Kalibr naval-based cruise missiles
Long-range missiles that can be fired from ships or submarines. First-ever use was in Syria in 2015. Russia has fired them at least 15 times since then from the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas, mostly against ISIL targets. Similar to US Tomahawk cruise missiles.
T90 tank
Russia’s first post-Cold War battle tank, it was designed to challenge the US M1 Abrams. First official deployment was in Syria in 2015, it is now in use there by both Russian and Syrian troops. Some reports suggest it is more effective at withstanding strikes by advanced anti-tank rockets than the M1.
Ratnik body armor
Advanced body armour that integrates communications, night and thermal vision, Russia hopes to outfit all ground forces with Ratnik by 2020. First used in Syria in 2015 or 2016.
S400 air defense system
First reported deployment outside of Russia was in Syria in November 2015, after a Russian jet was shot down by a Turkish jet in northern Syria. Now believed to be deployed at Hmeimem air base near Lattakia and a second airbase near the city of Hama. An older version of the system (S200) is believed to have been used by Syrian government forces to down an Israeli fighter jet earlier this year.
TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher
An updated version of a system used by the Russian military in Afghanistan, it saw its first field deployment in Iraq in 2014 and has been used regularly by the Syrian government since 2015. Russia has signed a tentative agreement to produce the system local in Saudi Arabia.
Sukhoi Su-35
Advanced fighter jet first used by Russian air force in combat over Syria in 2016. UAE reportedly agreed to buy 24 of them last year.
Sukhoi Su-57
Russia’s most advanced “fifth generation” fighter jet, as many as four Su-57s participated in bombing rebel-held areas near Damascus in February 2018. It is believed to be the first combat test of the aircraft.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
