The coffin and image of Turkish Lt. Ertug Guler are carried during the funeral of three Turkish military personnel killed in action at Ankara's Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP
The coffin and image of Turkish Lt. Ertug Guler are carried during the funeral of three Turkish military personnel killed in action at Ankara's Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP
The coffin and image of Turkish Lt. Ertug Guler are carried during the funeral of three Turkish military personnel killed in action at Ankara's Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP
The coffin and image of Turkish Lt. Ertug Guler are carried during the funeral of three Turkish military personnel killed in action at Ankara's Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021

Tension heightens in Turkey after hostage killings


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The deaths of 13 Turkish police, soldiers and – potentially – intelligence officers in northern Iraq have led Ankara to increase its efforts to link Kurdish militants to the domestic opposition.

But the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under fire for an operation against Kurdish militants, during which the bodies were found.

Fifty-one militants died in the operation, Turkish officials said.

The Turkish military announced on Sunday that it had found the bodies, which all had bullet wounds, in a cave complex during the battle against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the mountainous Gara region, near the Turkey-Iraq border.

The PKK said three days of air strikes and battles “resulted in the death of some of the [Turkish intelligence] members, soldiers and policemen we had captured".

Turkish officials initially tried to give gave the impression that the hostages were civilians, but 11 were later identified as police officers or soldiers captured by the PKK in Turkey between 2015 and 2016.

After the discovery of the bodies, Turkish officials took to social media to link the PKK to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), a left-wing party with roots in the Kurdish movement and third largest party in the Turkish Parliament.

The HDP has denied direct links to the PKK. It acted as an intermediary in peace talks between the government and the PKK from 2013 to 2015.

The coffins of three Turkish military members killed in Iraq are carried during funeral prayers at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP
The coffins of three Turkish military members killed in Iraq are carried during funeral prayers at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP

Dozens of its elected officials, including former MPs and mayors, are in prison on charges of supporting the PKK in what many consider to be politically motivated cases.

Meanwhile, two HDP MPs were put under investigation for “provocative” tweets about the operation.

The MPs had tweeted about their earlier contacts with the victims’ families to secure the hostages' release and accused the government of turning its back on efforts to free them.

The party said the release of captured police and soldiers had previously been achieved through “diplomatic efforts".

The Gara victims’ families had visited HDP politicians on at least four occasions.

“Unfortunately, the government avoided taking on its diplomatic and humanitarian responsibilities to save the lives and ensure the freedom of its own officials who [have been] lost in a military operation without any clear purpose or target,” the two said.

An MP from another opposition party said he had submitted six parliamentary questions on the fate of the hostages since 2016.

“Put aside the empty cries, give an account of why you haven’t done anything for years,” Murat Bakan said as he addressed the government in Parliament last week.

“We’ve been shouting with the families for years. Where were you?”

Ankara has long protested against US support for PKK-linked fighters in Syria who led the campaign against ISIS, and against what it sees as European and American tolerance of protests, fund-raising and media activities on behalf of the PKK.

A message of condolence from the US, in which it condemned the killings “if reports … are confirmed", was seized on as illustrating a lack of support for Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Human Rights Association said military authorities should be “held accountable for the possible consequences of carrying out a highly risky military operation”.

“All information and documents relating to the military operations must be shared with the authorised chief prosecutor’s office," association co-chair Ozturk Turkdogan said.

"The Grand National Assembly of Turkey must investigate this issue and bring it to light by setting up an investigation commission.”

The day before the deaths were announced, the father of one hostage, police Sgt Semih Ozbey, called for an end to the Gara operation.

“Of course, I'm against these operations,” Gursel Ozbey told the Mesopotamia news agency.

“If the state is operating where we have children. I want it stopped as soon as possible. I'll get hold of whoever hurts my child.”

Rainbow

Kesha

(Kemosabe)

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2

Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers

 

Opening fixtures

Thursday, December 5

6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles

7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers

7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles

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Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

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Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
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Race card

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m

7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m

9.50pm: Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m

9.25pm: Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m

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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

RESULTS

Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.

Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.

Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.

Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.

Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.

Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.

Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0

Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.

Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.

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Key facilities
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier

Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.

Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar

Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain

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Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures

Tuesday, October 29

Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE

Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman

Wednesday, October 30

Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one

Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two

Thursday, October 31

Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four

Friday, November 1

Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one

Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two

Saturday, November 2

Third-place playoff, 2.10pm

Final, 7.30pm

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Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law