Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Thousands of volunteers came together to lend a helping hand to war-hit Lebanon on Sunday at Dubai's second aid collection drive in as many weeks.
Community-spirited residents flocked to Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai to prepare about 10,000 relief packages for citizens whose lives have been turned upside down by persistent Israeli air strikes on their country.
Organisers said at least 2,000 people had arrived in the first two hours of the event – which ran from 9am until 1pm – to pack essentials such as hygiene kits, tinned food, milk, and blankets.
About 4,000 people were in attendance for the first aid event at the same venue last Saturday, held as part of the nationwide “UAE Stands With Lebanon campaign”, which was launched on October 8 under the directive of President Sheikh Mohamed.
More than 2,400 people have been killed in Lebanon as a result of the conflict since October 8, 2023, while more than one million citizens have been displaced.
People of all ages and nationalities – including Lebanese residents living in the Emirates – joined forces in the spirit of solidarity.
Separated from loved ones
“This is my only way of contributing,” said Abir Chamas, 49, from Byblos in northern Lebanon, who has attended every aid drive since the start of the campaign.
“I can’t be with my family in Lebanon, and this initiative allows me to feel connected and to help.”
She said her father's side of the family is still in Lebanon, spread across different areas.
“Despite being safe, they have been displaced. Some are now living in makeshift camps near a university, while others have moved in with relatives in different areas,” she said.
This current conflict has stirred painful memories for Ms Chamas, bringing back the trauma she experienced during previous wars in Lebanon.
“I left Lebanon in 1989, and I lived through the war back then. When this war started, all the painful and harsh memories came rushing back, but this time the difference is that with social media, the world can now see the reality of what’s happening in real-time,” she said.
She said her family had lost contact with her 27-year-old cousin. “For two days, we didn’t know where he was or if he was alive. It felt like an eternity,” she said.
“When we finally heard from him, it was like a huge weight had been lifted.”
She expressed gratitude to the UAE for offering support to Lebanon at a time of great need.
“This initiative is not just about the aid; its also about the so much love that I see – love for us as Lebanese people, and love for doing good.”
The campaign has also resonated with younger volunteers, like Miral Elbanna, 9, from Jordan, who asked her mother if she could take part.
“If I had the humanity to support the innocent people of Gaza before, then I must have the humanity to support the people of Lebanon, who have also done nothing wrong,” she said.
Yara Al Adra, 15, from Jordan, and her friend Maryam Ibrahim, from Egypt, also 15, said they felt it was their duty to help.
“It's the least we can do for them,” said Yara. “We have to help our people who are in need,” Maryam added.
Maryam’s mother, Shaymaa Zakzouk, 38, from Egypt, who works in the human resources department of a legal firm in Dubai, expressed her passion for volunteering.
“When my daughter Maryam told me about the campaign, I was eager to join. It’s a beautiful initiative, full of goodness and hope," she said.
“I really hope for peace and security to spread across the world so that children can always live in safety and well-being.”
Huge response
Abdulla Ahmed Al Shehhi, chief operating officer at Dubai Cares, hailed the overwhelming support of the public.
“After the first drive, where we saw participation from around 4,000 volunteers, we received directives from the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council to organise a second event here at Expo City Dubai,” he said.
“With such large crowds, we ensured smooth operations by offering preregistration and providing various time slots for volunteering, allowing people to come at their designated times without waiting for long.”
He encouraged people to continue to support the initiative by donating money via the Dubai Cares website. The public can also pledge on the Emirates Red Crescent website.
“This is an continuing effort, and we’ve also launched our own Dubai Cares campaign to ensure the support continues beyond this event,” said Mr Al Shehhi.
The success of the second Dubai drive came after about 3,000 volunteers participated in an aid collection event at Expo Centre Sharjah on Saturday.
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will hold a fifth aid packing event on Tuesday, from 3pm to 7pm.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Bawaal%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nitesh%20Tiwari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Varun%20Dhawan%2C%20Janhvi%20Kapoor%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
