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Israel's emergency medical service said the vehicle 'exploded while parked on a sidewalk.' According to a report from a paramedic on the scene
one of the victims was a one-month-old baby
People check the damage at the scene where a vehicle exploded in the central Israeli city of Ramla on September 12
reportedly killing several people and injuring others
AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP Four people were killed and eight injured when a vehicle exploded in the central Israeli city of Ramla on Thursday
in an apparent gangland hit medics and police said
spokesperson for the Asaf Harofe Medical Center in central Israel
said it "mourns the deaths of four individuals injured in the Ramla incident," adding that six other casualties were receiving treatment there
The Israeli police said it had launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion which was suspected to be linked to "a criminal conflict between crime families in the Arab neighbourhood."
Israel's emergency medical service Magen David Adom said the vehicle "exploded while parked on the sidewalk near a store and residential building" in Ramla
Located east of Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv
Arab communities in Israel have long complained of violence connected to organized crime
argue such violence should receive more attention from the government
the Lebanese health ministry said a child was among three people killed in an Israeli strike in the south
amid ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah
The Lebanese health ministry said an "Israeli enemy strike" hit the village of Kfarjouz near Nabatieh
some 10 kilometers from the border with Israel
A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that one of the dead was "a fighter in Hezbollah" and the two others were "civilians." Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the strike "targeted two motorcycles on the Nabatieh-Kfarjouz road," adding that a passing car was also hit
said the unconscious victims included a month-old infant and a 50-year-old woman
All suffered from smoke inhalation and were transported to hospital
"They tell us it's a settlement of personal scores
but an explosion downtown in midday in a crowded area
"My children were there just an hour before."
Hezbollah said it launched a number of attacks on military positions in northern Israel
The Israeli military said "approximately 15 projectiles" were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory but some were intercepted and no casualties were reported
Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group has been trading near-daily cross-border fire with Israel since Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7
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If someone told me there is a community in the U.S. that has a situation strikingly similar to my own in Israel, I might not have believed it. But I’ve come to believe that Baltimore and Israel can learn a lot from each other, with the hope of improving our respective societies.
I grew up in Ramla, an Israeli city of Jews and Arabs where I barely knew any Jews. We never interacted, except in passing. They called my neighborhood “the ghetto” because people born there nearly never made it out. I was one of the lucky ones. I went to college and decided to use my intellect to help other young people.
From colleagues, friends and news reports, I came to understand things in Ramla are not that different than in Baltimore, another “mixed city” where whites and minorities — African-Americans, Hispanics, immigrants —live in the same place but live very different lives.
If you compare the incomes in Baltimore, you see white residents earn nearly twice as much as their African-American peers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile in Israel, roughly 50 percent of the Arab population lives under the poverty line, according to the National Insurance Institute. Moreover, 36 of Israel’s 40 towns with the highest unemployment rates are predominantly Arab. In both societies, there is a lack of quality public schools.
In Baltimore, the Census Bureau found 37 percent of African-Americans ages 20-24 are unemployed. Interestingly, that same percentage of Arabs in Israel between 19-23 do not work or study. Half of female Arabs in Israel are not in any employment or academic setting.
Whether in Israel or Baltimore, the age of 18 should be a time when a young person becomes independent, responsible and embarks on their life journey. However, many young Arabs in Israel who should be studying or working are doing absolutely nothing. One reason is that much of Israel’s job market and attendant options for social mobilization revolve around the army. Most Arab citizens, however, are exempt from army service because of the long history of conflict between the two sides.
As in Baltimore, which in recent years has experienced an influx of jobs in cybersecurity, life sciences and information technology, Israel is known for its tech-centric job market. But to gain access to the “startup nation,” you need a proper education.
Lackluster education and low levels of interaction with the majority Jewish population effectively deny access to Israel’s major business centers or social and professional networks. In part because of this, levels of crime in the Arab population group are higher than the national Israeli average, with arrest rates being 40 percent higher among Arab youth.
I propose a number of policy recommendations that could help Israel’s Arab population, and could be applicable to any society that suffers from socioeconomic segregation and related challenges.
First, we must implement a more practical, career-oriented educational model in our Arab schools. This includes proficiency in Hebrew and an increased focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
Israel must invest in geographically-convenient and culturally-sensitive career and academic centers for young Arabs.Also, the government should dedicate time and financial resources to renovating infrastructure and creating employment opportunities for Arab citizens.
Even though I live halfway around the world, I can’t help but wonder if Israel could learn from the ways in which Baltimore is attempting to shrink its racial and socioeconomic gaps. Whether in Israel or Baltimore, the integration of young minorities into society should be elevated to a statewide and national priority.
After all, solving this problem will simultaneously generate momentum for economic growth and, most importantly, increase our respective communities’ overall sense of solidarity.
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MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroCup Women Regular Season games between Elitzur Ramla and Kibirkstis Vilnius have been postponed due to the situation in Israel
which has led to the inability of most airlines to operate flights to and from the country
The two games were scheduled to take place on Monday
The status of these games and the next steps will be discussed between FIBA Europe
the affected clubs and their National Federations
with all stakeholders informed about the decision in due course
MVP signs several more female fighters in an effort to bolster their position in women’s boxing
All of these signings are said to embody MVP’s mission to elevate and empower women athletes on the world stage.
“MVP is committed to signing fighters who are not only champions in the ring but also game-changers for the sport, and we’re proud to welcome Dina, Ramla, Naomy and Nat to the MVP family,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions in a press release.
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The 2020 WNBA draftee poured 16 points, going 70% from the field and roughly 66% from behind the three-point line. Additionally, she swiped one steal in the road win as the defending champions maintain the third position with a 16-6 overall record this season.
Elitzur Ramla controlled the glass in the intense matchup, grabbing 33 rebounds compared to the 17-5 overall Rishon team's 27. Despite the opposition leading Ramla in combined assists, 23 to 17, Sutton's facilitating talents were on full display as she led all players with 10–securing a double-double in her team's thrilling victory.
Elitzur Ramla (16-6) will conclude its regular season at home against league leader Maccabi Bnot Ashdod (19-3) next Monday, March 24.
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Home » Ramadan » Fairmont Ramla has just what you need for iftar this year
Partner Content: Ready to savour every moment
Ramadan is just around the corner and with it comes the time for reflection
It’s that special month where this bustling city of ours
As we start preparing for the season of fasting and feasting
why not venture out of the home this year for iftar?
