text:
Apple Daily

Apple Daily was a Chinese-language tabloid published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021, with a digital-only English edition launched in May, 2020. Founded by Jimmy Lai and part of Next Media, Apple Daily was known for its sensational headlines, paparazzi photographs, and pro-democracy, anti-CCP editorial position. A sister publication of the same name was published in Taiwan under a joint venture between Next Digital and other Taiwanese companies.

In a Reuters Institute poll conducted in early 2021, Apple Daily was the fourth most-used offline source of news in Hong Kong, while its website was the second most-used among online news media in the city. According to a survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Apple Daily was the third most trusted paid newspaper in 2019.

Apple Daily's editorial position favoring the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong made it a subject of advertising boycotts and political pressure. After the controversial Hong Kong national security law was enacted, police raided its headquarters on 10 August 2020, a police operation criticized by some democratic governments and press rights groups.

On 17 June 2021, Hong Kong authorities used the Hong Kong national security law to freeze the assets of the company and Jimmy Lai. This move was widely described as an attack on press freedom. As a result of the asset freeze, Apple Daily was unable to pay wages and electricity bills, and had to cease operations. The final print edition was published on 24 June, with over a million copies being printed, up from the usual 80,000, and the newspaper's supporters lined up in queues stretching hundreds of meters in order to buy them. The newspaper's main and supplementary YouTube channel, "Fruit Seed", also shut down at midnight on the same day.

History
Apple Daily was founded on 20 June 1995 by garment businessman Jimmy Lai. After the success of Next Magazine, another publication owned by Lai, he launched Apple Daily with an initial capital of HK$700 million ($89,750). Lai, a Catholic himself, named Apple Daily after the forbidden fruit, which he said if Adam and Eve did not eat, there would be no evil and no news.

Price war
The newspaper launched against a poor economy and a competitive Chinese-language newspaper market. Political uncertainties from Lai's criticisms of the Chinese government also made media analysts pessimistic about the future of Apple. Its launch was teased by television advertisements where Lai was portrayed with an apple on his head, which would have been a shooting target for its competitors. In the first month of publication, the newspaper gave out coupons which effectively reduced the cover price to HK$2 ($0.25), despite a standardised retail price of HK$5 per issue set by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong. The price was restored to $5 after a month, but the newspaper switched to promotion with T-shirts and coloured posters. The campaign boosted Apple Daily to 200,000 copies on its first day, to become the newspaper with the second highest circulation in Hong Kong.

A price war ensued between popular newspapers in response to Apple Daily's entry into the market. Oriental Daily dropped its price to $2 from $5 per issue in December 1995. Other newspapers, such as Sing Pao and Tin Tin Daily followed suit. Apple Daily reduced its retail price to $4 one day after Oriental Daily announced a 10 per cent drop in its circulation. As a result, a number of newspapers collapsed: TV Daily ceased operations on the first day of the price war, Hong Kong United Daily, China Times magazine, and English newspaper Eastern Express, a sister newspaper of Oriental Daily, collapsed soon afterwards.

Editorial history
In March 2015, Chan Pui-man became the first female chief editor of the journal, replacing Ip Yut-kin. In 2019, Apple Daily was an award winner of the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Awards for their reporting on Liu Xia, the wife of Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. In 2020, Apple Daily launched the English edition of its digital newspaper. According to the most recent filings prior to its closure, it had a print circulation of over 86,000, and its website had approximately 9.6 million monthly unique visitors in Hong Kong.

The paper became the target of the Hong Kong authorities after its very strong and vocal support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong as well as its xenophobia. Jimmy Lai was arrested in December 2020 and sentenced to jail in April 2021 relating to the 2019–2020 protests. The offices of the paper were raided in 2020, its accounts frozen and five people including its editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung were arrested in 2021. The paper announced its closure on 23 June 2021.

The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom film
Apple Daily was prominently featured in the 2022 film The Hong Konger produced by American think tank Acton Institute. The film was received positively by right wing groups, and showcased the final days of Apple Daily's operations before being shut down due to the Hong Kong national security law.

Content
The newspaper was modelled after USA Today, with printing in full colour and concise writing. It also extensively used written Cantonese, when most Hong Kong newspapers used written vernacular Chinese, and a focus on reporting crime, celebrity news, eroticism, gambling, and drug use. It carried at least three pages of entertainment news at the beginning but this was increased by eight pages by 2000.

Apple Daily is described to have introduced tabloid journalism to the Hong Kong market. The focus on large colourful graphics and more flamboyant stories, such as celebrity scandals, racist targeting of mainland immigrants, traffic accidents and deaths, quickly made Apple Daily Hong Kong's second most popular newspaper. This type of journalism has also been replicated by other newspapers in Hong Kong.

Apple Daily attracted public criticism in 1998 for a report about a woman who jumped off a building after pushing her children out the window. The woman's husband was widely reported to have little remorse for the deaths of his wife and children. Apple Daily published a photo of the man with two prostitutes soon after the deaths. It was then revealed that the newspaper had paid the man to pose for the photograph, for which Apple Daily issued an apology after public outcry. In the same year, Apple Daily ran a front-page article claiming that lawyer Jessie Chu Siu Kuk-yuen absconded with more than HK$2 million of clients' money for her law firm. Apple Daily was ordered by a court to pay Chu more than HK$3.6 million in damages for defamation. In 2000, an Apple Daily reporter was sentenced to 10 months in jail for bribing police officers for information on criminal cases.

Journalism scholar Paul Lee said the establishment of Apple Daily has changed the Hong Kong newspaper ecosystem by transforming broadsheet newspapers into tabloids. Lee said newspapers with a high circulation, such as Apple Daily, The Sun and Oriental Daily, are known for their tabloid journalism as well as making mainstream reporting (see middle-market newspaper). Apple Daily did not join the self-regulation panel of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong.

Apple Daily is also known for its coverage of breaking news and current affairs in Hong Kong and China. The newspaper had exclusive reports on political scandals, including member of the Legislative Council Cheng Kai-nam not reporting conflict of interest in 2000, and former Financial Secretary Antony Leung for avoiding tax when purchasing a car.

Editorial position
Apple Daily favoured the Hong Kong pro-democracy camp. Its criticism of the Hong Kong government has been described as a marketing strategy. According to Fung (2007), the newspaper is also said to have sensationalised politics and produced public dissent. In 2003, Apple Daily was critical of the second Tung Chee-hwa administration, encouraging readers to participate in pro-democracy demonstrations with its front-page headline. It launched a social media campaign in support of students in the 2014 Hong Kong protests and its social media presence was considered a mainstream pro-activist community.

Critical of the Chinese government, it was the only newspaper in Hong Kong that expressed optimism when Chen Shui-bian was re-elected President of the Republic of China in 2004.

The editorial position against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments has resulted in advertising boycotts. In 2003, several major property developers in Hong Kong ended their advertisements in the newspaper. According to Mark Simon, an executive of Next Digital, HSBC, Hang Seng and Standard Chartered stopped advertising in the newspaper in 2013 due to pressure from the Chinese government's Liaison Office. However, the Liaison Office denied it had contacted the banks, and the banks said they pulled advertising for commercial reasons.

Apple Daily also said Chinese-sponsored hackers have attacked it almost every week. FireEye said in 2014 that denial-of-service attacks on Apple Daily were professional cyberattacks that may have been coordinated by the Chinese government.

2020 US presidential election misinformation
The newspaper inclined toward pro-Donald Trump commentary during the 2020 United States presidential election, which was believed to relate to his anti-Chinese xenophobia. In an opinion piece, it argued that "a vote for Trump is not only for the Americans' own interests, but it is also one that is for the survival of the free world"; in another commentary, it falsely criticized the Democratic Party and a "leftist ideology permeated in Western academia and journalism". Although the position of the newspaper and Jimmy Lai was echoed by many democracy activists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and exiled Chinese dissidents living in the United States, democracy experts in the US like University of Kentucky professor Sharon Yam and Los Angeles-based AAPI activist and writer Promise Li considered these views problematic for the pro-democracy movement and agreed that they not only benefit the mainland Chinese government, but were also instrumental in the organization of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

In September and October 2020, the newspaper published a falsehood-ridden 64-page report produced by Typhoon Investigations untruthfully alleging Hunter Biden had a "problematic" connection with the Chinese Communist Party, which was widely cited by far-right influencers such as Steve Bannon and fellow anti-China activist Guo Wengui. A report by NBC linked the Typhoon Investigations to a fake "intelligence firm" and claimed that the author of the document, a self-identified Swiss security analyst named Martin Aspen, was a "fabricated identity". The original poster of the document, Christopher Balding, admitted that he wrote parts of the document and later stated that the document had been commissioned by Apple Daily. Jimmy Lai later said that he had personally "nothing to do with" the report, but he admitted his senior executive, Mark Simon, had "worked with the project". Simon resigned following the NBC report and apologised for having "allowed damage to Jimmy on a matter he was completely in the dark on".

2020 national security law raid
The Hong Kong offices of Apple Daily were raided by over 200 national security officers on 10 August 2020, following the arrest of Lai the previous day for violations of the recently implemented national security law. Lai's two sons, four senior executives of Next Digital and three social activists, were also arrested on the same day. The arrests, coming amid Beijing's ongoing crackdown against many pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, drew condemnation from international governments and human rights groups. Lai and other arrestees reportedly faced charges of "foreign collusion", which included advocating for foreign sanctions, based on the broad definitions of the national security law. Earlier in the week, the United States had placed sanctions on 11 high-profile Hong Kong officials involved in the city's democratic suppression.

The police raid lasted nine hours, as the officers rifled through the business property and carted off 25 boxes of documents. The police search warrant did not disclose what they were looking for in the headquarters. The police also brought Lai into the office for two and a half hours and paraded him through the newsroom in handcuffs, an act possibly aimed at humiliating Lai and to silence the press.

