Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Jordan airdropped aid to a hospital it funds in the besieged Gaza Strip on Monday, where 2.3 million people are running out of food and hospitals lack power and medicine.
Thousands of tonnes of aid are stuck on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border at Rafah and the nearby city of Arish, due to stringent Israeli inspection rules and discord between the Israeli government and Hamas over hostages in Gaza and ceasefire demands.
As the aid crisis continues and hunger spreads throughout the enclave, countries are starting to consider ways to bypass the land border. Alternatives include deliveries by ship – that might follow a local ceasefire in the Gaza port area – and airdrops such as that carried out by Jordan.
King Abdullah II praised Monday's operation – carried out by “fearless” air force personnel – in a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a photo of an aid pallet being loaded on to a Hercules plane.
Visible at the top of the pallet is a metal box known as a Jpad, or Joint Precision Airdrop System, a GPS-guided unit that can steer the relief package to its intended landing area. Without this, airdrops might be blown many kilometres off course, rendering them almost useless in a war situation where civilians cannot move safely.
Jpads also offer the advantage of allowing relief to be dropped from above 7,000 metres – out of range of anti-aircraft guns, machineguns and most stray projectiles from the fighting raging below, as well as of some portable anti-aircraft missiles.
By contrast, unguided airdrops need to be made from as low as 100 metres to ensure accuracy. Even then, they are aimed at a drop zone 1,000 metres long and 300 metres wide, whereas a Jpad-guided pallet can accurately hit a target area 100 metres across in good conditions.
Jordan’s successful mission has raised the prospect of an air bridge to Gaza. While there is precedent for such operations, experts say it would be only an extreme, last-resort measure.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a defence consultant and British Army veteran, called the Jordanian move “bold”. He said: “Air drops are very tricky if there is an air threat, but Israel pretty much dominates the skies and this actually might be a good way to get at least some aid in.
“Much better, in my opinion, to land huge amounts of aid on the beach."
Can an air bridge meet Gaza's needs?
In 1991, more than 800,000 Iraqi-Kurds fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime were stranded on mountains on the Iraq-Turkey border.
As deaths from disease and cold soared towards 1,000 a day, the US and UN mobilised a massive international aid airlift known as Operation Provide Comfort.
The effort was a success, with cargo planes dropping about 200 tonnes of aid per day to the beleaguered Kurds, and 7,000 tonnes over five weeks in the first phase of the mission.
Airdrops were used at first because the roads were inaccessible. As the aid operation was stepped up, helicopters and eventually lorries joined the effort.
Reports afterwards said much of the aid dropped had been blown off course to remote areas or had landed directly on those it was meant to help, especially as desperate people crowded into the drop zones.
Michael Knights, a defence analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said airdrops were a "very expensive, very risky and often inefficient" method.
“They are quite susceptible to wind-shear close to the ground and obviously pose a severe risk to people and buildings," he said. "They [can] easily crush a car and fall through one or more floors of lightly constructed buildings.
“You cannot build an air bridge of any consequence this way."
Jpads had yet to be invented at the time of Operation Provide Comfort and would have helped but there is still not enough supply of the devices for large-scale operations, according to Peter J Munson, who commanded a detachment of six KC-130 transport aircraft in Afghanistan.
Even with a large multinational effort, airdrops are less than ideal, he added.
“For C-130 drops, you're talking 26,000 pounds [11.7 tonnes] per aircraft, with a traditional drop [26 x 1000lb pallets]. If you work out the numbers, that will be a symbolic relief pipeline at best, even if you scale up to C-17 with allies,” he said.
Mr Munson warned with war likely to be raging across the small Gaza enclave for months to come, there could be considerable risk to slow-moving transport aircraft.
“The complexity of conducting aid drops at the scale required, with kinetic operations going on in such a small air space, to me seems insurmountable from a logistical and tactical point of view,” he said.
“Whatever the number of Jpads fielded, they'd quickly run out at the scale required, as well.”
He said Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza were also likely to have advanced shoulder-fired air defence missiles, known as Manpads, so even high-altitude drops would carry some risk.
Hamas is known to possess Strela 2 portable anti-aircraft missiles that could strike cargo planes up to 4,500 metres, meaning Jpads in short supply would be essential for safe drops.
A recent assessment by the World Food Programme underscored the scale of aid operation needed to meet Gaza's needs.
WFP spokesman Martin Rentsch said 1,000 tonnes of food would be enough for about 500,000 Gazans for one week, meaning more than 4,000 tonnes would be needed each week for the whole population. By comparison, Operation Provide Comfort’s first five weeks averaged 1,400 tonnes per week.
“It’s both an expensive and inefficient way of getting in humanitarian supplies but Monday’s operation serves Jordan’s broader political interests,” said Raphael Cohen, director of the Strategy and Doctrine Programme, Project Air Force at the Rand Corporation, a US defence think tank.
“Amman needs to be seen as trying to aid the Palestinians in Gaza, if only for domestic political reasons.
"The Jordanians couldn’t have done this without Israeli co-operation because Gaza air space is crowded and controlled by the Israeli air force and they would have needed to deconflict it prior to the operation.
“That implies to me that there are still good Jordanian-Israeli ties at least on the working level, despite the heated rhetoric.”
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15 (First Test)
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24 (Second Test)
July 8: New Zealand v Lions (Third Test) - kick-off 11.30am (UAE)
ENGLAND SQUAD
Team: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell
SHAITTAN
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bullet%20Train
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
If%20you%20go
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Salem Rashid, Mohammed Al Attas, Alhassan Saleh
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Yahya Nader, Ahmed Barman, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
SHALASH%20THE%20IRAQI
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