Flydubai cancels flights to Baghdad for two days following unrest in Iraqi capital

Flydubai has cancelled flights to Baghdad on August 30 and 31 following deadly clashes in the Iraqi capital.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” an airline representative told The National.

The airline is advising passengers who have bought tickets for travel to Baghdad to call the flydubai contact centre in Dubai to rebook or request a refund.

On Monday, Emirates also announced it was cancelling flights to and from the Iraqi city.

"Customers connecting to Baghdad will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin," Emirates said.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers."

The advisory is for travel on August 30 and the airline also said it is "monitoring the situation closely”.

Tensions soar in Iraq

Followers of Moqtada Al Sadr have expanded their sit-in to the Supreme Judiciary Council building inside the Green Zone in Baghdad. All photos: Sadrist Media Office
The Iraqi capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone was last month stormed by Mr Al Sadr’s supporters, who occupied the parliament building and staged a sit-in.
The continuing protests come amid a 10-month political impasse over forming a new government in Iraq.
The Shiite cleric’s supporters have set up tents outside the headquarters of Iraq’s top judicial body.
They are demanding the dissolution of the Iraqi Parliament and an end to corruption.
Demonstrators gathered in front of the Supreme Judicial Council early on Tuesday.
The now expanded sit-in has made it impossible for politicians to convene and proceed with the formation of a new government.
The political deadlock that has engulfed Iraq looks set to continue.

The decision to cancel flights from Dubai to Baghdad comes after supporters of cleric Moqtada Al Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad's Green Zone on Monday as the Shiite leader said he was quitting politics.

Tensions have soared amid an escalating political crisis that has left Iraq without a new government, prime minister or president for months.

Official working hours were suspended on Tuesday as unrest continued.

Iran closed its land borders to Iraq as flights to the country halted on Tuesday. The Kuwaiti embassy in Iraq is also urging its citizens to leave the country, Kuwait's state news agency reported late on Monday.

At least 23 people have been confirmed dead after being shot in Baghdad's Green Zone, according to the latest death toll from AFP.

Iraqi security forces said on Tuesday that four rockets landed in the fortified Green Zone, damaging residences.

Saudi National Day

Why the UAE has many reasons to celebrate its closest friend and ally

Sri Lanka's T20I squad

Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

What is a black hole?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem

Rating: 4/5

Hurricanes 31-31 Lions

Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett

British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Mina Al-Oraibi: Iraq is in a fight to show its people who is really in charge

Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Iraq PM goes from shy writer to the political peak

The National Editorial: Iran's 'failed model' should be discontinued

More on women's right

Shirin Ebadi: Iran's revolution in 1979 has failed its women

Here is why women's voices are vital to achieving lasting peace

Story of Israa Ghrayeb shows honour crimes are a global problem

From Brown-Long to the women of Tal Afar, victim-blaming is pervasive

Red flags

Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD

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How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Mobile phone packages comparison

Haemoglobin disorders explained

Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.

Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.

The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.

The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.

A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association