The raid was live streamed by Apple reporters. The streaming footage included a tense moment when the policed shoved an editor for questioning the boundaries of the search. The police ordered for the live broadcast to be stopped, but the staff member continued filming the raid, arguing press freedom.

Next Digital released a statement condemning the police raid and declared, "Hong Kong's press freedom is now hanging by a thread, but our staff will remain fully committed to our duty to defend the freedom of the press."

Police conduct
Media access was restricted during the raid, with only media sources trusted by the police being allowed. During the police news conferences conducted to provide updates about the search, numerous news outlets including Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, RTHK and Stand News were barred. The media representatives allowed to remain were denied questions.

During the raid, the Next Media Trade Union protested the police reading through the confidential news materials in the newsroom. Steve Li Kwai-wah, the Senior Superintendent from the new National Security Department, said they searched the area since one of the arrestees had an office on the assigned floor. Li also said the officers only "scanned" the materials to confirm their relevance to the case. Legal scholar Johannes Chan later criticised the move, stating that even a quick scan jeopardised the confidentiality in news reporting.

International response
International communities responded to Apple Daily 's raid with condemnation, with global organisations highlighting the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong. Amnesty International spoke against the harassment of journalists, and called for all criminal charges related to the national security law to be dropped. The Asia Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA-Asia) expressed their support for Apple Daily, and urged Hong Kong's leaders to uphold the values of free speech. Keith Richburg, a journalism professor at the University of Hong Kong, described the "frightening prospect" for journalists to operate under the national security law. Christophe Deloire, the Secretary General at Reporters Without Borders, said that "the Hong Kong government clearly seeks to take down a symbolic figure of press freedom."

The Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) in Hong Kong was also critical about the police's obstruction of news coverage during the raid, raising worries about propaganda in the absence of press freedom. Human Rights Watch stated that the raid on Apple Daily may be motivated by a desire to censor an independent Chinese media outlet. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the national security law was used to "suppress critical pro-democracy opinion and restrict press freedom", and called for Lai's immediate release. Activist groups in Taiwan advocated for further international sanctions on Chinese government officials to support the arrestees.

Government officials around the world condemned Lai's arrest and the police raid on Apple Daily. Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, expressed her disappointment over the continuous erosion of Hong Kong's human rights and democracy. Mike Pompeo, the United States Secretary of State, said that Beijing eviscerated Hong Kong's freedoms. Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, voiced grave concern over Hong Kong's situation following the arrests. In contrast, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian approved of the mass arrests on the pro-democracy figures, stating that the Chinese government supported the national security law.

Aftermath
After the raid, the executives at Apple Daily vowed to resume their daily operations. Following a surge of popular demand, Apple announced the plan to print 350,000 copies for their Tuesday publication – a significant increase from their daily circulation of 70,000 copies. The print run was later set at 550,000 printed copies. A social media campaign encouraging the public to buy the newspaper was launched, and received backing of activist Joshua Wong, singer Pong Nan, and lawmaker Ted Hui. Apple Daily also uploaded a live stream of their print production process.

On 11 August, the Tuesday newspaper was published with the front-page headline declaring, "Apple Daily must fight on." Tsang Chi-ho, the former presenter of satirical news show Headliner, included a blank space in his regular column that simply said, "You can't kill us all." Many Hong Kong residents lined up overnight at newspaper vendors to buy the first printed copies. Readers also purchased the newspapers in bulk, distributing free copies around the city. Within hours, multiple convenience stores had sold out all their copies. The high demand came from readers who wanted to show their support towards Apple Daily and preserve press freedom in Hong Kong.

On the day of the arrests, Next Digital's shares originally fell by 16.7% to a record low of HK$0.075. An online campaign then emerged, which encouraged supporters to purchase stock in the company. Following the campaign, the stock experienced a 1100% gain over the next two days, reaching a record high in the past seven years. On Tuesday, the stock closed at HK$1.10 and became the third highest performer on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that day. On Wednesday, the shares fell over 40% after the Securities and Futures Commission issued a warning about the high volatility. A probe by police into alleged market manipulation led to the arrest of 15 suspects on 10 September 2020.

Lai was released in the early morning of 12 August after 40 hours in detention. Later that day, he arrived at the Apple Daily newsroom, and was met with cheers from employees. He urged staff members to fight on, with the support of the Hong Kong people, and not let them down.

2021 arrests and closure

The assets of three companies, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited, as well as accounts belonging to Jimmy Lai worth more than HK$500 million, having already been frozen on 14 May 2021, a 500-strong contingent of police officers raided Apple Daily's headquarters on 17 June. They arrested CEO Cheung Kim-hung, COO Royston Chow, chief editor Ryan Law, associate publisher Chan Pui-man and platform director of Apple Daily Digital, Cheung Chi-wai, and charged them on suspicion of violating Article 29 of the national security law, which outlaws collusion with external forces to endanger national security. HK$18m ($2.3m; £1.64m) of the companies' assets were frozen.

Apple Daily warned that press freedom in Hong Kong was "hanging by a thread."

The raid and arrests were criticised by the United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations' human rights spokesperson. The Chinese central government has rejected the criticism that the national security law was used to suppress press freedom and said external forces should "stop undermining Hong Kong's rule of law on the pretext of press freedom". Supporters in Hong Kong showed support for the newspaper by buying it, which increased its print run to 500,000 the day after the arrests.

On 21 June, the paper announced it would have to close unless the accounts were unfrozen, as it was unable to pay its staff or support operating costs. On 23 June, the newspaper said it would close "in view of staff members' safety" and the print run of 24 June would be its last. Apple Daily also said its digital version would go offline at 23:59 Hong Kong Time (UTC+8) on 23 June.

Activists backed up the news articles from Apple Daily on various blockchain platforms to ensure the content was available and free from Chinese censorship.

In 2023, the domain itself was taken over, in a move known as domain squatting, by a Serbian entrepreneur who used the website to post clickbait articles on a range of topics, none of them related to the position of Apple Daily before the takeover.

Apple editorialist "Li Ping" (Yeung Ching-kei) was arrested on 23 June "on suspicion of conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security", Fung Wai-kong, editor-in-chief of the English news section at Apple, was arrested on 27 June at Hong Kong International Airport while attempting to flee the city.

Reactions
United States President Joe Biden released a statement that, "It is a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world. Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing. Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views." The European Union released a statement that "the National Security Law imposed by Beijing is being used to stifle freedom of the press and the free expression of opinions" and that closure of Apple "undermines media freedom and pluralism", a sentiment also shared by UK foreign minister Dominic Raab. Taiwan similarly called the closure "political oppression" and that it "sounded the death knell for freedom of press, publication, and speech in Hong Kong". Japanese government spokesperson Katsunobu Kato called the paper's closure a "major setback" for freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Hong Kong and voiced grave concerns over the situation. Amnesty International said that the "forced closure of Apple Daily is the blackest day for media freedom in Hong Kong's recent history".

Chinese state-owned newspaper Global Times described Apple Daily as "secessionist" and quoted Chinese commentators as saying that the closure is the "end of an era in which foreign proxies and secessionist forces meddled in China's internal affairs". The Chinese foreign minister said that "no one or no organisation is above the law. All rights and freedom, including media freedom, cannot go beyond the bottom line of national security." North Korea has condemned Apple Daily and has accused foreign countries of foreign interference in Hong Kong.

The final print issue of the paper was met with high demand and sold out, despite a million copies being printed compared to the usual 80,000. Hong Kongers formed long queues and waited for hours to buy the final edition of the paper.

The European Parliament passed a motion by 578 votes to 29, with 73 abstentions, on Thursday, 8 July 2021, condemning "in the strongest terms the recent forced closure of [Apple Daily], the continued freezing of its assets and the arrests of its journalists." It also demands the Hong Kong government to "stop harassing and intimidating journalists, release arbitrarily detained prisoners, and denounces any attempts to muzzle pro-democracy activists and their activities". Members of the legislature also urged EU member states to impose sanctions on those officials "responsible for serious violations of human rights and international law in Hong Kong". In turn, the Chinese government rejected the parliament's "smears and slanders".

Editors-in-Chief

 * 1) Loh Chan (1995–1996)
 * 2) Ip Yut-kin (1996–2002)
 * 3) Lam Ping-hang (2003–2006)
 * 4) Cheng Ming-yan (2006–2011)
 * 5) Cheung Kim-hung (2012–2015)
 * 6) Chan Pui-man (2015–2017)
 * 7) Ryan Law Wai-kwong (2017–2021)

title: Apple Daily


text:
Sakhnin

Sakhnin (سخنين; סַחְ'נִין or Sikhnin) is an Arab city in Israel's Northern District. It is located in the Lower Galilee, about 23 km east of Acre. Sakhnin was declared a city in 1995. In its population was, mostly Muslim with a sizable Christian minority.

Geography
Sakhnin is built over three hills and is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, the highest one being 602 meters high. Its rural landscape is almost entirely covered by olive and fig groves as well as oregano and sesame shrubs.

History
Settlement at Sakhnin dates back 3,500 years to its first mention in 1479 BCE by Thutmose II, whose ancient Egyptian records mention it as a centre for production of indigo dye.

Sakhnin is situated on an ancient site, where remains from columns and cisterns have been found. It was mentioned as Sogane, a town fortified in 66, by Josephus. A cistern, excavated near the mosque in the old city centre, revealed pottery fragments dating from the 1st to the 5th century CE.

Haninah ben Teradion, who was arrested by the Roman authorities for heresy (minut), is said to have run a Torah academy there. It may be the village Kfar Sikhnin referred to in rabbinical accounts of the aftermath of the trial of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus for heresy.