Let’s make those gatherings count with great food
Here’s how you can savour every moment at Fairmont Ramla…
located on the mezzanine floor with stunning views of the Ramla Terraza
You’ll find a family-friendly setup that’s perfect for an evening of relaxation and reflection
The View restaurant offers a delightful Ramadan buffet which runs from sunset till 8:30pm
Expect a mouthwatering spread of international and local dishes
complemented by live cooking stations where chefs prepare your favourites live in front of you
Whether you’re after a hearty meal or lighter bites
Celebrate the spirit of Ramadan at Fairmont Ramla with moments that inspire reflection
Whether you choose to dine indoors in a cosy atmosphere or enjoy the alfresco terrace setting
the whole family is guaranteed a memorable experience
Ready to have a special Ramadan dining experience this year
Call +966 11 22 44 500 or email reservations.ramla@fairmont.com
Al Sahafah, fairmont.com (+966 11 22 44 500)
Fill your calendar with these spectacular events
Footballing superstars are headed to Saudi – what you need to know
Partner Content: Stable-to-table dining with a live DJ
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FollowJun 24, 2021Ariel DavidJun 24
2021Get email notification for articles from Ariel David FollowJun 24
archaeologists in central Israel discovered the fragmentary remains of a very strange hominin skull
the researchers revealed their conclusion on Thursday: It belonged to a previously unknown type of archaic humans
dubbed Homo Nesher Ramla after a limestone quarry in central Israel where it was found
lived between 140,000 and 120,000 years ago
It may have been one of the last survivors of a very ancient group of prehistoric hominins
one that may have been ancestral to the European Neanderthal
“This fossil changes many of our views on human evolution and specifically on Neanderthals
which were thought to have originated in Europe
rather than in the Middle East,” says Prof
a physical anthropologist at Tel Aviv University who led the analysis of the skull
Open gallery viewThe Nesher Ramla mandible and skull.Credit: Credit: Avi Levin and Ilan Theiler
including most of the parietal bones and the lower jaw
was found during a 2010-2011 salvage dig at a prehistoric site discovered in the limestone quarry used by the Nesher cement factory
The site is just outside the central Israeli town of Ramla
Bulldozers were clearing a new section of the quarry when they hit an ancient sinkhole
As they dug out sediments to a depth of 12 meters
layers of prehistoric tools and animal bones began to emerge
an archaeologist now with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
was called in to excavate the site before it was destroyed
Israel Hershkovitz (left to right) holding the Nesher Ramla fossilsCredit: Avi Levin and Ilan Theiler
Tel Aviv University“This was a salvage excavation
so we had to dig much faster than we usually do,” Zaidner recalls
“In those two seasons we unearthed an amount of material that would normally require 20 years.”
It quickly became evident that prehistoric humans had used the natural sinkhole as an open-air camp to hunt and butcher their prey
But who exactly had been doing the hunting
were similar to those unearthed at other sites from this period and known to have been inhabited by these early sapiens pioneers
Open gallery viewThe Nesher Ramla excavation siteCredit: Yossi ZaidnerBut when anthropologists analyzed the remains of the skull
Open gallery viewHomo Nesher Ramle,: The skull parts that were discoveredCredit: Tel Aviv University“It looks nothing like Homo sapiens,” Hershkovitz says
The bones displayed a puzzling mosaic of primitive and more advanced features
such as an unusually thick skull and a wide
The researchers conducted advanced three-dimensional shape analyses and evaluated multiple physical traits to compare them to other known Homo specimens and figure out which species it belongs to
Open gallery viewStone tool with serrated edge
Nesher RamlaCredit: Tal RogovskiThe Nesher Man skull doesn’t fit any known hominin group
says Tel Aviv University anthropologist Hila May
Some traits fall within the range of Homo erectus
the first hominin to leave Africa and spread across Eurasia around 1.9 million year ago
Other features are more typical of Neanderthals
particularly the earliest specimens that appear some 400,000 years ago in Europe
But what was this unknown and morphologically primitive hominin doing in Israel 140,000-120,000 years ago
a relatively recent time (in evolutionary terms)
when the Levant was already awash with sapiens while Europe was still firmly in Neanderthal hands
And what was the connection of this new Homo species to the rest of our evolutionary tree
Hershkovitz and colleagues looked at the morphology of other hominin remains that have been discovered in Israel over the last century in Israel and which date to the Middle Pleistocene
the geologic period that goes from 780,000 to 126,000 years ago
Scholars have been debating the identity of these fossils for decades
but when Hershkovitz and colleagues compared their morphologies to that of the newly uncovered specimen from Nesher Ramla
they found that they all fit together in a neat group
Open gallery viewA view of Qesem CaveCredit: Ariel David“All of them have very archaic features as well as a similarity to Neanderthal populations,” says dental anthropologist Rachel Sarig
“So we think that the Nesher Ramla specimen was actually one of the last survivors of a group that had been around for a very long time
The mix of archaic features and Neanderthal traits also suggests that Nesher Man may have been an evolutionary predecessor of the Neanderthals and other hominins that inhabited Eurasia during the Middle Pleistocene
Until recently scholars firmly believed that Neanderthals evolved in Europe
but multiple studies in recent years have already questioned this paradigm and suggested a Middle Eastern origin for them instead
The morphology of European hominins from the Middle Pleistocene is extremely variable
so much so that scientists doubt that they could all have evolved from a single population on the continent itself
Europe was colonized by successive waves of hominins from the Middle East during interglacial periods
probably from a common mother population evolving in this latter region.”
That mother population has now been identified at the dusty limestone quarry of Nesher Ramla
they were Neanderthals before the Neanderthals,” he says
This Levantine population did not necessarily spread only west
evolving into Homo variants that have been unearthed in East Asia
The discovery’s interpretation is likely to spark heated debate among scholars of human evolution
it is a “refreshing” find that questions a traditionally linear and simplified scenario for human evolution
an anthropologist from the University of Winnipeg
“I am not 100 percent sold on the idea that Neanderthals originated in that part of the world
Their morphology is quite distinct and arises early on in Europe,” Roksandic tells Haaretz
“Ancestral Neanderthals could have quite easily come from the Levant into Western Europe
they are unlikely to have had developed Neanderthal morphology right there and then
therefore this late specimen cannot really contribute to the debate.”
archaeologists in the Levant will have to find more and older skeletons of Homo Nesher Ramla if they want to conclusively prove their case
there is already another element that supports Nesher Man’s putative place in the evolutionary tree
because it helps explain another mystery in the Neanderthal story
how could Neanderthals and sapiens have sex more than 100,000 years ago if they were still separated by thousands of kilometers
if we accept that the source population for the Neanderthals came from the Levant
then that could explain how sapiens genes made it to Europe tens of thousands of years before our actual ancestors did
Open gallery viewSketch imaging the teeth of Homo Nesher RamlaCredit: Ariel Pokhojaev
we know that early Homo sapiens was already in the Levant at least 200,000 years ago and must have coexisted with the newly-identified Homo Nesher Ramla
at the Nesher site and at nearby sapiens caves there is evidence that the two groups interacted closely because they didn’t just make similar utensils
they used the same tool-making technologies
“Theoretically you can just find such a tool on the ground and get to a similar shape using different processes
but here we see similarities in all the stages of the flint knapping
and that is something you need to learn,” he says
“So the best explanation for the parallels in the stone tool production techniques is that they learned from each other.”
culturally it was very similar to our sapiens ancestors and ostensibly had comparable cognitive abilities
close communication suggests that other forms of interaction may have occurred
and that this is how the European hominins that possibly descended from Nesher Man carried within them a bit of sapiens DNA
It’s not hard to imagine that at some point
some guy must have shown off his extensive collection of super-cool last-generation flint tools to the girl from the cave next-door
An appropriate amount of oohing and aahing ensued
Work is well underway on Road 200 the Ramle bypass
which will link the city's new western neighborhoods to a highway connecting Road 431 west of Ramle with Road 44 north of the city
Work by Netivei Ayalon should be completed next year
In the future there are plans to extend Road 200 southwards from Road 431 to Rehovot's northern bypass road and eastwards from Road 44 to bypass Lod from the west
Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on April 24
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd
dreams of representing her country at OlympicsThe boxing refugee talks about her secret career
and why she doesn't have a date of birth
By Andrew BinnerImagine having to keep national sporting success a secret from your parents
she was expected to dress and behave modestly
"In her eyes to be a good Muslim girl you have to have to be fully covered."
