Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Residents from evacuated towns in south Lebanon are cautiously returning to their homes on the second day of the unofficial fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been threatened by incidents on the Lebanon-Israel border.
Hamas and Israel agreed on a four-day temporary pause that came into effect on Friday. The Lebanese front was not included in the deal, but Hezbollah said it would adhere to the truce, provided that Israel also pauses attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country made no commitments regarding violence on its northern border, but Israel has not launched any major attacks since Friday.
However, several incidents have risked jeopardising the uneasy truce.
Early on Saturday morning, the Israeli army said it had downed a surface-to-air guided missile fired from Lebanon at a drone.
The Israeli army said it retaliated by targeting Hezbollah sites, while there were unconfirmed reports of missiles from the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system exploding in the air in the afternoon.
Despite the risk of the conflict reigniting in the area, many Lebanese people chose to return to their homes near the border on Saturday.
Residents told The National they had little faith in the truce holding, but wanted to seize the opportunity to pick up belongings, check on their homes and inspect any potential damage from missiles or air strikes.
The road to the southern border was the busiest it had been since the outbreak of the war on October 7.
Ayta Ash Shab, a few hundred metres from the border, has been the scene of intense fighting for almost six weeks.
For the first time, there were no reports of shelling in the border town, prompting villagers to start returning. Loud drones could still be heard, and the sky showed traces of what seemed to be jet streams.
“It's nothing to be afraid of,” said Imane Reda, a 39-year-old resident. “We are used to it. Can you imagine, it is our new reality now,” she added.
Ms Reda left to stay with relatives in Sour, with three children, when the Israeli army started bombing the outskirts of her village on October 9.
“I would have stayed, we are resilient, but it is for the kids, all of this, and the white phosphorus they are launching, it’s all disease for them,” she said, holding the hand of her 10-year-old.
Human rights groups and Lebanese officials have accused Israel of using white phosphorus against civilians, a highly toxic substance that can cause fires and inflict severe injuries.
Israel has denied using white phosphorus against civilians.
Ms Reda is one of about 40,000 people who fled the border violence which has killed at least 107 people, among them 15 civilians, AFP reported.
“It started without a warning; first, the outskirts, but then they started to bomb the village's centre,” she said, standing in the debris of her relative's house, which was badly damaged by an Israeli air strike that injured her nephew, Mohamed.
“He was cooking when the rocket hit, in the kitchen next to the living room,” said Mohamed's father.
“He got injured in cheekbone and eye. I told him not to come back but he did anyway … you know how young men are,” he said, adding he did not plan on spending the night in his village.
Ms Reda said this was proof that civilians, not only fighters, were a target. The Husseini, a religious edifice in the village centre, also suffered severe damage.
The smell of burning still hangs in the air, three days after the attack.
In Dhayra, another border town, residents told The National that 80 per cent of the village population had returned.
“There are the Red Cross and the press, it's safe again,” said one resident over the phone.
A couple of hours later, reports of missiles from the Israeli Iron Dome system exploding broke the fragile calm in the area.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
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Wallabies
Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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