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Abu Dhabi, UAEWednesday 14 April 2021

A fighter loyal to Yemen’s government holds a position against Houthi rebels in Marib. AFP

Calls for ceasefire in Yemen’s Marib as fighting escalates
Port Sultan Qaboos in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

Only 14 intensive care beds remain free in Oman as Covid-19 surges

Gulf
Doctors warn about the dangers of cigarette and shisha smoking. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Saudi Arabia bans selling tobacco to children and smoking around them

Saudi Arabia
‘HMS Chiddingfold’ sails near Portsmouth, southern England. Alamy

Royal Navy captain smashes hole in warship in Bahrain

MENA

Oman reports record daily Covid-19 deaths

Iraq

Bahrain's cinemas and gyms to open for vaccinated people on first day of Eid Al Fitr

Gulf

Saudi sets timeline to give teachers Covid-19 vaccine

Saudi Arabia
IN DEPTH
Saudi Arabia will work to restore, conserve and sustainably manage a billion hectares of land by 2040. Riyadh Green Project

Saudi Green Initiative plan to plant 50 billion trees

Saudi Arabia
Politicians need to be aware of the risk of extremist groups inflaming violence, report warns. EPA

Resurgent UK far right ‘copying religious extremists’ tactics’

World
Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was born in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, is Tanzania's first female president. Reuters

Omanis celebrate Samia Suluhu Hassan becoming president of Tanzania

Gulf
A marketing and sales employee posing for a photo at one of the armoured vehicles produced by STREIT. Ahmed Maher / The National

Idex 2021: Smile for a souvenir photo with a tank or Kalashnikov

UAE
The Saudi Space Commission congratulated the UAE on the success of its Mars Hope probe. EPA

Saudi Arabia to boost space funding with eye on Mars

Saudi Arabia
Muslim worshippers perform the evening Tarawih prayer during the fasting month of Ramadan around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca, on April 13, 2021. Saudi authorities said on April 5 only people immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims. / AFP / -

Ramadan worshippers attend the Grand Mosque in Makkah - in pictures
Iraqi women ride bicycles during a cycling activity in Mosul, Iraq, April 12, 2021. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Iraqi women race in Mosul's first all-female cycling event - in pictures
A picture taken on April 10, 2021 shows a Saudi folklore dancer performing the art of "Taashir", a traditional dance of the people of Taif, 750 kilometres west of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. Taashir is a war dance performed by carrying a weapon stuffed with gunpowder, which turns into a flame under the feet of the performer when he embraces the sky. The people of Taif still preserve this traditional dance and try to keep it alive among different generations. / AFP / Fayez Nureldine

Saudi Arabian dancers jump while firing guns for traditional Taashir - in pictures
The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, is silhouetted in the background of a mosque's minaret in Dubai in the UAE ahead of Ramadan, April 12, 2021. AFP

Ramadan morning prayers and decorations in UAE - in pictures
Behold, the ‘Power of Words’ sculptures at Qasr Al Watan. Qasr Al Watan is home to three Power of Words sculptural masterpieces that are unique to the Palace of the Nation. These pieces of art, which have been erected in different colors and sizes, are a true testament of traditional Arabian craftsmanship and artistry.

Behind Qasr Al Watan's Sheikh Zayed-inspired sculptures
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - The booming sound of the cannon marks the end of fasting during Ramadan at Umm Al Emarat Park. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Journey of Dubai’s Ramadan cannon that signals iftar
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates with midfielder Idrissa Gueye after winning the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. AFP

PSG v Bayern Munich ratings: Neymar and Mbappe 8; Muller 7, Neuer 8
Iraqi Kurdish men walk with their horses during the annual Iraqi Kurdish Spring cultural festival in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on April 12, 2021. / AFP / SAFIN HAMED

Kurds on horseback celebrate annual festival in traditional attire - in pictures
The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations and the Central Bank of the UAE reviewed the latest developments in countering money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. Ryan Carter / The National

UAE committee reviews progress in combating money laundering and terrorism financing

Economy
Muslims pray during the first dawn prayers of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Makka, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. AP

Saudi Arabia King Salman's Ramadan message to the Muslim world

Saudi Arabia
A sticker reads crude oil on the side of a storage tank in the Permian Basin in Mentone, Texas. Opec said the higher prices seen in the crude commodity markets could prompt a higher level of US production. Reuters

Opec forecasts a recovery in the oil market and revises demand growth upward

Energy
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, says the brighter global economic outlook is a reflection of joint steps taken by IMF member countries to combat the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National 

'Decisive' actions helped mitigate pandemic, UAE’s Minister of State for Financial Affairs says

Economy
A Yemeni man walks past a mosque on the eve of Ramadan in the capital Sanaa. EPA

UN envoy calls for Ramadan pause to Yemen’s bitter conflict

Gulf
A member of the moon sighting committee looks through a telescope to view the moon ahead of Ramadan to mark the beginning of the holy fasting month, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Ramadan begins in the Gulf - best pictures

Gulf
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, welcomes Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Emirates pledged $3bn of investment commitments to Iraq. AFP

As oil rebounds and economy is poised to recover Iraq eyes foreign investment

Energy
Date gift selection in hand crafted wooden box, Dh815, Bateel

Ramadan: 30 gift ideas for the holy month to suit all budgets

Lifestyle
Muslims pray during the first dawn prayers of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Makka, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. AP

On eve of Ramadan, worshippers perform Tawaf around Kaaba

Saudi Arabia
A view of the eastern part of the Jordanian capital, Amman  showing the Roman Amphitheatre. Jordanian authorities responded “quickly and decisively” to support the country's economy despite Covid-19 headwinds. Unsplash

Jordan makes 'strong progress' on economic reforms despite Covid-19 headwinds, IMF says

Economy
International Holding Company completed the purchase of a 45% stake in Alpha Dhabi Holding that will add scale to the company. Alamy

Abu Dhabi's IHC completes 45% stake purchase in Alpha Dhabi Holding

Markets
The Fujairah oil tanker terminal in the port of Fujairah, one of the world's biggest bunkering hubs. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE is well placed to capitalise on the pivot to hydrogen

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