Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
US President Joe Biden claimed on Wednesday that his Egyptian counterpart had promised to open the Rafah border crossing to allow an aid convoy from Egypt into Gaza.
Rafah is the only border crossing between Egypt and the besieged coastal enclave, where aid is urgently required for the 2.3 million Palestinians who have been under Israeli bombardment and total siege since the Israel-Gaza war broke out on October 7.
The crossing is controlled by Egypt, and is the only exit from Gaza not controlled by Israel.
Egyptian authorities have insisted the border is technically open, despite no Gazans being able to leave the enclave, and no aid entering Gaza via Rafah since the outbreak of the war.
The National explains here.
Is the Rafah border crossing actually open?
Whether the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is closed or open depends on who wants to cross.
“The Rafah crossing on our side is officially open,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told the BBC this week.
However, he said Israeli air strikes targeting the Gaza side of the crossing had rendered it “inaccessible”.
Israeli strikes have hit the crossing at least four times since October 7, including on October 9 and 10, according to Egyptian officials.
Egyptian teams have repaired the Gazan side of the facility at least once and, according to Reuters, they were repairing it again on Wednesday.
However, Egypt has so far not allowed Gaza's civilians to use the crossing to enter its territory.
Cairo does not want the mass migration of Palestinians into Egyptian territory, and Egypt's leaders have spoken out against Israeli suggestions that Palestinians could be forcibly relocated across the border in Sinai.
“The Egyptian people must be aware of the complexities of the situation and realise the magnitude of the threat. Egypt will not allow the liquidation of the Palestinian question at the expense of other parties,” said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi last week.
The Egyptian leader was more direct on Wednesday when he said Israel's bombardment of Gaza has surpassed being a military operation to become “an attempt to force the sector's Palestinian inhabitants to migrate and seek refuge in Egypt”.
Can foreign nationals cross at Rafah?
Egypt has said it will allow foreign nationals trapped in Gaza to cross the border, but only on the condition that humanitarian supplies are simultaneously allowed into Gaza.
There are an estimated 500 to 600 foreign or dual nationals trapped in the enclave, including US citizens.
Mr Biden did not mention foreign nationals on Wednesday when he said the border would be opened for 20 aid trucks.
Has aid been allowed to enter Gaza?
No aid trucks have entered Gaza from the Rafah crossing since the outbreak of the war.
Mr Biden did not give a timeline for his Wednesday statement that up to 20 aid lorries will be allowed to enter Gaza.
An estimated 100 lorries laden with humanitarian supplies have been queuing on the Egyptian side of the crossing for a week, waiting for the green light to move into Gaza.
Foreign aid supplies are also being flown in and stored at Al Arish, 45 kilometres to the west of Rafah.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
