Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
More than three weeks after Hamas launched a bloody assault on the south of Israel, Sderot – a city that suffered so much on that day – remains virtually deserted.
Pensioners, some of them Holocaust survivors, were killed as Hamas stormed into the city from Gaza. Rockets pummelled Sderot. A police station was overrun by gunmen, with dozens of officers and civilians inside killed.
About 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack. In Gaza, more than 8,000 Palestinians have died with thousands estimated to be trapped under rubble since Israel launched its offensive on the strip in retaliation.
A government official sitting in a bunker estimated that 90 per cent of residents have left their homes. They have either gone to stay with family and friends or in hotels around the country.
Their return date is still uncertain – it could be weeks, or months.
"This is our 9/11," the official said.
Visual reminders of the Hamas attack still abound. Some lampposts are dented or toppled, the result of cars smashing into them amid the rush to escape. Vehicles with their windows smashed remain abandoned. Police crime-scene tape flaps in the air.
The atmosphere in Sderot is eerie amid the sound of frequent explosions nearby.
Only small signs of life remain in the city, as most shops are shut.
An elderly woman trudges slowly through the streets pulling a shopping trolley. Another man calls on journalists to stand with Israel as his car speeds past.
The roads on the way to Sderot are busier than in previous weeks. Some civilian cars mingle with military vehicles and lorries carrying supplies for the Israeli forces massing around Gaza.
At a petrol station nearby, almost all the customers are military personnel.
These troops are part of a fresh ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. The government has vowed to eradicate Hamas but its heavy bombardment in highly populated areas has so far killed more than 8,000 Gazans, including about 3,000 children.
A short drive through the town brings you to higher ground where you can see the strip clearly. It is a terrible sight. The horizon is hazy with smoke but the unmistakable view of destroyed buildings can be seen all around, the obliterated Gaza city looming in the distance.
In recent days, Israel has been embarking on the next phase of the war, with tanks and soldiers entering the strip to start the long, complex and inevitably bloody campaign through Gaza's dense urban environment.
From this higher grounds a fighter jet and a drone are seen overhead.
A rattling sound can be heard. A security adviser with military experience suggests it is a helicopter firing missiles.
A single white shroud of smoke can be seen on the outskirts of Gaza, in contrast to many darker plumes.
Thuds from Israeli artillery are heard at least once every minute, often followed by corresponding bangs as the rounds hit. Some of the projectiles travel so far into the strip, their impact cannot be heard. Buildings, many with people inside, can absorb the thundering roar.
Internet and phone lines are severely limited in Gaza. For now, the media is relying heavily on images from vantage points such as these. They paint a devastating picture of destruction and the onslaught under way.
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 1 (Martinez 18' pen)
Juventus 2 (Dybala 4', Higuain 80')
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
How Beautiful this world is!
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