In 1961 Bellarmino Bagatti, during a visit to the village, was shown a tomb venerated by Christians, Jews and Muslims, which local tradition identified as that of James the Just. On returning to the village, he discovered that restoration had been undertaken and the site renamed the burial place of Rabbi Yehoshua of Sakhnin. Richard Bauckham has raised the possibility that the Yaakov of Sikhnin in accounts of rabbi Eliezer may be James the grandson of Jude.

In the Crusader era, it was known as Zecanin. In 1174 it was one of the casalia (villages) given to Phillipe le Rous. In 1236 descendants of Phillipe le Rous confirmed the sale of the fief of Saknin.

Ottoman era
In 1596, Sakhnin appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the nahiya (subdistrict) of Akka (Acre), part of Safad Sanjak. It had a population of 66 households and 8 bachelors, all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 20% on various agricultural products, including wheat, barley, olives, cotton, in addition to a water mill; a total of 12,138 akçe.

In 1838, Sakhnin was noted as a Muslim and Christian village in the Shaghur district, located between Safad, Acre and Tiberias. In 1859 the British Consul Rogers estimated the population to be 1,100, and the cultivated area 100 feddans, while in 1875 Victor Guérin found 700 inhabitants, both Muslims and Greek Orthodox Christians.

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described Sakhnin as follows: "A large village of stone and mud, amid fine olive-groves, with a small mosque. The water supply is from a large pool about half a mile to the south-east. The inhabitants are Moslems and Christians". A population list from about 1887 showed that Sakhnin had about 1,915 inhabitants; 1,640 Muslims, 150 Catholic Christians and 125 Greek Christians.

British Mandate era
In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Sakhnin had a population of 1,575; 1,367 Muslims and 208 Christians; 87 Orthodox and 121 Greek Catholic (Melchite). The population increased in the 1931 census to a total of 1,891; 1,688 Muslims, 202 Christians, and 1 Jew, in a total of 400 houses.

In the 1945 statistics, Sakhnin had 2,600 inhabitants; 2310 Muslims and 290 Christians. The total jurisdiction of the village was 70,192 dunams of land. 3,622 dunams were used for plantations and irrigable land, 29,366 dunams for cereals, while 169 dunams were built-up (urban) land.

State of Israel
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Sakhnin surrendered to Israeli forces on July 18, 1948, during Operation Dekel, but was re-captured by Arab forces shortly afterwards. It finally fell without battle during Operation Hiram, 29–31 October 1948. Many of the inhabitants fled north but some stayed and were not expelled by the Israeli soldiers. The town remained under martial law until 1966.

In 1976, it became the site of the first Land Day marches, in which six Israeli Arabs were killed by Israeli forces during violent protests of government expropriation of 5000 acre of Arab-owned land near Sakhnin. Later that same year, three more civilians were killed during clashes with the police. Two natives of the city were killed in Jerusalem during the al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000.

The Israeli transcription of the Arabic toponym is an orthographic error, writing Sakhnas instead of Sakhnin.

Sports
In 2003, the town's football club, Bnei Sakhnin, became one of the first Arab teams to play in the Israeli Premier League, the top tier of Israeli football. The following year, the club won the State Cup, and was the first Arab team to do so; consequently, it participated in the UEFA Cup the following season, losing out to Newcastle United. The team received a new home with the 2005 opening of Doha Stadium, funded by the Israeli government and the Qatar National Olympic Committee, whose capital it is named after. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000.

Sakhnin is also the hometown of Abbas Suan, an Israeli international footballer who previously played for Bnei Sakhnin. The town and their soccer team are the subject of the 2010 documentary film After The Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United

On 19 September 2008, Bnei Sakhnin played a game with the Spanish team Deportivo de La Coruña.

Shrines
Sakhnin is home to two shrines:

A-Sheikh Siddiq (النبي الصادق) is a shrine located in Sakhnin's historical core, close to the Christian cemetery. It features a Roman-period sarcophagus. The Arabs of Galilee, and the Bedouin of Arab el-Na'im in particular, used to conduct pilgrimages to the shrine in order to make vows and seek for health for themselves and their progeny. The residents of Sakhnin used to beg the saint's forgiveness whenever they went near it out of fear, especially at night. According to a local legend, a-Sheikh Siddiq fought both the Romans and pagans. He was burned by the Romans together with his daughters as he was holding a Torah book. Guerin also referenced another tradition, that claims a-Sheikh Siddiq was interred here next to his wife. Jewish tradition attributes this site to Rabbi Joshua of Sakhnin, an amora who lived in the village in the 4th century CE. Since the 13th century, the shrine has attracted Jewish and Muslim pilgrims alike.

A second shrine, a-Sheikh Ismai'l, is located in the Al-Khalaila clan cemetery in the heart of Sakhnin's western district. This location most likely refers to a local saint rather than the biblical and Quranic Isma'il. Residents of the village claim that one of them had a dream in which the sheikh complained that the sewage water was polluting his tomb. Then, to stop the pollution, this resident constructed a drainage. Every Friday, the women of the Al-Khalaila clan light candles in the tomb.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Sakhnin


text:
Beaches of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a long coastline that is full of twists and turns with many bays and beaches. Many of them are well sheltered by mountains nearby, as Hong Kong is a mountainous place. As a result, large waves seldom appear at the bays, making them suitable for human swimming.

However, with the increasing development and urbanisation of Hong Kong, water quality has worsened resulting in the closure of several beaches previously suitable for swimming. These include Approach Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Anglers' Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Casam Beach and Lido Beach in Tsuen Wan. In 2011, Lido Beach, Casam Beach, Approach Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach were reopened following an improvement in water quality.

About half of the beaches suitable for swimming in Hong Kong are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and are officially referred to as gazetted beaches. A number of other beaches are privately owned or not gazetted, but are nonetheless publicly accessible.

Gazetted beaches
A total of forty-two beaches in Hong Kong are managed by the LCSD. Twelve of them are located on Hong Kong Island, and the remaining 30 are located across the New Territories, including the Outlying Islands. Some are temporarily closed to swimmers.

Full list
1. Butterfly Beach (蝴蝶灣泳灘) 2. Castle Peak Beach (青山灣泳灘) 3. Kadoorie Beach (加多利灣泳灘) 4. Cafeteria Old Beach (舊咖啡灣泳灘) 5. Cafeteria New Beach (新咖啡灣泳灘) 6. Golden Beach (黃金泳灘) 7. Anglers' Beach (釣魚灣泳灘) 8. Gemini Beaches (雙仙灣泳灘) 9. Hoi Mei Wan Beach (海美灣泳灘) 10. Casam Beach (更生灣泳灘) 11. Lido Beach (麗都灣泳灘) 12. Ting Kau Beach (汀九灣泳灘) 13. Approach Beach (近水灣泳灘) 14. Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (馬灣東灣泳灘) 15. Trio Beach (三星灣泳灘) 16. Kiu Tsui Beach (橋咀泳灘) 17. Hap Mun Bay Beach (廈門灣泳灘) 18. Silverstrand Beach (銀線灣泳灘) 19. Clear Water Bay First Beach (清水灣第一灣泳灘) 20. Clear Water Bay Second Beach (清水灣第二灣泳灘)
 * Tuen Mun District
 * Tsuen Wan District
 * Sai Kung District

21. Deep Water Bay Beach (深水灣泳灘) 22. Repulse Bay Beach (淺水灣泳灘) 23. Middle Bay Beach (中灣泳灘) 24. South Bay, Hong Kong (南灣泳灘) 25. Chung Hom Kok Beach (舂坎角泳灘) 26. St. Stephen's Beach (聖士提反灣泳灘) 27. Stanley Main Beach (赤柱正灘泳灘) 28. Hairpin Beach (夏萍灣泳灘) 29. Turtle Cove Beach (龜背灣泳灘) 30. Shek O Beach (石澳泳灘) 31. Rocky Bay Beach (石澳後灘泳灘) 32. Big Wave Bay Beach (大浪灣泳灘) 33. Hung Shing Yeh Beach (洪聖爺灣泳灘) 34. Lo So Shing Beach (蘆鬚城泳灘) 35. Kwun Yam Beach (觀音灣泳灘) 36. Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (長洲東灣泳灘) 37. Silver Mine Bay Beach (銀鑛灣泳灘) 38. Pui O Beach (貝澳泳灘) 39. Upper Cheung Sha Beach (上長沙泳灘) 40. Lower Cheung Sha Beach (下長沙泳灘) 41. Tong Fuk Beach (塘福泳灘) 42. Tai Po Lung Mei Beach (大埔龍尾泳灘)
 * Hong Kong Island
 * Lamma Island
 * Cheung Chau
 * Lantau Island
 * Tai Po District

Kadoorie Beach
Kadoorie Beach (加多利灣泳灘) is located at 18¾ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6336 and 2451 3461. There are BBQ area, changing rooms, shower facilities and toilet. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Cafeteria Old Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach (舊咖啡灣泳灘) is located at 18¾ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6306 and 2451 3461. There are refreshment kiosk, BBQ area, changing room, shower facilities, toilet and bathing shed. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Cafeteria New Beach
Cafeteria New Beach (新咖啡灣泳灘) is located at 18½ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6440 and 2451 3461. There are refreshment kiosk and beach volleyball court. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Golden Beach
Golden Beach (黃金泳灘) is located at the 18½ milestone of Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. It is the largest beach in Tuen Mun with a total area of 78,500 m2 and a length of 545 metres. It is the first artificial beach in Hong Kong. It is classified as a Grade 2 beach, meaning that the water quality is fair. Refreshment kiosks, a hotel and a shopping mall are to be found adjacent to the beach.

