Britain could send more troops to Lebanon to help the United Nations secure the border with Israel, the UK’s foreign secretary has suggested.
David Lammy told MPs that Britain might increase its troops commitment to UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) during questions from MPs on the first day of the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
While Britain has about 50 soldiers mentoring the Lebanese military, with 26,000 soldiers trained to date, it has just one soldier on the UN front line on the “Blue Line”, near the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the Israeli border.
Asked if Britain would increase its commitment to levels that other European countries have, Mr Lammy told parliament's foreign affair's committe: “I’m happy to look again at our UNIFIL contribution.”
France, which has 810 troops in UNIFIL, has also vowed to "play a full part" in security of the fragile ceasefire but will face an uphill battle in leading efforts to boost the capacities of the Lebanese army.
“We will play our full part in implementing this ceasefire agreement,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French TV on Wednesday.
Mr Lammy said that any increase would be done “in consultation with our G7 partners like Italy”, which has more than 1,000 soldiers, and with the UK’s defence secretary.
“The truth is that the load is spread across the globe and I don’t want to commit troops just off the cuff,” he said in reference to more than 10,000 British military on overseas commitments.
But Britain would “absolutely stand by Lebanon” and it would “increase our support” to the war-damaged country in the coming weeks.
“We will support Lebanese as they try to secure the south,” he said. “We want to be in a situation where Lebanese can move south and Israelis can move back north.”
France wants to focus on supporting the Lebanese army, which is expected to more than double its presence to 10,000 soldiers in south Lebanon, as Israeli troops withdraw over the next two months and Hezbollah pulls back its fighters north of the Litani river.
Previous deals involving France to boost the capacities of the Lebanese army have failed.
"For this ceasefire agreement to have a chance of being a real turning point towards long-term security and stability, there is a massive need to supercharge the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)," Rym Momtaz, editor in chief of Carnegie Europe’s blog Strategic Europe, told The National.
Since the 1980s, Israel has insisted that the Lebanese army not have sophisticated capabilities because it wants to maintain military superiority on all of its neighbours
Rym Momtaz,
editor in chief of Carnegie Europe’s blog Strategic Europe
The Lebanese army's capacity has long been weaker than that of Hezbollah, which, before Israel started its assault on the Lebanese Iran-backed militia in late September, had up to 100,000 fighters.
At a conference in Paris in October, Mr Macron and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on financing to add 6,000 more soldiers to the national force of 60,000.
Israel's agenda
The Lebanese army's primary donor is Israel's strongest partner, the US, which has invested more than $3 billion in the armed forces between the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006 and 2022. The US has hailed the army's ability in driving out ISIS and Al Qaeda from its border areas with Syria.
But it remains unclear how much support for the Lebanese army that Israel is prepared to accept. "Since the 1980s, Israel has insisted that the Lebanese army not have the kinds of sophisticated capabilities because it wants to maintain military superiority on all of its neighbours," Ms Momtaz said.
"This Israeli posture has been a double-edged sword for Israel itself, because the weakness and lack of capabilities of the LAF opened up the space for a super militia like Hezbollah to take root and to grow as much as it has."
There is also no enforcement mechanism to make sure that Israel and Hezbollah respect the ceasefire, raising questions about its effectiveness. The ceasefire will be overseen by a US-led enhanced version of an already existing tripartite mechanism between Israel and Lebanon that is overseen by the UN.
"The reformulated and enhanced mechanism, hosted by Unifil, chaired by the US and including France, will monitor, verify and assist in ensuring enforcement of these commitments," the ceasefire's text reads.
"Israel will retain the right, with the support of the US, to bomb Lebanon if it assesses that Hezbollah is rebuilding its capabilities," Ms Momtaz said. "We need to see whether the Trump administration changes that and imposes more restrictions on Israel, or whether it continues in the path of Biden's unlimited support for a very permissive definition of Israel's right to defend itself."
France's limited leverage in the region was recently exposed by apparently backtracking on its pledge to uphold international law and implement an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli leader reportedly pushed back by vetoing France's inclusion in the Lebanon ceasefire talks. Tension was defused after France promised to mend relations with Israel, news website Axios reported. French-Israeli relations have deteriorated in the past year as Mr Macron has become increasingly vocal about Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza.
Ms Momtaz said: "While France's participation in the oversight mechanism is important for the Lebanese side, in part, to have an actor that could be a little more balanced when it comes to Israel than the US, France's leverage is very limited. We're seeing France backtrack on their initial principal position in order to safeguard their place at the negotiating table, but also at the oversight mechanism."
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The five pillars of Islam
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
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