Ali took up boxing as a teenager in order to lose weight, assuring her family that she was not contesting bouts.
The London fighter's cover was soon blown and her parents told her to stop.
It was their wish for the university law graduate to pursue a career in the court room, rather than the boxing ring.
Ali dutifully obeyed and took up employment with a London law firm.
However, after six months of regular late nights she quit in order to pursue her passion once more.
"I absolutely hated it, the hours were crazy, and the morning rush hour was horrible especially in the summer," said Ramla, who has now switched allegiances to box for Somalia.
"I’d be in the office for so late in the evening that I’d miss training and I thought what is this? This isn’t life and it’s not making me happy so I stopped."
The Olympic Channel Podcast visited Ramla Ali to talk Tokyo 2020, refugees and keeping her boxing career secret from her family.
Keeping her boxing secret was the only option for Ali, who neither wished to disappoint her parents or give up on boxing.
So how do you win a national title in secret?
"I remember telling my mum, ‘Mum I'm going for a run’ and I dressed up in a tracksuit, put on a woolly hat and looked like I was going for a run and then walked two roads down to York Hall and competed," said Ali, who then lived with her family in London's Bethnal Green.
"The moment my bout had finished, I put my tracksuit back on and jogged back home, to make it look like I was still sweating and then I walked in the house, ‘hey mum’ and then just went upstairs and took a shower, sat in front of the TV and watched some TV."
"It was the worst feeling. The first person I wanted to tell was my mum, but I couldn’t."
Ramla was lucky to arrive as a refugee in Britain alive.
She was just a baby when her family were forced to flee war-torn Mogadishu, after her brother was killed by a stray grenade.
The future prize fighter almost died on the treacherous, overcrowded boat journey to Britain, after someone suggested to Ramla's mother to use rat poison to rid her of hair lice.
"I was just vomiting and vomiting and vomiting... I’d lost so much weight."
There was a full recovery but in the chaos all the family records were lost.
"At the time I was born it was June, the start of the civil war so there was little focus on records and everyone was just fleeing for safety."
View this post on Instagram Little #tb playing with @cuongzi working on reactions post workout.
A post shared by Ramla Ali (@somaliboxer) on Jan 27, 2018 at 7:30am PST
After the horrific journey in which many people died of starvation, the family's early life in Britain remained tough.
"None of us spoke English and my Dad, who is very educated, speaks really good Italian and had a really good job in Somalia, had to take up a job in construction when he came here despite knowing nothing about it.
"He had to do that so we could eat. My Mum took up some sewing lessons so she could make dresses and stuff like that so we could eat.
"My mum’s always told us we should be so grateful, we should be so lucky that we’re here, we’re in safety and you have always got to fight for what you want."
With determined parents eager to give their children a better life, it is clear to see where Ali's persistence and drive to become a great boxer stemmed from.
Boxing improved Ali's life both physically and socially.
"When I was in secondary school, I was quite overweight... and I got bullied.
"I did boxercise and I thought wow, this is amazing, this is so good I love it. But once a week wasn’t enough for me so I searched on the internet for local boxing gyms next to me and I found one and I walked in, and I’ve loved it ever since.
"All of the friends that I have now were made through boxing and for me it just gave me a second family."
Eventually, Ali's talent was spotted by a coach, who felt she could do more than just hit the pads.
"I’d never thought about competing because the idea of women’s boxing wasn’t really a thing back then. He said, 'I think you should do it' and I thought, 'Why not?' So, we did it.
"Trying to keep bruises and black eyes a secret, that was especially hard because I don’t wear make up, so when I started wearing make up everything became a bit more suspicious."
On the eve of Ali's marriage to her now coach Richard Moore, a dilemma that plagued her career to date reared its head once more.
Upon hearing that she was boxing again, Ali's mother and sister called Moore to explain that their marriage would not go ahead unless he put an end to her boxing aspirations.
He assured the family he would follow their orders despite having no intention of stopping Ali's career.
The next day Ali competed in, and won, the English title.
View this post on Instagram It’s me and you against the world ❤️ @richardanthonymoore
A post shared by Ramla Ali (@somaliboxer) on Nov 21, 2018 at 7:02am PST
In 2017, Ali and Moore made the decision she would switch alliances and box for Somalia.
The only barrier to this idea becoming a reality was that there was no Somalian boxing federation.
In order to help set it up and gain global attention, Moore contacted a Somalian news channel with the story.
Ali's uncle saw the interview and decided to reach out her.
"He said how proud he was of me and he said he thought deep down my Mum would be proud and me and that I should tell her."
A call from Ali's mother, Anisa Maye Maalim, shortly followed and contrary to her daughter's fears, she too was proud.
"My uncle told her what I'd been doing was a good thing, raising awareness for the Somali community and raising awareness for women in Africa and she just said it was amazing and 'I’m really proud'.
"That was probably one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with my mum, to know that she was supportive and proud of what I was doing."
News of the Week with Ash Tulloch on 8 March 2019In this week's round-up: Two-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Manuel talks about her swimming programme at Lebron James' I Promise School, plus 1992 Olympic chamption Christian Laettner is trying to turn a struggling High School basketball team around and we meet the daughter of three-time Olympic gold medallist Gunda Niemann who wants to follow in her mum's footsteps.
Ali has now become a pillar of inspiration within the community that her mother once feared would reject her boxing.
Far from being judged, she receives daily affirmations of her sporting achievements through social media.
"I constantly get bombarded by messages on Instagram saying that you’re very inspiring and my daughter looks up to you and I’ve started taking my daughter to boxing.
"If you can inspire let’s say another Ramla in Somalia to take up boxing, then you’ve done your job very well.
"It’s great to win titles and medals and things like that, but if you can inspire a whole new generation of girls and athletes not just to take up boxing but to take up sport, then you’ve done so much."
In addition to her inspirational actions in the ring, Ali likes to give back directly to her community through boxing classes too.
She hosts weekly a boxing class for a group of Muslim women, where the blinds are drawn, they remove their hijabs and work out in comfort.
"They just love it. And it’s not like a boxercise class, I’m actually teaching them how to box and throw proper shots and I think that’s what they love the most is that they’re learning to box and learning to defend themselves.
View this post on Instagram Met the legend that is Manny Pacquiao who's now unofficially a #lodgeboy. #boxing
A post shared by Ramla Ali (@somaliboxer) on Jan 23, 2015 at 1:21pm PST
Ali's next goal inside the ring is to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In addition to becoming Somalia's first ever boxing representative at the Games, there is another huge incentive in making it to Japan.
"My Mum said she would come and watch me. She’s never been to any of my fights, she’s never watched me box so that would just be really emotional."
The interview and questions were shortened to make them easier to read
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I arrived in the UK as a two-year-old refugee in the early 90s
My family fled the civil war in Somalia after my 12-year-old brother was killed by a stray grenade
Growing up in a Somali household in east London as a refugee
I initially joined a gym to get fit because I was bullied for being overweight
I had to keep it from my family for years because my mother
I would tell her I was going to the gym or running when I was actually training
It wasn't until I started winning competitions that I had to tell them
The thing I’m most proud of is being able to talk about boxing with my parents
it's the biggest victory I could ever have. To this day
I chip away at my goals and celebrate every win
The big wins mean a lot more when you can celebrate the small ones too.
One of the biggest misconceptions about boxing is that you have to look masculine or be butch
I wish I could grow my shoulders and my triceps
but it's just not how a woman's body is programmed – so I embrace what I have
The advice I’d give to anyone is the same I'd give to 12-year-old me: never give up
I was always told women – especially Muslim women – shouldn't box; it's against the religion and the culture
It’s important to do what makes you happy and not listen to others
I get a lot of support and a lot of positive messages now
but people will always find things to poke holes in
Staying motivated takes sacrifice and determination
I worked multiple jobs to support myself while training
I had no financial backing or sponsorships for years
and the general scepticism surrounding women's combat sports
I also had to navigate the complicated process of nationality and representation in international competitions
as Somalia didn't have a boxing federation when I started. I created Somalia's first boxing federation and was also the first Somali to box professionally
as well as in the Olympics at the Tokyo Games in 2021
I also made history as the first woman to competitively box in Saudi Arabia
a friend of mine recently said he prefers watching women over men because it's more artistic
It’s why my interest in fashion shouldn’t be unusual or surprising to anyone
leggings and sports bras – comfort is the name of the game
But what I choose to wear is always a representation of how I'm feeling mentally
and there are days when I don’t feel beautiful
I don't often have the luxury of wearing extremely expensive clothes
I love a pair of heels and a dress that makes me feel sexy
Maya Earrings, £160 | By Alona
A real ‘pinch me’ moment in my life? Going to the Met Gala in 2022. I wore a white ruffled and feathered Giambattista Valli haute-couture tulle gown. Looking back over my life in fashion, I’d say the dress I’ve felt the most ‘wow’ in was by Alaïa. It was red
and it came with red heels – I wore it to a Vogue after-party with a matching red lip
I felt a million dollars – but that’s Alaïa for you
It’s all in those sculptural silhouettes.
Personal appearance tells the story of my life
The scar above my eyebrow came from a tough fight early in my professional career
especially in the heavier rounds when both fighters are pushing their limits
I wear it as a badge of honour now – a reminder of the fights both in and out of the ring
but the pain that comes with an injury doesn’t faze me
Fitness is my thing – I never go a day without training
even when my coaches tell me to take it easy
I start a training camp 12 weeks prior to a fight
It’s really intense; I train up to five hours a day
enabling us to offer free classes to vulnerable women in London – and hopefully
I recently hosted a Sisters Club in Jeddah for the first time
It was a boxing class and 300 women signed up
I had to break it down into groups and take them one by one
There's a definite appetite for it over there
Female sport is growing massively in the region
which has the backing of Saudi Prince Faisal Al Saud
Rich put his career on hold to help me pursue my dream of going to the Olympics
so now it’s time for me to help him pursue his dreams of producing films
That’s one of the most rewarding parts of this journey – being able to support those who have always supported me
Fashion features director Elaine Lloyd Jones
Hair stylist Liah Lewis, Make up artist Jessica DeBruyne
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A prisoner from the Gaza Strip died after detention in the Israeli Ramla Prison
bringing the number of prisoners who died in detention since Oct
the Palestinian Prisoners Club announced on Friday.
“A prisoner from the Gaza Strip was martyred in the Israeli Ramla prison,” the non-governmental club stated.
It indicated that the prisoner was arrested after the Israeli offensive launched on Gaza on Oct
without details about his identity or date of arrest.
the club announced “the martyrdom of the prisoner Khalid al-Shaweesh
from the Al-Far'a refugee camp near Tubas in the northern West Bank
Official and familial Palestinian sources confirm that Israel practices “isolation
and medical neglect” against Palestinian prisoners
as part of “unprecedented retaliatory and punitive measures” since Oct
With the start of the destructive war on the Gaza Strip
Israel escalated its operations in the West Bank
leaving at least 400 killed and more than 4,500 injured
according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health
in addition to about 7,120 detainees according to the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Commission and the Prisoners Club.
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas
which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.
The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food
while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice
An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
and aid deliveries remain woefully insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe
ShareSaveCommentBusinessHollywood & EntertainmentHow The Indian Producer Of ‘In The Shadows’ Identifies With Ramla AliBySweta Kaushal
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Sweta Kaushal writes about Bollywood and Indian films.Follow AuthorSep 27
08:34pm EDTShareSaveCommentRamla Ali is seen arriving at the Dior ready-to-wear Spring/Summer 2023 fashion collection presented ..
Indian producer Anushka Shah has been living in London for the past two years
ever since she set up an office for Civic Studios in England
she had spent a few years in the British city as a student
When given an opportunity to back Somalian-British professional boxer Ramla Ali’s biopic
She took on the opportunity as she recognized the need to tell stories of immigration and refugees
along with Affine Films and The World We Want Studios
have financed a biopic on Somali-British professional boxer
Ali will serve as an executive producer on the film
BAFTA-winning actor Jasmine Jobson will play the lead role while Finn Cole (Fast & Furious 9) will feature as her husband (Richard Moore)
Andor star Gershwyn Eustache Jr essays the role of her boxing coach
The shooting of the film has been completed
India's Anushka Shah talks about her prodcution house in an ..
I spent quite a lot of time in East London
Ramla's story has a lot to do with East London and the community around that region
as well as the immigrants and refugees in East London
She was part of a family that came as refugees from Somalia
and dealt with the challenges of that transition
she was trying to find a way to make an identity and space for herself
The story of how she put up against obstacles was touching
The obstacles were not just external but within the family as well.” Another big reason for Shah to join the project was the great collaborators on it
Shah worked with a political party and some NGOs before moving to the Indian media consulting firm
“My interest had always actually been in electoral politics
I believed media would be an interesting platform to talk about social change and impact
I've always believed in the power of data to work backwards
India is a complex and layered country and there can be different ways in which your intention and the ultimate result turn out.”