Golden Beach is unique amongst the beaches of Hong Kong in that it has a volleyball court. The Hong Kong Beach Volleyball Team occasionally practises on Golden Beach.

Golden Beach is served by KMB bus routes 52X (Tuen Mun Central ↔ Mong Kok), 53 (Yuen Long station ↔ Tsuen Wan), 61A (Yau Oi South → Tuen Mun Road Interchange), 61M (Yau Oi South ↔ Lai King North), 252B (Handsome Court → Tsim Sha Tsui), 252X (Handsome Court/Chi Lok Fa Yuen ↔ Lam Tin station) and 261B (Sam Shing → Kowloon station);

by Citybus bus routes 962/N962 (Lung Mun Oasis ↔ Causeway Bay), 962B/962S (Chi Lok Fa Yuen ↔ Causeway Bay);

by Long Win Bus bus routes A33 (Airport ↔ Tuen Mun Road Interchange);

by MTR Bus feeder bus routes K51 (Fu Tai ↔ Tai Lam) and K53 (Tuen Mun station ↺ So Kwun Wat).

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach – Ma Wan
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (馬灣東灣泳灘) is located on Ma Wan island.

Deep Water Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach (深水灣泳灘) is located on southern Hong Kong Island. See Deep Water Bay Beach.

Repulse Bay Beach
Repulse Bay Beach (淺水灣泳灘), traditionally Hong Kong's most popular because of its easy access by bus and extensive facilities, is located on southern Hong Kong Island. See Repulse Bay Beach.

Middle Bay Beach and South Bay Beach
These two small beaches at South Bay and Middle Bay are located within walking distance of Repulse Bay Beach. However, since they are not directly accessible by public transport, they tend to be quieter and less crowded than Repulse Bay.

Turtle Cove Beach
The beach situated east of Stanley and west of Tai Tam Reservoir is Turtle Cove Beach (龜背灣泳灘) which is a Grade 1 beach of less than 70 meters in length. Turtle Cove is very well equipped; with changing rooms, toilets and showers as well as a small playground, a soft drinks kiosk and seven barbecue pits.

Turtle Cove Beach is accessible by bus No.14 from exit A of the Sai Wan Ho MTR station or mini-bus 16X from Chai Wan; the beach is located near the Red Hill estate stop (past the Tai Tam Reservoir). From near the bus stop, stairs lead down the hill to the beach.

Big Wave Bay Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach (大浪灣泳灘) in Southern District is also the site of prehistoric rock carvings similar to those found on Cheung Chau Island. Not to be confused with other places called Big Wave Bay or Tai Long Wan in Hong Kong.

Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach (洪聖爺灣泳灘) is the most popular beach on Lamma Island. The sand on the beach is very fine, like powder. The water of the Beach is clean and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach.

Near the beach, there is a barbecue area, refreshment kiosk, and shower and changing facilities.

There is no public transport on Lamma Island. To reach the beach one must travel to Yung Shue Wan from Central by ferry, and then walk for about 20 minutes. The route is signposted.

Lo So Shing Beach
Lo So Shing Beach (蘆鬚城泳灘) is located on Lamma Island between the main villages of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. The water of the beach is clean and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach. Some years ago the government of Hong Kong built shower and refreshment facilities there, which remain almost unused because of the beach's remote location and the absence of public transport.

To reach the beach one must travel to Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan by ferry, and then walk for about 40 minutes.

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach
There are two main beaches on Cheung Chau: Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (長洲東灣泳灘) and Kwun Yam Beach (觀音灣) aka. Afternoon Beach. Although they are not as big as the well-known beaches along the Hong Kong Island coast, they do have their own qualities. Kwun Yam Beach is a beautiful fine white beach situated on the east coast of Cheung Chau. The water quality is good and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach. It provides many water sports facilities, particularly for sailboarding. Many lovers like to take leisurely walks there and to enjoy the village scene which still keeps the old traditions. Also, it is the place where Hong Kong's first Olympic medallist, Lee Lai Shan, practised when she was young. A formal monument to her achievement is erected in the children's playground on Tung Wan Beach, while an unofficial monument is to be found beside the "windsurfer" café owned by her uncle, which is situated between the two beaches.

Silver Mine Bay Beach
Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau, has several beaches which are clean, uncrowded and relatively convenient to reach. For all of them, the first step is to simply take the ferry from Central to Mui Wo. Then, if necessary, one can just hop on a bus.

Silver Mine Bay Beach (銀鑛灣泳灘), which is a Grade 1 beach, is the easiest one to get to, since it is located about a 5-minute walk away from the Mui Wo ferry pier. Since there is a sandbar area, this beach is ideal for flinging frisbees or flying kites. Further along the beach is a swimming area with several lifeguards on duty. Many visitors rent a bike for the afternoon, and stop off at the many refreshment kiosks and little restaurants along the road fronting the beach. If people do not feel like hurrying back into the city, they can also choose to stay overnight at the Silvermine Beach Hotel, located right on the waterfront. Also, there are several other hotels and guesthouses in the area where people can stay.

Cheung Sha Beaches
Cheung Sha Beach is located in Cheung Sha, on the southern shore of Lantau Island. It is divided into two parts by a small headland: Upper Cheung Sha Beach (east) and Lower Cheung Sha Beach (west). It is 3 km long and is one of the longest beaches in Hong Kong. The beaches are accessible from South Lantau Road. Tong Fuk Beach is located nearby, to the west of Lower Cheung Sha Beach.

Non-gazetted beaches
Many of these beaches are difficult to reach. Because they are not maintained by the government, some may be unclean at times. As no lifeguards are on duty, swimmers are recommended to exercise caution. Non-gazetted beaches are also not equipped with shark nets. Some bays, such as Hoi Ha, lie within protected areas and swimming may be prohibited.

 * 1) Chung Wan South Crooked Harbour, North District
 * 2) Cheung Sha Wan Northeast Ping Chau
 * 3) Crescent Bay Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
 * 4) Lo Kei Wan Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
 * 5) Tung Wan Wong Wan Chau, Mirs Bay
 * 6) Wu Kai Sha Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan
 * 7) Lung Mei Plover Cove, East Tai Po
 * 8) Hoi Ha Wan Hoi Ha Wan, North Sai Kung Peninsula
 * 9) Nam She Wan East Sai Kung, Mirs Bay
 * 10) Tung Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
 * 11) Tai Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
 * 12) Ham Tin Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
 * 13) Tai Long Sai Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
 * 14) Long Ke Wan Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
 * 15) Long Ke Tsai Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
 * 16) Pak Sha Chau Sai Kung Hoi, Sai Kung
 * 17) Pak Lap Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
 * 18) Ma Tau Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
 * 19) Kam Lo Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
 * 20) Nam Fung Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
 * 21) Kau Sai Wan Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
 * 22) Whiskey Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
 * 23) Campers' Bay Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
 * 24) Pak Shui Wun Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
 * 25) Bayside Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
 * 26) Little Palm Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
 * 27) Lung Ha Wan Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
 * 28) Ung Kong Wan Bluff Island, Clearwater Bay
 * 29) Lung Kwu Upper Lung Kwu Tan, west Tuen Mun
 * 30) Lung Kwu Lower Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun
 * 31) Dragon Bay Tsing Lung Tau, Tsuen Wan
 * 32) To Tei Wan Shek O, Cape D'Aguilar
 * 33) Tai Pak Wan Discovery Bay, East Lantau Island
 * 34) Tai Long Wan Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
 * 35) Yi Long Wan Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
 * 36) Sha Lo Wan West Tung Chung, North Lantau Island
 * 37) Tai Long Wan Shek Pik, South Lantau Island
 * 38) Lo Kei Wan Shui Hau, South Lantau Island
 * 39) Kau Ling Chung Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
 * 40) Fan Lau Tung Wan Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
 * 41) Fan Lan Sai Wan Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
 * 42) Luk Keng Wan Yam O, Northeast Lantau Island
 * 43) Tai Kwai Wan Northwest Cheung Chau
 * 44) Po Yue Wan Southwest Cheung Chau
 * 45) Pak Tso Wan Southwest Cheung Chau
 * 46) Shek Pai Wan Southeast Lamma Island
 * 47) Mo Tat Wan East Lamma Island
 * 48) Kwo Chau Wan Tai Chau, Ninepin Group
 * 49) Siu A Chau Wan Siu A Chau, Soko Islands

Water quality grading system
Gazetted beaches in Hong Kong are classified into four grades ( Grades 1 – 4 ) according to the level of E. coli in the water of the beaches. This is done by the Environmental Protection Department. Every week, water samples of each beach are collected for analysis to find out their bacterial level.

Grade 1 means that the water qualities of the beaches are good. The amount of E. coli is no more than 24 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also no related case of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses has been reported by swimmers who have swum at these beaches.

Grade 2 means that the water qualities of the beaches are fair. The amount of E. coli is about 25 – 180 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is no more than 10 cases per 1000 swimmers.

Grade 3 means that the water qualities of the beaches are poor. The amount of E. coli is about 181 – 610 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is about 11 – 15 cases per 1000 swimmers.

Grade 4 means that the water quality is very poor. The amount of E. coli is greater than 610 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is greater than 15 cases per 1000 swimmers. As a result, swimmers are advised not to swim at Grade 4 beaches.

title: Beaches of Hong Kong


text:
Nell Leyshon

Nell Leyshon is a British novelist and award-winning dramatist. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Alpine Fellowship and as the Deputy Chair of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Prior, she served on the Management Committee for the Society of Authors. Leyshon is known best for her novel,The Colour of Milk, which was translated into multiple languages and gained international recognition, winning the Prix Interallié in France where it was also shortlisted for the Prix Femina, and voted the book of the year in Spain.

