Israel reopens Gaza crossings on ceasefire Sunday

Agencies
May 12, 2019

Tel Aviv, May 12: Israel on Saturday reopened its main border crossings with the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire agreement.

The developments came after a week that saw violent clashes along the Israel-Gaza border which remained closed for the Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays from May 7 to 9, The Times of Israel reported.

"Tomorrow (Sunday), the Erez and Kerem Shalom Crossings will be opened, according to regular operating hours," COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for the Palestinian territories, said in a statement on Saturday night.

Erez, in northern Gaza, is the main terminal for civilian traffic, while Kerem Shalom in the south of the Strip mainly serves commercial goods.

The move came days after Israel on Friday removed restrictions on a 12-mile Palestinian fishing zone off the Gaza Strip, keeping to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire imposed during the deadly flare-up of violence earlier this week.

According to Al Jazeera, at least four Israelis and 25 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and three children, were killed during the violence.

Palestinians shot almost 700 projectiles into Israel on May 4 and 5, while Israel responded with hundreds of airstrikes.

On Friday, UN Middle East peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov spoke with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and discussed efforts to implement truce between Israel and Hamas to prevent renewed violence, the state media of Israel reported.

However, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the fighting in Gaza has not yet ended.

Israeli authorities have further warned that the fighting could resume soon after in the absence of measures aimed at easing humanitarian assistance to those in the Gaza Strip.

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Agencies
January 11,2020

Muscat, Jan 11: Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said has died, Aljazeera reported citing state television on Friday.

Qaboos was 79-year-old and was ill for a long time. He has served as the ruler of Oman since 1970 when he ousted his father in a bloodless coup.

Qaboos had no children and has not publicly named his successor.

Sultan Qaboos travelled to Belgium for a week in December for what was described then as "medical checks." He returned to Oman but speculations of his deteriorating health were rife.

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Khaleej Times
June 7,2020

Dubai, Jun 7: Emirates airline on Sunday confirmed that it extended the period of reduced pay for its staff for another three months as airlines around the world struggle to preserve cash due to the grounding of fleets.

An e-mail has been sent across to Emirates employees about extending the wage cuts till September 30. In some cases, the salary will be reduced by 50 per cent.

Emirates had previously reduced basic wages by 25 to 50 per cent for three months from April, with junior employees exempted.

The Dubai-based world's largest international carrier employs around 60,000 people across its spectrum. While the parent Emirates Group employs over 100,000 workers.

On Thursday, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways confirmed to Khaleej Times that it also extended salary cut of its employees till September 2020.

"Regretfully, Etihad has extended its salary reduction until September 2020, with 25 per cent reduction for junior staff and cabin crew, and 50 per cent for employees at manager level and above. Housing allowance and a number of benefits continue to be paid," the airline's spokesperson said in a statement last week.

In March, Etihad had announced temporary reduction of basic salaries for the month of April to all staff, including executives, between 25 to 50 per cent.

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: The holy month of Ramadan is expected to be a 30-day month this year, said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, he said that Sunday, May 24, will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.

Additionally, he said that the crescent of Shawwal will occur on Friday, May 22, at 9.39pm, after sunset, and will be visible on Sunday, May 24, the beginning of Shawal, which makes Ramadan a 30-day month this year.

He added that the next Ramadan is expected to start on April 13, 2021, and the one after that on April 2, 2022.

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