• Snake hunter Yaseen Al Sqour carries a reptile in Balqa, Jordan. All photos: Reuters
    Snake hunter Yaseen Al Sqour carries a reptile in Balqa, Jordan. All photos: Reuters
  • Bahraini Sayed Adnan films Yaseen as he explains how to handle a snake.
    Bahraini Sayed Adnan films Yaseen as he explains how to handle a snake.
  • Yaseen, 55, lives in Jordan's Irbid province and has a number of snakes at his home.
    Yaseen, 55, lives in Jordan's Irbid province and has a number of snakes at his home.
  • Snake hunter, Yaseen Al-Sqour, holds a snake using a catcher stick in Balqa, Jordan May 19, 2022. Snake hunter removes snakes from people's houses and releases them into the wild. He also raises awareness about the different venomous ones native to the country to educate people on how to deal with them. Picture taken May 19, 2022. REUTERS / Alaa Al Sukhni
    Snake hunter, Yaseen Al-Sqour, holds a snake using a catcher stick in Balqa, Jordan May 19, 2022. Snake hunter removes snakes from people's houses and releases them into the wild. He also raises awareness about the different venomous ones native to the country to educate people on how to deal with them. Picture taken May 19, 2022. REUTERS / Alaa Al Sukhni
  • Yaseen can handle all types of snakes with ease and can readily catch the reptiles.
    Yaseen can handle all types of snakes with ease and can readily catch the reptiles.
  • 'Other than venomous snakes, other snakes are not poisonous, they are beneficial for both the environment and people,' Yaseen says.
    'Other than venomous snakes, other snakes are not poisonous, they are beneficial for both the environment and people,' Yaseen says.

Jordan's snake hunter keeps homes safe from slithering intruders


  • English
  • Arabic

A snake hunter in Jordan is keeping people — and reptiles — safe from harm.

Yaseen Al Sqour travels across the country rescuing snakes from people's homes.

He looks after any that are injured before releasing them back into the wild, but he says the reptiles are also becoming used to living alongside humans.

30 types of snakes 'can live with you'

“There are 37 kinds of snakes in Jordan and only seven of them are poisonous — 30 are non-poisonous, which you can live with at home. They start getting used to living with humans,” Mr Al Sqour said.

He also tries to raise awareness about his favorite animal by posting videos about them on social media.

“Yaseen Al Sqour taught me about the different kinds of snakes, the ones that are poisonous and the ones that are not," said Sayed Adnan, a visitor to Jordan from Bahrain. "I went out with him to [visit] different places.

“[He] is known in Jordan as someone who travels long distances to save others.”

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1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124

2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81

3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66

4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63

5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh135,000

Engine 1.6L turbo

Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode

Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds

Top speed 420 kph (governed)

Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

RACE CARD

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7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

Overview

Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu

Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

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Updated: May 27, 2022, 11:55 AM