Leyshon was born in Somerset, Glastonbury, where she grew up and attended art college before moving to London. Leyshon's first career culminated in working as a Producer in TV commercials, working alongside directors such as Ridley and Tony Scott. After, she attended the University of Southampton prior to publishing her first novel, Black Dirt.

Leyshon's support for marginalized communities is shown through her radio and playright. Her work includes many dramas for BBC Radio 3 and 4, including the play Glass Eels, and a special Women’s Hour series on teenage mental health. In 2014, Leyshon wrote her first libretto, The River Keeper, for Streetwise Opera, a charity that helps homeless communities to rebuild their lives and identities.

In 2018, she founded The Outsiders Project, a company giving voice to the unheard and marginalised members of the community of Boscombe through creative writing and photography workshops. Leyshon taught creative writing and performance, focusing on developing self-esteem and shaping the writer's unique artistic voice.

Black Dirt (2004)
In May 2004, Leyshon's first novel, Black Dirt, was published by Picador and was long-listed for the Orange Prize and runner up for the Commonwealth Prize. Written in a lyrical yet spare style, Black Dirt explores the guilty silences that bind family members together - and sometimes keep them apart. It is the tale of a father and his family told, like the layering of the earth, in different tones and textures.

The Colour of Milk (2012)
In May 2012, Leyshon's novel, The Colour of Milk, was published by Penguin. Set in England in 1830, The Colour of Milk is a work of historical fiction about an illiterate farm girl's emotional and intellectual awakening and its devastating consequences.

Radio and Theatre
Leyshon's first radio play, Milk, won the Richard Imison Award. Her second drama War Bride was runner up for the Meyer Whitworth Award.

In 2005, Leyshon's play Comfort me with Apples won an Evening Standard Theatre Award for most promising playwright, was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award and was shortlisted for Susan Smith Blackburn Award.

Leyshon adapted Daphne du Maurier's Don't Look Now for the Lyceum, Sheffield which later transferred to the Lyric, Hammersmith. In 2010 her play Bedlam was the first written by a woman to be performed at Shakespeare's Globe.

Leyshon has also written plays for young people for National Theatre Connections, The Beauty Manifesto and Terra which was a dance theatre piece with choreography by Anthony Missem. She also wrote for Royal Theatre Plymouth and th her Word,, for RADA Elders.

Subsequent radio plays include Glass Eels, Soldier Boy, Writing The Century and Jess, a Woman's Hour drama about child mental health for Children in Need.

The Outsiders Project
The Outsiders Project works with members of the community of Boscombe, and the work is shown locally then shared with a wider world. The work is designed to develop authentic voices and is of exceptional quality. Leyshon's vision was to show that people sidelined from society can write, perform and create work at the highest level. The Outsiders Project supports the outsider community to push boundaries to prove they can create work of outstanding quality and worth.

The Outsiders Project has produced three works for the stage; Vodka Hunters, Secret Voices and The Truth About Men, all three as part of BEAF – Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe Festival 2018 and 2019.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic they launched the Tattoo Project an online initiative to gather, tell stories and find new outsider artists.

Teaching
Leyshon has been teaching for 27 years, but spent the last 17 years specialising in outsider voices. She has worked extensively with the recovery community in prisons and mental health settings. She has also worked with the Gypsy community, and has led many partnership courses for Arvon Foundation.

She has started The Lockdown Workshops a series of workshops to share her approach to writing during the lockdown.

Novels

 * Black Dirt, (Picador, 2004)
 * Devotion (Picador, 2008)
 * The Colour of Milk, (Penguin, 2012)
 * Memoirs of a Dipper (Penguin, 2015)

Radio Dramas

 * The Farm (2002) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Milk (2002) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Glass Eels (2003) (BBC Radio 4)
 * The Home Field (2003) (BBC Radio 3)
 * The House in the Trees (2004) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Soldier Boy (2005) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Black Dirt (BBC Radio 3)
 * War Bride (2008) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Sons (2009) (BBC Radio 4)
 * The Iron Curtain (2011) (BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour)
 * The Colour of Milk (2013) (BBC Radio 4)
 * Jess's Story, Children in need, BBC Radio 4
 * Three Letters (BBC Radio 3)

Theatre

 * The Farm
 * Milk
 * Comfort me with Apples Hampstead Theatre
 * Don't Look Now (adapted from the story by Daphne du Maurier), Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
 * The Beauty Manifesto
 * The River Keeper Streetwise Opera
 * Glass Eels
 * Bedlam, Shakespeare's Globe
 * Winter, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador
 * The Word, RADA Elders group
 * Barro, Gran Teatro Nacional Peru
 * Terra, National Theatre Connections
 * Three Letters, Royal Shakespeare Company

Personal life
Nell lives in Dorset with her partner Dominic. She has two sons.

title: Nell Leyshon


text:
Sha'ab, Israel

Sha'ab (شعب; שַׁעַבּ; meaning "The spur") is an Arab town and local council in the Northern District of Israel. It has an area of 5,442 dunams (6.4 km2) of land under its jurisdiction. In its population was.

History
French scholar Victor Guérin associated Sha'ab with Saab, a place mentioned by 1st-century Jewish historian Josephus. The Midrash Rabba (Leviticus Rabba s. 20,9) mentions a certain Rabbi Mani of Sha'ab, together with Yehoshua of Sakhnin and Rabbi Johanan bar Nappaha. In the 14th century, the tax income from the village was given to the wakf of the madrasah and mausoleum of the Shafi'i Manjaq in Egypt.

Ottoman era
In 1517, Sha'ab was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire along with the rest of Palestine. In 1573 (981 AH) Sha'ab was one of several villages in Galilee which rebelled against the Ottomans. In 1596, the village appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Acre, part of Safad Sanjak, with a population of 102 households and 37 bachelors, all Muslims. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 33,3%  on wheat, barley, fruit trees, "goats and bees", in addition to "occasional revenues"; a total of 14,354 akçe. 3/4 of the revenue went to a Waqf.

According to local tradition, the village started to flourish under anti-Ottoman rebel Zahir al-Umar (c. 1768). In 1859, the population was estimated to be 1,500. Some were Catholic, the majority Muslim. The cultivated fields were estimated to be 80 feddans. Guérin visited in the 1870s, and wrote that the village of Sh'aib consisted of four quarters. The inhabitants, he wrote, were for the most part Muslim, about 800, and some 20 "Schismatic Greek" families. The Muslims had two Mosques and two walis. In 1881, Sha'ab was described as being in a valley with fine olive groves, while part of the hill behind it was cultivated in corn.

A population list from about 1887 showed that Sha'ab had about 1,430 inhabitants; 1,345 Muslims and 85 Greek Catholics.

British Mandate era
In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Sha'ab had a population of 1,206; 1,166 Muslims and 40 Christians, where the Christians were 15 Orthodox and 25 Melkites. The population increased slightly in the 1931 census to 1,297;  1,277 Muslims, 19 Christians and 1 Jew, in a total of 284  houses.

During the 1936 revolt in Palestine, the British Army attacked Sha'ab, demolishing 190 houses in the village. According to an eyewitness account, the British collectively punished the village for harboring a rebel who allegedly set off a roadside explosive that killed four British soldiers and injured three. A day prior to the demolition of the homes, the army rounded up around 200 of its adult male residents and led them to a valley outside the village. As they were being lined up, a rebel fighter positioned on a nearby hill began yelling and firing into the air, confusing the soldiers and causing Sha'ab's detained men to disperse chaotically. One resident named Hassan Hajj Khatib was killed.

In the 1945 statistics, Sha'ab had 1,740 inhabitants; 30 Christians and 1,710 Muslims. They owned a total of 17,870 dunams of land, while 121 dunams were public. 3,248 dunams were used for plantations and irrigable land, 6,602 dunams for cereals, while 231 dunams were built-up (urban) land.

State of Israel
Sha'ab was captured by the Israel Forces (IDF) on 19 July 1948 during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The villagers surrendered without a fight, and their village was subsequently depopulated in the Palestinian expulsions. Still, Sha'ab was found by the IDF's Ninth Brigade still to be inhabited in December 1948, and the residents were expelled on foot. The village was the headquarters and hometown of Abu Is'af, leader of one of the most effective local militias during the war and someone viewed as a hero by many Arabs in the area.

Most of Sha'ab's original residents became internally displaced refugees, settling in nearby Arab villages, predominantly in Majd al-Krum and Sakhnin. Meanwhile, many refugees from the depopulated villages of al-Birwa, al-Damun and Mi'ar were settled in Sha'ab in 1948 and were joined by refugees from Kirad al-Ghannam and Kirad al-Baqqara in the Hula Valley in 1953. The original residents of Sha'ab protested their circumstances and launched a campaign soon after the end of the war to return to their homes. They gained the sympathy of most of the refugees from the Hula Valley and al-Birwa, but faced resistance from the former residents of al-Damun and Mi'ar. By 1950, roughly 10% of Sha'ab's original inhabitants returned to the village and eventually many more were given permission to resettle.

Mosque of Zahir al-Umar
The mosque of Zahir al-Umar is situated in the centre of the old village. In 1933 it was inspected by Na'im Makhouly from the Palestine Antiquities Museum, who found that the mosque dated from the time of Zahir al-Umar. In 1933 the mosque was in disrepair. Pictures from the time show two arcades: one had four arches connected with the side wall, with two columns in the centre. A reused Ionic capital could be seen, and above the doorway was a reused Roman lintel (first noticed by Guérin in the 1870s).

Andrew Petersen, an archaeologist specialising in Islamic architecture, surveyed the mosque in 1994. He found that the present mosque, built in the 1980s, encased the old building. The old part is the prayer hall, has an entrance to the north. This hall is square, covered with a dome. The dome rests on large squinches, which are supported by corbels. According to Petersen, the domed prayer hall is consistent with an 18th-century construction date.

