Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The Palestine football team's historic win against Hong Kong at the Asian Cup gave Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza a 90-minute break from the cycle of violence and death in the besieged enclave.
People struggled to tune in because of internet cuts that became more frequent by the day four months into the war with Israel, but some managed to get a glimpse of their national team making it to the knockout stage in Doha, for the first time.
Asaad Al-Khateeb, 33, who is hosting other displaced families at his home in Rafah on the border with Egypt, told The National that he watched parts of the game with others on his phone despite not having a stable internet connection.
"We hope we can watch the next victory in a more peaceful atmosphere away from the sound of bombing and shelling," Mr Al-Khateeb said.
Amjad Murtaja, 42, was not as lucky.
The avid football fan, who was displaced from northern Gaza city to Khan Younis in the south, where he and his family are seeking shelter at a local college campus with Israeli tanks surrounding them, lamented not being able to watch the match.
"I feel happy that the Palestinian team improved themselves and brought pride to the name of our country," he told The National, hoping that he would be able to watch the next game.
More than 25,700 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli fire in Gaza and nearly two million people have been displaced since the war began on October 7 after the Hamas attacks.
Across Gaza, food and water supplies are running perilously low as a lack of fuel means communications and essential services such as water desalination are progressively failing, the United Nations said.
For Palestinian sports journalist Alaa Shammali, who was supposed to be in Qatar for the match but is trapped in Gaza, the national team's win sends a message to the world that the people of Palestine are still brimming with life despite the war. "The Palestinian team brings together men from around the country – including Gaza – who have family here in the strip. This pain brought focus to the players, and helped them get to the place they are in the tournament," he told The National.
In the stadium in Qatar, thousands of fans waved the Palestinian flag and chanted for their team as it marked its first win in any of its Asia Cup appearances.
Gaza-born footballer Mohammad Saleh burst into tears as the referee blew the final whistle and then collapsed on the pitch before standing up again to point to the number 110 written on his arm, marking the days since the beginning of Israel's war.
Speaking to Qatari media after the match, Saleh said he had lost family and friends in the war.
"I played this match for our people in Gaza and the souls of the martyrs," he said, adding that he wanted to show the world that Palestinians are a people who "love life and want to bring glory to their country".
He said he "shed tears after every goal", and hoped that his family was watching this historic achievement.
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
