World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres this week described the charity’s decision to resume operations in Gaza – less than a month after seven of their aid workers were killed there by Israeli forces – as “both the hardest and the simplest” to make.
Mr Andres’s poignant statement reflects both the personal bravery being shown by the charity’s Palestinian team and the dire nature of the humanitarian crisis afflicting the enclave’s more than two million people. WCK staff know they are literally taking their lives in their hands as they work to address the widespread hunger and manmade famine that stalks Gaza; according to the UN, more than 200 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7.
This determination to work with international partners, including the UAE, in saving innocent lives stands in stark contrast to reports on Wednesday that Israeli settlers attacked two Gaza-bound aid convoys coming from Jordan, an incident Amman “condemned in the strongest terms”. Israeli media reported that a right-wing organisation called Tzav 9 had organised a demonstration to block the convoys overnight on Tuesday.
This is not an isolated incident. Some members of the Israeli public have previously attempted to block aid reaching the enclave, including by staging a sit-in at the Nitzana crossing, where Gaza-bound aid enters Israel from Egypt, earlier this month. In February, videos emerged from the Kerem Shalom crossing of people camping out and dancing while they attempted to block aid from reaching Gaza, all under the watchful eye of the Israeli security forces.
The reasons given for obstructing life-saving supplies headed for Gaza – that there should be no aid deliveries until all the Israeli hostages are released – do not stand up to scrutiny. Gaza’s civilians were not responsible for the October 7 abductions, and blocking aid to malnourished non-combatants is an extension of the collective punishment that’s been meted out to Palestinians by the Israeli government for more than six months.
That such disruptive actions are allowed to repeatedly take place shows the impunity enjoyed by some of the Israeli right. The fact that the attack on the Jordanian convoys took place as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv suggests that those trying to obstruct aid to Gaza have little fear of any repercussions. One need not think too hard to imagine what kind of policing response would greet a public protest staged by Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The killing of the seven WCK workers focused world attention on the nature of the Israeli campaign in Gaza, and drew a sharp response from the US, after which Israel said it would open two new aid routes into northern Gaza. But as the Israel government came under pressure to rein in its military, so too must it restrain the vigilante element among its citizens.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
The struggle is on for active managers
David Einhorn closed out 2018 with his biggest annual loss ever for the 22-year-old Greenlight Capital.
The firm’s main hedge fund fell 9 per cent in December, extending this year’s decline to 34 percent, according to an investor update viewed by Bloomberg.
Greenlight posted some of the industry’s best returns in its early years, but has stumbled since losing more than 20 per cent in 2015.
Other value-investing managers have also struggled, as a decade of historically low interest rates and the rise of passive investing and quant trading pushed growth stocks past their inexpensive brethren. Three Bays Capital and SPO Partners & Co., which sought to make wagers on undervalued stocks, closed in 2018. Mr Einhorn has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the poor performance this year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing.
Greenlight, which posted gains only in May and October, underperformed both the broader market and its peers in 2018. The S&P 500 Index dropped 4.4 per cent, including dividends, while the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, an early indicator of industry performance, fell 7 per cent through December. 28.
At the start of the year, Greenlight managed $6.3 billion in assets, according to a regulatory filing. By May, the firm was down to $5.5bn.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
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Power: 134bhp
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
