• A UAE aid ship is loaded with supplies at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, before sailing to Gaza via Al Arish, Egypt. Victor Besa / The National
    A UAE aid ship is loaded with supplies at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, before sailing to Gaza via Al Arish, Egypt. Victor Besa / The National
  • Druze clerics take part in a gathering of minority religious leaders in Beirut, Lebanon. AP
    Druze clerics take part in a gathering of minority religious leaders in Beirut, Lebanon. AP
  • A worker pounds into rock to make gravel and sand in Kenscoff, a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AP
    A worker pounds into rock to make gravel and sand in Kenscoff, a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AP
  • An Israeli soldier stands next to parcels of humanitarian aid waiting to be transferred into Gaza at the Gaza part of the Kerem Shalom crossing. Reuters
    An Israeli soldier stands next to parcels of humanitarian aid waiting to be transferred into Gaza at the Gaza part of the Kerem Shalom crossing. Reuters
  • Palestinian child Yazan Abu Foul, aged two, is cared for by his mother Naima, as he suffers from severe malnutrition due to the acute shortage of food in Gaza. EPA
    Palestinian child Yazan Abu Foul, aged two, is cared for by his mother Naima, as he suffers from severe malnutrition due to the acute shortage of food in Gaza. EPA
  • Residents leave the site of a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
    Residents leave the site of a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
  • Children play during a downpour in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines. EPA
    Children play during a downpour in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines. EPA
  • A French Republican Security Corps officer tackles a man attempting to cycle across the finish line minutes before the final sprint of the 112th edition of the Tour de France. AFP
    A French Republican Security Corps officer tackles a man attempting to cycle across the finish line minutes before the final sprint of the 112th edition of the Tour de France. AFP
  • A humpback whale breaches in Guanabara Bay, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. EPA
    A humpback whale breaches in Guanabara Bay, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. EPA
  • A woman paints in front of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower and St Basil's Cathedral in downtown Moscow. AFP
    A woman paints in front of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower and St Basil's Cathedral in downtown Moscow. AFP
  • Guests take part in the Halay - a traditional dance - during a Kurdish wedding in the Turkish Kurdistan province of Hakkari. AFP
    Guests take part in the Halay - a traditional dance - during a Kurdish wedding in the Turkish Kurdistan province of Hakkari. AFP
  • Artists from Morocco's Amazigh community take part in the annual Ahidous National Festival in the town of Ain Leuh, in the heart of the Middle Atlas mountains. AFP
    Artists from Morocco's Amazigh community take part in the annual Ahidous National Festival in the town of Ain Leuh, in the heart of the Middle Atlas mountains. AFP
  • One of the 10 US citizens in an exchange between Washington and the Venezuelan government waves an American flag on arrival in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador. AFP
    One of the 10 US citizens in an exchange between Washington and the Venezuelan government waves an American flag on arrival in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador. AFP
  • A model poses at an open-air studio overlooking the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 19. AP
    A model poses at an open-air studio overlooking the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 19. AP
  • A rescue worker climbs a toppled billboard that damaged a parked lorry in Quezon city, Philippines, in strong winds and rain as Tropical Storm Wipha crossed the north of the country. AP
    A rescue worker climbs a toppled billboard that damaged a parked lorry in Quezon city, Philippines, in strong winds and rain as Tropical Storm Wipha crossed the north of the country. AP
  • Manny Pacquiao, left, fights Mario Barrios in a WBC welterweight championship title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 19. It ended in a draw and Pacquiao is asking for a re-match. AP
    Manny Pacquiao, left, fights Mario Barrios in a WBC welterweight championship title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 19. It ended in a draw and Pacquiao is asking for a re-match. AP
  • Central district in Hong Kong is almost deserted as Typhoon Wipha moves in on July 20. AFP
    Central district in Hong Kong is almost deserted as Typhoon Wipha moves in on July 20. AFP
  • Shiite pilgrims gather at a rest stop in Basra province, Iraq, on July 19 as they perform the annual march from the southern port of Al Faw to the holy city of Karbala in time for the Arbaeen festival. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, commemorating the killing of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. AFP
    Shiite pilgrims gather at a rest stop in Basra province, Iraq, on July 19 as they perform the annual march from the southern port of Al Faw to the holy city of Karbala in time for the Arbaeen festival. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, commemorating the killing of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. AFP