“Ormax Media was my first step because it gave me a chance to do a lot of quantitative and qualitative research
I got to travel through small parts and cities of India really doing focus groups
understanding why people watch what they do and how does it influence and impact their lives
That was really a fantastic learning.” Shah adds that her master's degree that focused on applied statistics and media analytics
and eventually led to four years of research job at MIT was “a scaled-up version of thinking about media impact”
Running a company with social cause is quite a tricky task
The balancing of profits with ethics and the larger good can be challenging at times
Shah credits her “closest and first colleague” Roohi Bhatia for maintaining the morality of the production house
“She's our director of strategy and operations and is the real force behind ensuring our objectives haven’t changed
and she is there to remind us of the goals
We also have our director of research and impact Namrata Sharma who is the reason we ensure there's diversity in our thought process
we ensure they all go through the same rigorous process of impact evaluation
We may not be necessarily successful each time
There are times we let go of fantastic scripts from a creative point of view
because they lacked that impact compared with the effort
Shah plans impact campaigns around In The Shadows
Civic Studios mostly picks films that have social messages and conducts publicity campaigns focused on action that can be taken to help the cause
a non-profit organization that runs boxing
basketball and running classes designed to improve fitness levels for women
It operates in four different London locations
“Through that she tries to give back to the community
I would say that was a very interesting thing to come across because she doesn't use it for PR or branding.”
“We (at Civic Studios) try to straddle the worlds of development and entertainment sectors with our impact campaigns
There's so much of fantastic work happening on the ground
that's a sector that suffers from a PR crisis and most people are not even familiar with the sector
Our goal is to present the change makers - activists
Shah insists it is very important for her to have a gender-progressive work-frame at her office
“It is very important for us as cultural creators to capitalize on the waves of gender discussions that keep happening around us
The fact that the public is paying attention to this
the fact that policy and politics can't afford to ignore it make it all the more important for us to shape norms beyond the social norms.”
Sumit Purohit’s short film Vakeel Babu which released on Amazon Mini in 2022
Focusing on gender-based violence and the need for gender sensitivity among legal practitioners
Bhamini Oza Gandhi and Loveleen Mishra in lead roles
Shah reveals that interactions with lawyers
government officials and women during the research who go through domestic violence cases formed the basis of the film’s story
Some professors even adopted it as part of their syllabus for teaching
We wanted to move ahead of the need for women to be aware of their rights
Shah hopes for a more inclusive workspace and admits that having mostly women in the team makes them lack a male perspective on things
Different people of different genders bring different strengths - women have certain strengths and men have certain others
Sometimes we are very conscious that we might lose out on viewing the burden of patriarchy on the male psyche
That is something we're conscious of in our projects
We try to make sure we're getting different opinions from within the team and from outside,” she concludes
(This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity)
Ramla Ali's boxing career is just one part of her epic life story
This week, MVP Promotions, which Jake Paul co-founded with Nakisa Bidarian, announced that it signed Ramla Ali along with three other fighters. Inside the ring
Outside the ring she has been fighting her whole life
though records of her birth were lost in the Somali Civil War which began in 1991 following the fall of longtime Marxist dictator Siad Barre
The war had a deep impact on her and her family
with an older sibling being accidentally killed by a grenade
The family fled to Kenya (which is also home to a sizable Somali population) before arriving in London
IMAGO / Hindustan TimesAli initially hid her interest in boxing from her family before becoming a leading amateur boxer in the UK
She was the first boxer from Somalia to compete at the Women's World Championships in New Delhi
and the first fighter from Somalia (male or female) to compete in the Olympics
which she did in 2020 representing the United Kingdom
Following her debut loss at the Tokyo Olympics
MORE: Lamont Roach Receives Boxing Title Fight Callout Before Gervonta 'Tank' Davis Rematch
along with Dominican boxer Crystal Garcia Nova
she participated in the first professional female boxing match in Saudi Arabia
she committed to offering 25% of her professional purses to charitable causes
Her incredible story has brought accolades outside the ring
including becoming a UNICEF Ambassador and working with fashion brands like Christian Dior and Cartier
she was among a dozen women chosen for recognition as TIME Magazine Woman of the Year
she challenged Yamileth Mercado for the WBC Youth super bantamweight title but lost by unanimous decision
Her signing by MVP Promotions has offered her a chance to re-invigorate her career and add another chapter to an already incredible life story
Eddie Hearn Reveals Latest Thoughts On Dana White’s Move Into Boxing
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Lotte Jeffs is an award-winning magazine writer and podcaster
By Mona Tabbara2024-08-06T09:39:00+01:00
True Brit Entertainment has picked up Anthony Wonke-directed boxing biopic In The Shadows for release in the UK-Ireland in 2025
Production began in London this week. Altitude reps sales
who without her parents’ knowledge secretly pursued boxing to become the first Somali-British professional boxing champion
who was previously attached to play the lead
while Gershwyn Eustache Jr stars as her boxing coach.
Lee Magiday produces for Sleeper Films alongside Madeleine Sanderson for Affine Films
Bookmark this page and keep track of the latest film release dates in the UK & Ireland
EXCLUSIVE: Film shoots in Dublin and Dundalk this summer
‘Ish’ and ‘Learning To Breathe Under Water’ will also feature
Bookmark this page to keep track of all the latest festival dates
Oscar winner proposing federal tax incentives
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Another 67 turtles have hatched from the eighth nest discovered at Ramla l-Ħamra
hatched earlier than expected and contained a total of 76 eggs
The eighth nest was located in Ramla l-Ħamra Bay on August 8 of this year and was carefully opened by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in collaboration with Nature Trust Malta (NTM) on September 28
“This season is definitely one to remember
with over 400 turtles released into the wild
the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is dedicated to conserving wildlife and enhancing Malta’s environment for a better quality of life
ERA will continue to support Nature Trust Malta in its wildlife rehabilitation project and is committed to providing resources for the protection of wildlife
particularly endangered species like the common turtle
This initiative has also raised public awareness about the importance of sea turtle conservation
and I am optimistic that the community will join ERA in celebrating this record-breaking season.”— ERA CEO Kevin Mercieca
The ERA has reminded the public that the last nest
identified as the seventh nest located within Ramla tal-Mixquqa is expected to hatch imminently
Over a few days births of turtles hatching from a lay-nest in Ramla tal-Mixquqa have occurred
The nest was originally found at Għajn Tuffieħa but had to be relocated to Ramla tal-Mixquqa because it was too near the sea and at risk of being lost
On social media the ERA said that after days of activity
at about midnight last night the turtles began to hatch and 35 are known to have made their way into the sea
It explained the nest would continue under surveillance during today and tonight until all are hatched
The Authority thanked all volunteers from Nature Trust and ERA officials for their help during the process
Bdiet tfaqqas it-tieni bejta fir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa!Din il-bejta oriġinarjament instabet f’Għajn Tuffieħa iżda kellha…
A total of 81 turtles have hatched from a nest that was discovered on 13th July in Ramla l-Ħamra Bay and has been excavated by the Authority for the Environment and Resources
Nature Trust Malta and a qualified vet to ascertain the total number of turtles hatched in the nest
81 have hatched and made their way to the sea while 12 remained in the nest
Eggs in five other nests are expected to hatch over the coming weeks and the Authority for the Environment and Resources and Nature Malta are appealing to the public to be careful around the nests and refrain from using flash photography while remaining quiet
Introducing Ramla Ali, the dynamic boxer and fashion influencer representing female strength in our Start The Year Strong campaign
her story reflects resilience and determination
she skillfully merges her passion for sport and fashion
often donning bespoke kits from renowned designers like Dior
With her bold attitude and distinctive style
Ali challenges stereotypes and motivates a new generation
Ali shows us her innovative take on fashion and steadfast dedication to breaking down barriers in both boxing and the fashion industry
In our interview with Ramla Ali
emphasising its link to her love for boxing and fashion
She perceives fashion as "armour," providing her with empowerment and confidence.
