The Lebanese government on Thursday appointed Brig Gen Rodolphe Haykal as army commander, filling the vacancy left by Joseph Aoun’s election as the head of state in January. Mr Aoun had served as the army commander from March 2017 until he took on the top post, ending years of political vacuum in the country.
Beirut has also approved the appointment of several high-ranking security positions, Information Minister Paul Morkos said in a televised statement after a Cabinet meeting.
Brig Gen Hassan Shqeir was appointed head of General Security, Brig Gen Raed Abdallah chief of Internal Security Forces and Brig Gen Edgard Lawandos head of State Security.
“The army and security appointments were based on expertise and competence,” said Mr Morkos. "We are working within the government with great precision while ensuring strict adherence to standards and qualifications." The Cabinet approved the recruitment of 4,500 army soldiers in three phases, he added.
The military and security appointments come amid significant political changes in the crisis-hit country. The election of President Joseph Aoun, which ended a two-year political deadlock, marked a shift in Lebanon’s political landscape. His election came despite opposition from Iran-backed Hezbollah, which had long dictated political outcomes in the country. The group suffered a series of major blows in its year-long war with Israel, which resulted in the elimination of its leadership, destruction of its infrastructure and infiltration of its security apparatus.
The appointment of Nawaf Salam – a judge and former ambassador to the UN – as Prime Minister was seen equally as a step toward overhauling state institutions. Mr Aoun and Mr Salam have each pledged to introduce crucial reforms to unlock international aid needed for post-war reconstruction and economic recovery.
Lebanon is in urgent need of Arab and international assistance to address its deep economic crisis, which was further exacerbated by the war between Hezbollah and Israel. Arab states have re-engaged with Lebanon after years of distancing themselves due to Tehran’s influence over Lebanese affairs. In a symbolic move, Mr Aoun’s first foreign trip was to Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Company%20Profile
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Europe’s rearming plan
Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
While you're here
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
While you're here
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office