The USNS Amelia Earhart, an American naval cargo ship, seen from the hangar of the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier on March 22, 2017 in the Arabian Gulf. The two ships are sailing in parallel, maintaining a constant speed of around 10-12 knots as the USNS Earhart supplies the USS Bush with fuel for its aircraft, as well as food and other cargo.
The USNS Amelia Earhart, an American naval cargo ship, seen from the hangar of the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier on March 22, 2017 in the Arabian Gulf. The two ships are sailing in parallel, maintaining a constant speed of around 10-12 knots as the USNS Earhart supplies the USS Bush with fuel for its aircraft, as well as food and other cargo.
US naval mechanics working on a warplane in the aircraft hanger on March 21, 2017 as the carrier transits the Strait of Hormuz.
US naval mechanics working on a warplane in the aircraft hanger on March 21, 2017 as the carrier transits the Strait of Hormuz.
Mail and packages delivered to the USS George HW Bush on March 22, 2017.
Mail and packages delivered to the USS George HW Bush on March 22, 2017.
The USS George HW Bush transiting the Mediterranean Sea on February 21, 2017 while launching strikes on ISIL targets. Courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither / US navy
The USS George HW Bush transiting the Mediterranean Sea on February 21, 2017 while launching strikes on ISIL targets. Courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither / US navy
The USNS Amelia Earhart cargo ship in the Arabian Gulf on March 22, 2017 supplying the USS George HW Bush with fuel for its aircraft.
The USNS Amelia Earhart cargo ship in the Arabian Gulf on March 22, 2017 supplying the USS George HW Bush with fuel for its aircraft.
US navy Rear Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, who heads the USS George HW Bush’s carrier strike group, is pictured in the ship’s hangar as it sails through the Strait of Hormuz on March 21, 2017.
US navy Rear Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, who heads the USS George HW Bush’s carrier strike group, is pictured in the ship’s hangar as it sails through the Strait of Hormuz on March 21, 2017.
US navy Captain Will Pennington, the commanding officer of the USS George HW Bush, in the bridge of the aircraft carrier on March 21, 2017.
US navy Captain Will Pennington, the commanding officer of the USS George HW Bush, in the bridge of the aircraft carrier on March 21, 2017.
The flight deck of the USS George HW Bush is pictured as the aircraft carrier transits the Arabian Gulf on March 21, 2017.
The flight deck of the USS George HW Bush is pictured as the aircraft carrier transits the Arabian Gulf on March 21, 2017.
Mops are pictured on the USS George HW Bush’s ‘Vulture’s Row’ - a viewing platform from where operations on the flight deck can be observed.
Mops are pictured on the USS George HW Bush’s ‘Vulture’s Row’ - a viewing platform from where operations on the flight deck can be observed.
US navy Yeoman Third Class Juliana Brito, 21, an administrator on board the USS George HW Bush in the ship’s hangar.
US navy Yeoman Third Class Juliana Brito, 21, an administrator on board the USS George HW Bush in the ship’s hangar.
US navy Petty Officer First Class Marshall Tripp, 23, a diesel mechanic on the aircraft carrier.
US navy Petty Officer First Class Marshall Tripp, 23, a diesel mechanic on the aircraft carrier.
A view of the USS George HW Bush’s flight deck from inside the Primary Flight Control room. The Flight Control team takes note of what goes on on the flight deck by scribbling on the windows in marker pen.
A view of the USS George HW Bush’s flight deck from inside the Primary Flight Control room. The Flight Control team takes note of what goes on on the flight deck by scribbling on the windows in marker pen.
The USS George HW Bush performs a passing exercise in the Mediterranean Sea on March 5, 2017 with the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Greek navy’s Elli-class frigate HN Kountouriotis. Courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael B Zingaro / US navy
The USS George HW Bush performs a passing exercise in the Mediterranean Sea on March 5, 2017 with the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Greek navy’s Elli-class frigate HN Kountouriotis. Courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael B Zingaro / US navy
An empty Starbucks cup in the Primary Flight Control room of the USS George HW Bush on March 20, 2017. The ship has its own Starbucks counter which is manned by US naval sailors who have received barista training from the American coffee shop company.
An empty Starbucks cup in the Primary Flight Control room of the USS George HW Bush on March 20, 2017. The ship has its own Starbucks counter which is manned by US naval sailors who have received barista training from the American coffee shop company.
‘Mini Boss’, the deputy head of the team manning the Primary Flight Control room.
‘Mini Boss’, the deputy head of the team manning the Primary Flight Control room.
View from inside the Primary Flight Control room. The ‘Mini’ mentioned in the drawing refers to ‘Mini Boss’, the deputy head of the team manning the room. Banter is encouraged on board the ship and plays a central role in many working relationships.
View from inside the Primary Flight Control room. The ‘Mini’ mentioned in the drawing refers to ‘Mini Boss’, the deputy head of the team manning the room. Banter is encouraged on board the ship and plays a central role in many working relationships.
The United Nations VIP ‘suite’ aboard the USS George HW Bush. Each of the carrier’s VIP cabins are named for a different role held by its namesake; this one refers to the former president’s time as US ambassador to the United Nations.
The United Nations VIP ‘suite’ aboard the USS George HW Bush. Each of the carrier’s VIP cabins are named for a different role held by its namesake; this one refers to the former president’s time as US ambassador to the United Nations.
The bookshelf in the United Nations suite aboard the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier.
The bookshelf in the United Nations suite aboard the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier.
US naval mechanics working on a warplane in the aircraft hanger.
US naval mechanics working on a warplane in the aircraft hanger.
A combat jet seen in the hangar of the USS George HW Bush on March 22, 2017.
A combat jet seen in the hangar of the USS George HW Bush on March 22, 2017.

World

Life inside the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush – in pictures

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The National's Laura Mackenzie travelled aboard the USS George HW Bush as it sailed from the Sea of Oman to the northern Arabian Gulf to launch air strikes on ISIL in Iraq and Syria. These photos give a small insight into daily life aboard the aircraft carrier.

All photos by Laura Mackenzie / The National unless specified

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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.

While you're here
On Women's Day
The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Brief scoreline:

Wolves 3

Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2

Arsenal 1

Papastathopoulos 80'

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Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

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Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

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