Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The Gaza Strip's only power plant ran out of fuel on Wednesday, two days after Israel announced a "total siege" in the blockaded Palestinian enclave, leaving residents reliant on generators that account for less than a quarter of the electricity produced in the territory.
Gaza's Energy and Natural Resources Authority Dhafer Melhem said on Tuesday that the plant had only about 400,000 litres of fuel left - enough for one day. By Wednesday afternoon, Gaza had run out of power.
"Israel has threatened to bomb the plant if more fuel is brought in, including from Egypt," Mr Melhem said in comments to Palestinian state news agency Wafa.
Israel declared a "total blockade" of Gaza after the Hamas group that rules the territory launched thousands of rockets and sent hundreds of fighters into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people, including around 170 soldiers. Israel declared war the following day, mobilising around 300,000 soldiers within 48 hours of the attack.
It cut off the 120 megawatts of electricity it supplies to Gaza, as well as water, leaving the enclave dependent on one oil-fired plant, that was low on fuel.
Soon after, Gaza's electricity distribution company sounded the alarm about its dwindling fuel supplies that would lead to a powerpower cut across the strip, causing widespread repercussions after Israel announced a total siege of the already blockaded enclave on Monday.
The power company said it has been "impossible" to supply electricity to some areas due to extensive damage to electricity networks.
On Tuesday, head of Gaza's Energy and Natural Resources Authority Dhafer Melhem said he expected the only power plant in Gaza to stop working on Thursday.
That means the Gaza strip can provide only 80 megawatts of energy, of which 65 would come from the plant and the remainder from generators.
The power plant has been bombed on at least three occasions, including in 2006, 2008 and 2014.
Medical efforts
Power cuts are already having an impact on medical and rescue efforts.
Palestinian Red Crescent Society spokeswoman Nibal Farsakh said paramedics were having trouble looking for people under the rubble, especially at night.
"This puts them at great risk, too, because of the complete blackout."
Additionally, with the closure of all crossings into Israel, the wounded are unable to receive the treatment they need, he said, as the death toll climbs to 950 people and the number of injured surpasses 5,000 on the fifth day of consecutive fighting between Hamas and Israel.
"There are no more empty beds" across hospitals, Gaza's ministry of health said on Wednesday, as the Gaza Strip also runs out of medicine and medical supplies.
Some hospitals still have solar systems or generators but they need fuel to keep them running which is expected to run out at any moment, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday.
Food supplies
"The situation right now is incredibly devastating and we are really alarmed by what's happening because food, electricity and fuel are about to run out in Gaza," said WFP Palestine communications officer Alia Zaki, from the West Bank.
Speaking to The National, the World Food Programme said its supplies are expected to last for one week.
The WFP has a network of more than 300 shops, where people can go to redeem their cash assistance and buy food items.
"Half the shops reported that within a week they'll completely run out of food stocks. And with the electricity running out, the food they do have runs the risks of spoiling," she said.
The WFP and other humanitarian organisations have called for a humanitarian corridor to be set up immediately .
"We have already made plans to reroute all the food stocks that we're supposed to receive to come through Egypt, so that we can establish a corridor from Egypt to Gaza, because there's no way else in," Ms Zaki said.
"All the other ways that we used to use [to bring in assistance] are completely blocked."
Economic and Social Rights researcher with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Fadhel Al Muzaini has become also displaced.
He returned to his home in Al Rimal, where he found the building he used to live in had "turned into rubble".
Mr Al Muzaini warned of further crises.
"If the fuel runs out, so does the ability for water treatment plants to operate.
"This means untreated water could be transferred back on to the streets or the sea, leaving room for waterborne diseases to spread."
Humanitarian corridors
Egypt said it is negotiating the creation of safe corridors in the Gaza Strip to send humanitarian aid to the enclave, Egyptian officials said.
The WFP said it is in talks with "all stakeholders" about bringing in aid through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Already, Jordan and several Gulf Arab countries are preparing to send aid to Egypt for delivery to Gaza.
This comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition leader's Benny Gantz on Wednesday formed a unity government and a war cabinet to see Israel through the war with Hamas.
Mr Gantz had made the formation of the war cabinet conditional on the exclusion of several far right ministers in Mr Netanyahu's cabinet.
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
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Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
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First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
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Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
