Lebanon elects president and investigators warn of Syria disinformation - Trending



Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. Here are today’s headlines.

Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Gen Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday. It ends two years of political deadlock and marks a significant political milestone before crucial developments in the country, including the fate of a ceasefire with Israel and the start of postwar reconstruction efforts.

Mr Aoun secured 99 votes in the second round of voting to clinch the presidency. He failed to win the first round of voting, receiving 71 out of the 86 votes needed in the 128-member house.

Meanwhile, open-source investigators in Syria have warned of attempts to discredit the country's interim government through a rise in online disinformation. Since the downfall of former president Bashar Al Assad's regime, videos containing false or misleading information about the government have been posted on social media.

They include allegations of kidnappings, sectarian violence, hate speech and extremism.

And Coldplay began their record-setting run in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The band brought their Music of the Spheres world tour to Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night for the first of four performances in the capital.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Intruder

Director: Deon Taylor

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good

One star

How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
  • Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported. 

Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Updated: January 10, 2025, 6:00 AM

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