Tomb of Shaykh Alami
The Maqam Shaykh Alami is situated south of the mosque, within its enclosure. It is built at a slope, where the ground rises to the south. On the east side there are two entrances; to the maqam, and to an underground cistern.

The building is rectangular, 10 x 20 m, with an interior divided into two. The southern part contains a mihrab and is covered with a barrel vault. The northern end is covered with a dome, and has two large cenotaphs. According to Petersen, the buildings appear medieval.

title: Sha'ab, Israel


text:
Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Norte, officially the Province of Agusan del Norte (Amihanang Agusan; Butuanon: Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte; Hilagang Agusan), is a province in the Caraga region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran with several government offices located in the highly-urbanized city of Butuan. It is bordered on the northwest by Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental.

Spanish colonial era

Prior to its creation as an independent province, Agusan, as it was once undivided, was under the jurisdiction of Surigao province during the Spanish colonial period.

American invasion era
In 1907, Agusan was separated from Surigao by the American government, creating the Agusan province.

Japanese occupation era
During World War II in 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Northern Agusan.

In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 110th Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized Agusan guerrilla fighter units began the liberation of Northern Agusan from Japanese forces during World War II.

During the war, a unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force were located at Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley.

Philippine independence
In 1967, Republic Act 4979 divided Agusan into two independent provinces: Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Contemporary
On August 16, 2000, the seat of provincial government was transferred from Butuan to Cabadbaran through Republic Act 8811, although the province is yet to complete the transfer of provincial services and functions to the new capital.

The capital town of Cabadbaran became a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9494 which sought to convert the municipality into a city. The law was ratified on July 28, 2007. However, the cityhood status was lost twice in the years 2008 and 2010 after the LCP questioned the validity of the cityhood law. The cityhood status was reaffirmed after the court finalized its ruling on February 15, 2011 which declared the cityhood law constitutional.

Geography

Agusan del Norte is situated in Mindanao's western section of Caraga. It is bordered on the northwest by Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental. Agusan del Norte has a total land area of 2,730.24 km2. When Butuan is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is 3546.86 km2.

The central portion of the province forms the lower basin of the third longest river in the country, the Agusan, its mouth located at Butuan Bay. Consequently, the terrain surrounding the river features flat to rolling lands. Mountainous terrain dominate the northeastern and western areas.

The country's fourth largest lake, Lake Mainit is situated at the northern border between the province of Surigao del Norte.

Administrative divisions
Agusan del Norte comprises 10 municipalities and 1 component city. There are 253 barangays (including the independent city of Butuan).

The city of Cabadbaran is the officially designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811. The highly urbanized city of Butuan is geographically within but administratively independent from the province.

Demographics
The population of Agusan del Norte in the 2020 census was 387,503 people, making it the country's 64th most populous province. It had a density of undefined PD/km2.

When the highly urbanized city of Butuan is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 691,566 people, with a density of undefined PD/sqkm.

Cebuano is the most common language spoken in the province. Tagalog and English are also widely used and understood, often used for administrative functions by the local government and in education and business. Indigenous inhabitants in the province speak their respective languages and dialects fluently in addition to Cebuano. Descendants of other settlers from Luzon and other parts of Visayas speak their own respective ethnic languages to varying degrees by their respective communities within the province.

Catholicism
In 2013, the Diocese of Butuan (Catholic-Hierarchy) reported that Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of the province comprising roughly 71% of the population. Significant minority belongs to Iglesia Filipina Independiente with 10%.

Others
The remaining beliefs usually belong to other Christian denominations like Members Church of God International (MCGI) as well as Islam.

Economy
The economy of the province is dominantly agricultural, major crops of which include rice, corn, coconut, abaca, banana and mango. Agusan del Norte is also home of the 24.9mw Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant and 8mw Asiga Hydro Power Plant that will serves Agusan del Norte.

Government
Agusan del Norte has two congressional districts encompassing its 10 municipalities and 1 component city, as well as the highly urbanized city of Butuan.

Tourism
The province has many beaches in Cabadbaran and the municipalities of Carmen, Buenavista, and Nasipit. Mount Hilong-Hilong, one of the tallest in the province, is located in Cabadbaran.

Also shared with the highest mountain peak in the province. Mount Hilong-hilong is the one of the tallest especially through the accessible area is located at Malvar Trail the center of Remedios T. Romualdez Municipality.

From the top of Prayer Mountain (Mount Pongkay), visitors can have a panoramic view of Cabadbaran which includes buildings, churches, rivers and the sea. The Agusan River, the longest in Mindanao and the third longest in the Philippines is in Butuan. Looming southwest of the Agusan Valley is Mount Mayapay, a mountain plateau. The ancient Balangay boats were found in Butuan, excavated in the Balangay Shrine across the Masao River from Bood Promontory. They played a major role because of Butuan being a port city. Since its discovery, the Balangays have become an icon of Butuan. The Kaya ng Pinoy, Inc. recreated the Balangay boats and have sailed it as part of their project, the Balangay Voyage.

title: Agusan del Norte


text:
Arab al-Samniyya

Arab al-Samniyya (عرب السمنية), also known as Khirbat al-Suwwana, was a Palestinian village in the Western Galilee that was captured and depopulated by Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It was located in the Acre District of the British Mandate of Palestine, 19.5 km northeast of the city of Acre. In 1945 the, village had a population of 200 Arab and a total land area of 1,872 dunums.

History
The village was situated on a rocky hill near the road linking Ra's al-Naqura with Safad. Its houses were made of stone. A dirt path linked it to the coastal highway and thence to Acre. The villagers cultivated grain, figs, and olives.

In the  1945 statistics it had a population of 200 Muslims, with 1,872 dunams of land. Of this, a total of 174 dunams were allocated to grain crops; 22 dunums were irrigated and planted with orchards.

The village was captured by Israel's 7th and Carmeli Brigades on 31 October 1948 during the Israeli Defense Force offensive Operation Hiram. The village was completely destroyed and only building rubble left behind. Following the war the area was incorporated into the State of Israel and the village remained depopulated of its inhabitants. In 1950, the moshav of Ya'ara was established on its land.

title: Arab al-Samniyya


text:
Nigel Gresley

Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was a British railway engineer. He was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. An A1 Pacific, Flying Scotsman, was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and an A4, number 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126 mph).

Gresley's engines were considered elegant, both aesthetically and mechanically. His invention of a three-cylinder design with only two sets of Walschaerts valve gear, the Gresley conjugated valve gear, produced smooth running and power at lower cost than would have been achieved with a more conventional three sets of Walschaerts gear.

Biography
Gresley was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, during his mother's visit there to see a gynaecologist, but was raised in England at Netherseal, Derbyshire, a member of a cadet branch of a family long seated at Gresley, Derbyshire. After attending school in Sussex and at Marlborough College, Gresley served his apprenticeship at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway, afterwards becoming a pupil under John Aspinall at Horwich of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). After several minor appointments with the L&YR he was made Outdoor Assistant in the Carriage and Wagon Department in 1901; in 1902 he was appointed Assistant Works Manager at Newton Heath depot, and Works Manager the following year.

He became Assistant Superintendent of the Carriage and Wagon Department of the L&YR in 1904 and a year later moved to the Great Northern Railway (GNR) as Carriage and Wagon Superintendent. He succeeded Henry A. Ivatt as CME of the GNR on 1 October 1911. At the 1923 Grouping, he was appointed CME of the newly formed LNER (the post had originally been offered to the ageing John G. Robinson; Robinson declined and suggested the much younger Gresley).

During the 1930s, Sir Nigel Gresley lived at Salisbury Hall, near St. Albans in Hertfordshire. Gresley developed an interest in breeding wild birds and ducks in the moat including Mallard ducks. The Hall still exists today as a private residence and is adjacent to the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, with its links to the design of the famous Mosquito aircraft during World War II.

In 1936, Gresley designed the 1,500 V DC locomotives for the proposed electrification of the Woodhead Line between Manchester and Sheffield. The Second World War forced the postponement of the project, which was completed in the early 1950s. Edgar Claxton was Gresley's assistant throughout this project, working on power supply, equipment and systems, besides carrying out the trials.

Gresley was appointed CBE in 1920 and was knighted in the 1936 Birthday Honours by King Edward VIII. Also in the latter year, Gresley was awarded an honorary DSc by Manchester University and presided over the IMechE.

Gresley died on 5 April 1941, after a short illness, and was buried in the Churchyard Extension of St Peter's Church, Netherseal, Derbyshire. At this time, Gresley was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers Railway Staff Corps.

He was succeeded as the LNER CME by Edward Thompson.

Memorials
A memorial plaque to Gresley's achievements was unveiled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station in 2001. It was created by the Gresley Society and incorporates line drawings of his Flying Scotsman and Mallard locomotives.

Following the redevelopment of the site previously home to Doncaster College, the square outside the new Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Offices and Cast Theatre was named Sir Nigel Gresley Square, in honour of the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives built at Doncaster Plant Works following a public poll of Doncaster residents. Sir Nigel Gresley Square was opened to the public in May 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, by the Mayor of Doncaster Mr. Peter Davies and two of Nigel Gresley's grandsons.

LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley is named after its designer.

A statue of Gresley was unveiled at King's Cross station in London on 5 April 2016, the 75th anniversary of his death. Sculptor Hazel Reeves originally included a duck alongside Gresley in reference to his hobby of breeding water fowl and his bird-themed locomotive names such as Mallard, but this was removed from the final design when two of Gresley's grandsons complained it was "demeaning".

The Wetherspoons public house in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, is named The Sir Nigel Gresley in his honour.

He was inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023.

