Welcome to The National's weekly newsletter Beshara, where we share the most positive stories of the week.
People gather at Bondi Beach to leave tributes to the victims of the deadly shooting. AP
They say not all heroes wear capes, and one man's selfless bravery in Bondi Beach is a testament to that.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, made headlines on Sunday when he tackled and disarmed a gunman during the horrific attack at a Hanukkah event at the famed Australian beach.
The Syrian fruit seller and father of two has been hailed a hero on social media after a video showed him wrestling a suspect, risking his life to help others.
Mr Al Ahmed is now recovering from an operation after being wounded during the incident. Despite his injuries, his family said he "thanks God that he was able to save people".
His courage is a ray of light during these dark times. And he is only one of several unsung heroes featured in this week's Beshara. Read on for more.
Dr Suad Amiry is one of the most influential Arab figures in architecture and design
Suad Amiry, a Palestinian architect and author, has won the Great Arab Minds award for her work in preserving the architectural heritage of Palestine.
As founder of Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation, Ms Amiry has been instrumental in one of the largest documentation initiatives in Palestine, establishing a registry of more than 50,000 historic buildings. She has also overseen the restoration of dozens of sites, providing cultural and community centres in 50 villages, and has been involved in training craftspeople in traditional building techniques. Her work has helped to revive entire villages.
“We congratulate her on her well-deserved win and her decades of dedication," Sheikh Mohammed said. "May Palestine be blessed with peace and stability, may its historic buildings and villages regain the life they deserve, and may its heritage continue to thrive for as long as Arab memory endures."
Quoted
'This really is a special award for a very special person. Since the founding of the UAE, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has championed the simple truth that has shaped the nation: mothers are the backbones of nations'
– Bill Gates praises Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, after she receives a lifetime achievement award for her six decades of service to women, children and families in the UAE and around the world.
A child receives a polio vaccine dose in Peshawar, Pakistan. AP
The world is on the cusp of eradicating polio and "securing a historic win for humanity", the World Health Organisation has said.
A public health pledge of $1.9 billion can help advance efforts to wipe out the disease. It will be "instrumental in helping the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reach all children in the final endemic countries and stop variant polio outbreaks around the world", said WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The pledge was made in Abu Dhabi last week. It is hoped the move will help protect at least 370 million children from polio every year. "We need all countries, partners and donors to step up to get the job done," Dr Tedros said.
Snapshot
Runners take part in the seventh annual Pyramids Half Marathon in Giza, Egypt. EPA
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG) TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
