Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri speaks as he stands next to caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the government palace in Beirut on December 11, 2020. Reuters
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri speaks as he stands next to caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the government palace in Beirut on December 11, 2020. Reuters
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri speaks as he stands next to caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the government palace in Beirut on December 11, 2020. Reuters
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri speaks as he stands next to caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the government palace in Beirut on December 11, 2020. Reuters

Beirut port blast: Lebanon’s Sunni leaders stand by Hassan Diab


Mahmoud Rida
  • English
  • Arabic

Lebanon's political and religious Sunni leaders threw their weight behind caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Friday, a day after he was charged with criminal negligence over the deadly explosion at Beirut port.

Mr Diab was one of four politicians indicted on Thursday by a judge appointed to investigate the August 4 blast. All four were charged with carelessness and negligence leading to death over the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port for six years. It is still unclear what caused the fire that set off the explosion or who owned the chemicals.

The blast killed more than 200 people, injured about 6,500 and destroyed large areas of the capital.

Prime minister-designate Saad Hariri expressed solidarity with Mr Diab, tweeting photos of the two leaders sitting side by side during a meeting at the prime minister's office on Friday, and accusing the judiciary of "violating the constitution". Both leaders said the indictment was an attack on the post of prime minister, a position reserved for Sunnis under Lebanon's unwritten sectarian power-sharing arrangement.

"Lebanese families have the right to know the truth of who killed their sons," Mr Hariri said.

  • A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
    A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
  • Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
  • The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
    A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
    Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
  • Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
    Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
  • Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
    Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
  • People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
    The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
  • Army personnel around entrance to port.
    Army personnel around entrance to port.
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
    Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
  • A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
    A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
    Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
  • People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
    An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
  • Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
    Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
  • A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
    A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
  • Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
    Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
  • Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
    Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
  • People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
    Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP

Three former ministers charged alongside Mr Diab – Ali Hassan Khalil, Ghazi Zaeiter, and Youssef Fenianos –  are expected to be brought in for questioning by the prosecution next week.

Responding to the indictment, Mr Diab said his "conscience is clear", and he was confident his he  "handled the Beirut explosion file in a responsible and transparent manner".

Mr Diab, who came to power in January and stepped down soon after the explosion, has said he was informed about the ammonium nitrate at the port by state security services just two weeks before the explosion.

Mr Diab also received the backing of Lebanon’s top Sunni religious leader, Mufti Abdul Latif Derian, who praised the caretaker prime minister and said he was confident the premier’s “hands were clean”.

Former prime minister Najib Mikati also tweeted about the charges against Mr Diab, saying they showed a "double standard" because Lebanese President Michel Aoun was also aware of the report about the explosive material at the port but has not been investigated.

Mr Mikati’s remarks were echoed by former another prime minister, Fouad Siniora, who said the charges were politically driven.

The port blast exacerbated Lebanon's economic and political crisis. The EU, UN and World Bank estimate the the country needs $2.5 billion to recover from the blast, but Lebanese politicians are under pressure to institute reforms before the government receives any international assistance.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

 

 

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')

Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')

Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

The%20specs
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Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
%3Cp%3EThe%20fielding%20side%20shall%20be%20ready%20to%20start%20each%20over%20within%2060%20seconds%20of%20the%20previous%20over%20being%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20electronic%20clock%20will%20be%20displayed%20at%20the%20ground%20that%20counts%20down%20seconds%20from%2060%20to%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20clock%20is%20not%20required%20or%2C%20if%20already%20started%2C%20can%20be%20cancelled%20if%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09A%20new%20batter%20comes%20to%20the%20wicket%20between%20overs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09An%20official%20drinks%20interval%20has%20been%20called.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20umpires%20have%20approved%20the%20on%20field%20treatment%20of%20an%20injury%20to%20a%20batter%20or%20fielder.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20time%20lost%20is%20for%20any%20circumstances%20beyond%20the%20control%20of%20the%20fielding%20side.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20third%20umpire%20starts%20the%20clock%20either%20when%20the%20ball%20has%20become%20dead%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20previous%20over%2C%20or%20a%20review%20has%20been%20completed.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09The%20team%20gets%20two%20warnings%20if%20they%20are%20not%20ready%20to%20start%20overs%20after%20the%20clock%20reaches%20zero.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%09On%20the%20third%20and%20any%20subsequent%20occasion%20in%20an%20innings%2C%20the%20bowler%E2%80%99s%20end%20umpire%20awards%20five%20runs.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

 

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

%E2%80%98White%20Elephant%E2%80%99
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jesse%20V%20Johnson%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Rooker%2C%20Bruce%20Willis%2C%20John%20Malkovich%2C%20Olga%20Kurylenko%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Energy Research Centre

Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances