Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Saudi Arabia has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at a meeting of a new “global alliance” to press for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The kingdom also announced a joint Arab-Islamic summit to discuss countering Israeli aggression. It will take place on November 11, a year after a combined summit of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Co-operation met in Riyadh on the same topic.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said nearly 90 “states and international organisations” took part in the two-day meeting in Riyadh of the International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which was unveiled last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“A genocide is happening with the goal of evicting the Palestinian people from their land, which Saudi Arabia rejects,” Prince Faisal said. "The situation in Gaza is tragic due to the Israeli blockade, and international condemnations are no longer enough in the face of the suffering of the Palestinian people."
He described the humanitarian situation as “catastrophic” and denounced the “complete blockade” of northern Gaza.
Saudi Arabia paused US-brokered talks on recognising Israel after the Gaza war broke out between Palestinian militants Hamas and Israel in October last year. In September, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said an “independent Palestinian state” was a condition for normalisation.
Prince Faisal also met the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini on the sidelines of the alliance meeting, Saudi Arabia's state news agency (SPA) said.
The officials discussed “developments in the Gaza Strip and humanitarian repercussions”, SPA reported. Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel's decision this week to ban UNRWA from operating in occupied Palestine.
The UN Security Council also expressed dismay at Israel's decision, calling on the country to “abide by its international obligations” and “respect the privileges and immunities” of the agency.
“No organisation can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance,” the Security Council said in a statement.
Conditions are continuing to worsen in Gaza and Lebanon. The Israeli army began an attack on the Lebanese city of Baalbek on Wednesday after issuing an eviction order for the city and surrounding villages, Baalbek's mayor said. The city was home to 80,000 people before Israel began its onslaught in September.
The unprecedented eviction notice on a whole city in the Bekaa Valley region near Beirut came as Naim Qassem made his first public statement since ascending to the leadership of Hezbollah following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in September.
“We will continue our war plan within the outlined political frameworks, we will remain on the path of war [with Israel],” he said. “We have many sacrifices ahead of us, but we are confident that victory will be ours.”
In Gaza, the city of Beit Lahia and Jabalia town and refugee camp have been all but destroyed by Israeli air strikes, according to the Wafa news agency.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- 600-seat auditorium
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Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
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- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Paatal Lok season two
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