I write in reference to Robert Tollast's article Why did Israel accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah? (November 27): while the Israeli government may have differing views internally on its conflict with Hezbollah, the decision to agree to a ceasefire seems strategic in the context of managing tensions on its northern border and bringing stability to that part of the region. But both parties would need to constantly adhere to the terms of the ceasefire for the situation to remain calm.
A prolonged ceasefire might offer a window of opportunity for Lebanon to focus on rebuilding its politics and economy, and eventually restoring its cultural heritage. The broader hope for normality in the Middle East, including the restoration of vibrant cities such as Beirut, remains a complex but worthwhile goal.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
The onus is on Biden
I write in reference to the video showing US President Joe Biden announcing the ceasefire plan between Israel and Lebanon (November 27): the arms that your government has supplied have caused immense and indescribable suffering in the region, Mr President. Please stop supplying these weapons. Please stop the tremendous human suffering.
Suhail Musa Ismail Sait, Muscat, Oman
Ukraine's dangerous gamble
I write in reference to the article Russia fires 'experimental' weapon based on nuclear missile at Ukraine, Pentagon says (November 21): the US government's permission to Ukraine to fire long-distance missiles that it has supplied to Kyiv inside Russia is a serious mistake. For it appears to have escalated the war there.
Time will tell whether such a move will push the world towards a major conflagration, or even a Third World War.
Global leaders need to be discreet, particularly when there is so much at stake. Unfortunately, several western leaders are not assessing the situation objectively. Instead of criticising Russia all the time, they need to explore how to resolve the imbroglio. This is a time to think, not merely act.
Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai, India
Protests in Pakistan
I write in reference to the video showing Pakistani police clashing with thousands of Imran Khan supporters (November 25): many of us in Pakistan remain stuck between the protesters and the government. Our future looks uncertain. May Allah be with us.
Ilyas Abbas, Islamabad, Pakistan
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
The Sky Is Pink
Director:Â Shonali Bose
Cast:Â Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179Â (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Scoreline
Arsenal 3
Aubameyang (28'), Welbeck (38', 81')
Red cards: El Neny (90' 3)
Southampton 2
Long (17'), Austin (73')
Red cards: Stephens (90' 2)
Company%20Profile
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
​​​​​​​PenguinÂ
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.Â
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.Â
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.Â
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
Â
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
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
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
More from Janine di Giovanni
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
