Israel Burning

Israeli fire officials say they hope to stop the worst wildfire in the country's history by today, three days after the blaze began in a forest in Israel's north.

Birds fly away from flames in the village of Ussafiya in Haifa's Carmel Forest on December 4, 2010

Felesteen, Palestine [2]

Israel forest fire kills dozens near Haifa, International crews struggling to contain fire, 2 minors arrested

Israeli fire officials say they hope to stop the worst wildfire in the country's history by today, three days after the blaze began in a forest in Israel's north. The fire, which so far has killed 41 people, prompted an international effort with aircraft sent in by Russia, Turkey, Greece, Britain, France, and Arab neighbors (including Jordan), and firefighting aid from Palestinian Authority. Israeli authorities say that negligence has likely caused the fire. Authorities have arrested two male minors in connection with the blaze.

Emarat Al-Youm, UAE [3]

Bank forced to compensate sacked employee

A labor court in Abu Dhabi has set a precedent in a work dispute when it made a major bank in the emirate pay end of service benefits to a sacked employee, saying such a payment is guaranteed by the law not the work contract. The court asked the bank to pay Dh130,000 as end of service and other financial benefits to a national woman who had worked at the customers’ service section at the bank, Emarat Alyoum Arabic language daily reported on Sunday.