Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met King Abdullah II of Jordan at Downing Street on Thursday as they discussed the conflict in Gaza.
The two men shook hands before heading inside where they posed for photographs in No 10’s White Room.
During the meeting, King Abdullah stressed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of civilians, the Jordanian palace said.
"His Majesty urges the international community to take action to stop the devastating war that has caused a humanitarian catastrophe for which generations in the region will pay the price," the statement read.
Mr Sunak told the Jordanian monarch that the UK ultimately wanted to see a sustainable ceasefire, which would require Hamas to no longer be in charge in Gaza and Israel’s security to be assured.
“The Prime Minister welcomed Jordan’s innovative efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza by land and air, and he set out the UK’s work to unblock aid access and alleviate the humanitarian crisis," Downing Street said.
"The UK was deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of any offensive on civilians sheltering in Rafah.
“They also discussed the importance of de-escalating tensions in the West Bank and bolstering the role of the Palestinian Authority to deliver security and prosperity.
"The Prime Minister highlighted steps the UK has taken to support stability in the West Bank, including sanctioning extremist settlers.”
Jordan's King Abdullah and Rishi Sunak discuss Gaza in London - video
King Abdullah spent about half an hour with Mr Sunak before leaving at 5pm.
It is their second meeting in London since the outbreak of the latest Gaza-Israel conflict more than five months ago.
King Abdullah has embarked on a diplomatic mission to western countries this month as he tries to gather support for an end of hostilities in Gaza.
On Friday, Jordan's monarch will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
He will also meet several senior EU leaders when he appears at the Munich Security conference at the weekend.
Jordan’s king called for a ceasefire as he appeared alongside US President Joe Biden in Washington this month.
“We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah," King Abdullah said at the White House on Monday. "It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe.
“We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end.”
More than 28,600 Palestinians have been killed, the Gazan Health Ministry says, and 80 per cent of the population are estimated to have fled their homes amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
More than two million Palestinian refugees already live in Jordan, many holding Jordanian citizenship.
The attacks in Gaza followed the events of October 7, when Hamas-led raids in southern Israel killed 1,200 people.
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
War 2
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Rating: 2/5
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Romain Gary
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)