Major wildfires have broken out in Israel and the occupied West Bank, prompting authorities to call for international help and mobilise the military to combat the blazes.
Drivers were forced to abandon their cars on the motorway and ceremonies for Israel’s Independence Day were cancelled as flames tore across an area connecting Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some people were seen escaping on the back of a tow truck as flames lapped the side of the road.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the fires could "easily" reach the outskirts of Jerusalem or even the city itself.
Israel’s fire service said the fires were concentrated in five hotspots: Canada Park, Latrun, Latrun Interchange, Mesilat Zion and Neve Shalom.
The ambulance service said 12 people were injured in the fires, some with burns but most suffering from smoke inhalation.
The fires were blamed on high winds and hot weather, although police arrested a man who was allegedly trying to set fire to a field south of Jerusalem. Police said the suspect was a man in his 50s from Umm Taba in East Jerusalem who was being questioned after he was found to be carrying "a lighter, cotton wool, and additional flammable materials".
The fire services said a dozen planes were in the air and more than 100 teams were on the ground to fight the blazes. Mr Netanyahu's office said he was holding situational assessments with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and senior emergency officials.
Italy and Greece said they were sending assistance to fight the fires.
Three Canadair firefighting aircraft will arrive in Israel from Italy and Croatia as soon as possible, the Prime Minister's Office said after a meeting of the National Security Council.
The foreign minister's office said Israel had also asked Cyprus for help.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, offered to help the firefighting effort, as has happened in previous instances. Many of the affected areas border Palestinian territory, where an Israeli military presence and a lack of resources could hamper an emergency response.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
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Martin Amis,
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Aquaman%20and%20the%20Lost%20Kingdom
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE
First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC
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Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