Innovations

 * Derived valve motion for 3-cylinder steam locomotives; Gresley Conjugated Valve Gear.
 * The largest passenger steam locomotive in the UK, the P2 2-8-2.
 * The largest steam locomotive in the UK, the U1 2-8-0+0-8-2 Garratt locomotive.
 * The "locomotive that won the war", the V2 2-6-2.
 * The first steam locomotive to officially achieve 100 mph, the A3 "Flying Scotsman" 4-6-2.
 * The fastest steam locomotive in the world, the A4 "Mallard" 4-6-2 (126.3 mph).
 * Another A4, "Silver Link", previously holding the world speed record for steam locomotives (112 mph)
 * The experimental high-pressure LNER Class W1 "hush-hush" 4-6-4 locomotive
 * The Silver Jubilee Express
 * The articulated railway carriage, first used with some conversions of East Coast Joint Stock (ECJS) carriages in 1907, soon followed by conversions of GNR carriages; new articulated carriages being built for the GNR from 1911.
 * The corridor tender to allow longer non-stop running

GNR
See: Locomotives of the Great Northern Railway
 * GNR 536 Class (LNER Class J6) 0-6-0 (1911)
 * GNR Class H2 (LNER Class K1) 2-6-0 (1912)
 * GNR Class J21 (LNER Class J2) 0-6-0 (1912)
 * GNR Class O1 (LNER Class O3) 2-8-0 (1913)
 * GNR Class H3 (LNER Class K2) 2-6-0 (1914)
 * GNR Class J23 (LNER Class J51) 0-6-0T (1915)
 * GNR Class H4 (LNER Class K3) 2-6-0 (1920)
 * GNR Class N2 0-6-2T (1920)
 * GNR Class O2 2-8-0 (1921)
 * GNR Class J23 (LNER Class J50) 0-6-0T (1922)
 * GNR Class A1 4-6-2 (1922)

LNER
See: Locomotives of the London and North Eastern Railway
 * LNER Class P1 2-8-2 (1925)
 * LNER Class U1 Garratt 2-8-0+0-8-2 (1925)
 * LNER Class J38 0-6-0 (1926)
 * LNER Class J39 0-6-0 (1926)
 * LNER Class A3 4-6-2 (1927)
 * LNER Class D49 4-4-0 (1927)
 * LNER Class B17 4-6-0 (1928)
 * LNER Class W1 4-6-4 (1929)
 * LNER Class V1 2-6-2T (1930)
 * LNER Class P2 2-8-2 (1934)
 * LNER Class A4 4-6-2 (1935)
 * LNER Class V2 2-6-2 (1936)
 * LNER Class K4 2-6-0 (1937)
 * LNER Class V3 2-6-2T (1939)
 * LNER Class V4 2-6-2 (1941)
 * LNER No. 6701 Bo+Bo electric locomotive (1941)

title: Nigel Gresley


text:
Agusan del Sur

Agusan del Sur, officially the Province of Agusan del Sur (Habagatang Agusan; Butuanon: Probinsya hong Agusan del Sur; Timog Agusan), is a province in Caraga region, Mindanao, Philippines. Its capital is the municipality of Prosperidad. It is bordered on the northwest by Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental; east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Davao Oriental; mid-south by Davao de Oro; southwest by Davao del Norte and, mid-west by Bukidnon. It is the fourth largest province in the country in terms of area, with the size of 3,856 sq miles.

Etymology
Agusan derives its name from the Agusan word agasan, meaning "where the water flows", referring to the Agusan River that splits the land and meanders south to north in a 250 km rush to Butuan Bay. It is third largest river in the country and served as highway for the Spanish colonizers in gaining access to inner northeastern Mindanao.

Early history
The history of Agusan del Sur is essentially linked with that of its sister province, Agusan del Norte.

Agusans pre-Hispanic cultural history is traced back to the great influence of the Majapahit Empire through the discovery of an 8 in tall image of a woman in pure gold at Maasam, Esperanza in 1917 and molten jars unearthed at Bah-bah, Prosperidad. The aborigines of Agusan del Sur are the ancestors of the present day Mamanwas, who were driven to the hinterlands by waves of Malay immigrants. These immigrants, in turn, sought the protection of the interior jungles because of the forays and the constant raids of the Moros, who were seafaring people confined to coastal areas where they started their settlements.

Spanish colonial era
The Augustinian Recollects established a mission in Linao, in the vicinity of present-day Bunawan, in 1614. However, mission work was hampered by the hostility of the surrounding Manobo tribes. At the height of the power of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the mid-17th century, the Manobos of the Agusan Valley were in alliance with Sultan Kudarat. Linao was attacked several times during the 1629 Caraga Revolt and the 1649 Sumuroy Revolt. Nevertheless, the Recollects were able to establish themselves in their mission work, and remained there until the middle of the 19th century.

In the late 19th century, the Recollects (under protest) turned over many of their mission territories, including those in the upper Agusan region, to the reconstituted Jesuit order (the Jesuits had been banned by Papal edict in the 1760s, and ejected from the Philippines in 1768). Missionary work was interrupted by the Philippine Revolution when the Jesuits either fled or were arrested by revolutionaries. The territory of Agusan del Sur was governed as part of the province of Caraga during most of the Spanish period. In 1860, it was placed under the comandancia of Butuan, a district of the province of Surigao. Bienvenido Ronquillo Blanco, Former Deputy Leader of Gibung District of Agusan was named several place of Agusan.

American invasion era
During the American occupation, lumbering became an important activity in Agusan del Sur. Visayan migrants settled in the cleared plains, pushing Indigenous communities farther into the mountainous slopes.

In 1914, the province of Agusan was created by the American government.

The Agusan Valley was settled by a variety of cultural communities like the Manobos, Mamanwas and Higaonons. Archeological excavations in the lower Agusan valley plains have uncovered evidence of strong relationships between the region and the Southeast Asian states. A golden image of Javan-Indian design unearthed in the 1920s and molten jars uncovered in Prosperidad are indications that the region had commercial and cultural ties with the coast.

Japanese occupation era
In the Second World War, Japanese troops landed in the province of Agusan in 1942 and occupied the province until their defeat by combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth troops as well as recognized guerrilla units in 1945 at the Battle of Agusan.

The general headquarters and military camp and base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was active from January 3, 1942, to June 30, 1946, and the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was active again from October 28, 1944, to June 30, 1946, are military stationed in the province of Surigao was composed to engaging operations against the Japanese Occupation.

In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 110th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized Agusan guerrilla fighter units against the Japanese forces began the liberation in Northern Agusan during World War II.

During World War II, a unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force was located at Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley.

Philippine independence
The province of Agusan del Sur was established on June 17, 1967, under Republic Act No. 4969 providing for the division of the province of Agusan into Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

In January 1970, the first set of provincial officials assumed office after the provincial election of November, 1969. The same law provided that the capital of Agusan del Sur be the municipality of Prosperidad. The Government Center has been set up in Barangay Patin-ay.

Contemporary
The municipality of Bayugan became a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9405 which sought to convert the municipality into a city. The law was ratified on June 21, 2007. However, the cityhood status was lost twice in the years 2008 and 2010 after the LCP questioned the validity of the cityhood law. The cityhood status was reaffirmed after the court finalized its ruling on February 15, 2011 which declared the cityhood law constitutional.

Land area
In 1976, the province's land area was 8568 km2, making it the seventh largest province in the country. After claiming the disputed boundary between Davao del Norte, Butuan and with the creation of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur now has an area of 8966 km2.

The municipalities of Loreto, La Paz, Esperanza, and San Luis are the four largest municipalities in land area comprising almost 60% of the province's total land area. Santa Josefa and Talacogon, also river towns, have the smallest land area.

Forestland constitutes 76% of the total land area or 6,827.5 km2 while the alienable and disposable constitutes about 24% or 2,137.5 km2. Present land use, however, showed that settlements and commercial areas already occupy some of the forestlands.

Through the years, the province has lost much of its forest resources because existing industries are extractive in nature.

Topography
Agusan del Sur is an elongated basin formation with mountain ranges in the eastern and western sides forming a valley, which occupies the central longitudinal section of the land. The Agusan River, which flows from Davao de Oro in the south towards Agusan del Norte in the north, runs almost in the middle of the valley and empties at Butuan Bay. The river has twelve tributaries: Wawa, Gibong and Simulao Rivers in the eastern side and Ojot, Pusilao, Kasilayan, Libang, Maasam, Adgawan, Cawayan, Umayam and Ihaon Rivers in the western side. These tributaries are fed by streams and creeks. The southern half of the province from the municipality of Veruela is an area filled with swamps and lakes, the biggest of which is Talacogon Lake.

Climate
The climate map of the Philippines based on the modified coronas classification shows that the province falls under Type II.

Type II climate has no dry season with very pronounced wet season of heavy precipitation. Maximum rainfall generally occurs from December to January although there is no single dry month. Its average monthly rainfall is 355 mm and average temperature is 27.15 C. Areas characterized by this climate type are generally along or very near the eastern coast thus are open to the northeast monsoon.

Agusan del Sur is among the 20 most vulnerable provinces to climate change in the Philippines.

Administrative divisions
Agusan del Sur comprises 13 municipalities and 1 city. There are 314 barangays.

Demographics

The population of Agusan del Sur in the 2020 census was 739,367 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

In 2000, the province had a population of 559,294. This represented an increase of 44,558 persons or 7.96% since 1995. The annual population growth rate was 1.79%. The 103,637 households had an average household size of 5.39 persons. The population density was 62 persons per square kilometer, with a male to female ratio of 107:100.

Five tribal groups are found in the province: Aeta, Mamanwa, Bagobo, Higaonon, and Manobo. The Manobos live along the national highway and river towns towards the boundary with Davao de Oro. The Higaonons live mostly on the western side of Agusan River, generally in Esperanza towards the boundary with Bukidnon.

