Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned Israel on Thursday that any “large-scale, forcible transfer” of civilians out of conflict-racked northern Gaza could constitute a war crime, unless there were “imperative military grounds” for doing so.
Israel's eviction orders "appear designed to cut off north Gaza completely from the rest of the territory", Volker Turk told reporters in New York.
The Israeli army has intensified operations over the past 10 days in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are trapped amid the fighting. It has become increasingly difficult to deliver humanitarian aid to the area.
Mr Turk called on Israel to immediately enable a massive delivery of humanitarian aid, which is needed across all parts of Gaza. He also said hunger levels are set to double in the coming months, increasing the risk of famine in the enclave.
The UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global food security monitor, said on Thursday that about 345,000 Gazans are facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger as aid deliveries continue to decline amid the conflict.
“These findings are beyond terrifying. The world cannot let this happen,” Mr Turk said, placing the responsibility primarily on Israeli authorities to change the situation.
The US warned on Tuesday that it might withhold some of the billions of dollars in military assistance it provides to Israel unless it improved aid delivery to the Gaza Strip within 30 days.
In May, International Criminal Court prosecutors asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, saying they suspected Israel used “the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare”.
Israeli authorities have denied the allegations, claiming they continue to enable food deliveries despite difficult conditions. They have filed two official challenges with the ICC disputing the legality of the prosecutor's request and the court's jurisdiction.
As humanitarian needs increase, Mr Turk urged the international community to intervene and prevent further escalation. “The world cannot stand by and allow this catastrophe to unfold,” he said.
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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