• Relatives and friends mourn Saif Abu Taha, a worker with World Central Kitchen who was killed when Israeli strikes hit the NGO's vehicles in Gaza, during his funeral in Rafah. AFP
    Relatives and friends mourn Saif Abu Taha, a worker with World Central Kitchen who was killed when Israeli strikes hit the NGO's vehicles in Gaza, during his funeral in Rafah. AFP
  • The wreckage of a car used by aid group World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. AFP
    The wreckage of a car used by aid group World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. AFP
  • World Central Kitchen workers gather around the bodies of their colleagues after they were transferred to Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza. EPA
    World Central Kitchen workers gather around the bodies of their colleagues after they were transferred to Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza. EPA
  • United Nations staff members inspect one of the World Central Kitchen vehicles hit by the deadly Israeli strike. AFP
    United Nations staff members inspect one of the World Central Kitchen vehicles hit by the deadly Israeli strike. AFP
  • SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Palestinians carry the body of a foreign employee from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), who was killed with other fellow workers in an Israeli airstrike, according to the NGO as the Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this "tragic" incident, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at a hospital in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza, Strip April 2, 2024. REUTERS / Ramadan Abed
    SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Palestinians carry the body of a foreign employee from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), who was killed with other fellow workers in an Israeli airstrike, according to the NGO as the Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this "tragic" incident, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at a hospital in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza, Strip April 2, 2024. REUTERS / Ramadan Abed
  • The team was killed while travelling through a deconflicted zone in armoured vehicles branded with the WCK logo. EPA
    The team was killed while travelling through a deconflicted zone in armoured vehicles branded with the WCK logo. EPA
  • The group's car was hit after leaving a warehouse in Deir Al Balah, despite co-ordinating its movements with the Israeli military. EPA
    The group's car was hit after leaving a warehouse in Deir Al Balah, despite co-ordinating its movements with the Israeli military. EPA
  • The Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this 'tragic' incident. Reuters
    The Israeli military said it was conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this 'tragic' incident. Reuters
  • Clothes of members of the NGO are seen inside their destroyed car on Al Rashid road in the Gaza Strip. EPA
    Clothes of members of the NGO are seen inside their destroyed car on Al Rashid road in the Gaza Strip. EPA
  • Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, left, was among the WCK employees killed in the strike. Reuters
    Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, left, was among the WCK employees killed in the strike. Reuters
  • The uniform of a woman WCK employee who was killed in Israeli air strike in Deir Al Balah. EPA
    The uniform of a woman WCK employee who was killed in Israeli air strike in Deir Al Balah. EPA
  • Employees of World Central Kitchen mourn after their colleagues were killed in the Israeli air strike. Reuters
    Employees of World Central Kitchen mourn after their colleagues were killed in the Israeli air strike. Reuters
  • A man displays blood-stained British, Polish, and Australian passports after the Israeli air strike that killed WCK workers, including foreigners, in Deir Al Balah. AP
    A man displays blood-stained British, Polish, and Australian passports after the Israeli air strike that killed WCK workers, including foreigners, in Deir Al Balah. AP
  • A World Central Kitchen barge loaded with food arrives off the Gaza coast, where there is risk of famine after five months of Israel's military campaign. Reuters
    A World Central Kitchen barge loaded with food arrives off the Gaza coast, where there is risk of famine after five months of Israel's military campaign. Reuters

Aid to Gaza threatened after Israeli strike forces World Central Kitchen to pause work


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  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Desperately needed food aid delivery to the besieged Gaza enclave is under threat after an Israeli air strike on Deir Al Balah killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, forcing the non-profit and at least one other NGO supplying food assistance in Gaza, to pause its operations.

World Central Kitchen said it was pausing operations “immediately in the region” and that they would be making a decision about any future work in due course.

American Near East Refugee Aid on Tuesday announced that it would suspend its operations in Gaza after the strike on the World Central Kitchen aid convoy.

“As it stands, currently delivering aid puts not just humanitarian workers at risk but also those who are receiving the aid,” it said.

