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Two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured when the Israeli military fired at an observation tower in their compound in southern Lebanon on Thursday, UN officials said.
The peacekeepers did not suffer serious injuries, "but they remain in hospital," Unifil said in a statement.
Jean Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peacekeeping, warned the Security Council on Thursday that the safety and security of peacekeepers is now increasingly in “jeopardy”, adding the mission had decided to relocate 300 peacekeepers to larger bases temporarily for their safety.
Early on Thursday, an Israeli tank fired towards the tower in Naqoura, at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force In Lebanon, hitting it directly and causing the peacekeepers to fall, a Unifil representative said.
Israel said its military "opened fire in the area" of the Unifil base after telling UN forces to seek shelter, insisting that Hezbollah fighters were operating near by.
In pictures - a tour with Unifil in Lebanon before Israel's invasion
Mr Lacroix said Unifil operational activities have virtually come to a halt since September 23 and peacekeepers have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter.
“This severe impediment to the mission’s freedom of movement within the area of operations has limited the mission’s monitoring and reporting ability,” he said.
The UN peacekeeping chief urged the warring parties to return immediately to a cessation of hostilities and to take real action towards full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.
“We stand ready to support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution. Unifil is mandated to support the implementation of resolution 1701, but we must insist that it is for the parties themselves to implement the provisions of this resolution,” he added.
Resolution 1701, which brought a ceasefire to the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, included provisions for a 30km buffer zone between Israel and southern Lebanon, with no armed forces other than the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers.
Last week, Unifil reported that the Israeli military asked peacekeepers to “relocate” from certain positions before Israel's ground operations in Lebanon. The peacekeeping mission rejected the request.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at the time that peacekeepers would remain wherever the “UN flag continues to fly”.
The force's 50 contributing countries had agreed on Thursday to keep more than 10,400 peacekeepers between the Litani River in the north and the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel known as the Blue Line in the south.
France, which requested the Security Council meeting on Lebanon, condemned all attacks on Unifil security.
“An explanation about the fire will be required,” said Nicolas de Riviere, France's ambassador to the UN. He called on the warring parties to abide by their obligations and allow Unifil to continue implementing its mandate, “including by fully respecting its freedom of movement".
Unifil has repeatedly urged Hezbollah and Israel to refrain from action that puts its 10,400 peacekeepers at risk amid the escalating conflict, warning that any deliberate attack on its personnel would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701.
US envoy Robert Wood accused Hezbollah of undermining the security of Israel and Lebanon, citing long-standing financial and material backing from Iran.
“Hezbollah built up its forces in plain sight, in blatant disregard of resolutions 1559 and 1701,” said Mr Wood, adding that the group poses an indirect threat to Lebanon's sovereignty and political independence.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said on X that Washington was "deeply concerned" by the incidents and said it was "critical" Israel doesn't threaten the safety of peacekeepers.
France is planning to host an international conference on October 24 aimed at rallying humanitarian aid for Lebanon and to identify ways of supporting its institutions, particularly the state's armed forces.
“What we need to do is to make sure that the Lebanese armed forces are properly equipped and trained to do the job,” Mr de Riviere told reporters. “There is a question of political will from the Lebanese authorities as well, but we need to provide enough support to help the Lebanese army to be deployed to the south.”
He also said the 21-day ceasefire proposed by the US and France on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly is “still on the table and the parties must seize it”.
Mr Wood echoed the french ambassador's remarks, stating that the "solution to this crisis is not a weaker Lebanon, it's a strong and truly sovereign Lebanon protected by a legitimate security force embodied in the Lebanese Armed Forces."
Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon called for the "disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias."
"We are fulfilling our obligations to ensure this, and the council must support us in our efforts," he said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company%20profile
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 1
Mata 11'
Chelsea 1
Alonso 43'
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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SPECS
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
