Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said "the drums of war have not stopped pounding" in Lebanon since he last visited the country in January, as clashes between Hezbollah and Israel continue in the border areas.
Mr Borrell, who arrived to Beirut on Wednesday in the latest effort to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and peace in southern Lebanon, said that an all-out war has not yet happened was "good news" and urged all parties to pursue the path of "de-escalating military tensions".
The EU was putting all its diplomatic efforts into avoiding a broader escalation, particularly in south Lebanon, he said. "We have to continue pushing for a comprehensive peace in the region."
Early on Thursday, Mr Borrell held talks with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, powerful Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and army commander Gen Joseph Aoun.
Mr Borrell began his trip on Wednesday by visiting the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission to Lebanon (Unifil) in Naqoura, on the border with Israel. He also met Druze community leader Walid Joumblatt and his son Teymour.
The visit follows Mr Borrell's trip to Cairo, where he met top Egyptian leaders in a bid to find a resolution to the war in Gaza, as ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel continue to stall.
Meanwhile, clashes continued in southern Lebanon overnight on Wednesday amid yet another surge in cross-border violence.
Hamas said its branch in Lebanon had launched 30 rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday night. While most attacks launched against Israel from Lebanon since October have been carried out by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, its allies – including Hamas – have also been involved.
Hezbollah on Wednesday night announced it had launched missiles at an Israeli military intelligence base.
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike killed two boys, aged 12 and 17, who were riding a motorcycle south of the city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
The situation in southern Lebanon had somewhat quietened over the past two weeks after Hezbollah carried out its long-awaited retaliation for the assassination of its commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut in July.
However, hostilities have surged in recent days, as Israeli officials have increasingly indicated that their army's focus will soon shift from Gaza to Israel's northern border with Lebanon. For its part, Hezbollah says it will not cease its attacks on Israel until a ceasefire deal for Gaza has been struck.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
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Report to local authorities
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Squads
Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.
India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS
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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
Company%C2%A0profile
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis