Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, delivered his first speech since cross-border clashes erupted weeks ago between Israel and armed militant groups following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, raising concerns of a regional spillover.
Hamas's battle “has extended to more than one front and more than one arena”, Mr Nasrallah said. He added that Hezbollah had “entered the battle on October 8" and warned that the chance of open conflict was “realistic”.
“This glorious operation has caused an earthquake within the Zionist entity,” he said in his speech, which was broadcasted live and shown on large screens across the country. In Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh, thousands of people gathered in a large plaza to watch.
“These operations have created fear in the Israel enemy: military, security and psychological fear that will have strategic consequences on the entity, both in the present and in the future,” he said.
Washington's support for Israel was also condemned by the Hezbollah leader.
“You, the Americans, can stop the aggression against Gaza because it is your aggression,” he said.
The US “will not engage in a war of words” with Hezbollah’s leadership, a White House National Security Council official said on Friday, warning that the war could escalate into one “bloodier” than the 2006 Israel-Gaza war.
“The United States does not want to see this conflict expand into Lebanon. The likely devastation for Lebanon and its people would be unimaginable and is avoidable,” the official told The National.
Thousands cheered as the Hezbollah leader gave his long-awaited speech, which came after the most intense night of cross-border fighting. Israel pummelled southern Lebanon on Thursday night, killing four, after a volley of rockets were fired across the border.
The group claimed responsibility for a simultaneous attack on 19 Israeli military positions, while the military wing of Hamas, Al Qassam Brigades, said it fired 12 rockets from southern Lebanon into the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona “in response to the massacre in Gaza”.
Mr Nasrallah has been silent since October 8, when Hezbollah opened the floodgates to a regional multi-front war of attrition in support of its ally Hamas.
In Lebanon, which has no president, no empowered government and no functioning parliament, the absence of any meaningful stances by the country's leadership, citizens – even opponents of the Iran-backed party Hezbollah – often look to Mr Nasrallah for insight on their country's foreign policy.
Twenty-one-year old Mohammad said he had travelled from south Lebanon's Tyre city and began tailgating at the plaza in the morning, “just to hear the Sayyed talk”. The plaza was already packed by 10am, he said.
His friend, who preferred to stay anonymous, told The National he had come to the plaza with a group of friends and his family, and that “my neighbours, and their neighbours and all of Dahieh is here”.
'All options are open' in tit-for-tat war of attrition
The clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border have been contained so far, but there is growing concern that any miscalculation or sudden violence could trigger a broader regional conflict, pitting Israel against Iranian proxies.
Mr Nasrallah reinforced the notion, although he stopped short of declaring full war on Israel.
“Every Israeli escalation will be met with a similar action from us. For every civilian, a civilian,” he said forcefully.
“All options are open on the Lebanese front. All options are on the table, and we are ready for all possibilities.”
The death toll in Lebanon since the Israel-Hamas conflict began now stands at 71, as reported by AFP. This count includes mostly Hezbollah fighters and other combatants, but it also includes at least seven civilians, one of whom was a Reuters journalist.
Military strategy
In his speech, the Hezbollah leader explained that the group's strategy for initiating a border war between Lebanon and Israel had succeeded in diverting a significant amount of the Israeli military's forces from Gaza.
Israel's armed forces had been diluted, he said, with a third of its army, half of its naval forces and a quarter of its air force diverted from Gaza to Lebanon.
The group had also succeeded in displacing “tens of thousands of residents from 58 settlements” from northern Israel.
The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after Israel announced the “second stage” of its operations in Gaza on Friday, marked by increased bombardment and the start of ground operations in the blockade strip.
“Since I was a kid, I heard about the West being champions of human rights,” said Hussein, who also came to watch the speech. “Where are they now? They are all supporting Israel and its crimes, they are all supporting oppression, even Arab countries.”
Hezbollah swiftly endorsed Hamas's deadly attack by commencing a border confrontation, with rockets launched into the occupied Chebaa territories on October 8. The group cited rising Israel incursions into Al Aqsa in Jerusalem, growing settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank, and the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip.
But, the leader said, “Al Aqsa Flood operation was 100 per cent a Palestinian decision”, implying that Iran and Hezbollah did not have a hand in engineering the operation.
Axis of Resistance
“The Islamic Republic of Iran openly supports the resistance movements in Lebanon, Palestine and the region, but it does not exert control over their leadership,” Mr Nasrallah said. “The decisions of the resistance belong to the leadership of the resistance.”
On Thursday night, Iraqi militia groups claimed that a drone was fired towards Israeli positions on the Dead Sea, while Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Tuesday they had launched three drone and missile attacks towards Israel since the start of the war, vowing to continue such attacks “to help the Palestinians to victory”.
“Iran is pushing its proxies around us, the Houthis, Hezbollah and others, in order to distract us from focusing on Hamas and Gaza,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on Thursday.
“In the north, the IDF will respond with action, not with words. The IDF is on high alert.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday that Iran does not want war to “spread out”.
People in the region were angry, he said, and “they are not receiving orders from us”.
“They act according to their own interest. Also, what happened, what was carried out by Hamas, it was totally Palestinian.”
The White House National Security Council official said: “We and our partners have been clear: Hezbollah and other actors – state or non-state – should not try to take advantage of the ongoing conflict.”
But Hezbollah's leader advised the US to be cautious in their approach to the conflict, saying during his speech: “The Americans would not only be striking Lebanon – they would also have to strike Iran.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
