Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Barely a day after ending the Gaza ceasefire with a massive bombing campaign on the strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secured a number of personal victories that help to shore up his political future in the months ahead, stoking an impression among many critics that he is renewing the war for his own gain.
Despite significant domestic opposition, condemnation from key allies – but crucially not the US – and the social and economic toll a renewed military campaign will have on a country exhausted after more than a year of war, Mr Netanyahu vowed to step up attacks after Tuesday's bombardment. It killed more than 400 Palestinians in one of the deadliest assaults since the early days of the conflict.
“From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing intensity … negotiations will only take place under fire,” he said, connecting his decision to stalled talks over the return of 59 hostages, most of them Israeli, from Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu did not mention that the offensive also allowed him to cancel giving testimony during his corruption trial, bring back a far-right minister who represents an important bloc in the governing coalition, and to dodge public anger about his attempt to fire the director of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, all key victories that set him on track to pass the state budget at the end of the month. If he fails to do so, the parliament would be dissolved and new elections called.
“Many Israeli citizens asked themselves the awful question: was the resumption of the fighting in Gaza and the collapse of the ceasefire by Israel done for operational security reasons or perhaps for reasons related to the political survival of Netanyahu?” commentator Avi Issacharoff wrote in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Wednesday.
The prospect of renewed fighting in Gaza reignited a protest movement calling for the government to prioritise the release of the hostages. The protesters, who say Israeli bombardment and the breakdown of negotiations with Hamas for their release puts the captives' lives in danger, are now also openly accusing the prime minister of advancing his own goals at the expense of the country.
On Wednesday, several thousand demonstrators marched down a motorway towards Mr Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem, where they planned to set up a tent camp. Scuffles broke out with police, as protesters tried to break through barriers chanting “democracy” in Hebrew, a refrain from the mass protests against judicial reforms proposed by the government that gripped the country before the war was triggered by Hamas's attack in October 2023.
The new demonstrations have attracted leading figures in Israeli security circles. At a rally in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo described the prime minister as “dictator Netanyahu”.
“You, the suspect Benjamin Netanyahu, pose a clear and present danger to the nation’s security,” he added, hinting at the years-long corruption trial Mr Netanyahu has been battling.
After finally taking the stand at the end of last year, Mr Netanyahu has been trying to delay his court appearances, often citing security concerns. Tuesday’s fighting allowed him to do exactly that.
It also allowed him to get National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his party back into the coalition, despite the attorney general advising that to do so was not legally sound. Mr Ben-Gvir, a far-right leader convicted of terror charges, left the coalition in protest at January’s ceasefire agreement. He was also reportedly pleased by the attempts to fire Mr Bar.
Mr Ben-Gvir’s re-entry came a day after the coalition reached an agreement with him for his party to abstain from voting on the first bill in the upcoming state budget, giving the government a comfortable majority. Passing the budget without his support would have been almost impossible, given threats from ultra-Orthodox coalition members to vote against the government if young men in their community are not exempted from military service, a demand that is deeply unpopular throughout Israeli society.
UAE%20ILT20
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Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
Maratha Arabians Leading player: Virender Sehwag; Top picks: Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim; UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan
Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Company%20profile
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
