Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow crew members, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. EPA
Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow crew members, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. EPA
Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow crew members, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. EPA
Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow crew members, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. EPA

My comrade: Russian cosmonaut hails UAE's first man in space


Andrew Scott
  • English
  • Arabic

History-making Hazza Al Mansouri has been hailed by his fellow crew members as preparations gather pace for the UAE's maiden mission to space.

Maj Al Mansouri will rocket into the record books when he blasts off in a Soyuz craft destined for the International Space Station on September 25.

The high-flying 35-year-old has proved a hit with his fellow space travellers during intensive training in Russia in recent months.

Alongside compatriot Sultan Al Neyadi, who is part of the back-up crew for the milestone voyage, he has embraced a tough training regime and quickly mastered Russian, a requirement of the mission.

During a press conference packed with reporters and cameraman at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, the rapport between Maj Al Mansouri and his crew mates, Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir and Russian commander Oleg Skripochka was clear as they spoke warmly of his contribution.

"Both Hazza and Sultan assimilated into the training, learning Russian extremely quickly, " said Commander Skripochka.

"They met each task with endeavour and humility creating an extremely positive experience."

Dr Meir, previously an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, is looking forward to sampling the Emirati cuisine to be served on board.

Maj Al Mansouri will host a food night for crew mates on board the International Space Station — offering canned and liquefied versions of the nation's best-loved dishes.

"I'm a real foodie and I love great food," she said. "We have all done the food tests and have sampled the Emirati meal we will be served. I can honestly say I am really looking forward to it."

Maj Al Mansouri is technically a cosmonaut rather than an astronaut, as this is term used by the Russian Space Agency, the body which has overseen his training.

In the year since he was announced as the UAE's first man to fly into space, he has happily taken on the mantle of responsibility.

Appearing cheery and calm, he does not appear to a man for whom the weight of a nation's expectations is weighing heavily.

The UAE's first astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow Emirati Sultan Al Neyadi, who is part of the back-up crew for the International Space Station mission. EPA
The UAE's first astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri with fellow Emirati Sultan Al Neyadi, who is part of the back-up crew for the International Space Station mission. EPA

He spoke of the pride he had in the fact he had learned his craft at the space centre named after the first man to journey into space.

"I would like to thank everyone at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre for their support, their hospitality and their expertise," said Maj Al Mansouri, speaking in Russian.

"I also want to thank all the people of Russia for welcoming us into your beautiful country and giving us this wonderful experience."

Maj Al Mansouri, 35, will be placed in quarantine with the rest of the main and back-up crews for two weeks to ensure they are free of germs or infections ahead of the mission.

Maj Al Mansouri will spend eight days aboard the ISS, returning to Earth on October 3, at 4.48pm.

Both he and Mr Al Neyadi hope it is just the start of a rich adventure for the UAE's space programme.

First step space, with the Moon and Mars on the horizon in the years to come.

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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Brief scores:

​​​​​​Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field

​Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55

Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out

Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
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  • Price: Not announced yet
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

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Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: SimpliFi

Started: August 2021

Founder: Ali Sattar

Based: UAE

Industry: Finance, technology

Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals

Bharat

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

SPECS

Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh184,500

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.