German chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Lebanon at the weekend focused primarily on the main issue plaguing her at home as well – how to deal with refugees and migrants.
But while Mrs Merkel reaffirmed support for Lebanon and "the tremendous burden it has shouldered" in taking in as many as 1.5 million Syrians who fled the war in their country, her visit did little to resolve the growing opposition to refugees in Lebanese and German politics.
In recent weeks, both Lebanon’s foreign minister and its president have argued loudly that Syrian refugees should begin returning to “safe” parts of Syria, even before a final political settlement is reached to end the civil war there, now in its eighth year.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and President Michel Aoun both met Mrs Merkel on Friday, with Mr Aoun formally asking "Germany's help in supporting Lebanon's position that the Syrian refugees should return to the safe areas in Syria".
Mr Aoun and others have also suggested that the international community intends to permanently resettle Syrian refugees in Lebanon and have them naturalised as Lebanese citizens.
Mr Aoun also voiced the concern that a final political solution in Syria might be less conducive to refugee returns than even the current situation.
"If the solution is delayed and the balance of power [in Syria] is altered, who could then guarantee the return of the displaced to their country?" the president asked Mrs Merkel, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The German chancellor, for her part, was careful to voice support for what has been the Lebanese government’s official position since the beginning of the refugee crisis – that returns should be co-ordinated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“We want to contribute to reaching a political solution in Syria that would enable the Syrian refugees to return to Syria, and we are co-operating with the international organisations and with the UNHCR,” Mrs Merkel said during a press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Germany is the second largest donor to the UNHCR, and Mrs Merkel's trip came after Mr Bassil froze residency permits for the refugee agency’s staff in Lebanon after accusing it of attempting to “scare” Syrians out of returning to their country.
Mr Bassil was present when Mrs Merkel met Mr Aoun, though there is no indication the two discussed the matter.
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Back in Germany, Mrs Merkel faces a similar challenge from her interior minister. Horst Seehofer has threatened to begin turning migrants back at the German border from July 1 unless Mrs Merkel can convince other EU countries to more equally support the millions of migrants who have made their way to Europe from the Middle East and Africa since 2015.
Germany has taken in more than half a million migrants since then, more than any other country, making Mrs Merkel the world leader perhaps most associated with the issue. But her stance on immigration could be her undoing.
“Merkel is in the most difficult time of her chancellorship, and some people believe her government will fail because of this issue,” said Maximilian Felsch, associate professor of political science at Haigazian University in Beirut.
While in Lebanon, Mrs Merkel also touched heavily on other major issues in the country – its deep indebtedness, decrepit infrastructure, and the conundrum international donors face in continuing to fund a country that is considered one of the most corrupt in the world.
Germany has long been a donor and lender to Lebanon, most recently pledging €60 million (Dh257m) in April for infrastructure projects.
The Lebanese government has promised to make structural and economic reforms in exchange for foreign contributions, though such assurances have come up short in the past.
“It’s not just a dilemma for Germany, but also for the EU. But stabilising a corrupt country is better than having an unstable country,” Mr Felsch said.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
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UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).
