Two dead in Israeli strike on Catholic church in Gaza as Pope 'deeply saddened'
Several injured as Israeli strike hits Catholic church in Gaza city
More than 10,000 Palestinians still need medical evacuation
At least 58,479 Palestinians killed and 139,355 wounded since Gaza war began
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Plant-based foods were all the rage in the ancient eastern Gulf, researchers reveal
Diets thousands of years ago were more varied than the archaeological record suggests, with new research finding people consumed numerous plant-based foods. Chemical analysis of pottery from south-east Arabia in the Bronze Age used cutting-edge techniques to cast new light on an ancient peoples previously thought to have had a diet based almost entirely on meat and dairy. Investigations had found animal-based products on such pottery, leading to the previous conclusion about diet, but a new inquiry has changed that perspective after it found evidence of plant-based products. In the study published in PLOS One, researchers analysed the lipid fat, oil and wax content of 179 pottery items from eight inland and coastal sites in the UAE and Oman. Among these were Hili 8 and Hili North Tomb A, part of a complex of Bronze Age sites in Al Ain. What does the study show? The first author of the new study, Dr Akshyeta Suryanarayan of the University of Cambridge, said one the most widely accepted components of Middle East culture 4,000 years ago was the growth of oasis agriculture and more sedentary lifestyles. 'Lipid residue analysis of early locally made pottery consistently shows fats derived from animal-based products, such as the meat of goats, sheep, cattle or wild deer and camels – and dairy products,' she told The National. 'This indicates that animal husbandry and pastoral practices formed a major part of everyday subsistence, even while agriculture was being adopted in the region.' The study indicates that the consumption of animal products was far from the full story, however, as it suggests communities relied on a wide range of plants, too. Plant-derived residues were found in fewer vessels but their presence is significant, according to Dr Suryanarayan. 'Due to their lower lipid content and the inherent difficulty in detecting such compounds using current analytical techniques, the recovery of plant markers – alongside those from cereals and date palm products – suggests a broader spectrum of plant use than previously assumed,' she said. 'This hints at more varied and complex dietary practices than are typically visible in the archaeological record.' Changing perspectives In the paper, the researchers suggested their lipid analysis indicates Bronze Age communities in the region were using types of plants that did not show up in the 'macrobotanical record', meaning they left no visible trace. As a result, the work highlights the use of a wider range of plants than archaeologists would otherwise detect. 'It is plausible that the gathering of fruits, seeds, shoots, leaves and tubers from numerous wild species along with cereal consumption would have been a part of food practices,' the researchers wrote. Previous work has shown that cereals, legumes and date palms were consumed in Middle Eastern settlements in the early Bronze Age. Fats from cereals are rarely preserved and the researchers said they could not be confident of either their presence or absence from the vessels looked at in the current study. The researchers said it was difficult to know if the pottery vessels were used as containers for substances traded with other societies, but their work does suggest the pottery may have been reused over extended periods. Dr Suryanarayan said the study reaffirmed that pottery vessels 'were fundamentally culinary tools and containers' used to store, transport, alter and prolong the life of perishable produce. She added that archaeologists had been analysing lipid residues since the 1990s but this approach became more widely used in the past decade. 'Recent methodological advancements have significantly enhanced the ability to extract and identify highly degraded biomolecules from archaeological ceramics,' she said. 'These innovations now permit the successful analysis of residues even in regions with poor organic preservation due to harsh environmental conditions.' Pottery production is first documented in the UAE and Oman from the early third millennium BCE. The latest study looked at locally made and imported pottery, including fine red Omani vessels and black-slipped jars – tall, pear-shaped vessels with a black coating – from the Indus Civilisation. Titled Identifying pastoral and plant products in local and imported pottery in Early Bronze Age south-eastern Arabia, the paper was published last month and was co-written by researchers in the UAE, Oman, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France and Poland. Thanks to funding from the Zayed National Museum, the research will continue, with the next phase set to look at material on pottery from coastal sites.
Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
UAE to introduce sugar tax for beverages from 2026
The UAE will introduce a new tiered sugar tax from 2026 as it looks to promote public health and reduce consumption of sugary drinks. The UAE Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced a major revision to the excise tax framework on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), introducing a new sugar-based tiered tax system that will take effect in early 2026. Unlike the current flat-rate model, the new system will link the tax per litre of beverage directly to its sugar content per 100ml—meaning the higher the sugar concentration, the higher the tax. UAE sugar tax This reform aligns with the UAE's national health strategy to reduce sugar consumption, combat lifestyle-related diseases, and promote healthier dietary habits among consumers. The amendment reflects a shift toward data-driven policy that incentivises manufacturers to reduce sugar levels in their products and empowers consumers to make more informed choices. It also supports regional efforts to harmonise tax policy across the Gulf and reinforces the strategic use of taxation as a tool to drive sustainable development. Developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the new model is part of a long-term strategy to improve public health outcomes through fiscal legislation. Businesses—including importers, suppliers, and manufacturers—will have sufficient time to adapt, with comprehensive awareness campaigns and technical guidance set to launch ahead of the 2026 rollout. Further details, including implementing legislation and compliance requirements, will be released in the coming months.
Middle East Eye
6 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Gaza doctor Abu Safiya given 'two spoonfuls of rice a day' in Israeli jail
A lawyer representing Palestinian Dr Hussam Abu Safiya has raised concerns over his deteriorating health and routine torture in Israeli detention, where inmates are given only two spoonfuls of rice a day. In an interview with Arab48, publiched Thursday, lawyer Gheed Kassem said that the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, located north of the Gaza Strip, had faced severe physical assault that resulted in bruising to his head, neck, rib cage, and back. When Dr Abu Safiya requested medical assistance for complications stemming from the beatings, including an irregular heartbeat, his request was denied. Medical neglect and abuse in Israeli-run prisons have been well-documented, with such practices reportedly intensifying since the events of 7 October 2023. In early May, the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission said that sick Palestinian detainees faced "deliberate and systematic medical neglect," alongside hunger and torture negatively affecting their health conditions. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The statement came after the death of 60-year-old prisoner Mohyee al-Din Fahmi Najem, who suffered from chronic illnesses and was denied proper medical treatment during his detention. Abu Safya, who remains in solitary confinement at the Ofer military prison - which houses 450 detainees from the Gaza Strip - weighs no more than 60 kilograms, according to his lawyer. She said that since his detention in late December, the senior paediatrician and neonatologist had lost 40 kilograms, describing his body as "emaciated." Additionally, Dr Abu Safiya is held in an underground cell that is completely isolated and receives no natural light. "He knows nothing about the outside world, and he is still wearing winter clothes," Kassem explained. "Prisoners inside Ofer prison endure incredibly harsh and catastrophic conditions," she added. The lawyer described how Palestinians imprisoned there are allowed only two spoonfuls of rice a day, while both sugar and salt are completely banned "to prevent any rise in the happiness hormone, even a small one, from eating sugar". "This is in addition to the frequent cell raids, the torture, and the constant searches that prisoners are subjected to." The most recent case of torture and medical neglect in Israeli detention involves the death of 53-year-old Samir al-Rifai from Jenin. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission, Rifai died seven days after his arrest, raising the death toll of Palestinian prisoners who have died under Israeli detention since the beginning of the war on Gaza to 74. The father of five had reportedly suffered from heart issues and needed intensive medical care. Sources suggest that his death resulted from ill-treatment and the severe conditions in prison, though no official reports have been released. Lack of rights Abu Safiya has been categorised as an "unlawful combatant" by Israeli authorities, despite him being a civilian doctor. This classification means there is no formal indictment against him. Iron bars, electric shocks, dogs and cigarette burns: How Palestinians are tortured in Israeli detention Read More » "The designation of an unlawful combatant renders a prisoner without rights," Kassem said. "Israeli law strips those with this designation of their natural human rights inside prisons." The Kassem added that prison authorities also create "successive obstacles for lawyers," with each visit needing to be scheduled four months in advance. Even then, it could be cancelled. Additionally, legal representatives are often left waiting for long stretches of time, and when their clients are finally brought in for the visit, they are often assaulted on the way as they are crawling on the ground in handcuffs. "The interview is conducted under a microscope, under the eyes and ears of the jailers. If the jailers feel that the visit has boosted the prisoner's morale, they assault him in revenge," she said. Detainees are also subjected to constant psychological torture, Kassem added, including being exposed to graphic images and depressing news as well as being told false information about the death of loved ones. "The first question every prisoner asks me is about their families and whether they are still alive," she said.
