• A picture taken from Muharraq Island shows a sandstorm engulfing the skyline of Bahrain's capital Manama. The Middle East's sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams. AFP
    A picture taken from Muharraq Island shows a sandstorm engulfing the skyline of Bahrain's capital Manama. The Middle East's sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams. AFP
  • Massive dust and sand storms have descended on the Gulf this week, bringing extraordinarily high levels of dust and pollutants, particularly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Bahrain's capital Manama (pictured) has been similarly affected. AFP
    Massive dust and sand storms have descended on the Gulf this week, bringing extraordinarily high levels of dust and pollutants, particularly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Bahrain's capital Manama (pictured) has been similarly affected. AFP
  • Children play outside during a sandstorm on Muharraq Island, north of the Bahraini capital Manama. People in the Mena region are being advised to stay indoors, especially babies and at-risk groups, and to avoid physical exercise. AFP
    Children play outside during a sandstorm on Muharraq Island, north of the Bahraini capital Manama. People in the Mena region are being advised to stay indoors, especially babies and at-risk groups, and to avoid physical exercise. AFP
  • Cars on a highway in the Bahrain Financial Harbour area during a dust storm in the capital Manama. People in the Gulf are accustomed to frequent sand and dust storms and have attached the Arabic word “Shamal”, which means northern, to the phenomenon owing to the direction of the winds. AFP
    Cars on a highway in the Bahrain Financial Harbour area during a dust storm in the capital Manama. People in the Gulf are accustomed to frequent sand and dust storms and have attached the Arabic word “Shamal”, which means northern, to the phenomenon owing to the direction of the winds. AFP
  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Winds have reached 40 kilometres an hour in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Winds have reached 40 kilometres an hour in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is almost hidden by dust. Visibility was down to a few hundred metres in the city. Victor Besa / The National
    The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is almost hidden by dust. Visibility was down to a few hundred metres in the city. Victor Besa / The National
  • Jumeirah Lakes Towers in a hazy Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Jumeirah Lakes Towers in a hazy Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh during a dust storm. AFP
    The Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh during a dust storm. AFP
  • The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. AFP
    The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. AFP
  • Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Meteorology issued alerts for large parts of the kingdom, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province. AFP
    Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Meteorology issued alerts for large parts of the kingdom, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province. AFP
  • A haze of dust covers Riyadh's skyline. AFP
    A haze of dust covers Riyadh's skyline. AFP
  • Dust storms created hazardous conditions for drivers in Kuwait City, where winds reached 50kph. EPA
    Dust storms created hazardous conditions for drivers in Kuwait City, where winds reached 50kph. EPA
  • A man waits to cross a road in Kuwait City as orange-red dust blows in the air. AFP
    A man waits to cross a road in Kuwait City as orange-red dust blows in the air. AFP
  • Kuwait's Ministry of Interior urged the public to exercise caution as dust severely reduced visibility. AFP
    Kuwait's Ministry of Interior urged the public to exercise caution as dust severely reduced visibility. AFP
  • Schools in Kuwait were closed owing to the weather. AFP
    Schools in Kuwait were closed owing to the weather. AFP
  • Towers in Dubai Marina are hard to see through the dust. Pawan Singh / The National
    Towers in Dubai Marina are hard to see through the dust. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel in the haze. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel in the haze. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Beachgoers view a hazy skyline at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The conditions appear to be the tail of a storm that covered Iraq. Pawan Singh / The National
    Beachgoers view a hazy skyline at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The conditions appear to be the tail of a storm that covered Iraq. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Cars drive on a highway in the Seef district during a dust storm in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP
    Cars drive on a highway in the Seef district during a dust storm in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP
  • Cars drive on the main highway during a dust storm in the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP
    Cars drive on the main highway during a dust storm in the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP
  • Haze obscures the dhow harbour in Doha, Qatar, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
    Haze obscures the dhow harbour in Doha, Qatar, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
  • Haze obscures Doha's skyline. AFP
    Haze obscures Doha's skyline. AFP
  • A man covers his face with a scarf in Doha during a heavy dust storm. AFP
    A man covers his face with a scarf in Doha during a heavy dust storm. AFP
  • A sandstorm covers Tehran, Iran. Schools and government offices closed in the Iranian capital and elsewhere in the country. AP Photo
    A sandstorm covers Tehran, Iran. Schools and government offices closed in the Iranian capital and elsewhere in the country. AP Photo
  • Iraqis walk along a street at the Shorja market shrouded in heavy dust in central Baghdad. EPA
    Iraqis walk along a street at the Shorja market shrouded in heavy dust in central Baghdad. EPA
  • People with breathing problems are treated at a hospital during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
    People with breathing problems are treated at a hospital during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
  • People travel along a street during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
    People travel along a street during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
  • A patient suffering from breathing problems at a hospital in the city of Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. AFP
    A patient suffering from breathing problems at a hospital in the city of Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. AFP
  • People walk on a street in Baghdad during a sandstorm. AP
    People walk on a street in Baghdad during a sandstorm. AP
  • A man walks along the Euphrates river in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province during a heavy dust storm. AFP
    A man walks along the Euphrates river in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province during a heavy dust storm. AFP
  • The dust has affected visibility at Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The dust has affected visibility at Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Abu Dhabi city is difficult to see through the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Abu Dhabi city is difficult to see through the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The Marina Mall area in Abu Dhabi is obscured by the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The Marina Mall area in Abu Dhabi is obscured by the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Adnoc headquarters in the capital amid the dust storm. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Adnoc headquarters in the capital amid the dust storm. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Qasr Al Watan is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Qasr Al Watan is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Museum of the Future during the dust storm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Museum of the Future during the dust storm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Burj Khalifa obscured by the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Burj Khalifa obscured by the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Abras on Dubai creek during the dusty weather. Pawan Singh / The National
    Abras on Dubai creek during the dusty weather. Pawan Singh / The National

