They stretched out for scores of kilometres, hand in hand forming a human chain of thousands along the Lebanese coast.
Sunday marked the 11th consecutive day of mass protests in Lebanon, an uprising of anger against years of inequality, government inefficiency and corruption that has led to an economic crisis and worsening living standards.
Julie Bou Nassif, the woman behind the plan to form a human chain linking the north to the south, said that while they did not have exact numbers, she believes tens of thousands took part in forming the line that stretched more than 170 kilometres.
"Not only is it a success but it's just starting to sink in," Ms Bou Nassif told The National a few hours after the event finished.
“In Hasbaya [in the south-east] we just heard from the news that they joined, with no one calling us. It was a total success.”
People were supposed to start lining up about 1pm, but she said in central Beirut they had to start early because people arrived hours ahead of schedule.
“We didn’t expect this but it was a very good thing as we had time to spread people out,” said Ms Bou Nassif, a high school history teacher and a lecturer at Universite Saint Joseph in Beirut.
“In some towns they didn’t have the numbers but they came from other areas to help out, people from Jbeil and Jounieh [north of Beirut], to fill in the gaps.”
The chain idea came when her sister returned from the south in the first few days after the mass rallies began on October 17.
“It started at home on the balcony and we thought maybe a few friends and a few thousand in Beirut would come,” Ms Bou Nassif said.
She said a Facebook event last Wednesday for the chain soon went viral.
It was picked up by local bloggers and the Lebanese media, and by the next day she was receiving dozens of calls from people all over the country asking how they could get involved and why their towns were not included in the route.
“We had hundreds of volunteers by Friday night, and we divided them by region so we knew who was handling the regions," Ms Bou Nassif said.
"it’s really through WhatsApp and Facebook and Interstream that we organised.
Cars passing the human chain in Beirut honked horns and shouted support. Every 10 minutes or so a van with speakers strapped to the top blaring patriotic songs passed by, to cheers from the crowd and more honks from cars.
Mopeds sped up and down, taking pictures and video and keeping people informed of where gaps remained, if they needed more people down the line.
“Come on, all the way, hold hands,” one woman shouted as people spread out along highways to fill the gaps.
Senior politicians have been largely silent since Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke on Friday.
The government scrambled to take action when the protests broke out, with Prime Minister Saad Hariri announcing a 72-hour window for all the major parties represented in his Cabinet to agree on a package of reforms to fix the country’s ills.
Despite Cabinet approving the bill last Monday, the protests have not diminished.
Through the heart of Beirut on Sunday, people with Lebanese flags draped over their shoulders and flags painted on their faces strung out.
Jihan and Hala, who run their own business in the village of Ain Saadeh just above Beirut, said they were on the streets to make a change.
“We’re here for a new future, a brighter future for our kids and we want a new Lebanon,” Jihan said.
“It [the human chain] is amazing, it’s something new for Lebanon. Everyone is so motivated today to do it.”
She said that she and Hala went to the protests in Beirut four or five times a week, depending on their children.
Jihan said the movement had gone on too long to be ignored and “of course” they had the energy to keep up pressure on the government.
Paula, a student from Beirut, joined the chain where the highway runs between Beirut’s Souks and the waterfront.
Paula said she had come to support the movement but was not sure how much impact the mass protests could have.
"I'm here to make a point, to be with everyone, to be united with the rest of the people," she told The National.
“I hope the movement lasts. I’m not that optimistic but I want to change the system, maybe, stop corruption.
"I’m not that sure how it’s going to happen, if it’s going to happen, but I guess that now our generation is more included in what’s going on, more involved in politics, so it still had a good effect.”
Kareem, 19, also a student in Beirut, said he was more hopeful.
“People are waking up,” he said of the past 11 days. “It’s amazing to see.
"I really thought when Hariri spoke, people would say, ‘OK, we have what we want’ and go home, but they didn’t. I’m happy to see it.”
Kareem said the movement changed how he saw the country and broke down barriers between communities.
“Now you can see that people are more united," he said. "We don’t judge anyone from their culture or their religion, everyone is here together on the streets.
"It’s not any more Christians or Muslims. We’re all one, we’re all Lebanon.”
Asked if this would make a difference when the political statements from traditional parties still include sectarian overtones, Kareem was clear.
"Let them talk, let them point the finger. We’re going to win," he said. "In the end, the citizens put them in power and so we can take the power from them.”
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
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Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
