US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed concerns over Iran's rapid progress towards a nuclear weapon and a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence during a visit to Israel on Thursday.
“We will continue to work closely with Israel to promote regional stability and counter common threats through our robust defence co-operation," Mr Austin said in a tweet on his arrival in Tel Aviv as part of a regional tour that included Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.
Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Mr Austin: “We have a common agenda: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, thwarting Iranian aggression, maintaining security and prosperity in the region, and expanding the circle of peace.
“If anyone in Tehran thinks that Iran can make unhindered progress towards nuclear weapons, they are mistaken," he said.
“I discern a change in the approach to Iran in recent months, both in the US and in the countries of Western Europe, and in the West in general. I see a need and an obligation to try and strengthen a more assertive approach with Iran.”
In a later interview with broadcaster Iran International, Mr Netanyahu said Tehran is close to Israeli “red lines”, as increases its nuclear capacity.
He described containing Iran's nuclear programme as “the quintessential heart of my foreign policy,” adding that “I came back into government precisely to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state”.
He also addressed Western leaders, saying “history will change if Iran gets nuclear weapons”.
Mr Austin was clear on the issue, saying Tehran “remains the primary driver of instability in the region”.
“We continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Mr Austin's visit had to be curtailed because of mass public protests against the government's plans for a drastic legal overhaul.
Protesters blocked access to Israel's main airport on a nationwide “day of resistance”.
Mr Austin made reference to the issue in a press conference after a private meeting with his Israeli counterpart. "The genius of American and Israeli democracy is that they’re both built on strong institutions, checks and balances and an independent judiciary," he said, echoing remarks by US President Joe Biden last month.
Speaking about recent tensions with Palestinians, Mr Austin highlighted the importance of the recent meeting in the Jordanian city of Aqaba to defuse the situation. He said the US was “especially disturbed by settler violence against Palestinians”.
On Thursday, undercover Israeli troops killed three Palestinians near Jenin in the occupied West Bank in an overnight attack.
The shooting came two days after Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in a raid on a refugee camp in Jenin, prompting militants in Gaza to fire rockets at Israel and detonate an explosive device near the border.
A total of 77 Palestinians have been killed this year, with 2023 set to be the deadliest in decades.
Last year's death toll of more than 150 was the highest since 2005.
On Wednesday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich apologised to the military for calling for the Palestinian village of Hawara to be “wiped out”.
His comments followed a rampage through the village by hundreds of Israeli settlers on March 1 after two Jewish brothers were shot dead by gunmen earlier in the day. The settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and businesses, killing one person and injuring about a dozen others.
Mr Smotrich's remarks sparked international outcry and protests by security personnel.
He apologised for not realising that the comments might have been interpreted as an order.
Along with many other nations, the US has frequently called for calm during recent months as the security situation deteriorates.
Israeli and Palestinian officials met in the Jordanian city of Aqaba last month, along with officials from Egypt, Jordan and the US, in a bid to defuse tensions.
The UN Security Council has called for immediate de-escalation and an end to “unilateral actions”.
The UAE's ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, said the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, had given the council a “concerning overview of the fact that a lack of a political horizon is causing a continual cycle of violence and reprisals on the ground”.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