Why are sandstorms becoming more common in the Middle East?


Ismaeel Naar
  • English
  • Arabic

From Saudi Arabia to Iraq and Kuwait to Iran, sandstorms have been blanketing the Middle East, causing delays to flights, school closures and thousands to be admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties.

The severe weather caused by the strong winds, known as Shamal winds in the Gulf, has led many governments to take proactive measures. These follow warnings from experts that climate change could worsen and lead to more severe weather events in the coming years.

In the UAE, a countrywide weather alert was issued on Wednesday with forecasts of sandstorms and dusty, windy weather. The warning came a day after a dust storm blanketed Abu Dhabi, reducing visibility to only a few hundred metres across the city and causing a major drop in air quality, according to the Air Quality Index.

In Saudi Arabia, about 1,285 people were admitted to hospitals in Riyadh in one day suffering from respiratory problems as a result of the sandstorm.

Iraq experienced the brunt of the storms this week when its eighth dust storm since mid-April descended on Monday. At least 4,000 people were treated at hospitals for breathing problems and the storm has led to the closure of airports, schools and public offices across the country.

Why do Gulf Arabs call dust storms 'Shamal winds'?

People in the Gulf are accustomed to frequent sand and dust storms and have attached the Arabic word “Shamal”, which means northern, to the phenomenon owing to the direction of the winds.

Are increasing temperatures causing sandstorms?

While the exact causes of sand and dust storms are not yet fully known by scientists, many experts point to a correlation with deforestation and desertification to explain why more of these storms have become more frequent in recent years.

Banafsheh Keynoush, a non-resident scholar with the Middle East Institute’s Iran Programme, said sand and dust storms often originated in countries with limited vegetation, where there were fewer barriers to strong winds.

