Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Jordan's King Abdullah II urged European leaders on Friday to step up Middle East peace efforts, as he told them that only a “solution to the Palestinian issue” could stabilise the region.
Addressing a summit of nine Mediterranean leaders in Cyprus including France's President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, King Abdullah called on them to mount an “immediate and effective response to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza”, Jordan's royal court said.
It said he stressed “the importance of stopping the Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as stepping up efforts to reach comprehensive regional calm”. There could be “no peace nor stability in the region without a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, on the basis of the two-state solution”, King Abdullah said.
He spoke as leaders of the nine EU member states in the Mediterranean called for an immediate ceasefire after a sharp escalation in the conflict.
“Amid the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza in the broader region, we express our deep concern at the escalation of a military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah,” the EU leaders said in a statement.
“We seek an immediate ceasefire throughout the Blue Line and the timely dispatch of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.”
France, Italy and Spain, in a separate joint statement expressed “outrage” after several peacekeepers were hit at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon's main base in Naqoura.
“These attacks constitute serious violation of the obligations of Israel under UNSCR [United Nations Security Council Resolution] 1701 and under humanitarian international law,” the statement said.
“We recall that all peacekeepers must be protected and reiterate our praise for the continued and indispensable commitment of Unifil troops/personnel in this very challenging context,” it added, and called for “an immediate ceasefire”.
Italy said it supported a Jordanian plan for a “humanitarian gateway” to Gaza, aimed at easing aid bottlenecks into the strip, at the meeting in coastal Paphos between Cyprus, France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia.
The nine Mediterranean leaders held Middle East-focused talks as the aftershocks of the conflict reach the shores of Europe. Cyprus has become a refuge for Lebanese people fleeing the fighting after Israel expanded its ground war with Hezbollah.
“Only a few miles away from Cyprus, we have a war. We have a difficult situation,” the island's President Nikos Christodoulides said as he opened the summit. In the Middle East, “our levers are limited, but it's about creating more convergence at a European level”, an official in Mr Macron's camp said.
Syria focus
King Abdullah also held four-way talks with Italy, Cyprus and the EU on the situation regarding Syrian refugees living in Lebanon – an issue that Ms Meloni's office said had “become even more pressing” in light of the most recent fighting.
Cyprus said the leaders “discussed ways to support the voluntary returns of Syrians to Syria” under a resettlement plan. King Abdullah said Jordan was already “undertaking its humanitarian role” as he called on other countries to “shoulder responsibilities”.
Ms Meloni's camp said the aim was for Syrian refugees to voluntarily return to their homeland “in a safe and sustainable way, in collaboration with the main humanitarian organisations operating in the region”. Germany is exploring ways to deport rejected asylum seekers to Syria for the first time since 2012.
European leaders praised Jordan's role during the conflict. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the kingdom an “important friend”. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered “appreciation for Jordan’s role in the stability of the wider region”.
The EU will continue its Middle East diplomacy at a first summit with the GCC in Brussels next week.
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight (Wednesday), BeIN Sports
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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HAJJAN
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France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
EA Sports FC 25
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Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
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Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
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- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
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South Africa
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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.
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
