Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
On another urgent diplomatic mission to the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday met Arab partners to discuss their role in the reconstruction, governance and security in the Gaza Strip.
The talks were in expectation that Israel's assault will eliminate Hamas, which has run the territory since 2007.
After a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete on Saturday, Mr Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman.
He then travelled to Doha for talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim to prepare for an eventual end of hostilities.
In discussions with King Abdullah and Sheikh Tamim, Mr Blinken stressed the importance of preparing detailed plans for the post-conflict future of the Palestinian territory, which has been destroyed by Israeli bombardments.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr Blinken assured King Abdullah that Washington opposes the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the occupied West Bank.
"Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow. They cannot, they must not be pressed to leave Gaza," Mr Blinken said in Doha alongside Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
He also warned the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could "metastasise" and threaten security in the wider Middle East.
"This is a moment of profound tension in the region. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering," he told reporters.
On his fourth visit to the region in three months, Mr Blinken will also visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Egypt.
Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israel's actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning, saying fighting must end before such discussions can begin.
They have been demanding a ceasefire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to soar.
Israel has refused and the US has instead called for specified temporary “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid to get in and people to get to safety.
Mr Blinken’s visit comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful US push to prevent a regional war since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and as international criticism of Israel’s military operation increases.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
HOW TO WATCH
Facebook: TheNationalNews
Twitter: @thenationalnews
Instagram: @thenationalnews.com
TikTok: @thenationalnews
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kasabian%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EColumbia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
