Israel carried out several strikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, after issuing eviction orders for five villages and warning of attacks across the region.
The Israeli army said it was attacking infrastructure being used by Hezbollah to rebuild. It ordered residents to stay at least 500 metres away from designated buildings in the villages of Taybeh, Tayr Debba, Zawtar Al Sharqiya, Aita Al Jabal and Kafr Dunin.
The warnings, issued by Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Avichay Adraee, were a grim reminder of the constant eviction orders issued last year during the Israel-Hezbollah war.
The attacks began just after 4pm local time, coinciding with intense drone activity over Beirut and the start of Lebanese army commander Gen Rodolphe Haykal's monthly briefing to the Cabinet on the army's progress on disarming Hezbollah.
There were no immediate reports of any deaths, but one was injured in Tayr Debba. Earlier in the day, Israeli air strikes on a village near Taybeh killed one person and injured eight.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun slammed Israel’s actions as a “crime not only according to the provisions of international humanitarian law ... but it is also a heinous political crime".
"Every time Lebanon expresses its openness to a peaceful negotiation approach to resolve the outstanding issues with Israel, it intensifies its aggression," he said.
“Nearly a year has passed since the ceasefire entered into effect, and during that period, Israel has spared no effort to demonstrate its rejection of any negotiated settlement between the two countries… Your message has been received”.
Earlier in the day Hezbollah in a lengthy statement had underlined its "legitimate right to defend ourselves against an enemy that imposes war on our country and does not cease its attacks".
Earlier, Hezbollah had warned Lebanon's leaders against entering into negotiations with Israel “under any circumstances”, saying that to do so “poses existential risks” to the country.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has recently called for indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve a host of issues, including the withdrawal of troops from Lebanese territory and an end to its attacks on the country.
Israel has kept its troops inside Lebanese territory near the southern border and has carried out daily attacks on southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement in November last year that ended more than a year of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
While Israeli attacks have targeted inactive Hezbollah fighters, they have also killed civilians.
Negotiations “would only bring further gains to the 'Israeli' enemy, which always takes and never honours its obligations, giving nothing in return”, Hezbollah said in an open letter to Mr Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “With this ferocious enemy, supported by American tyranny, no manoeuvre or pretence can succeed,” the letter added.
Lebanon's focus should be on insisting that Israel end its hostilities and abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement and should not “submit to extortion or to enter political negotiations with the Zionist entity under any circumstances”, Hezbollah said.
“Such a course serves no national interest and poses existential risks that threaten Lebanon’s very sovereignty and survival.”
Hezbollah once again criticised the government's “hasty decision” to disarm the group despite Israel's aggression and warned such a decision “can ever be accepted or imposed”.
It repeated its stance that a conversation over its weapons “can’t be discussed in response to foreign pressure or 'Israeli' blackmail”.
Israel warned on Sunday that it would intensify its attacks against Hezbollah, with Defence Minister Israel Katz claiming that the group was “playing with fire, and the President of Lebanon is dragging his feet”.
Mr Aoun said last week that Israel was responding to his offer to negotiate by intensifying its air strikes.
The Lebanese army is expected to finish dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure south of the Litani River by the end of the year. The ceasefire deal states that Hezbollah should withdraw to north of the Litani River and that Israeli troops should leave Lebanese territory.
Honeymoonish
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
3%20Body%20Problem
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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
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Zed Books
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
AL%20BOOM
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The%20Killer
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The End of Loneliness
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Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
NEW ARRIVALS
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) - £45.9m
Bernardo Silva (Monaco) - £45m
Ederson Moraes (Benfica) - £36m
Danilo (Real Madrid) - £27m
Douglas Luiz (Vasco de Gama) - £10.8m
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
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
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
