• Labourers in a field outside the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria harvest durum wheat. All photos by AFP
    Labourers in a field outside the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria harvest durum wheat. All photos by AFP
  • An aerial view shows labourers in the Syrian town of Binnish in Idlib province harvesting durum wheat to produce freekeh, a cereal that is roasted to give it flavour.
    An aerial view shows labourers in the Syrian town of Binnish in Idlib province harvesting durum wheat to produce freekeh, a cereal that is roasted to give it flavour.
  • Labourers roast durum wheat to produce freekeh after harvesting a field, in the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria.
    Labourers roast durum wheat to produce freekeh after harvesting a field, in the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria.
  • Labourers harvesting durum wheat to produce freekeh in the Syrian town of Binnish work agricultural land in Idlib province that has been heavily depleted by years of bombing and shelling.
    Labourers harvesting durum wheat to produce freekeh in the Syrian town of Binnish work agricultural land in Idlib province that has been heavily depleted by years of bombing and shelling.
  • Harvesting and roasting durum wheat in the Syrian town of Binnish. In April, the UN said unexploded and improvised devices claimed three lives in northeastern Syria.
    Harvesting and roasting durum wheat in the Syrian town of Binnish. In April, the UN said unexploded and improvised devices claimed three lives in northeastern Syria.
  • Harvesting fields of durum wheat in the Syrian town of Binnish in rebel-held Idlib province goes on in the strong spring sunshine.
    Harvesting fields of durum wheat in the Syrian town of Binnish in rebel-held Idlib province goes on in the strong spring sunshine.
  • While the essential work of wheat harvesting goes on at Binnish in northwestern Syria, efforts have been made to educate field workers to beware of the civil war's harvest of unexploded shells and bombs.
    While the essential work of wheat harvesting goes on at Binnish in northwestern Syria, efforts have been made to educate field workers to beware of the civil war's harvest of unexploded shells and bombs.
  • Demand for wheat to produce freekeh keeps the economy of the Syrian town of Binnish in northwestern Syria alive.
    Demand for wheat to produce freekeh keeps the economy of the Syrian town of Binnish in northwestern Syria alive.
  • Agriculture in Syrian towns such as Binnish contributes a quarter of Syria's gross domestic product and provides work for 6.5 million people, the UN says.
    Agriculture in Syrian towns such as Binnish contributes a quarter of Syria's gross domestic product and provides work for 6.5 million people, the UN says.
  • After labourers in the Syrian town of Binnish harvest durum wheat, the ground is scorched in preparation for the next crop.
    After labourers in the Syrian town of Binnish harvest durum wheat, the ground is scorched in preparation for the next crop.
  • Labourers sort and bag their crop in the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib, northwestern Syria.
    Labourers sort and bag their crop in the Syrian town of Binnish in the rebel-held province of Idlib, northwestern Syria.

MENA

Syria

Labourers in Syria harvest durum wheat - in pictures

Wheat is harvested in a field outside the town of Binnish to produce freekeh - a cereal that is roasted to give it flavour

The National

May 21, 2022

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Two products to make at home

Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Stage results

1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep  4:39:05

2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08

3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time 

4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t  

5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t  

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t 

7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t

8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t     

9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo  s.t

10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t

Updated: May 21, 2022, 10:19 AM
Syria