The Agusan del Sur population is predominantly composed of immigrants from the Visayas, who came from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental as well as Cebuano-speaking parts of Mindanao. There are also significant minority residents in the province whose descendants came from Ilocandia, Cordillera Administrative Region, Tagalog-speaking regions, Bicolandia, Panay, Negros Occidental and Samar. Intermarriages between immigrants and natives have pulled down the percentage of the lumad stock.

Cebuano is the most common language spoken in Agusan del Sur. Tagalog and English are also widely used and understood, often used for administrative functions by the local government and in education and business. Indigenous inhabitants in the province speak their respective languages and dialects fluently in addition to Cebuano.

Catholicism
The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism with 79% of the population and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente with 12%.

Others
Other religions include the Members Church of God International (MCGI), Seventh-day Adventist Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, United Pentecostal Church, Born Again and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Islam and Latter Day Saints.

Economy
Based on the 1995 census, 75% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and forestry. Rice, corn and fruits are among the major agricultural crops.

Human resources
Agusan del Sur has a labor force of 287,000 people, mostly in the agriculture and forestry sector. Several colleges, including a university, add to a trainable, English-speaking workforce. The province also has educational establishments offering skills development courses in Information Technology.

Agriculture
Rice occupies the largest cultivated area, with 243.85 km2 of irrigated area with a yield of 410 t/km2, and rainfed rice with an area of about 165.73 km2 with a yield of 300 t/km2. The province's rice production has the estimated capacity to feed 1,072,456 people—far more than the province's population. Ironically, rice insufficiency persists, especially in the upland and hard to reach barangays.

Corn plantations cover 255.25 km2 for both white and yellow corn with a total production of 55,767 t in 2000 with surplus corn grits of 31,106 MT enough to feed more than 2 million people, four times greater than the province's population.

Banana is another abundant crop covering an area of 127.45 km2. Banana chips are also processed in the province.

Oil palm plantation covers 118 km2. The plantation is a Malaysian-Filipino joint venture, with agrarian reform beneficiaries as land owners. Crude oil is processed in the sites of Rosario, and Trento.

Coconut trees are widespread in the province, covering 393.36 km2.

Poultry and livestock
Despite the government's efforts to increase poultry and livestock production, deficits in meat supply persist. Processed poultry and beef are imported from Davao City and Cagayan de Oro.

Fish
Agusan del Sur is highly dependent on Surigao del Sur and other provinces for the supply of marine products. However, the province has abundant supply of fresh water fish like mudfish, catfish and tilapia.

Government
Agusan del Sur has two congressional districts encompassing its 13 municipalities and 1 component city.

History
Rufino C. Otero was elected as the first Provincial Governor and Democrito O. Plaza the first Congressman in the election of November 1969. The term of office of Congressman Democrito O. Plaza would have continued until December 1973 had it not for the proclamation of Martial Law on September 21, 1972, which in effect abolished the Congress. When the Interim Batasang Pambansa was convened in 1978 after almost a decade of absence under the martial Law, Edelmiro Amante represented the province in the National Assembly.

Attractions

 * Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary—the largest wetland in the Philippines and the biggest marsh in Southeast Asia
 * Pinandagatan Falls—located in Barangay New Tubigon, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, a newly discovered untouched hidden paradise. According to Caraga Backpackers Group, Pinandagatan Falls could be the best waterfalls they saw in the entire Caraga Region
 * Managong Falls—located in Barangay Padiay, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, known to be the tallest waterfalls in the province and the strongest running waterfalls in Caraga Region.
 * Bega Falls—located in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
 * Camponay Falls—located in Barangay Tabontabon, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, a cave can be found in the middle of the waterfalls within secondary forests, which has potential as a local outdoor and recreation site
 * Togongon Falls—located in Barangay Kolambugan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur
 * Binaba Falls—located in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
 * Tugonan Falls—located in Barangay San Lorenzo, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
 * Wawa River (Agusan del Sur)—located in the municipalities of Sibagat, Bayugan, and Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
 * Agusan River—a 250-kilometer river located in the municipalities of Santa Josefa, Veruela, Loreto, Talacogon, San Luis, and Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
 * Gibong River—located in the municipalities of Prosperidad and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur
 * Bunaguit Sea of Clouds—Barangay Bunaguit, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
 * Naliyagan Cultural Center—Provincial Landmark, Provincial Capitol Complex, Barangay Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
 * Centennial Toog Tree—more than 300 years old and stands at 65-meters high, the tallest rosewood tree in the Philippines located in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur
 * Mount Magdiwata Watershed—San Francisco, Agusan del Sur
 * Puting Buhangin Cave—Barangay Poblacion, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur

Festivals

 * Naliyagan Festival - a week long celebration of Agusan del Sur charter day anniversary

Notable people

 * Bayang Barrios—a Filipino Musician and Singer from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur
 * Grace Nono—a Filipino Singer, ethnomusicologist and scholar of Philippine shamanism from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur
 * Dennis Laurente—a Filipino Professional Boxer raised in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur
 * Rodolfo Plaza—Former Representative, from Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur

title: Agusan del Sur


text:
Al-Qubayba, Hebron

al-Qubayba (القبيبة, قبيبة ابن عوّاد), also known as Gbebah, Qubeiba or Qobebet Ibn 'Awwad, was a Palestinian village, located 24 kilometers northwest of Hebron. It was depopulated in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

Name
The eponym of the village, "Ibn 'Awwad" or "Ibn 'Awadh", was named after the clan residing therein.

History
Known in Crusader times as Deirelcobebe, the ruins of the ancient Canaanite and Judean city of Lachish lay adjacent to the village, which was subject to extensive archaeological excavations by the British Mandatory authorities in Palestine, and by Israeli authorities subsequent to its capture during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

In 1136 the  King of Jerusalem, Fulk confirmed Deirelcobebe as a casale under the Knights Hospitallers.

Ottoman Empire
In 1517, Al-Qubayba was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire with the rest of Palestine, and in 1596  it appeared in the  tax registers as being in the nahiya (subdistrict) of Gaza under the liwa' (district) of Gaza. It had a population of 33 Muslim household, an estimated 182 persons. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25 % on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, sesame, and fruit trees, as well as goats and beehives; a total of 4,600 akçe. 11/24 of the revenue went to a Waqf.

In 1838 Edward Robinson noted 200 reapers and gleaners at work in a field near Al-Qubayba (which he called Kubeibeh). He added: "Some were taking their refreshment, and offered us some of their "parched corn." In the season of harvest, the grains of wheat, not yet fully dry and hard, are roasted in a pan or an iron plate, and constitute a very palliative article of bread; this is eaten along with bread, or instead of it." Robinson further noted Kubeibeh as a Muslim village, in the Gaza district.

In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described Al-Qubayba as a large village built of adobe brick, situated on rolling hills near a plain, surrounded by a barren and stony area.

British Mandate
In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Al-Qubaiba had a population of 646, all Muslims, increasing in  the 1931 census to 800, still all Muslim, in a total of  141 houses.

The village had a school, a mosque, and a number of small shops. Two wells located northwest and southwest of it provided drinking water. In the 1945 statistics the population of Al-Qubayba was  1,060, all  Muslims,  who owned  11,912  dunams of land  according to an official land and population survey. 8109  dunams were for cereals while 35 dunams were built-up (urban) land.

Al-Qubayba was in the territory allotted to the Arab state under the 1947 UN Partition Plan.

Israel
The village was first attacked during Operation Barak. Though defended by Egyptian forces, al-Qubayba was taken by Israeli forces in the final stages of Operation Yoav on 28 October 1948. The population had fled and the village was destroyed.

The area was subsequently incorporated into the State of Israel and in 1955 the moshav of Lakhish was established to the southwest of the village site on what had been village lands.

Of the village mosque, an elementary school, and more than 141 houses that made up al-Qubayba, Walid Khalidi notes that all that remains to mark the site in contemporary times are cacti and a handful of olive trees.

Culture and village life
The inhabitants of the village mostly grew cereals; wheat and barley were grown by the well off, and corn by the rest. The village mostly bartered with surrounding villages such as Al-Dawayima and Beit Gibrin, most of the cereals harvest was used to sustain sheep herds, from where in most of the village income is derived.

A woman's thob (loose fitting robe with sleeves), from Qubeiba dated to about 1910 forms part of the Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) collection at Santa Fe. The dress is a collage of different fabrics, textures and colors. The front and the upper half of the back are of black cotton. The chest panel, the side panels and the lower back of the skirt are handwoven indigo linen. Colorful silk cross-stitch embroidery, in red, violet, orange, yellow, green and black, create an effect described as "particularly gay, twinkling" The qabbeh (square chest panel) is embroidered with the qurunful ("clove") motif, and it has vertical rows of eight-pointed stars, called qamr ("moons"), and a row of the mushut ("combs") pattern. There are eight embroidered columns on each side panel of the dress. The patterns which are used are fanajin qahweh ("coffee cups"), khem-el-basha ("the pashas tent"), irq el-ward ("rose branch"), and miftah Khalil ("key of Hebron"). There is also a pattern (with flowers, moons, trees, tents and tiles) not seen anywhere else in the MOMA collection. Finally, there is also some embroidery at the wrists.

title: Al-Qubayba, Hebron


text:
Glass Eels

Glass Eels is a play written by Nell Leyshon, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2003. The play has also been performed on stage at the Hampstead Theatre, it is the second part of a planned quartet of Somerset plays covering the four seasons the first being the award winning Comfort Me with Apples.

The play is set on the Somerset Levels one August, probably on the River Parrett. While it explores a young girl's sexual awakening, and her acceptance of past loss, it also concerns eel fishing and a dying rural way of life.

title: Glass Eels