Hezbollah’s blessing. Hezbollah holds significant sway over the government through the presence of its own ministers and those from allied parties as well as through the relative weakness of representation from its rival parties.
"The biggest losers in this cabinet line up are pro-reform independent political parties and groups, who are effectively without a seat at the table”.
Mr Hariri welcomed the formation of Mr Mikati's government, calling for all support to help him "in the vital mission to stop the collapse and launch reforms".
The government of Hassan Diab resigned in the wake of the Beirut port explosion last August, leaving the country with a caretaker government as it battled a cascade of economic crises. Yet efforts to form a new administration floundered as three prime ministers designate took turns in attempting to agree a Cabinet line-up with President Aoun – Mustafa Adib, Mr Hariri and finally Mr Mikati.
Mr Mikati, also a former prime minister, was put forward as a candidate after Mr Hariri’s resignation on July 15.
"The government is the best that can be reached, and it is able to work, and our concerns lie in the priority of solving people's current problems, and we have great responsibilities, and we must work to get out of the current crisis," Mr Aoun later told journalists.
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
India squads
Test squad against Afghanistan: Rahane (c), Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Karun, Saha, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Umesh, Shami, Pandya, Ishant, Thakur.
T20 squad against Ireland and England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Raina, Pandey, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh.
ODI squad against England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Shreyas, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
STAGE 4 RESULTS
1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51
2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma
3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo
General Classification
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21
2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43
3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03
4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43
5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Avatar%20(2009)
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Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Don't get fined
The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:
- Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents issued
- Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
