Live updates: Follow the latest from Israel-Gaza
US congressional Republicans this week visited Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights in a show of anti-Iran sentiment amid warnings that Tehran is primed to attack Israel.
Senator Joni Ernst, co-chairwoman of the congressional Abraham Accords Caucus, led the delegation's visit in response to a strike there last month that killed 12 children as they played football.
Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the attack – which came as a shock to the mainly Druze community – and promised a “harsh response”.
Ms Ernst called on US President Joe Biden “to deny the IRGC’s ability to support and arm terrorists and provide Israel the resources it needs to decimate these terrorists once and for all”, referring to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Witnessing the impact of this brutality further shows that Iran-backed Hezbollah and Hamas’s terrorism truly show no bounds,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
“To them, civilians are not off-limits, and they make no exceptions for targeting children or the football fields where they play.”
Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights since the Gaza war began.
Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby appeared on Israeli TV on Tuesday, repeating that Washington believes Tehran remains poised to strike inside Israel.
The US has increased its force readiness throughout the region after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was leading the group's ceasefire negotiations at the time of his death. Tehran has blamed Israel for his death.
The delegation's visit to Majdal Shams came at a difficult moment for ceasefire negotiations in Qatar aimed at clinching a ceasefire and bringing the remaining Hamas-held hostages home.
The Biden administration has for weeks said talks are in their final stages, with no results.
Washington has continued to support Israel despite increasing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government.
Mr Netanyahu met the Republican delegation during their visit for talks, which the members of Congress said reaffirmed the US-Israeli partnership.
Ms Ernst was among another delegation of congressional leaders that was in the Middle East on October 7 when Hamas launched its deadly attack inside Israel.
The Republican from the US state of Iowa joined Democrat Richard Blumenthal in hosting Israeli hostage family members for Mr Netanyahu's controversial address to Congress last month.
Amid appeals from some of the hostage family members for Washington to put more pressure on Mr Netanyahu to agree to a deal with Hamas, Ms Ernst told The National that she “can only imagine the agony that those families are going through” but she would try to “encourage” rather than “pressure” him.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
FIXTURES
Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Muguruza's singles career in stats
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)
Wins / losses 293 / 149
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
Live: On beIN Sports HD
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
