Lebanon: protesters clash with security forces in Tripoli over lockdown


Aya Iskandarani
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Demonstrators clashed with police in Tripoli, Lebanon, on Monday during a protest against deteriorating living conditions and the coronavirus lockdown.

Dozens of protesters took to the streets of Tripoli during the day. Later in the evening, security forces used tear gas and fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds after protesters threw stones at the Tripoli Serail.

The demonstrators expressed anger over lockdown-related fines they had received and at the economic consequences of the nationwide shutdown, the National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese Red Cross said it had sent six teams to Al Nour Square in Tripoli during the clashes. Ambulances took 12 people to hospital, while 29 others received treatment on the ground.

  • Demonstrators gather near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters
    Demonstrators gather near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters
  • Lebanese security forces fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters during a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
    Lebanese security forces fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters during a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
  • Demonstrators stand near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters
    Demonstrators stand near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters
  • Lebanese anti-government protesters clash with security forces following a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
    Lebanese anti-government protesters clash with security forces following a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
  • Lebanese anti-government protesters clash with security forces following a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
    Lebanese anti-government protesters clash with security forces following a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
  • Lebanese anti-government protesters burn tyres during a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
    Lebanese anti-government protesters burn tyres during a demonstration against dire economic conditions, in the northern city of Tripoli. AFP
  • Demonstrators stand near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters
    Demonstrators stand near burning tires during a protest against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Reuters

Known as the "bride of the revolution," Tripoli was at the heart of the mass protest movement against corruption and poor economic conditions that rocked Lebanon in October 2019.

The city has been the site of several protests since a more stringent lockdown began on January 14. Many residents say the measures have severely affected their livelihoods. Humanitarian organisations had said that a new lockdown would weigh heavily on the poor and those relying on daily wages.

Another protest against the lockdown was held in the southern coastal city of Sidon the same day.

Lebanon enforced a strict 24-hour curfew on January 14 after Covid-19 cases soared following the December holidays. Non-essential shops have been forced to close, while supermarkets and restaurants are open on a delivery-only basis.

The lockdown, which was meant to end on Wednesday, has been extended until February 8.

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

ICC T20 Team of 2021

Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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US PGA Championship in numbers

Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

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Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

Trump v Khan

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2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

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Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Brief scores:

Kashima Antlers 0

River Plate 4

Zuculini 24', Martinez 73', 90 2', Borre 89' (pen)

Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance

Teams

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

How the bonus system works

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The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

UAE SQUAD

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.