Al Jalama checkpoint near Jenin on Wednesday. Israeli soldiers have restricted access to the West Bank city of about 50,000. EPA
Al Jalama checkpoint near Jenin on Wednesday. Israeli soldiers have restricted access to the West Bank city of about 50,000. EPA
Al Jalama checkpoint near Jenin on Wednesday. Israeli soldiers have restricted access to the West Bank city of about 50,000. EPA
Al Jalama checkpoint near Jenin on Wednesday. Israeli soldiers have restricted access to the West Bank city of about 50,000. EPA

Tension high in West Bank after two teenage boys killed


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Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid accused militants in the occupied West Bank of kidnapping an injured Israeli-Druze teenager from a hospital in Jenin, taking him off life support and letting him die.

The alleged killing of Tiran Fero, 17, who was seriously injured in a car crash, comes a day after Israeli soldiers shot and killed Ahmed Shehadeh, 16, in Nablus.

After the incident in Jenin, Israeli soldiers restricted access to the city of about 50,000 people by closing off key roads and setting up checkpoints.

Jenin has re-emerged as a flashpoint in the West Bank this year, with frequent night-time raids by the Israeli army.

Mr Lapid's allegation, also made by Tiran's family, comes after a double bombing in Jerusalem wounded 14 Israelis and killed a boy, 16, leading to calls from hardline Israeli politicians for a tough security response in the West Bank.

At least 100 Palestinians and 20 Israelis have been killed this year in West Bank violence, the worst year of the conflict since 2015.

After co-ordination with Palestinian authorities, the Israeli army confirmed on Thursday that Tiran's body was being returned to his family.

A day earlier, Mr Lapid said Tiran’s father saw him taken by militants who “disconnected a child who was fighting for his life from medical equipment”.

Tiran and his friend were involved in a serious road accident near the town, the Israeli military said.

Warning of further violence

Israeli Druze were warned against storming Jenin, where Tiran was reportedly abducted from hospital, and trying to retrieve his body as thousands protested in his hometown of Daliat Al Carmel.

The town's mayor implored local youths not to take the law into their own hands.

“Do not reach the Jenin checkpoint or the city of Jenin,” Rafik Halavi said in a video message on social media. “This may complicate the matter and change the equation.”

Two checkpoints leading into Jenin, including the one Tiran passed through, were shut on Wednesday “following a security evaluation”.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians, of whom Ahmed was one, were killed in clashes with the Israeli army on Tuesday evening in the city of Nablus.

Hisham Abu Kishek, 22, “succumbed to serious injuries after being shot in the abdomen by occupation [Israeli] soldiers”, the ministry said on Wednesday, after earlier confirming the death of the teenager.

The Israeli military said troops fired at “armed suspects” during an operation “to secure the entrance of Israeli civilians to Joseph's tomb”.

Violence often breaks out between Palestinians and soldiers who accompany Israeli Jews to the holy site, which is believed to be the resting place of the biblical patriarch Joseph and is considered to be an Islamic archaeological monument.

Work permits cancelled

Isreal's response to Wednesday's attack including stepped-up security measures and overnight raids in the West Bank. The work permits of about 200 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, which allowed them to work in its territory, were cancelled, after a labourer was accused of planning to carry out a bombing, the Shin Bet security agency said on Thursday.

The suspect, arrested on October 30, told interrogators he had been recruited by relatives in a fringe militant group in Gaza to plant a bomb on a bus in southern Israel, the Shin Bet said.

It said the suspect had been indicted in an Israeli court. It was not immediately clear if he had been assigned a lawyer or how he might plead to the charges.

In recent months, Israeli forces have launched often deadly raids in the West Bank after a spate of fatal attacks against Israelis.

With reporting from agencies

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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
UAE rugby in numbers

5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons

700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams

Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams

Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season

Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

Ireland v Denmark: The last two years

Denmark 1-1 Ireland 

7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier 

Denmark 0-0 Ireland

19/11/2018, Nations League

Ireland 0-0 Denmark

13/10/2018, Nations League

Ireland 1 Denmark 5

14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier

Denmark 0-0 Ireland

11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier

 

 

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Stage 2 results

Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18

Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02

Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04

4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates

5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation

General Classification

Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19

2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12

3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16

4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17

5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19

Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

Updated: November 24, 2022, 5:39 PM`