which she believes distinguish her in the boxing arena
enabling her to transition seamlessly from the boxing ring to chic fashion events
This fusion of sport and style is crucial to her identity and public image
Ali reveals tips for mastering sports luxe dressing this year
showcasing standout pieces from Dior and Maria Grazia Chiuri's new bag
With its elegant lines and practical central compartment
this bag comes in various sizes and materials
This unique accessory embodies both style and practicality
making it a must-have for everyday elegance
this bralette is drawn from House archives and created by Marc Bohan in 1971
the bralette can be paired with flared pants to complete a graphic Dior look
The bomber jacket that redefines sportswear codes with couture appeal
it has a cropped silhouette with bishop sleeves
enhanced by the graphic black and white Dior motif
these boots are characterised by a pointed toe and 5-cm (2-inch) graphic heel
The modern shoe will lend a couture touch to any look this season
and creative director with over 20 years of transformative impact in the beauty industry
As the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK
she orchestrates high-profile shoots with celebrities and influencers
creating visually stunning and globally resonant content
Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition and the Media Advisory Board
She is also an ambassador for the Soil Association certification and the Amazon Research Institute
she keeps readers informed about the latest advancements in sustainable beauty and supports brands that champion environmental causes
emphasising the need for the beauty industry to reset its priorities
Lisa's influence extends beyond words; she directs inspiring short films on sustainability and challenges in the beauty industry and is a sought-after public speaker
Recently recognised in the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty 2023
she also champions mental health and eco-conscious practices
demonstrating that glamour and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully
will defend the WBC super bantamweight world title against Ramla Ali in a duel that will be held this coming Saturday in Phoenix
in what will be her 8th defense of the world crown
The fighter from Chihuahua is motivated for this commitment
but the title challenger feels that she can surprise
since she has prepared thoroughly for this duel
who is part of Fernando Beltrán Rendón’s talented Zanfer Team
will fight in the third international fight of her career
comes to this commitment with a record of 23-3
with 5 knockouts and will wear a beautiful white kit with white and green stripes
where she proudly wears the TELMEX-TELCEL Logo
2 KOs) comes into her first world title fight full of confidence after getting sweet revenge on Julissa Guzmán in her last fight in Monte Carlo
Today the official weigh-in of the fight was held:
👑 WBC World Super Bantamweight Title#MercadoAli #EstradaBam pic.twitter.com/gacAlgFGTE
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 29, 2024
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The natural disaster left her both devastated and moved to create change
‘why don’t we have good solutions to these impending hazards?’” she recalls
The curiosity to find the answers dictated her career path and subsequently helped mold her into the women in engineering leader she is today
Her first pursuit was an education in earthquake engineering
After completing her bachelor’s in civil engineering in Pakistan
Qureshi travelled to the United States as a Fulbright scholarship recipient to complete her master’s in earthquake engineering
and later her PhD focusing on structural fire engineering at the University of Buffalo
Qureshi was part of the University at Buffalo’s Earthquake Engineering Research Institute student chapter
who frequently visited McMaster’s campus and hosted McMaster student visits across the border
She has now joined the department of civil engineering at McMaster as faculty in January of 2024
While she has achieved great academic success
the journey to get there was anything but easy
“To say it was hard is an understatement because at times it was absolutely unbearable
It was very hard to prove that I belonged and then keep proving myself every day
Being denied opportunities just on the basis of my gender
microaggression and misogyny played a large role in my experience as a young woman who was studying and eventually practicing engineering.”
Qureshi was one of ten girls in a classroom of 160 people
Her ability to excel in the program was challenged immediately
as her professors would ask her what she was doing in the program
claiming that engineering was too hard for women
‘we’re here to prove you wrong in this mentality’” she says.
Qureshi completed her undergraduate degree in civil engineering
however being a practicing engineer confronted her with yet another wave of disparaging treatment
From being told jobs were too difficult for her to complete
to being denied the opportunity to meet with clients or travel abroad to complete assignments
her ability to showcase her full potential in the workplace was frequently intercepted and cut short.
“There was this invisible wall in front of me
and I had to dig my way out every single time!” she says
I didn’t feel like it was any better in North America
Her experience of isolation within engineering
unknowingly kickstarted a national movement that would change Qureshi’s life
Qureshi turned to social media to air her grievances and created a Facebook page titled
People started joining the page by the dozens
engaging in conversations about shared experiences and pain points
As the popularity of Women Engineers Pakistan increased
Qureshi was invited to visit a high school to speak to the young women students about career options
She recalls standing in front of the group of shy and timid girls
who transformed before her eyes when she introduced them to paper microscopes and scientific tools
Within a few minutes the whole classroom was charged with excitement
“They were all chatting and asking proper scientific questions
No one had let them experience science in its tangible aspects
and they had been systematically deprived of the joy of discovery,” she says.
That experience changed something in Qureshi.
Her newfound passion for STEM outreach took Women Engineers Pakistan beyond a social media channel and transformed it into a three-tier program that empowers women of all ages.
Qureshi began by reaching out to undergraduate and graduate students at different universities to create campus ambassadors who would facilitate informative and engaging visits to local high schools
The ambassadors served as role models and mentors to younger students
creating a pipeline aimed at inspiring young women to see themselves in STEM
The campus teams slowly spread out to over eight cities and operated as a peer-to-peer motivational network
Qureshi realized that while the ambassadors played a vital role in inspiring the next generation of STEM students
they themselves also needed the support of role models
she expanded Women Engineers Pakistan to provide software and leadership training for the campus ambassadors.
“By providing training that would otherwise be inaccessible to them for numerous reasons
we are giving an edge to our women students as they prepare to enter the workforce,” Qureshi says
“We are trying to level the playing field when they apply to jobs where men are predominantly selected by employers.”
But the need for more women empowerment in the field didn’t stop there
“I realized that we’re building these amazing leaders
but then throwing them out into a workplace that is not receptive to them and soon their motivation is fizzled out,” she explains
Qureshi began to assemble a team of professional women working in the engineering field as mentors
The organization became a full cycle network
with the undergraduate students also being mentored by relatable role models.
Women Engineers Pakistan’s wrap-around approach has led to members creating their own companies and start-ups
earning the organization recognition from the government of Pakistan and partnerships with the United Nations
World Bank and other global businesses and organizations
The work being done by Qureshi and her team continues to pave the way for social change in Pakistan.
comes from a fundamental understanding of the importance of male allyship
Feminism is as much a men’s issue as it is a women’s issue
“It is impossible to lead a women’s empowerment intervention without the involvement of men.”
