Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The US is working to avoid a "greater war" in the Middle East as tensions increase between Hezbollah and Israel, Washington's envoy Amos Hochstein said as he arrived in Beirut on Tuesday for talks with senior Lebanese officials.
Mr Hochstein said he was sent to the region by US President Joe Biden to help tackle the crisis on the Lebanon-Israel border, where Hezbollah and the Israeli military have exchanged regular fire since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Mr Hochstein met Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday after talks with Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, who has close ties with Hezbollah. The US envoy played a key role in mediating a maritime border deal between Israel and Lebanon in 2022. He also met Lebanese military commander Gen Joseph Aoun.
"We discussed the current security and political situation in Lebanon, as well as the deal on the table right now with respect to Gaza, which also provides an opportunity to end the conflict across the Blue Line," Mr Hochstein said after talks with Mr Berri, referring to the UN-demarcated border between Israel and Lebanon, after talks with Mr Berri.
Mr Hochstein said the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah "has gone on for long enough".
"It's in everyone's interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically. That is both achievable and it is urgent," he added.
The US envoy visited Israel on Monday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, opposition leader Yair Lapid and senior opposition figure Benny Gantz.
Mr Gantz, a former army chief who quit Israel's war cabinet this month, told Mr Hochstein that "time is running out" for a deal to restore calm on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.
"I emphasised my commitment to removing the threat Hezbollah poses to the citizens of northern Israel, regardless of developments on the war in Gaza, and will support any responsible and effective political or military decision on the matter from outside the government," Mr Gantz said on X.
He called for "an internationally mediated arrangement" on the northern border.
Later in the day, Hezbollah released a video that appeared to show surveillance drone footage of Haifa and other parts of northern Israel.
Haifa, one of Israel's major cities, is 27km from the border.
In response to the video, Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, said that Israel would "destroy" Hezbollah in a war.
"We are very close to the moment when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon," said Mr Katz.
"In a total war, Hezbollah will be destroyed and Lebanon will be hit hard."
Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced on either side of the border amid the violence. The Iran-backed group says it is carrying out attacks in support of its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where more than 37,300 people have been killed in Israel's assault on the enclave.
Mr Hochstein is on his fourth round of shuttle diplomacy in the region since October 7, when Hamas launched the attack on southern Israel that led to the war. About 1,200 were killed in the assault.
Some Israeli officials have repeatedly called for an operation into southern Lebanon that would remove the threat posed by Hezbollah, which is far stronger and better armed than Hamas.
About 300 Hezbollah members have been killed by Israeli fire since October. The group says it does not want a full-scale war, but is ready for one.
The Israeli military says 18 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed in the violence.
The two countries do not have diplomatic relations and are technically in a state of war with each other.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
The%20specs
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
STAGE%201%20RESULTS
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
