• Donkey racing in the Bahraini town of Saar, west of Manama, last week. All photos: Reuters
    Donkey racing in the Bahraini town of Saar, west of Manama, last week. All photos: Reuters
  • Racing donkeys have been a feature of life in Bahrain for more than 40 years. Races are usually held between December and March, after which the weather gets too hot for the animals.
    Racing donkeys have been a feature of life in Bahrain for more than 40 years. Races are usually held between December and March, after which the weather gets too hot for the animals.
  • The sport is considered a healthy outlet for village youth who breed the donkeys, train them and look after them.
    The sport is considered a healthy outlet for village youth who breed the donkeys, train them and look after them.
  • “We need supporters for this traditional sport that does not exist in the Gulf [except] here and in Saudi Arabia. When visitors come and see the traditional sport in the kingdom of Bahrain, they are happy because it’s not available abroad," said local Mohammed Zamil.
    “We need supporters for this traditional sport that does not exist in the Gulf [except] here and in Saudi Arabia. When visitors come and see the traditional sport in the kingdom of Bahrain, they are happy because it’s not available abroad," said local Mohammed Zamil.
  • One of the foreigners watching the races on February 18 was Indian businessman Karisi Master, who lives in Bahrain but had not previously had the chance to attend the races despite saying he was "always interested".
    One of the foreigners watching the races on February 18 was Indian businessman Karisi Master, who lives in Bahrain but had not previously had the chance to attend the races despite saying he was "always interested".
  • Donkeys are attached to a cart made out of light wood from where jockeys control the animals, giving them signs to run and guiding them in straight lines with a soft pipe so as not to hurt the donkeys.
    Donkeys are attached to a cart made out of light wood from where jockeys control the animals, giving them signs to run and guiding them in straight lines with a soft pipe so as not to hurt the donkeys.

Traditional donkey racing in Bahrain - in pictures


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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Brief scores:

Manchester City 2

Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'

Crystal Palace 3

Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)

Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)

 

 

The details

Colette

Director: Wash Westmoreland

Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West

Our take: 3/5

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Updated: February 24, 2022, 11:24 AM