“Our team in Gaza has determined that at this point the risk of actively delivering aid is far too great.” Anera focuses on delivering humanitarian relief items, including food.

Anera said the pause would continue while staff “feel unsafe doing their work” and placed responsibility on Israel “to ensure the safety of humanitarian aid workers”.

Cyprus said on Tuesday afternoon that ships that had arrived in Gaza were turning back with 240 tonnes of undelivered aid.

Cypriot Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said that about 100 tonnes of aid had been unloaded before World Central Kitchen suspended operations after its workers were killed.

Sources confirmed to The National that the second aid boat has been sent back.

Israel said it was conducting a thorough investigation into the air strike. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that forces “unintentionally” killed aid workers in Gaza.

“Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” Mr Netanyahu said on X.

“This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.

The WCK team was killed while travelling through a deconflicted zone in armoured vehicles branded with their logo.

The seven victims were from Australia, Poland, the UK and Palestine, as well as a dual citizen from the US and Canada.

This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organisations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable
Erin Gore,
World Central Kitchen chief executive

The group was hit while leaving a warehouse in Deir Al Balah despite co-ordinating its movements with the Israeli military, the organisation said.

The convoy was struck by three separate missiles fired one after the other, according to Israeli outlet Haaretz.

“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organisations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said chief executive Erin Gore.

The organisation posted an image and statement mourning the aid workers lost in the strike.

World Central Kitchen named the "heroes" as: Relief team members Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, Australian Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, Damian Sobol of Poland, US-Canada dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, and security team members John Chapman, James Henderson and Jams Kirby, all of the UK.

Cyprus vowed on Tuesday to maintain its Gaza maritime aid corridor despite the attack.

“The tragic events should not discourage us. We must double down on our efforts to provide more assistance as the needs dramatically escalate”, said Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at an aid co-ordination centre in the port city of Larnaca.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that the deadly strike would not affect the initiative, but that “re-co-ordination will need to take place” due to security concerns.

The UAE and Cyprus have expressed their “profound condemnation” of the strike. The two countries denounced all acts of violence against humanitarian workers and reiterated that strikes against aid staff are a breach of international law. Through the Amalthea Initiative, the countries aim to provide urgent humanitarian aid and supplies to Gazans.

The British Foreign Minister confirmed that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador over the deaths of aid workers in Gaza.

“I set out the Government's unequivocal condemnation of the appalling killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including three British Nationals,” Britain's Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said.

“I requested a quick and transparent investigation, shared with the international community, and full accountability.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had told Israel to conduct a “thorough and impartial” investigation into the deadly strike.

“We’ve spoken directly to the Israeli Government about this particular incident,” Mr Blinken said during a visit to France.

“We've arranged a swift and thorough and impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened. We've pressed upon the Israelis the absolute imperative of doing more to protect innocent civilian lives”.

US President Joe Biden called World Central Kitchen founder and celebrity chef Jose Andres after the deadly strike, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.

“He called the chef Jose Andres to express that he's heart-broken by this news of the air strike that killed seven aid workers and to express his deepest condolences,” she said.

“President Biden conveyed his grieving with the entire World Central Kitchen family.”

Ms Jean-Pierre also said that Mr Biden “will make clear to Israel that humanitarian aid workers must be protected”.

France's Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne “strongly condemned” the incident.

“Protecting humanitarian workers is a moral and legal imperative that everyone must adhere to,” Mr Sejourne said at a press conference, alongside Mr Blinken. “Nothing justifies such a tragedy.”

Bloodied passports were seen on the bodies of those killed, wearing WCK-branded vests, in footage posted to social media on Monday night.

The organisation said bodies were retrieved by the Palestinian Red Crescent after a “challenging operation spanning several hours”.

All seven are now being taken to the Rafah border crossing.

A funeral was held on Tuesday for Issam Abu Taha, a Palestinian employee of World Central Kitchen.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Australian citizen Lalzawmi Franckom was among the dead.

