Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a quicker transit of an aircraft carrier strike group and deployed a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid concerns of further regional conflict and an Iranian attack on Israel.
Mr Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant on Sunday, discussing the war in Gaza, according to Pentagon Press Secretary, Pat Ryder.
The pair also discussed “efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and other Iran-aligned groups across the region”.
Mr Austin said the US is committed “to take every possible step to defend Israel” and said Washington has strengthened its military capabilities in the region amid escalating tensions.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, equipped with F35C fighter jets, has been ordered to sail quicker to the Middle East, under the control of the US Central Command.
The nuclear-powered USS Georgia guided missile submarine has also been deployed.
The movements come as Israel braces for a promised Iranian attack after the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh at a Tehran guesthouse two weeks ago.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the killing of Mr Haniyeh.
Israeli intelligence says an attack could take place before ceasefire talks are set to resume on Thursday, Axios reported on Sunday, warning the Iranian and Hezbollah attack will be larger than an earlier attack in April.
Hamas and Iran have both accused the US of approving Mr Haniyeh's assassination, a claim denied by Washington.
Iran-backed groups are also expected to attack Israel in retaliation, raising the prospect of all-out war in Lebanon as Israel ups attacks on its northern neighbour.
The US sent a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the region last week in one of the biggest movements of US forces since the war began. It said it had heard Iran's threats “loud and clear”.
“We can’t just assume that we are also potentially going to be victims of that kind of an attack, so we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the right resources and capabilities in the region,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN.
Washington has repeatedly reiterated its support for Israel and said it would defend it from further attacks.
Europe warns Iran
On Sunday, Britain, France and Germany warned Iran against any attack on Israel, saying it would “jeopardise” an opportunity for peace and regional stability.
The three nations said there could be “no further delay” in ceasefire negotiations after the killing of Mr Haniyeh, and called for an end to the fighting.
They also spoke of “deep concern” over the latest regional escalations.
Tehran “will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East,” the statement read.
Regional travel has been disrupted amid rumours of a wider war, with many airlines suspending flights to Israel and Lebanon and avoiding regional airspace.
On Monday, Air France, its subsidiary Transavia France, and Lufthansa all announced they would extend flight suspensions across the region, namely to Beirut and Tel Aviv.
Air France said flights to Beirut will remain suspended until August 14.
Lufthansa said it was extending the suspension of flights to Beirut, Amman, Tel Aviv, Tehran, and Erbil until August 21, while Swiss International also extended flight suspensions to Lebanon and Israel.
Iraqi and Iranian airspace will also be avoided, the Swiss carrier added.
Meanwhile, the war in Gaza continues to rage. The conflict began when Hamas and allied militant groups attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing about 1,200 people. Retaliatory air strikes and a ground campaign have killed more than 39,700 in Gaza to date, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Most of those killed are women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with more than 92,000 other civilians wounded and almost the entire population displaced several times.
While mediators invited Israel and Hamas to resume ceasefire talks later this week, the militant group has instead called for the introduction of a proposal suggested by US President Joe Biden.
Hamas “calls on the mediators to present a road map to put into action what was proposed to Hamas … based on the vision of Biden and the decisions of the UN Security Council, and to force the occupier [Israel] to implement it, rather than hold more talks or bring new proposals,” it said.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Brief scores
Day 1
Toss England, chose to bat
England, 1st innings 357-5 (87 overs): Root 184 not out, Moeen 61 not out, Stokes 56; Philander 3-46
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Mountain%20Boy
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
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: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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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
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
