It is the first day of the Haj. The rugged mountains of Mecca transform to sheets of white as millions of pilgrims descend on the city to undertake a fundamental pillar of their faith.
The Haj is one of Islam's five pillars and is ordered by God to be undertook if the believer is healthy and has the financial means. However, the sacred work begins before setting foot on the spiritual path. To prepare for this important meeting with their Lord, all pilgrims prepare to get into Ihram, a state both physical and mental. When it comes to the former, males wear two sheets of white cloth around the waist and torso. For females, it can be ordinary loose-fitting clothes with only their face and hands exposed. It is recommended both males and females wear flip flops. Pilgrims refrain from wearing scents on their body or clothes. In a state of Ihram, pilgrims refrain from behaving in an ill manner and must act modestly at all times. Pilgrims travel – some by car, bus and even by walking – to the village of Mina in Mecca's east, where they will spend the day and night in large tents in a state of spiritual contemplation and preparing for the gruelling days ahead.
* Saeed Saeed
More pictures from Haj
• Dhu Al Hijja 12 – Final Day of Haj, 2012
• Dhu Al Hijja 11 – Fourth Day of Haj, 2012
• Dhu Al Hijja 10 – Third Day of Haj, 2012
• Dhu Al Hijja 9 – Second Day of Haj, 2012
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
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Three stars
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
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Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Jetour T1 specs
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
