Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
A senior Qatari official said distrust between Hamas and Israel was hindering talkss to reach a new ceasefire agreement, after months of efforts by the Gulf state, alongside Egypt and the US, to broker a pause in the Gaza war failed this month.
Negotiations broke down when Israel rejected the some of the demands made by Hamas.
“We are trying to get the parties together. The more you sit on the table, the closer you get [to a deal] … when there is a will there is a way, what is missing here is the will,” Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, a Qatari Minister of State and a lead negotiator, told a security conference in Doha on Monday.
Egypt had said it was prepared to continue its mediation in the Gaza war even after the Israeli military seized control of the Palestinian side of its land border crossing with Gaza on May 7.
Cairo, however, has refused to co-operate over the Rafah crossing, telling a delegation from the Mossad spy agency last week that the border point would remain closed as long as Israel controlled the Palestinian side.
On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the cessation of aid deliveries through the Rafah crossing was connected to the threat posed to humanitarian work by Israel's military operations in the area.
"Now there is a military presence on the outskirts of the Rafah crossing and military operations that put aid convoys and truck drivers in danger," Mr Shoukry said.
Sources told The National that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was due to arrive in Cairo on Monday for discussions with Egypt's leaders on the resumption of mediation on a Gaza war ceasefire and Israel's ground offensive in the enclave's southern city of Rafah.
They said the US has been trying to persuade Egypt to reopen the crossing, which Mr Sullivan plans to support when he meets Egyptian officials.
Mr Sullivan is on a Middle East tour that has already taken him to Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Israel has ignored pleas by Cairo, the US and others not to launch a ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, close to the Egyptian border.
On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Mr Sullivan that his country planned to broaden its military operation in Rafah, something that US President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned against.
Israel describes Rafah as the last stronghold of Hamas, whose governing and combat capabilities it has been trying to dismantle during the war.
“We are committed to broadening the ground operation in Rafah to the end of dismantling Hamas and recovering the hostages,” a statement from Mr Gallant's office quoted him as telling Mr Sullivan.
Egypt, bound by a 1979 peace treaty with Israel, has strongly condemned both the seizure of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing and Israel's ground offensive on the city, saying Israel’s actions endangered its national security.
Last week, it said it was adding its voice to South Africa's in support of its case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide, handing its eastern neighbour its strongest public rebuke since the war began in October.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Monday that it estimated 810,000 people had fled Rafah since Israel began its ground offensive there on May 6.
Israel also says its forces in Rafah have discovered dozens of tunnels from Egypt's peninsula, a claim that Cairo has repeatedly denied in the past.
While in Israel on Sunday, Mr Sullivan briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the “potential” of a normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, according to the White House.
He also called on the Israeli leader to link the military operation against Hamas in Gaza with a “political strategy” for the future of the Palestinian enclave, it said in a readout of the talks.
The top US diplomat met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Dharan on Saturday, before flying directly to Israel for talks with Mr Netanyahu and other key officials.
“Mr Sullivan briefed Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team on these meetings and the potential that may now be available for Israel, as well as the Palestinian people,” the White House said.
Saudi state media reported on Sunday that Mr Sullivan and Prince Mohammed, the country's de facto ruler, discussed a “semi-final” version of a deal expected to beef up security ties between their two countries.
That deal is considered a major part of Washington's efforts to bring Riyadh around to a so-called mega-deal recognising Israel for the first time – efforts complicated by the continuing war in the Gaza Strip.
The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed about 1,200 people.
The attack drew a devastating Israeli military response in which more than 35,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, and made most of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents displaced. Large areas of built-up areas have been reduced to rubble.
The war has created a massive humanitarian crisis that has been exacerbated by the closure of the Rafah crossing, the main transit point for relief aid to Gaza.
While in Israel, Mr Sullivan also repeated President Joe Biden's “long-standing position on Rafah”, the White House said.
The Biden administration has called on Israel to avoid such an operation and recently halted a shipment of bombs to its long-standing ally due to concerns they might be used in Rafah.
– With additional reporting from AFP
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
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
SPEC%20SHEET
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Bullet%20Train
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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