Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli air strikes on Gaza killed dozens of Palestinians across the enclave on Wednesday, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
At least 14 people, most of them children and women, were killed in a strike on a UN school sheltering displaced people in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, medical sources said. Several others were injured in the attack that hit Al Jaouni school, according to Wafa.
The Hamas government media office said about 5,000 displaced people were sheltering at the school, which used to be run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, when it was hit on Wednesday.
The Israeli military claimed it had conducted a “precise strike” on a Hamas command and control centre inside the compound.
Israel has regularly bombed schools, claiming the buildings are being used by Hamas militants. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties from its strikes, saying fighters base themselves and operate among civilians.
More than 90 per cent of Gaza’s school buildings have been severely or partially damaged in strikes and more than half the schools housing displaced people have been hit, according to a survey in July by the Education Cluster, a collection of aid groups led by Unicef and Save the Children.
In July, 16 people were killed by an Israeli attack on the same school. The following month, Al Tabaeen school in Gaza city was bombed, killing at least 100 displaced people.
Also in Nuseirat, four people were killed and 11 wounded in an attack on a house.
Thirteen people were also killed in a strike on a house in Khan Younis, with several wounded taken to the European Hospital, while Apache helicopters reportedly fired at family homes across the southern city.
Nearby, a fisherman was killed off the coast of Al Mawasi, an Israeli army designated safe zone where at least 40 people were killed in a Tuesday morning air strike and rescuers had to dig through nine-metre craters blasted into the sandy tent encampment.
Nine people were killed at Jabalia refugee camp, including three women and two children, Wafa reported.
Attacks were also reported in Gaza city and Rafah, with “heavy fire” reported in Gaza city's Al Sabra and Al Zeitoun neighbourhoods.
At least four were killed and 15 injured when Israeli planes struck a house in Al Mawasi, Wafa reported.
The continuing strikes come as UN teams in northern Gaza are finishing a polio vaccination campaign for an estimated 640,000 children aged under 10 across the enclave.
While “pauses” in fighting have been implemented since the campaign began on September 1, they only apply to specific areas hosting medical centres used by the vaccination teams.
UN teams involved in the campaign have also been detained and fired at by Israeli troops, prompting anger from UN officials. They are scheduled to administer a second dose of the vaccine to children after about four weeks.
More than 41,000 Palestinians have now been confirmed killed across Gaza since the war began almost a year ago. Another 94,925 people were wounded, and about 10,000 are missing, according to the latest figures from the enclave's health ministry.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Wednesday that an army helicopter had crashed while landing in Rafah overnight, killing two soldiers and injuring seven.
The army said the helicopter was on a mission to evacuate an injured soldier to a hospital for medical treatment.
“An initial inquiry … indicates that the crash was not caused by enemy fire. The cause of the crash is still under investigation,” it said.
The latest deaths bring the Israeli military's losses in the Gaza war to 344.
Military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday that Israel had defeated the last Hamas battalion in Rafah.
West Bank violence
Five people were killed on Wednesday morning in an air strike on the occupied West Bank city of Tubas.
The strike hit a group of people near the city's Al Tawhid mosque, Wafa reported, with Israeli soldiers preventing ambulances from reaching the wounded.
A “large-scale” attack was reported on the city overnight as soldiers imposed a curfew on the area, closed roads into the city, and helicopters and reconnaissance planes flew overhead.
Troops also stormed the Tubas Turkish Governmental Hospital and began inspecting ambulances, Wafa added.
A major raid was also carried out in the Tulkarm area, the site of a recent nine-day army operation which displaced residents and destroyed large swathes of the city and its refugee camp.
Hospitals in the city were also raided on Wednesday, according to Wafa.
About 40 people were killed in the recent raids on Tulkarm and Jenin, a West Bank city that was regularly raided by the Israeli army even before the Gaza war began.
While both cities are home to Palestinian militant factions, including members of Hamas, civilians are also often killed in the raids.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with Israeli troops conducting almost daily raids, killing hundreds, arresting thousands and regularly engaging in shoot-outs with Palestinian militants.
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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
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England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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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.
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
More on animal trafficking
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
