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A committee tasked with overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah met for the second time on Wednesday. The meeting took place in the town of Naqoura, where the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) is located, near the border with Israel.
The multinational monitoring committee is co-chaired by US General Jasper Jeffers. A French general, as well as representatives from Unifil, Lebanon and Israel, were all present at Wednesday's meeting.
A joint statement from the US, France and Unifil said the committee "will continue to meet in this format regularly and coordinate closely to support implementation of the ceasefire agreement".
Lebanon's government has accused Israel of committing a dozen breaches of the truce, and Information Minister Ziad Makary had said he hoped the meeting would address the “unacceptable” violations.
Under the ceasefire deal, which took effect three weeks ago, the armed group and political party Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw north of the Litani river. Israel has until the end of January to withdraw from the south of Lebanon, with the Lebanese army moving in to take control.
Mr Makary said the Lebanese army was gradually bolstering its presence in the south, while he noted the Israelis were withdrawing – albeit slowly. Israel has withdrawn from the strategic town on Khiam, a key battleground in the war with Hezbollah. The Lebanese army has since moved in and begun the task of demining and clearing rubble from the area.
The truce agreement, based around UN Security Resolution 1701, which brought the last war between Hezbollah and Israel to an end in 2006, requires the Lebanese army to increase its presence in the south. It is hoped that around 10,000 soldiers will eventually be deployed to the area – with a recruitment drive launched.
Gen Mounir Shehadeh, who until recently was the Lebanese government's co-ordinator with Unifil, told The National previously that about 1,500 elite commandos were sent to south Lebanon on the day the ceasefire came into effect.
“The Lebanese army has indicated its instant readiness to initiate and take on its responsibilities to implement this agreement,” he said.
Supporters of the Lebanese army have a big task ahead to equip it and increase the number of soldiers. The army is regarded as weaker than Hezbollah.
"All donor countries are aware that the Lebanese army needs financial support," said Gen Shehadeh, who insisted the army was capable of carrying out its mission in securing the south so long as the Israeli violations stopped.
"The army should be provided with the necessary equipment and weapons for these new military personnel that will be recruited," he added.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel is still bombing south Lebanon – although not on the scale of the attacks before the truce came into effect.
One of Israel's key missions was returning residents displaced from northern Israel to their homes. Three months ago Israel massively ramped up attacks on Hezbollah, leading to some 1.4 million people being displaced and well over 4,000 killed.
But while many from southern Lebanon have begun to return to the area, the same cannot be said in northern Israel.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Aryan%20Lakra%2C%20Ashwanth%20Valthapa%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20CP%20Rizwaan%2C%20Hazrat%20Billal%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%20and%20Zawar%20Farid.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
