GAZA: Gaza officials called for help to extinguish a fire that started in a landfill in a village bordering Israel on Thursday, saying it could last for days and cause “an environmental catastrophe.”
A large cloud of heavy smoke billowed into the sky as night fell, and there was a strong smell of burning rubbish across Gaza City.
The fire started “in the eastern part of a landfill in Juhr Al-Deek, southeast of Gaza City, near the separation fence, for reasons that have yet to be confirmed,” the Gaza municipality said in a statement.

WASHINGTON: A new UN proposal for holding legislative and presidential elections in Libya this year has sparked hopes among some that the oil-rich North African Arab country might soon enjoy a period of reconciliation and stability after years of armed conflict.

Political factions have been vying for power amid a crisis and impasse that has paralyzed the country for more than a decade, since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

WASHINGTON: The reports of poisoned school girls in Iran is “deeply concerning” and the world needs to know what is causing the ailments, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.
Hundreds of Iranian girls in different schools have suffered “mild poison” attacks over recent months, according to the country’s health minister, with some politicians suggesting they could have been targeted by religious groups opposed to girls’ education.

ABU DHABI: The UAE has condemned Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich after he called for the destruction of the Palestinian village of Huwara.

The country’s foreign ministry said the UAE rejected all practices and behaviors that are incompatible with moral and human values and principles, the Emirates News Agency reported. 

It said hate speech and violence must be confronted and the values of tolerance and human coexistence promoted to reduce escalation and instability in the region. 

DUBAI: The 29th annual Dubai Boat Show was officially opened on Wednesday by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, the chair of Dubai Media Council.

The event, featuring 1,000 exhibiting companies and brands from more than 60 countries, is the largest maritime show in the Middle East, according to the Emirates News Agency. Organizers said it showcases the latest luxury superyachts and leisure craft, and gives boating enthusiasts a chance to check out what is on the market and the latest industry trends.