Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Four pro-Palestine protesters say they are facing deportation from Germany due to alleged sympathies with Hamas, in a move they compared to Donald Trump’s crackdown on student dissent in the US.
Shane O’Brien, Roberta Murray, Kasia Wlaszczyk and Cooper Longbottom – who come from Ireland, Poland and the US – are vowing to fight deportation orders issued by the city of Berlin. They describe themselves as activists with no criminal record who have protested against Germany’s support for Israel.
They said the deportation papers accuse them of anti-Semitism and supporting “terrorist organisations”, namely Hamas, as well as its “front organisations in Germany and Europe”. Germany banned Hamas activities in the country and shut down an alleged front called Samidoun, after the militants staged their 2023 offensive in southern Israel.
German media said the case is linked to unrest at Berlin’s Free University in October. The university reported about 40 masked protesters attempting to occupy a building in what it called a “violent attack” on the campus.
Activists have frequently complained of a stifling of pro-Palestinian dissent in Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies. Successive governments in Berlin have described Israel’s security as a paramount interest of the German state arising from the Holocaust.
According to the four activists, this “reason of state” was mentioned in the Berlin deportation papers. They said the orders were an example of Germany “weaponising migration law” against Palestinians and their supporters. EU citizens generally enjoy freedom of movement within the bloc but German and European law allows for restrictions on the grounds of public order or security.
“Germany’s revocation of one student visa and three EU citizens’ right to move within the EU is an unprecedented escalation, with dire implications,” the four activists said. “This parallels the Trump administration using deportation as a method of repression against US residents exercising their right to freedom of speech.
“Our deportation is a political act – an attempt to intimidate an entire movement. By stripping us of our freedom of movement, Germany intensifies its repression of pro-Palestinian voices, disproportionately targeting Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities.”
Under Mr Trump’s crackdown at least 300 visas have been revoked and former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested over his involvement in student protests. Pro-Israel groups have provided officials with the names of hundreds of people they accuse of “raging against America” and supporting terrorist groups.
A new government taking shape in Berlin looks set to solidify Germany’s pro-Israel stance. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democrats, who won the election on February 23, proposed in their manifesto that recognising Israel’s right to exist should become a condition of German citizenship.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)
5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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more from Janine di Giovanni
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