US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has met a senior official from the Palestine Liberation Organisation at the White House.
During their meeting on Tuesday, Mr Sullivan and Hussein Al Sheikh, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the PLO, discussed preserving a path towards a two-state solution and the current flare-up of violence in the West Bank.
Mr Al Sheikh's visit to Washington came after President Joe Biden's trip to Israel and the West Bank in July, when he met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.
Mr Sullivan and Mr Al Sheikh discussed the “US interest in supporting peace and stability, preserving the path towards negotiations for two states, and advancing equal measures of security, prosperity and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike”, the National Security Council said in a statement.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time, with parts of the West Bank seeing daily clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in an escalation that began in March.
Mr Sullivan “stressed the need to take steps to de-escalate tension in the West Bank by countering terrorism and incitement, noted the importance of all parties refraining from unilateral actions that threaten stability, and emphasised the need to strengthen Palestinian institutions, including reinforcing commitment to non-violence”, the statement said.
While in Washington, Mr Al Sheikh also met Wendy Sherman, the deputy secretary of state.
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The two discussed their commitment to a two-state solution along pre-1967 lines, “with mutually agreed land swaps and joint efforts to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people”, the State Department said.
“They also discussed current tension in the West Bank and the urgent need to improve the security environment,” it added.
“[Ms Sherman] called on all parties to restore calm and desist from unilateral actions.”
During the recent UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid both said they supported a two-state solution.
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
