BEIRUT // Lebanon's interior ministry yesterday launched a month-long, countrywide security initiative, amid several outbreaks of unrest in the capital, including attempts to block roads with burning tyres.
Marwan Charbel, the minister of interior, was in the south Beirut suburb of Mcharafieh yesterday to launch the measure, which will be carried out by police, supported by the Lebanese army. Police patrols, checkpoints and raids targeting people wanted by authorities are expected to be increased.
The security plan comes during a period of heightened tension in Lebanon and following an attack on the Beirut headquarters of the Al Jadeed Television station by several armed men on Monday night.
Police believe the attack came in response to an interview broadcast on the station last Sunday with Sheikh Ahmed Al Assir in which the Sunni cleric - who has recently come to prominence for his support for the Syrian uprising - openly criticised Lebanese Shiite leaders.
One suspect was arrested shortly after the attack, which led to further troubles as men tried to block several roads with burning tyres.
Further attempts to cutoff roads were reportedly carried out yesterday in protest against the suspect's detention.
A group of men gathered outside the offices of the Future Television station in central Beirut yesterday to protest against the arrest of the man who was identified by the state-run National News Agency as Wissam Alaeddine.
There have been rising tensions in Lebanon in recent months, in particular between groups within the Sunni and Shiite communities, which have been inflamed by the increasingly sectarian nature of the conflict across the border in Syria.
The Lebanese Shia movement Hizbollah and other groups have continued to back the regime of the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, while some Sunni groups support the Syrian rebels.
The Lebanese government has said it is committed to "disassociating" from the Syrian crisis, as a way to preserve stability in Lebanon.
Mr Charbel, the interior minister, yesterday told reporters that his security plan was launched in Beirut's southern Dahiyeh district because "people keep saying that security does not exist in the southern suburbs", Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reported.
Dahiyeh is known as a stronghold of Hizbollah, which operates its own security apparatus.
The interior minister was also quoted as saying he hoped all political groups would try to calm tensions in the country, assist in efforts to tackle criminal activity and improve security.
A source at the ministry of interior said the initiative would tackle everything from traffic violations to efforts to capture criminals.
"Some call it a security month, but security is not a seasonal matter," said Najib Mikati, Lebanon's prime minister, according to the Daily Star. "Security should be durable. Therefore, this month will be a test for us to follow at all times."
However, Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, dismissed the initiative as nothing more than a "public-relations stunt".
"Those who want to engage in subversive actions won't stop because of this," he said."The government knows it is under pressure because of the situation in Syria and is trying to give the impression that it has everything under control."
zconstantine@thenational.ae
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
SHAITTAN
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
No%20Windmills%20in%20Basra
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Diaa%20Jubaili%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20180%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Deep%20Vellum%20Publishing%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Company%20Profile
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Company%20Profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points