  • A motorist drives a scooter along a bridge in the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
    A motorist drives a scooter along a bridge in the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
  • A man crosses the River Euphrates in Nasiriyah, where the dust storm had reduced visibility severely. AFP
    A man crosses the River Euphrates in Nasiriyah, where the dust storm had reduced visibility severely. AFP
  • Heavy dust in the air in Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP
    Heavy dust in the air in Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP
  • A man wears a mask as he rests in a traffic policeman's booth during the storm in Baghdad. Reuters
    A man wears a mask as he rests in a traffic policeman's booth during the storm in Baghdad. Reuters
  • A patient suffering from breathing problems arrives for care at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. AFP
    A patient suffering from breathing problems arrives for care at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. AFP
  • Baghdad's streets were quieter than usual as the dust storm raged. AP
    Baghdad's streets were quieter than usual as the dust storm raged. AP
  • A man wearing a protective mask pushes a cart during the dust storm in Baghdad. AP
    A man wearing a protective mask pushes a cart during the dust storm in Baghdad. AP
  • This man found it hard to see from one side of the bridge to the other as he crossed over the Euphrates. AFP
    This man found it hard to see from one side of the bridge to the other as he crossed over the Euphrates. AFP
  • Dust or sand storms are not unusual in the region but many have hit Baghdad and its surrounding areas in the past few weeks. Reuters
    Dust or sand storms are not unusual in the region but many have hit Baghdad and its surrounding areas in the past few weeks. Reuters
  • Cars drive by a mosque in Baghdad, barely visible due to the storm. Reuters
    Cars drive by a mosque in Baghdad, barely visible due to the storm. Reuters
  • People cross a bridge during a sandstorm in Baghdad. Reuters
    People cross a bridge during a sandstorm in Baghdad. Reuters
  • The storms tend to turn the sky an orange colour. AFP
    The storms tend to turn the sky an orange colour. AFP
  • Dust fills the air in Baghdad. AFP
    Dust fills the air in Baghdad. AFP

“SDSs hit vegetation-poor Kuwait more than three months a year. In comparison, SDSs affect Bahrain 5.6 per cent of the year, Qatar 7.1 per cent and Abu Dhabi 3.9 per cent. Winds in Kuwait carrying sand and dust can also reach 93-109 km per hour, reducing visibility to almost zero,” Ms Keynoush said.

Is water mismanagement in Iran and Iraq to blame?

Experts in the region who have followed the sand and dust storms over the years have said mismanagement of water resources in countries such as Iran and Iraq, where rivers have dried up, has caused an increase in the frequency of such storms hitting the region.

Enric Terradellas, a meteorologist with the World Meteorology Organisation's sand and dust storm prediction centre, told the BBC that the increased frequency of sand storms was directly related to a decrease in the flow of rivers in Iraq and Iran owing to the construction of dams.

“One of the main sources of sand and dust storms is Iraq, where the flow of rivers has decreased because of a race in dam constructions in upstream countries,” Mr Terradellas said.

“That has led to the disappearance of marshes and drying up of lakes both in Iraq and Iran, and the sediments left behind are very important sources of dust in the region.”

  • An aerial view of Iraq's southern city of Nasiriyah during a heavy sandstorm. AFP
    An aerial view of Iraq's southern city of Nasiriyah during a heavy sandstorm. AFP
  • Imam Ali shrine in Najaf. Iraq awoke to its fifth sandstorm within a month on Thursday. AFP
    Imam Ali shrine in Najaf. Iraq awoke to its fifth sandstorm within a month on Thursday. AFP
  • Hundreds of Iraqis with respiratory problems were admitted to hospital as a result of the sandstorm. AP
    Hundreds of Iraqis with respiratory problems were admitted to hospital as a result of the sandstorm. AP
  • Authorities urged Iraqis to stay indoors. AP
    Authorities urged Iraqis to stay indoors. AP
  • Flights were suspended for several hours on Thursday. AP
    Flights were suspended for several hours on Thursday. AP
  • Hospitals struggled to cope with the influx of patients with respiratory problems. AP
    Hospitals struggled to cope with the influx of patients with respiratory problems. AP
  • Recent sandstorms have turned the skies over Iraq orange and coated cities with dust. AFP
    Recent sandstorms have turned the skies over Iraq orange and coated cities with dust. AFP
  • Iraqis pray at the Imam Ali shrine during the sandstorm. AFP
    Iraqis pray at the Imam Ali shrine during the sandstorm. AFP
  • Iraq is prone to seasonal sandstorms but experts are worried about their increasing frequency in recent years. AFP
    Iraq is prone to seasonal sandstorms but experts are worried about their increasing frequency in recent years. AFP
  • Dust fills the air during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AFP
    Dust fills the air during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AFP
  • A deserted road during a spring sandstorm in Baghdad. AFP
    A deserted road during a spring sandstorm in Baghdad. AFP
  • Traffic was light because of the poor visibility. AFP
    Traffic was light because of the poor visibility. AFP
  • More poor visibility during a sandstorm in the city of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province, Iraq. AFP
    More poor visibility during a sandstorm in the city of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province, Iraq. AFP
  • Drivers were forced to slow down in Nasiriyah. AFP
    Drivers were forced to slow down in Nasiriyah. AFP
  • Cars on a road as a sandstorm hits Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
    Cars on a road as a sandstorm hits Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
  • The area is prone to sandstorms, which can reduce visibility to a few hundred metres. Reuters
    The area is prone to sandstorms, which can reduce visibility to a few hundred metres. Reuters
  • Sandstorms often lead to all flights from Baghdad being cancelled. Reuters
    Sandstorms often lead to all flights from Baghdad being cancelled. Reuters
  • The sandstorms can cause breathing difficulties for residents. Reuters
    The sandstorms can cause breathing difficulties for residents. Reuters
  • Iraq's Meteorological Authority this week said the country was under a North African depression, known locally as ‘khamaseen’. Reuters
    Iraq's Meteorological Authority this week said the country was under a North African depression, known locally as ‘khamaseen’. Reuters
  • The sandstorm turns the Baghdad sky orange. Reuters
    The sandstorm turns the Baghdad sky orange. Reuters