Qureshi mandated that 20% of the members had to be men
Representation of men played a critical role in the organization’s success
“By visiting high schools and advocating for more women in STEM
the men were also signalling to the young girls that they have men in this field who will welcome and support them
That is incredibly empowering for the men as well as the women.”
Acknowledging family dynamic roles in women empowerment was also a critical learning for Qureshi
She adapted the Women Engineers Pakistan’s outreach model to include meeting with parents and guardians of girls and women
“Understanding the roles fathers or brothers play in women and girls’ access to education was important for me
We can’t alienate those people that make such important decisions for those girls
I was also learning a lot of humanity and the application of tenets of culture studies within this work; STEM outreach is breaking the shackles of a lot of people’s minds.”
As an established woman leader in the field
Qureshi summarizes her future approach in one word: responsible
“My job now that I’m on the other side of the table is to make sure that there is access
a feeling of belonging and to inspire more women leaders into this field.” she says.
Her advice for girls and women currently pursuing an education in STEM is to never be afraid of making mistakes or allowing imposter syndrome to prevail in making them feel that the engineering field is not for them
her advice for all engineers is to be aware and acknowledge the systemic barriers society has places against certain groups of people and understand how they can play a role in creating the necessary changes.
and inclusion (EDI) should not be just a catchphrase
Only then can we truly get all people to contribute for normative change
People like to define engineering as dry math and difficult physics
EDI should be infused into everything we do as engineers; our end users are people.”
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Fossilized human bones found near Ramla and dating back to about 120,000 years ago
reveal the existence of a new type of human
from a population which may have been the source for the Neanderthals in Europe
the Israeli coastal plain looked very different from the way it does today
While there were naturally no cities or roads
but rather looked similar to an African-like Savannah
Humans were there too - an ancient tribe of hunter-gatherers
In a deep and wide depression created in the ground
During the tens of thousands of years that have passed since
the depression in the ground has been covered by a thick layer of soil
the site was exposed as part of a salvage excavation on the grounds of the Nesher cement factory
Yossi Zaidner and his team from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Tens of thousands of stone tools and tens of thousands of animal bones were found
This would seem to indicate that humans lived at this site for a prolonged period of time
posing the hypothesis that the man from Ramla belonged to an ancient population
and demostrate how this discovery changes the way we understand human history
Tens of thousands of stone tools and animal bones were found at the site
in addition to two partial skeletal remains belonging to a human
A view of the deeper parts of the excavation at the site of Nesher Ramla | Yossi Zaidner
Hila May to the Davidson Institute’s website
May headed the research on the fossil along with Prof
all affiliated with the Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research and the Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute at Tel-Aviv University
“A chin is a characteristic of modern humans
This already hinted at something other than what we expected to find
dating to this period in the land of Israel”
also indicated an early presence of Homo sapiens 120,000 and 90,000 years ago
The findings from Ramla were dated to between 120-140 thousand years ago
and it was therefore reasonable to expect human remains from this time period to belong to our own species
The stone tools found there also supported this hypothesis
The tools were made using a technique previously found in sites of Homo sapiens as well as of Neanderthals and has never been seen in combination with the bones of earlier human populations
the bones found in Ramla indicate that the humans living on the ancient coastal plain were not Homo sapiens
The chinless jaw was more similar to that of our Neanderthal relatives
who lived in Europe and Asia up to about 40,000 years ago
but also differed from the Neanderthal jaw in certain properties
The skull bone was flat relative to modern skulls
and resembled more the skull of earlier Homo species
A molar tooth found in the jaw also exhibited properties that did not fit with our species. When the researchers compared it to teeth found in other places, in Israel and around the world, they saw that it resembled teeth found in the Qesem cave near Rosh Ha’ayin and at a site called “Sima de los Huesos” (“Pit of the Bones”) in Spain
it is not clear which human population they belong to
The skeletons from Spain carry many Neanderthal characteristics
but also have different properties than those found in later individuals
The researchers concluded that the man from Ramla did not belong to Homo sapiens nor was he a Neanderthal
but instead that he belonged to a different population altogether that appeared 400,000 years ago
The group living in Ramla was perhaps one of the last groups of this ancient population
They lived in our region as well as in southern Europe
and it is possible that the Neanderthals evolved from them
The researchers preferred not to declare the finding as a new species of human
They refer to it as a “Nesher Ramla morphology type” or “Nesher Ramla Homo”
“We think it’s a dangerous hobby of anthropologists – there are too many species running around”
morphological variations within the same species”
“The classical definition is that individuals belong to separate species if they cannot reproduce and bear fertile offspring”
we know that they did procreate with one another
All modern humans outside of Africa have a certain percentage of Neanderthal DNA
indicating that our ancestors mated with Neanderthals
There is no reason to think this was not the case between all types of humans
The researchers refer to it as “Nesher Ramla Homo”
holding the partial skull and jaw found at the site | Ilan Theiler and Avi Levin
The researchers believe that the ancient population to which the “Nesher Rama Homo” belonged
had indeed “exchanged genes” with other populations
including our species as well as the Neanderthals
groups of Homo sapiens existed in the region
the bones found in Ramla carried characteristics which did not completely fit those of a modern human population
“The findings from Kedumim cave and Es-skhul cave were attributed to Homo sapiens
they have properties of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens
The Nesher Ramla type offers a solution: there was an ancient population here alongside modern humans
and if mating occurred between the populations it could explain these characteristics.”
An ancient population such as this, existing in the Middle East for hundreds of thousands of years, could also be the solution to other Neanderthals-related puzzles. Recent genetic research has shown that certain Neanderthal groups interbred with our ancestors, early modern humans, roughly 100,000 years ago
many thousands of years earlier than previously thought
the great migration of Homo sapiens from Africa occurred only 50,000-70,000 years ago
it was discovered that some humans who had migrated from Africa
settled in the land of Israel even prior to that
but none of their descendants are alive today
and it seems that they did not venture further than the Middle East
and whose descendants reside on these continents today
all left Africa during the great migration 70,000 years ago at the earliest
this is one of the big challenges that genetics has posed to paleontologists: explaining the flow of genes from Homo sapiens to Neanderthals at such an early stage
If the ancient population that the Nesher Ramla man belonged to exchanged genes with Homo sapiens that had arrived from Africa before the great migration
and also associated with Neanderthals in Europe and in eastern and northern Asia
this could be the solution for the hitherto unexplained gene flow
Another puzzle is associated with genetic findings that suggest that Neanderthals settled in Europe multiple times
with each wave of settlement replacing its predecessor
Where did those waves of migration originate
It is possible that they came from our area
“They were the human reservoir replenishing the Neanderthal population
there was migration from this region to Europe”
It is possible to learn about the interaction of the Nesher Ramla people with groups of Homo sapiens who also settled the land
These are tools made using a stone knipping technology termed Levallois
Many of the flint tools are made by a precise strike of a stone
causing a small and sharp piece to break off from it
The Levallois technique involves pre-planning by the knapper
These tools are characteristic of Homo sapiens and were found in the Kedumim cave and the Es-skhul cave
Similar tools were also discovered in other Neanderthal sites in other countries
In the Levallois technique of stone knapping
the knapper makes initial preparations of the stone
to pre-determine the final shape of the flake
An example of a Levallois point found at the site | Tal Rogovski
The researchers conducted a detailed comparison between tools found at the Nesher Ramla site and tools belonging to other groups of Homo sapiens
and concluded that they are highly similar
not only in their final shape but also in the method of their production
which can be inferred from the debris that includes the flakes that are created during tool knapping
“There is similarity throughout the whole knapping sequence”
The significance of this is that one of the groups must have learned this technology from the other
“If you find a tool tossed in the field and you happen to like its shape
you can try and copy it – but you’ll do it using your own method”
The imitation of the method itself suggests that interactions between the groups took place
“It shows that they did not just meet each other briefly
or from a distance – they observed how a flint knapper from the other group makes his tools
We don’t know who was the first to develop the Levallois technique
who brought it to our area or who was the one to teach whom - the Nesher Ramla people teaching the Homo sapiens population
But this research can give us a glimpse of this intimate encounter
between two different populations of humans: sitting together
Swimmers at a beach in Gozo have been joined by a greater flamingo
James Murray Curtis was one of the beachgoers who shared Ramla Bay with the protected bird when it flew into the shallow waters on Tuesday morning.
