Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an unusual route on a flight to New York on Thursday, avoiding the airspace of two European countries that have recognised the Palestinian state.
Flight trackers showed Mr Netanyahu's plane taking a southern route across Europe, flying over the Mediterranean and veering south to avoid both France and Spain.
On a previous flight to the US in July, the official Israeli plane took a more direct route over France.
No reason was given for the detour, and a French diplomatic source told AFP that France had authorised Israeli use of its airspace. But Mr Netanyahu's trip to UN headquarters comes with Israel's standing in Europe at a low ebb.
France this week recognised the state of Palestine, leading a new peace push in which Britain, Canada and several others made the same move. Spain recognised Palestinian statehood last year.
Mr Netanyahu has had angry exchanges with French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over the war in Gaza, with Israel accusing them of fuelling anti-Semitism.
The Israeli leader's travel plans are also being closely watched because of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Any emergency landing in a country that is part of the ICC could in theory expose Mr Netanyahu to the risk of arrest − although his plane did fly over Italy and Greece, which recognise the court.
Spain last week announced it would support the ICC's investigations and set up a team to probe alleged human rights abuses in Gaza, as part of its broader push to pressure Israel to end the war.
Mr Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday. He is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House next week.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
