Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Jordan's King Abdullah II discussed the state of play in Gaza with US politicians on Tuesday, amid rifts between Amman and a deeply pro-Israel Congress.
King Abdullah met Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, with the visit also including discussions with Republican and Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate chambers.
Ahead of the meetings, a Jordanian official told The National that the king "will definitely address the situation in Gaza and developments in the region."
During his meetings, King Abdullah "renewed the call on the international community to step up efforts to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as ensure the protection of civilians", the Jordanian embassy said in a statement.
"The King highlighted the importance of maintaining support for [the UN agency for Palestinian refugees] UNRWA, which is a vital lifeline for nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza, and also provides much needed services for millions of Palestinian refugees elsewhere in the region," the statement added.
"In addition, His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan’s rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, which must both form the Palestinian state."
The meetings between deeply pro-Israel congressional leaders and King Abdullah, who has strongly advocated a ceasefire in Gaza and criticised Israel's conduct in the war, came at a critical moment in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas accepted a ceasefire deal on Monday as Israel carried out a limited military operation in Rafah, the last place of relative safety for Palestinians fleeing violence in Gaza.
Under Mr Johnson's leadership, Congress last month broke a political stalemate and passed billions of dollars in extra funding for Israel.
The Republican Speaker has also been at the forefront of US threats against the International Criminal Court over reports it may issue warrants against Israeli officials.
“They had better not do that. I think that it would make us as a nation respond in kind to the ICC,” Mr Johnson said last week.
There should be no impediment to relief going to Gaza, says ICC prosecutor – video
“I think a group of senators and House members who would move expeditiously and we might just turn the table on the ICC. They better be careful.”
King Abdullah, accompanied on the trip by Queen Rania, and many members of Congress are approaching the urgency of the Palestinian plight from starkly different angles.
This week, the queen told US media that Washington was considered by many as “an enabler” of Israel's war in Gaza.
“People view the US as being a party to this war,” Queen Rania told CBS.
“Israeli officials say that without US support, they could not launch this war.”
During an appearance at the Milken Institute in Los Angeles on Monday, the queen also said that the war in Gaza has “exposed old fractures” and “divided people along new battle lines”, contributing to global polarisation.
“The only way that we can achieve security in our part of the world is through a negotiated peace, where Palestinians have not a promise of statehood, but actual statehood,” her office quoted the queen as saying.
During the private lunch at the White House on Monday, Mr Biden and King Abdullah discussed the latest developments in Gaza, the need for a ceasefire and the need for increasing the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“They further underscored the need for an immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas and a sustainable ceasefire that allows for a surge of the urgently needed humanitarian assistance to be delivered safely through Gaza,” the White House said.
Civilians ordered to flee eastern Rafah – in pictures
Amman said after the meeting that King Abdullah had “noted the importance of maintaining support for UNRWA to enable it to provide humanitarian services in accordance with its UN mandate”.
That is a viewpoint with decreasing popularity on Capitol Hill, including with Mr Johnson with whom the king is due to meet.
The Republican Party has been at the forefront of US efforts to shut down funding of the UN agency for Palestinians, a movement that has gained steam on both sides of the aisle.
Jim Risch, the top Republican foreign affairs senator, recently said that the “majority view” in the Congress is that “we need to put UNRWA out of business”.
Jihan Abdalla contributed to this report from Washington
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
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MANDOOB
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Specs
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
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.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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