Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. EPA
Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. EPA
Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. EPA
Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. EPA

Seven Palestinians dead after Israeli raids on West Bank


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Seven Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, official Palestinian media said.

Israel carried out overnight raids on two refugee camps in the West Bank city of Nablus, as well as a drone strike on a vehicle that killed four in Tulkarm refugee camp.

Israeli troops prevented ambulances from reaching the site of the Tulkarm strike, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.

Eyad Jarrar, secretary general of the Fatah party in Tulkarm, said the four were not militants, and accused Israel of collective punishment to “pressure people in the camps to abandon the resistance”.

“They are destroying roads, the sewage system, shops, public areas in the camp and the city,” he added.

Mr Jarrar said the raids are a sign that Israel wants “escalation” in the West Bank.

Three people were also killed in a drone strike on a vehicle near the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, Palestinian state news agency Wafa reported

Ahmad Jibril, head of the ambulance department at the Palestinian Red Crescent, told The National Israeli troops had “towed away” the vehicle, with bodies inside.

The Red Crescent received one body, which was impossible to identify after the drone strike, Mr Jibril said. “The Israelis seem to have forgotten about that body, and had left it behind.”

The Israeli military said it had “eliminated” one person, identified as the leader of Al Aqsa Brigades militant group in Nablus, accused by Israel of several attacks.

The fighting comes as the Institute for the Study of War suggested it was likely that Palestinian militants are returning to northern areas of Gaza.

Israeli security officials have said in recent days that they are transitioning to a “less intense phase” of fighting in northern Gaza. However, air strikes have continued in the enclave.

Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during a raid on Tulkarm, West Bank, on Wednesday. EPA
Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during a raid on Tulkarm, West Bank, on Wednesday. EPA

Israeli troops detained at least 84 people in the West Bank on Wednesday, Wafa reported, including at least 40 workers from Gaza, a 16 year-old in Ramallah, and an injured man in Jericho.

In Gaza, communication cuts continued for a fifth day as the death toll rose to more than 24,400 people, with more than 61,500 injured, the enclave's Hamas-run Health Ministry said.

UN human rights agency Ocha said this was the seventh round of communications cuts in the territory since the war began on October 7, after Hamas killed about 1,200 people in a surprise attack on southern Israel.

At least 163 Gazans were killed and 350 injured in Israeli shelling on Tuesday night, the Health Ministry said.

Thousands more remain under rubble as emergency services face difficulties in reaching them due to blocked or destroyed roads.

Qatar said on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas to deliver medicine and aid to civilians in Gaza in exchange for medicine for Israeli hostages in the enclave.

The agreement was brokered in co-operation with France, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The medicine and aid was set to be sent to the Egyptian city of Al Arish by two Qatari military planes on Wednesday.

From there, it is to be delivered to the Gaza Strip, Foreign Ministry spokesman Dr Majed Al Ansari said.

MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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Result

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

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Updated: January 17, 2024, 12:57 PM