What are the effects of dust storms and are there benefits?

While dust storms have affected health and economies in the region, some experts also say the sand and dust storms carry nutrients from the Sahara.

“In this region, we encounter dust storms frequently and people usually associate dust with cars covered with dirt or reduced visibility,” said Cecile Guieu, a visiting scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi’s Centre for Prototype Climate Modelling.

“Dust contains nutrients and these small particles have a very positive impact for microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton that live in the ocean.”

Trees are planted to form a "green belt" around the Iraqi city of Karbala as part of an initiative to tackle desertification and sand storms. Reuters
Trees are planted to form a "green belt" around the Iraqi city of Karbala as part of an initiative to tackle desertification and sand storms. Reuters

What are governments doing to change it?

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said $13 billion is lost each year across the region due to dust storms.

To counter that, he announced the Green Saudi Initiative and Green Middle East Initiative last March to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent in the region and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project.

In the UAE, there has been investment in new technology to help the country to better equip itself for potential dust storms after Masdar Institute of Science and Technology announced the launch of its real-time dust storm forecasting system in 2016.

“This is a turning point in the region’s ability to properly manage the impacts of dust storms. With access to an accurate forecast of dust events and sandstorms, people can better prepare for them,” Dr Hosni Ghedira, director of the Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment and professor of practice at Masdar Institute, said at the time.

MATCH INFO

Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)

Banton 53 no

Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)

Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7

Qalandars win by six wickets

Match info

Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')

Southampton 0

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.

9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)

Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)

Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)

Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)

The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler

Price, base: Dh132,000

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm

Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Brief scoreline:

Burnley 3

Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'

Southampton 3

Man of the match

Ashley Barnes (Burnley)

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
%3Cp%3EThe%20new%20UAE%20league%20has%20been%20boosted%20this%20season%20by%20the%20arrival%20of%20five%20Pakistanis%2C%20who%20were%20not%20released%20to%20play%20last%20year.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShaheen%20Afridi%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ESet%20for%20at%20least%20four%20matches%2C%20having%20arrived%20from%20New%20Zealand%20where%20he%20captained%20Pakistan%20in%20a%20series%20loss.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShadab%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DThe%20leg-spin%20bowling%20allrounder%20missed%20the%20tour%20of%20New%20Zealand%20after%20injuring%20an%20ankle%20when%20stepping%20on%20a%20ball.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAzam%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EPowerhouse%20wicketkeeper%20played%20three%20games%20for%20Pakistan%20on%20tour%20in%20New%20Zealand.%20He%20was%20the%20first%20Pakistani%20recruited%20to%20the%20ILT20.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMohammed%20Amir%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EHas%20made%20himself%20unavailable%20for%20national%20duty%2C%20meaning%20he%20will%20be%20available%20for%20the%20entire%20ILT20%20campaign.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EImad%20Wasim%20(Abu%20Dhabi%20Knight%20Riders)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20left-handed%20allrounder%2C%2035%2C%20retired%20from%20international%20cricket%20in%20November%20and%20was%20subsequently%20recruited%20by%20the%20Knight%20Riders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

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What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

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Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.

India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

All or Nothing

Amazon Prime

Four stars

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright

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.

 

Updated: June 02, 2022, 7:25 PM