Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al Faisal, the former head of intelligence and the kingdom’s ambassador to London, has called on the UK to fulfil its special historical responsibility to Palestine by going forward with recognition of it as a state.
The Saudi royal told an audience at the Chatham House think tank that he welcomed the announcement earlier this month that the new Labour government would restrict some arms supplies to Israel, as he called on the country's allies to use their power to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.
The world in these pin-prick bombings that they have over Houthi positions could do more
Prince Turki Al Faisal
"The United Kingdom should recognise the state of Palestine," he said. "It's long overdue. It's been passed in a previous parliament, as a resolution that asking the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine, which they have not yet done. So, hopefully this government will be able to move forward and not simply be a little reticent or shy about what it does with Israel."
Now head of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, Prince Turki said no outside powers had been able to "put the screws on" Israel and Hamas to end a conflict in which neither side was achieving their stated goals.
He reflected the raw anger that the death toll in Gaza was rising towards 50,000, while the world was giving the impression of accepting its consequences.
Saudi Arabia wanted to contain and end the spreading conflict. "We don't want the fighting to spread wider between the people of different countries in the area," he said.
With Yemen's Houthi militia using its territorial position overlooking the Bab Al Mandeb to hold "the world hostage" by attacking global shipping, the position of Iran and its undertakings to contribute to stability in the region was under question. "If they can control the Houthis, they're definitely not doing that and if they can't control the Houthis then we're all in a bit of trouble," he said.
Prince Turki, who was also ambassador in London, added that the US-UK coalition backed up by European naval patrols had proved ineffective. "The world in these pinprick bombings that they have over Houthi positions could do more," he said. "More could be done to interdict the supply of weaponry that comes to the Houthi from Iran and put pressure on Iran."
Asked about reports of Iran sending missiles to supply the Russian war in Ukraine, Prince Turki said the linkage that Tehran wanted to show it could be a player in what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank as well as Ukraine.
The outbreak of the war almost a year ago had shattered hopes for a US-led talks process on Saudi Arabia and Israel coming to a normalisation agreement. Prince Turki said Israel was not interested in meeting Riyadh's principled demand for a Palestinian state among the countries of the world.
"The kingdom has been very active in its role as a supporter of an end to the fighting," he said. "As far as normalisation with Israel, the Kingdom talking to the United States about a relationship based on firmer ties between the Kingdom and the United States, as far as not just security but economic development and other engagement with the United States, and the United States wanting us to have normalisation with Israel.
"The Kingdom reply is that if there is a Palestinian state that Israel accepts to come into existence then we can talk about normalisation with Israel."
Two state solution
Middle East countries and partners in Europe who have recognised a state of Palestine plan to speak with a “single Arab-European-Islamic voice” at looming UN talks on the conflict, Spain’s Foreign Minister said on Friday.
Jose Manuel Albares called for a “clear calendar” in peace talks as he met representatives of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation in Madrid.
He called for “firm action on the part of the international community against those on either side” attempting to derail a two-state peace settlement.
The informal group – including Spain, Slovenia and Norway, which recently recognised Palestine – is preparing for talks on the Middle East at the UN General Assembly this month, Mr Albares said.
“The countries meeting here make up a group which is not bound by geography, but brought together by a common goal, promoting co-ordinated action on the part of the international community,” he said.
“We’re moving forward to speak with a single Arab-European-Islamic voice united around the application of the two-state solution, to reinforce our co-ordination with our eye on the milestones and meetings which in the coming weeks will help decide the future of the region.”
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Brief scores:
Barcelona 3
Pique 38', Messi 51 (pen), Suarez 82'
Rayo Vallecano 1
De Tomas Gomez 24'
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Mafraq – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP%204
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More on Quran memorisation:
Ferrari
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Mann%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adam%20Driver%2C%20Penelope%20Cruz%2C%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Patrick%20Dempsey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Janeen%20Damian%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Lindsay%20Lohan%2C%20Chord%20Overstreet%2C%20Jack%20Wagner%2C%20Aliana%20Lohan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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