“This is completely unacceptable. Australia expects full accountability for the deaths of aid workers,” Mr Albanese said, before offering his “sincere condolences” to her family.

Poland also confirmed one of its citizens, who has not been publicly identified, was killed in the attack.

“Poland objects to the disregard for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers,” the country's Foreign Ministry said on X.

The UK said it is “urgently seeking further information” on the British citizen killed in the strike.

“We haven't had it confirmed yet, but we are very, very concerned by the situation,” Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told the BBC.

“One of the key things is trying to ensure we get more aid into Gaza, so if one of the charities working on the ground has suspended [operations], then that's obviously deeply concerning.”

British Foreign Minister David Cameron on Tuesday said the death of aid workers, including at least one British citizen, was “deeply distressing” and called on Israel to investigate and provide an explanation.

“British Nationals are reported to have been killed, we are urgently working to verify this information and will provide full support to their families,” Lord Cameron said on X.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said it held Israel “fully responsible for this dangerous development” and demanded an “urgent, independent and transparent investigation into what happened”.

In a statement, the ministry offered its condolences to the victims’ families and their countries and stressed the need to immediately stop violence and avoid targeting civilians, while demanding not to use food as a weapon.

Jordan's King Abdullah has also sent his condolences to WCK over the “tragic deaths”.

“We thank you for your sacrifice and humanity,” he said on X.

Videos shared on social media by WCK showed how victims of the strike had worked at a kitchen in Deir Al Balah last week, preparing thousands of meals for locals.

The non-profit group said the space was being expanded to provide for more families in central Gaza.

WCK is one of two charities organising humanitarian aid to Gaza through a maritime corridor as famine spreads across the enclave.

It worked with Open Arms to send the first aid ship from Cyprus last month.

The team had delivered 100 tonnes of food aid brought through the corridor shortly before their convoy was hit, the NGO said.

The pause in operations comes shortly after the UN warned famine is imminent in Gaza, where more than 32,800 people have been killed since October.

At least 30 people, mostly children, have died of starvation in recent weeks, Gaza's health authorities said.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry has called for a “swift and conclusive” investigation into the strike, saying international humanitarian law is “absolute”.

“Humanitarian aid workers must always be respected and protected,” it said.

Additional reporting from Gillian Duncan in London

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')

Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

INVESTMENT PLEDGES

Cartlow: $13.4m

Rabbitmart: $14m

Smileneo: $5.8m

Soum: $4m

imVentures: $100m

Plug and Play: $25m

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

The Saga Continues

Wu-Tang Clan

(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)

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

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

W.
Wael Kfoury
(Rotana)

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Company profile

Name: Oulo.com

Founder: Kamal Nazha

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2020

Number of employees: 5

Sector: Technology

Funding: $450,000

Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
%3Cp%3EApril%2021-23%3A%20Imola%3Cbr%3EMay%205-7%3A%20Misano%3Cbr%3EMay%2026-28%3A%20SPA-Francorchamps%3Cbr%3EJune%2023-25%3A%20Monza%3Cbr%3EJuly%2021-23%3A%20Paul%20Ricard%3Cbr%3ESept%2029-Oct%201%3A%20Mugello%3Cbr%3EOct%2013-15%3A%20Vallelunga%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Twin%20electric%20motors%20and%20105kWh%20battery%20pack%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E619hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUp%20to%20561km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ3%20or%20Q4%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh635%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

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.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.

Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.

Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.

Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.

The biog

Name: Mohammed Imtiaz

From: Gujranwala, Pakistan

Arrived in the UAE: 1976

Favourite clothes to make: Suit

Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550

 

The biog

Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.

His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.

“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.

"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”

Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.

He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking. 

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.

Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.

The%20Witcher%20-%20season%20three
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHenry%20Cavill%2C%20Freya%20Allan%2C%20Anya%20Chalotra%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail

FINAL RESULT

Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)

Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2

Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Updated: April 03, 2024, 8:51 AM