US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Monday ahead of a meeting of the committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has entered its second month. The visit comes amid mounting tension and accusations of violations from both sides.
On Sunday, Mr Hochstein met Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh. The two discussed current regional issues, including developments in Lebanon.
Israel and Hezbollah accused one another at the weekend of breaking the terms of the ceasefire deal that took effect on November 27.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz accused the Iran-backed group on Sunday of not meeting the terms of the ceasefire, warning that if it continued to breach the deal, Israel would “be forced to act”.
Similarly, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and said the group was prepared to respond even before the expiry of a 60-day deadline for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
“We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations and to implement the agreement, and we will exercise patience,” Mr Qassem said.
Mr Hochstein’s visit comes ahead of a session of Lebanon's Parliament on Thursday to address the presidential vacancy that has persisted for more than two years. The prolonged vacancy, rooted in the failure to reach consensus on a candidate, reflects a familiar pattern in Lebanese politics.
The fragile ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, requires Israel to withdraw its forces from about 60 villages along the border by January 26. Concurrently, Hezbollah is obligated to relocate its fighters and infrastructure north of the Litani river, farther from Israel, while the Lebanese Army is deployed at the southern border.
Media reports suggest Israel is advocating an extension of the ceasefire, citing concerns that Hezbollah has not withdrawn fully from the designated areas and that there are insufficient Lebanese troops deployed to maintain security. Lebanon, however, disputes these claims, asserting that both Hezbollah and the army have complied with the terms of the agreement.
On Monday evening, the Lebanese Army announced it had stationed units in the coastal town of Naqoura and that Israeli troops had left the area as the ceasefire monitoring committee was due to meet. It said the movement was in co-ordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and surveys would be taken of the town to identify unexploded ordinance before a full deployment of troops in the next phase.
Mr Hochstein confirmed the beginning of an Israeli withdrawal in Naqoura. "The Israeli military started its withdrawal from Naqoura... and back into Israel proper today, south of the Blue Line. These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely, and as the Lebanese army continues to deploy into the south and all the way to the Blue Line," Mr Hochstein told reporters, referring to the UN-demarcated boundary between the two countries.
Gen Mounir Shehadeh, former Lebanese Army co-ordinator with Unifil, said the Lebanese Army has equipped 6,000 troops to deploy in south Lebanon, but they could not do so until Israel's military has retreated from its positions.
“The delay is caused by Israel and it is Israel that is preventing the deployment of the Lebanese army,” he told The National, adding Israel had been “slow to withdraw” from the area.
The Jerusalem Post on Sunday reported that Israeli and US efforts were under way to extend the ceasefire with Hezbollah to avoid either a premature withdrawal or a return to a full-scale war in the north.
Lebanon and Hezbollah have criticised Israel for its limited withdrawal, noting that Israeli forces have vacated only a few of the 60 villages they control along the border. They have also condemned continuing Israeli air strikes and overflights across Lebanese territory, calling these actions clear breaches of the truce. Israel, in turn, says the Lebanese military has not done enough to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in the region.
Unifil has repeatedly accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire terms. On Sunday morning, “peacekeepers observed an [Israeli military] bulldozer destroying a blue barrel marking the line of withdrawal between Lebanon and Israel in Labbouneh, as well as an observation tower belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces immediately beside a Unifil position there,” the UN force said.
Both parties have accused each other of undermining the ceasefire. Israel has conducted air strikes on what it claims are Hezbollah positions, saying these measures are necessary to prevent any movement of weapons. Hezbollah has warned of potential retaliation if Israeli forces do not complete their withdrawal by the agreed deadline.
Gen Shehadeh said Hezbollah's decision on whether to withdraw from the area by the 60-day deadline or respond to Israeli strikes would be affected by the thousands of displaced Lebanese trying to return home.
“Many people have returned to renovate their homes that were damaged during the war,” he said. “This is the only pressure on Hezbollah to carefully consider its response to these violations and the ongoing occupation, should Israel fail to withdraw. However, if the occupation persists and Israel continues its violations, the group will not remain idle—despite the significant costs this may entail.”
The international committee overseeing the ceasefire, headed by US military official Maj Gen Jasper Jeffers, plays a crucial role in mediating these disputes. Mr Jeffers and Mr Hochstein met Army Commander General Joseph Aoun on Monday.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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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
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
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.
