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Sharjah apartment block fire, 462 new cases in the UAE - The Daily Update

On today's update, a fire at a 51-storey building in Sharjah, the latest coronavirus figures and a new strand of the disease. Also, India's repatriation to start and the Pakistani consulate warns of a fake ticket scam.

The National

May 06, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

On today's update, a fire at a 51-storey building in Sharjah, the latest coronavirus figures and a new strand of the disease. Also, India's repatriation to start and the Pakistani consulate warns of a fake ticket scam.

Cody Combs joins us for what's trending.

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Sharjah tower fire - in pictures

Sharjah is to replace hazardous cladding on buildings, with work starting this week. Such cladding was cited as the cause of a major blaze at Abbco Tower in the emirate in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sharjah is to replace hazardous cladding on buildings, with work starting this week. Such cladding was cited as the cause of a major blaze at Abbco Tower in the emirate in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The damaged Abbco Tower after a huge blaze on Tuesday night. The building was fitted with cladding that was banned in 2016. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The damaged Abbco Tower after a huge blaze on Tuesday night. The building was fitted with cladding that was banned in 2016. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Families watch as flames spread through their building late on Tuesday night. Several surrounding towers were evacuated as a precaution. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
Families watch as flames spread through their building late on Tuesday night. Several surrounding towers were evacuated as a precaution. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA

No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Miss Granny

Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

3/5

(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)

Fighting with My Family

Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

Four stars

While you're here
Results:

5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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Meydan card

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

 

 

HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

Captain Marvel

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law,  Ben Mendelsohn

4/5 stars

While you're here
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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