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Syrian President urges all sides to 'fully commit' to ceasefire

Syrian President urges all sides to 'fully commit' to ceasefire

The National21 hours ago
More than 700 people were killed in clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups in a week of violence
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Lebanon cannot call itself a state without answers to Beirut blast, says Justice Minister
Lebanon cannot call itself a state without answers to Beirut blast, says Justice Minister

The National

time4 hours ago

  • The National

Lebanon cannot call itself a state without answers to Beirut blast, says Justice Minister

Lebanon 'cannot pretend' to be a state if answers are not found over the deadly 2020 Beirut port blast, the country's Justice Minister has said. No one has been held accountable for one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, which killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and devastated large parts of the Lebanese capital. The explosion was caused by the detonation of nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the port for years, despite repeated warnings to Lebanese authorities. The physical wounds are still present throughout Beirut, while the mental and emotional scars linger for its people every day, with justice still out of reach. The tragedy exposed the deep-rooted corruption, negligence and dysfunction at the heart of Lebanon 's political and judicial systems. Efforts to investigate the blast have been repeatedly obstructed by political interference, legal challenges and the removal of lead investigators, leaving victims' families still searching for answers five years later. The current investigative judge Tarek Bitar has previously been threatened and faced challenges summoning senior figures he has fought to interrogate. He is finally making some progress after years of constant impediments - although a long road ahead remains. 'When you have a blast of the dramatic impact of the port blast, a state that is not able to give answers and ensure accountability to its citizens is a state not fulfilling its role,' said Justice Minister Adel Nassar. 'I understand the families, all the victims, that they want a decision as soon as possible. But I think they understand that the main criteria is to ensure he [Mr Bitar] completed his work and he got sufficient evidence supporting his findings,' Mr Nassar told The National in an interview at his office in Beirut, days before the fifth anniversary of the explosion. Mr Nassar assumed the role earlier this year in the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, himself a former judge and former chief of the International Court of Justice. Mr Salam's team has sought to bring about reform in a country long plagued by institutional malaise, and the Premier has repeatedly said that accountability over the blast is one his key objectives. 'It's one of the priorities and nobody will accept that this major dramatic event remains without answers, without a trial, without a proper judicial system acting in this respect,' said Mr Nassar. Justice delayed Judge Bitar's investigation has been fraught with challenges from the start. He was not the original lead judge in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and, at one point, was stripped of his authority by Lebanon's then-top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat — who himself had been charged in connection with the case. Mr Bitar also faced a barrage of lawsuits filed by senior officials seeking to avoid interrogation. But in January he reopened the case again. Shortly after, his powers were reinstalled by Lebanon's new top prosecutor and some – although not all – top officials who resisted interrogation for months, if not years, eventually appeared for questioning. Mr Oueidat, however, refused on Thursday to be notified of a hearing scheduled by Mr Bitar for questioning on Monday as a suspect in the case. The investigation's reactivation has coincided with the arrival of a new president and a reform-minded government, raising cautious hopes for a shift in approach. 'Maybe there is a coincidence between my arrival to the ministry and the fact that he [Mr Bitar] is being able to conduct his work without obstacles,' said Mr Nassar. "A coincidence?" The National asked. 'Why not?' the Minister responded, with a smile and shrug of his shoulders. Mr Nassar said he has no formal role in the investigation, and that no good justice minister should have one in this case or any other. 'It's clear that the Ministry is not in charge of the investigation and is not supposed to interfere in the investigation. And I'm clearly not interfering," Mr Nassar said. 'My role is to ensure that the investigative judge will have all the tools he may require to continue his work and to prevent any political interference in his work." He added: "I tried to support any requirements or demand he brought, I'm very happy that French investigative judges came to Lebanon to share information with him,' referring to a French judicial delegation that was on the ground two weeks after the blast and was allowed to share its findings with Mr Bitar once the investigation resumed. The contents of the French findings are not known to Mr Nassar, but it is hoped the exchange of information between judicial officials will support the case. 'I made the contacts to ensure that they could come and share information. But I didn't even meet them, it's not my role to meet them. 'We really have to respect the separation of powers in Lebanon. In a democracy, you have a proper separation. I am a minister, I am not supposed to ask questions regarding the merit of a judge's work.' Mr Nassar said he has ensured there is proper co-operation between Mr Bitar and Lebanon's top prosecutor. He also reiterated his solidarity with families of the victims. 'It is one of the most terrible crimes that occurred. It is the duty of the state to give this file a full effort, because we cannot pretend we have a state, and at the same time, not be able to address this terrible blast,' he said.

Dubai Police Warn Parents About Online Gaming Risks
Dubai Police Warn Parents About Online Gaming Risks

UAE Moments

time19 hours ago

  • UAE Moments

Dubai Police Warn Parents About Online Gaming Risks

As school's out and gaming hours ramp up, Dubai Police are raising a red flag for parents: your kids' favorite games might not be as harmless as they seem. The Cybercrime Department at Dubai Police's General Department of Criminal Investigation is sounding the alarm on the risks lurking behind popular online games. From cyberbullying and inappropriate content to scammers and online predators, authorities say there's more to worry about than just screen addiction. 'Supervision is the first line of defence,' Dubai Police emphasize. They recommend activating parental controls, checking for age-appropriate content, limiting screen time, and—most importantly— talking to your kids about what they see and do online. Parents are also urged to teach their children not to share personal information or interact with strangers while gaming. These small steps, police say, can make a big difference in keeping children safe during their digital adventures. To support families, the Cybercrime Department is spotlighting the Dubai Police educational e-platform, which features safety resources in both Arabic and English. It's designed to help parents stay a step ahead in the fast-moving world of online gaming and digital interaction. If you suspect any shady activity online, you can report it through the Dubai Police app, website, the e-Crime platform, or simply by calling 901. So, while your kids are racking up high scores this summer, make sure you're scoring points on safety too. #News Details: #DubaiPolice #CyberSafety #CyberCrimeAwareness #eCrimeHub — Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ)

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