Kaavan's first contact: ‘former loneliest elephant in the world’ makes a friend in Cambodia


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Kaavan the elephant interacted with another elephant for the first time in years after being taken from Pakistan to Cambodia on Monday.

He was resettled following a global campaign led by American singer Cher.

Animal welfare organisation Four Paws moved Kaavan – an overweight, 36-year-old bull elephant – from Islamabad Zoo to a wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey province in northern Cambodia and announced the meeting between the animals on Twitter.

  • US pop singer Cher gestures in front of the crate of Kaavan the Asian elephant upon his arrival in Cambodia from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport on November 30, 2020. AFP
    US pop singer Cher gestures in front of the crate of Kaavan the Asian elephant upon his arrival in Cambodia from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport on November 30, 2020. AFP
  • Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport, Cambodia. EPA
    Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport, Cambodia. EPA
  • Cher watches as rescued elephant Kaavan arrives at the international airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP
    Cher watches as rescued elephant Kaavan arrives at the international airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP
  • Kavaan is offloaded from the plane in Siem Reap airport arrival in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
    Kavaan is offloaded from the plane in Siem Reap airport arrival in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
  • Kavaan arrives in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
    Kavaan arrives in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
  • Cher holds a welcoming sign for rescued elephant Kaavan in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP
    Cher holds a welcoming sign for rescued elephant Kaavan in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP
  • Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP
    Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP
  • Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP
    Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP
  • Cher reacts as the crate containing Kaavan the Asian elephant is opened for his release into his new home in the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey Province. AFP
    Cher reacts as the crate containing Kaavan the Asian elephant is opened for his release into his new home in the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey Province. AFP
  • Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia. EPA
    Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia. EPA
  • Cher at the arrival of Kavaan in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
    Cher at the arrival of Kavaan in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws
  • Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws
    Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws
  • Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws
    Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws
  • Amir Khalil, a veterinarian and director of the project development for Four Paws International, feeds Kaavan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, in a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP
    Amir Khalil, a veterinarian and director of the project development for Four Paws International, feeds Kaavan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, in a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP
  • Pakistani wildlife workers, officials and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, pose for photograph next to a crate holding an elephant named Kaavan before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP
    Pakistani wildlife workers, officials and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, pose for photograph next to a crate holding an elephant named Kaavan before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP
  • Veterinarians from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws inject medicine to an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
    Veterinarians from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws inject medicine to an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
  • Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, use a crane to move a crate carrying an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
    Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, use a crane to move a crate carrying an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
  • Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, arrange an elephant named Kaavan into a crate before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
    Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, arrange an elephant named Kaavan into a crate before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP
  • American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • A photographer takes a picture of an elephant named "Kaavan" waiting to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Maragzar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP
    A photographer takes a picture of an elephant named "Kaavan" waiting to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Maragzar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP
  • Officials of Four Paws International and wildlife rangers move Kavaan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, into a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP
    Officials of Four Paws International and wildlife rangers move Kavaan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, into a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP

"Seeing Kaavan interacting with other elephants is a huge moment for us but more importantly for Kaavan. We are extremely moved," the organisation tweeted on Tuesday, along with a photo of Kaavan reaching through the bars of a fence to touch trunks with another elephant.

Kaavan arrived in Cambodia by cargo plane to start a new life with 600 other elephants.

Cher wrote songs that urged authorities to release Kaavan from grim, isolated conditions in the zoo where he spent much of his life alone.

She spent time with the animal in the days before he was flown to his new home.

The singer was also on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia's second-biggest city, Siem Reap, to greet the elephant and met the vets who accompanied him on his long journey in a custom-made crate, with more than 200 kilograms of food to keep him busy.

Dozens of wildlife workers and experts used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate before he was loaded on to the Russian-built cargo plane.

His crate had the words #FreeKaavan painted on the side.

Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and spokesman for Cambodia's Environment Ministry, praised Four Paws and Cher for their efforts to help Kaavan and said Cambodia would be the ideal home for him.

"Cambodia is pleased to welcome Kaavan. No longer will he be the world's loneliest elephant," he said at a welcome ceremony.

Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
  • Ban fruit juice and sodas
  • Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
  • Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
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Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
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US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

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Tuesday
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Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
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The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')

Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')

The UN General Assembly President in quotes:

YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”

PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”

OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”

REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.