  • Members of Syria’s Bedouin community ride on a bus after being evacuated from southern Sweida province. AFP
    Members of Syria’s Bedouin community ride on a bus after being evacuated from southern Sweida province. AFP
  • Children play on a waterlogged street in Manila after Typhoon Wipha brought heavy rain and flooding to the Philippines. AFP
    Children play on a waterlogged street in Manila after Typhoon Wipha brought heavy rain and flooding to the Philippines. AFP
  • Trinamool Congress party members and supporters gather to listen to party leader and Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, as part of a 'Martyr's Day' rally in Kolkata, India. EPA
    Trinamool Congress party members and supporters gather to listen to party leader and Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, as part of a 'Martyr's Day' rally in Kolkata, India. EPA
  • People drive through heavy rain on the outskirts of Dubai. AFP
    People drive through heavy rain on the outskirts of Dubai. AFP
  • Palestinians mourn relatives killed in an Israeli army bombardment, at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. AP
    Palestinians mourn relatives killed in an Israeli army bombardment, at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. AP
  • Syrian government forces guard a roadblock in Busr Al Harir near Sweida. Hasan Belal for The National
    Syrian government forces guard a roadblock in Busr Al Harir near Sweida. Hasan Belal for The National
  • A sea turtle nibbles on what remains of the once-vibrant reef at Havannah Harbour, off the coast of Efate Island, Vanuatu. AP
    A sea turtle nibbles on what remains of the once-vibrant reef at Havannah Harbour, off the coast of Efate Island, Vanuatu. AP
  • Tunisian President Kais Saied, right, shows Massad Boulos, senior adviser the to the US president for Africa, pictures of starving children in Gaza during their meeting in Carthage on July 22. AFP
    Tunisian President Kais Saied, right, shows Massad Boulos, senior adviser the to the US president for Africa, pictures of starving children in Gaza during their meeting in Carthage on July 22. AFP
  • Smoke from a forest fire fills the sky near the coastal city of Nafplio in the Peloponnese, Greece. EPA
    Smoke from a forest fire fills the sky near the coastal city of Nafplio in the Peloponnese, Greece. EPA
  • Mayya Doroshko and Tatiana Gayday of the Neutral Athletes B team compete in the women's duet free preliminaries at the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Getty Images
    Mayya Doroshko and Tatiana Gayday of the Neutral Athletes B team compete in the women's duet free preliminaries at the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Getty Images
  • Senior Catholic clergy prepare to pay their respects at the funeral of cardinal and former archbishop of Paris Andre Vingt-Trois, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in the French capital. AFP
    Senior Catholic clergy prepare to pay their respects at the funeral of cardinal and former archbishop of Paris Andre Vingt-Trois, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in the French capital. AFP
  • A horseback rider performs a fire stunt during a show organized for the participants of the "Gallops" orienteering and endurance equestrian race in Kyrgyzstan. Reuters
    A horseback rider performs a fire stunt during a show organized for the participants of the "Gallops" orienteering and endurance equestrian race in Kyrgyzstan. Reuters

Pictures of the week: From an aid ship leaving Abu Dhabi for Gaza to an equestrian stunt in Kyrgyzstan


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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 

Gertrude Bell's life in focus

A feature film

At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.

A documentary

A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.

Books, letters and archives

Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
 

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Match info

Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4
(Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)

Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20flat-six%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E525hp%20(GT3)%2C%20500hp%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E465Nm%20(GT3)%2C%20450Nm%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh944%2C000%20(GT3)%2C%20Dh581%2C700%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

UAE SQUAD

Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km

Price: from Dh285,000

On sale: from January 2022 

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

If you go

The flights

Fly direct to London from the UAE with Etihad, Emirates, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from about Dh2,500 return including taxes. 

The hotel

Rooms at the convenient and art-conscious Andaz London Liverpool Street cost from £167 (Dh800) per night including taxes.

The tour

The Shoreditch Street Art Tour costs from £15 (Dh73) per person for approximately three hours. 

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

Updated: July 25, 2025, 6:02 PM