The UNIFIL patch and the Spanish flag sit on the arm of Colonel Juan Garcia Antonio Martinez, 50, of the Spanish UNIFIL while driving an armored UN 4x4 along the Blue Line separating Israel from Lebanon in southern Lebanon. Oliver Marsden for The National
The UNIFIL patch and the Spanish flag sit on the arm of Colonel Juan Garcia Antonio Martinez, 50, of the Spanish UNIFIL while driving an armored UN 4x4 along the Blue Line separating Israel from Lebanon in southern Lebanon. Oliver Marsden for The National
The UNIFIL patch and the Spanish flag sit on the arm of Colonel Juan Garcia Antonio Martinez, 50, of the Spanish UNIFIL while driving an armored UN 4x4 along the Blue Line separating Israel from Lebanon in southern Lebanon. Oliver Marsden for The National
The UNIFIL patch and the Spanish flag sit on the arm of Colonel Juan Garcia Antonio Martinez, 50, of the Spanish UNIFIL while driving an armored UN 4x4 along the Blue Line separating Israel from Leban

Unifil chief calls for diplomacy and political process to reach permanent Israel-Lebanon ceasefire


Adla Massoud
  • English
  • Arabic

A political process and diplomatic talks aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel must be made top priorities, the head of the UN peacekeeping force Unifil said on Monday, warning the prospect of de-escalation remains fragile despite US and French mediation.

Lt Gen Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, Unifil’s force commander, told the UN Security Council that while a monitoring mechanism was set up after hostilities flared in November, only military-to-military contact has since taken place.

“This is still a fragile process,” he said. “A political layer will be required to get the parties on track to a full implementation of [UN Resolution] 1701 and facilitate open discussions on a potentially contentious border delineation process.” Lt Gen Lazaro also emphasised sustained diplomatic engagement was critical in preventing renewed escalation and advancing long-term stability.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah to an end, calls for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of armed groups from southern Lebanon. However, sporadic clashes over the disputed Blue Line border persist.

"Since the cessation of hostilities, which came into effect on November 27, and in the absence of a permanent ceasefire, one of the main obstacles has always been that the parties interpret differently their obligations under resolution 1701," Lt Gen Lazaro said. "The strategic context and the balance of forces have now significantly changed, and we may finally see slow process towards a more permanent ceasefire. But this may still take a long time."

He said internal processes in Lebanon, as well as addressing the roles of Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups, are crucial for moving forward with a viable political track between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel has continued to launch strikes on Lebanon since the truce largely halted more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war.

Authorities said an Israeli strike on Sunday had killed two people in south Lebanon's Zibqin, but the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah operatives in the area. Israeli strikes last week hit other sites in the south and even Hezbollah's bastion of southern Beirut.

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Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
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Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)

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6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
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The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
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Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

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Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

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Updated: April 07, 2025, 4:52 PM