“I had seen flamingos before locally and abroad
but I was not expecting to see one at Ramla Bay in the middle of August,” he told Times of Malta.
Curtis said the juvenile bird first flew into the shallow waters at around 9.30 am
and people were initially unsure what bird it was due to its natural white and grey colour
The young Greater Flamingo enjoying the refreshing water at Ramla Bay on Tuesday
“Once people realised it was a flamingo
they became excited and tried to get closer to it to take a picture
But a few moments later the bird returned to the water and remained "happily paddling" in the shallow water.
“It remained there for another 10 minutes before eventually flying off again,” he said
adding that the bird flew in the direction of the Marsovin estate in the valley
A BirdLife Malta spokesperson said the bird was rescued from the sea off Comino by ERA members and Environment Protection Unit (EPU) police
We expect them at this time of year as flocks of flamingoes transit from one lagoon to another in the Mediterranean towards the end of their breeding season,” he told Times of Malta.
He said such juveniles are weak and struggle to keep up with their parent flock
vets check on the birds and then they are passed over to rehabilitation with us
where we ensure they gather enough strength to be eventually released and join a flock of flamingoes in due time.”
The bird was described as 'happily paddling' alongside other beachgoers at Ramla Bay
Flamingoes are no strangers to the island and are often spotted migrating throughout the summer months.
But it is not always good news for flamingos who make an easy target for shooters.
Last year, a young greater flamingo was shot in front of tourists at Xwejni in Gozo
The shooter was seen getting into a car and taking the flamingo with him
A poacher who shot down four flamingoes in 2021 was spared jail by a court of appeal last year
It ruled that the protected species was not endangered.
In June, the Malta Ranger Unit spent the night guarding a flamingo spotted in Gozo
an adult Greater Flamingo spent several days resting at the Salina Nature Reserve and was being observed by NGO Birdlife Malta
helping BirdLife Malta trace the flamingo back to Spain
It also discovered that the bird was likely to be almost 26 years old.
Back in 2019, BirdLife released two Greater Flamingoes into its Għadira Nature Reserve. One of the birds was rescued after it landed at Għadira Bay.
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Christmas markets and concerts in Jerusalem
Ramla and Tel Aviv-Yafo embrace the true holiday spirit of tolerance and inclusion and attract people of all religions to celebrate together
Christmas in Israel means walking through the small streets of Jerusalem’s Old City
attending a Christmas Mass or church service
playing in the snow at Jaffa’s Winter Festival
and sampling traditional foodstuffs at one of the holiday markets
Of course, many tourists will also want to visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Ministry of Tourism offers free shuttle transportation between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Check the schedule, here
Just don’t forget to make time to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth or the Franciscan parish church of St
Joseph in Ramla or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
ISRAEL21c brings the holiday highlights from five Israeli cities:
Nazareth
the 2,000-year-old Galilee city that is home to Israel’s largest Christian Arab community
The municipality of Nazareth is now holding its annual festive Christmas Market street fair with traditional foods
The official lighting of the Christmas Tree on Paulo VI Street is set for Dec 6
Keep December 24 free on your calendar for the traditional parade through the main street of Nazareth
makes its way to the plaza in front of the Basilica of the Annunciation
the annual fireworks display sponsored by the Tourism Ministry will light up the sky
Christmas Mass begins at 7pm in the Basilica of the Annunciation
The city’s other Catholic churches host services throughout the day on December 25. For times, click here
Christmas festivities in the capital city of Israel include Midnight Mass
The Jerusalem International YMCA is hosting a variety of events this year including a Christmas Festival (December 9-11; free) featuring Christmas crafts for sale
a giant Christmas tree and workshops for children
The YMCA will also host a Christmas Carols Concert (December 24 at 8pm)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for at the YMCA Christmas market, head over to the Old City’s Christian Quarter market for olivewood souvenirs or to the more upscale Mamilla Avenue mall
The year-round market stalls add tinsel and Santa paraphernalia for the holiday month
While not as elaborately shiny as other cities around the world, Jerusalem’s many churches and monasteries in the Old City and Ein Karem neighborhood get in the holiday spirit and deck out their entrances with boughs of holly
The main streets leading to the city of Bethlehem from Jerusalem are also adorned with decorations and green
Visitors are invited to take part in Midnight Mass and other prayer services at the city’s churches. For times, click here
Armenian Christmas will be celebrated January 18 in the Old City with a traditional parade and church services. For information on where to attend Armenian Christmas services, click here
Jaffa (Yafo) is hosting a Winter Festival on December 24 at Beit Romano (9 Derech Yafo
This is the place to shop for cool Israeli designs and soak up the hip vibe of the city
The municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo is hosting free tours in English of Old Jaffa
There will be a Viennese Christmas Ball with the music of Mozart
Strauss and Offenback at the Armenian church of St Nicholas in Jaffa on December 16 & 30th at 20:30
For information on where to attend Christmas services in Tel Aviv-Yafo, click here.
The city best known for coexistence among its residents hosts its 23rd annual Holiday of Holidays festival
The event takes place on consecutive weekends (December 3-31
2016) in the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood and the German Colony district
crafts fair and liturgical music concerts are all part of this holiday celebration
For information on where to attend Christmas church services in Haifa, click here.
not to be mistaken with Ramallah in the Palestinian Authority area
is another of Israel’s centers of multiculturalism
Christians and Muslims and is home to many churches
The town’s souk (outdoor market) is one of the country’s largest
and during the month of December you can find all sorts of Christmas items for sale as well
Visitors to Ramla can take a look back at Christian history in the Holy Land
There has been a Christian presence in this town at least since the 12th century – Ramla is considered the traditional location of Rama
The Franciscan parish church of St. Joseph is a landmark in this town, and said to have been a way station for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The municipality of Ramla runs a tour of all the town’s churches. For more information, click here
The town also hosts an annual Christmas parade. For more information, contact the municipality