At least 14 people were killed when a suicide attacker blew himself up outside a wedding hall in Kabul on Thursday, in an apparent attempt to target a political gathering under way inside.
ISIL claimed responsibility for the bombing, the latest to hit the war-weary Afghan capital where insurgents have been stepping up assaults in a show of deadly force. The Taliban were quick to deny that they were behind the attack.
Supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, the powerful governor of the northern province of Balkh and a critic of Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, had been holding an event inside the hall at the time of the blast.
Mr Noor was not at the event, one of his aides said.
Mr Ghani condemned the attack as a "criminal act".
The bomber tried to enter the building but was stopped at the security checkpoint where he detonated his device, said Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid.
"A number of our police personnel are among the casualties," Mr Mujahid said.
"As a result of today's suicide attack eight police and six civilians have been killed while a further 18 have been wounded."
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Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told a conference in Turkmenistan on Wednesday that the UAE was committed to the security and stability of Afghanistan.
''The UAE has extended assistance worth US$1.67 billion (Dh6.1bn) to help Afghanistan recover from long years of disasters and catastrophes. The assistance covered 16 humanitarian developmental sectors including infrastructure, reconstruction and economic recovery,'' he told the seventh Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan.
Dr Gargash highlighted the UAE's role in training Afghan mosque imams in the values and principles of moderate Islam, peace and coexistence.
Earlier on Thursday, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish had put the death toll at nine, including seven policemen and two civilians.
"The bomber detonated himself after he was identified by the police at the entrance gate," Mr Danish said.
"After lunch, as we were exiting, a huge explosion shook the hall, shattering glass and causing chaos and panic," said Harun Mutaref.
"I saw many bodies, including police and civilians, lying in blood."
Dozens of police and intelligence officers swarmed the area and blocked access to the public.
Mr Noor, a senior leader of the Tajik-dominated Jamiat-e Islami party, has been an outspoken critic of Mr Ghani and the National Unity Government.
It is not the first time that top officials in the Jamiat-e Islami party have been targeted by attackers.
Foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who heads Jamiat, survived an attack at a funeral in Kabul in June where suicide bombers tore through a row of mourners. Chief executive Abdullah Abdullah also escaped unharmed.
Political infighting has been intensifying ahead of next year's long-delayed district and parliamentary elections, which would pave the way for the 2019 presidential ballot.
Mr Noor has hinted that he may run for the country's highest office.
On Wednesday, Mr Ghani — who is a Pashtun, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan — sacked the independent election commission chief Najibullah Ahmadzai after technical and political bungling, fuelling speculation the vote will not go ahead.
It came after the recent firing of education minister Asadullah Hanafi Balkhi, who was considered a close ally of Mr Noor, and one of Mr Ghani's advisers, Ahmadullah Alizai.
Mr Noor has recently called for the return of vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful ethnic Uzbek warlord who fled to Turkey in May after he was accused of raping and torturing a political rival in 2016.
Earlier this year, Mr Noor met deputy chief executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, a senior figure in the mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic community, and Mr Dostum in Turkey to form the self-proclaimed Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)