Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The Middle East is being reshaped but it is unclear what will emerge next, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday as he highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the future of Palestine.
He told a high-level UN Security Council meeting that the region was “in a period of profound transformation – rife with uncertainty, but also possibility”.
“We have a responsibility to help make sure the people of the Middle East come out of this turbulent period with peace, dignity and a horizon of hope grounded in action,” Mr Guterres added.
He expressed particular concern about an “existential threat” to Gaza and the occupied West Bank. A total or partial annexation of the West Bank by Israel “would constitute a most serious violation of international law”, he warned. Mr Guterres pointed out that senior Israeli officials have discussed the possibility of formally annexing parts of the West Bank in the near future.
“Israeli administrative changes over the past two years have streamlined and accelerated the settlement approval process,” he said. “As a result, control over many aspects of planning and daily life in Area C of the West Bank has been transferred to Israeli civilian authorities.”
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler, said recently that 2025 would be “the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria”, referring to the name Israel uses for the West Bank.
The Palestine Authority’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Varsen Aghabekian, said the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were being breached by Israel and settlers “without any accountability”.
She said Israeli authorities aimed to undermine the two-state solution and weaken the official institutions of the state of Palestine.
Ms Aghabekian reaffirmed the importance of unity and national identity under the “umbrella of the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation]”, which she described as the “only legitimate” representative of the Palestinian people.
“It also requires everyone to commit to the PLO political programme and international commitments and to work under one regime, one law and a single armed force,” she said.
Israel has maintained a firm position against allowing either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the war, describing either scenario as “a reward” for the attacks on October 7, 2023.
US deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea welcomed the Palestinian leadership’s recent statements emphasising how Hamas is placing the interests of Tehran over that of the Palestinian people and thereby bringing about the destruction in Gaza.
"We have an historic opportunity to dramatically transform the Middle East. It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin," she said.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- 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
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
