Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Israel will begin to enact four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza on a daily basis starting on Thursday, the White House said, calling them “significant first steps” in the war, now in its second month.
The pauses will be announced three hours beforehand, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
“We've been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas over the duration of the pause and that this process is starting today,” he told journalists on a call.
“We think these are significant first steps and obviously we want to see them continued for as long as they are needed.”
Mr Kirby also said the Israelis would open a second humanitarian corridor along the main coastal road in Gaza to allow people to flee to the southern part of the territory.
The development follows US discussions in recent days with Israeli counterparts, including the latest call that President Joe Biden held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
The pauses will allow the movement of humanitarian assistance to those in need, get people out of harm's way and create a way to bring hostages out, Mr Kirby said.
He added that fewer than 10 Americans are believed to be among the 239 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
The US still does not endorse a ceasefire, arguing it would allow Hamas time to regroup.
Mr Kirby added that a ceasefire would “legitimise” the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,400 people.
Israel responded to the attack by declaring war on Hamas and bombarding the coastal enclave with strikes by air, land and sea.
At least 10,800 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and the enclave's 2.3 million residents have been facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel.
The US maintains that Israel has a right to defend itself and has pledged more military aid to help Israel eradicate Hamas.
But the high death toll and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have raised concerns about breaches in international law and drawn questions about the proportionality of Israel's response.
Mr Kirby said the US wants to see at least 150 lorries carrying aid enter the Gaza Strip each day. He said 106 lorries had made it through on Wednesday.
“We are aware that there will be difficulties and we all need to be prepared for the fact that there's going to be days where we don't make that goal,” he said.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
Teaching in coronavirus times
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The five pillars of Islam
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
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