Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Egypt’s Foreign Minister has told The National he is deeply concerned by the situation at the Israel-Lebanon border and urged the Israelis and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to use restraint.
In an interview in New York, where world leaders this week are gathering for the UN General Assembly, Badr Abdelatty described Israel’s recent strikes in Lebanon, in which at least 492 people have been killed and 1,645 injured, as “unilateral actions” that were “violating the sovereignty of Lebanon”.
“We are very, very concerned about the escalation which could destabilise the security and the territorial integrity of Lebanon,” he said on Monday.
Egypt has played a crucial mediating role in the war in Gaza but Mr Abdelatty said Israel’s insistence on maintaining a security presence along the Salah Al Din (Philadelphi) corridor was a non-starter.
“Nobody can accept the continuation of the killing machinery every day against civilians in Gaza. So that's why we are working very hard with the Americans, with the Qataris, in order to reach a deal which will, of course, ensure an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages,” he said.
“Our position is very clear … No single Israeli presence on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing or in the Philadelphi corridor.”
Israel has dramatically increased its attacks on Lebanon in recent days. The country is presumed to have been behind two attacks last week targeting Hezbollah members by detonating thousands of their pagers and walkie-talkies.
On Friday, Israel killed senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil in a strike on a Beirut suburb and has continued to pound the country.
Hezbollah has responded by striking deeper into Israel than in any previous attacks since October 8, when the two sides began an escalating series of retaliatory exchanges.
Israeli strikes killed hundreds of people in Lebanon on Monday, while the Iran-backed group fired rockets as far as the occupied Palestinian West Bank, where hundreds of thousands of Israelis live in illegal settlements.
“We are deeply concerned and we are worried about dragging the whole region into a full-fledged regional war that will be disastrous for all countries, and no country will be out of the impact of this possible escalation,” Mr Abdelatty said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, said he was concerned about the large number of civilian casualties being reported by the Lebanese authorities, and the thousands of displaced people, amid the most intense exchange of fire across the Blue Line since last October.
“All involved parties in this conflict must honour their responsibilities to protect civilians and ensure the safety and security of all UN personnel and assets,” Mr Guterres's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric ,said in a statement.
The UN General Assembly's high-level debate opens on Tuesday for a crucial week of diplomacy that will be dominated by the conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and the risk of all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel.
US President Joe Biden will address other world leaders during the session's opening hour, followed by presentations from Iran, Qatar, Morocco and other nations. Other Middle Eastern countries will speak later in the week, with the UAE's address scheduled for Saturday.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
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Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
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Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
