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
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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 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 was gutted in the fire. 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 -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower. -
Residents watch on as the fire is contained. -
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. -
A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA -
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. -
Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building. -
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. -
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks. -
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 -
Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
