Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Israel has intensified its attacks on areas of Gaza, as overnight strikes killed at least 24 people, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Saturday.
Israeli planes struck a house and an adjacent warehouse sheltering displaced people at the entrance of the town of Zawayda in central Gaza, killing at least 16 people and injuring scores, medical sources said.
The injured were taken to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, Wafa said.
A Hamas official condemned the attack on Zawayda, saying the 16 dead are from the one family.
“This Nazi army, thirsty for killing, blood and revenge, is only good at targeting children and women, and destroying all the components of human life,” Izzat Al Rashq, a senior Hamas member, said in a statement.
Another six people, including two children, were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house west of Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday, Wafa said. Others were injured in the attack and taken to Al Awda Hospital, local sources said.
In Gaza city, rescuers recovered the bodies of two people and several others were injured after Israeli jets bombed a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood.
Wafa also reported that a child was injured when tents of displaced people were struck near Hamad city in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Several people were injured in the shelling of a house near the European Hospital, east of Khan Younis.
The Israeli military has ordered Palestinians in Al Moghazi in central Gaza to leave and go to the Israeli-designated “humanitarian zone”.
A military spokesman said that it will “forcefully operate” against “terror” groups in the area, after recent rocket attacks.
The Israeli army previously operated with ground forces in Al Moghazi.
On Friday, the army ordered Palestinians to leave Khan Younis, eastern Deir Al Balah and Beit Hanoun.
The Israeli army said its attack on central Gaza “eliminated several terrorists, including a terrorist who launched rockets towards troops operating in the area”.
It also said that it expanded its operations in Khan Younis and dismantled “dozens of Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites in the area”.
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7 after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and seizing about 240 hostages according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's military campaign has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel's army claims it has killed 17,000 Hamas fighters.
The war has also displaced most of the 2.3 million people living in the enclave, caused a hunger crisis and led to genocide allegations at the World Court, which Israel denied.
Ceasefire efforts
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel on Saturday as part of a continued push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.
“Secretary Blinken will underscore the critical need for all parties in the region to avoid escalation or any other actions that could undermine the ability to finalise an agreement,” the State Department said.
The visit comes amid fears Iran could, at any moment, launch a retaliatory strike against Israel after the assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
Israel has not commented on the strike that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
On Thursday, Israel and mediators began the latest round in months of talks to end the war in Gaza, with the Palestinian militant group Hamas not directly involved but kept briefed on its progress.
The talks in Doha paused on Friday with negotiators to meet again next week seeking an agreement to end fighting between Israel and Hamas and free remaining hostages.
On Friday, the US, Qatar and Egypt said Washington had presented a new ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas that “bridges remaining gaps” between the two sides.
Mediators would keep working on the proposal, they said.
“The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions,” they said.
Mr Biden said Gaza ceasefire talks were closer than they were three days ago, but “we’re not there yet”.
“I don’t want to jinx anything, and we’re not there yet,” he said. “But we’re close.”
Hamas said on Friday that it is adhering to what was agreed in the July 2 documents.
Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said the July 2 proposal was presented by the Israelis under US sponsorship and is based mainly on the speech of US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council resolution that came after.
He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of procrastinating on the negotiations, as the US gives Israel cover.
Mr Badran said Hamas was keen to stop the war and the deaths of Palestinians.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
