Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020, in this picture obtained from a social media video. Karim Sokhn/Instagram/Ksokhn + Thebikekitchenbeirut/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020, in this picture obtained from a social media video. Karim Sokhn/Instagram/Ksokhn + Thebikekitchenbeirut/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020, in this picture obtained from a social media video. Karim Sokhn/Instagram/Ksokhn + Thebikekitchenbeirut/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020, in this picture obtained from a social media video. Karim Sokhn/Instagram/Ksokhn + Thebikekitchenbeirut/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEE

Beirut blast may have left blanket of hazardous dust over city, says expert


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Beirut is probably covered in potentially harmful dust particles, despite the cloud of pollutants and nitrogen dioxide produced by Tuesday's blast clearing, a leading Lebanese expert has warned.

No full scientific analysis of the debris at Beirut port has yet been done, said Najat Aoun Saliba, a professor of analytical chemistry and the director of the Centre for Nature Conservation at the American University of Beirut.

Prof Saliba said a quick study showed there was no uranium or other radioactive substances.

But she said potentially harmful ammonium dust, finely ground debris and glass dust could be coating much of the city.

“I think, environmentally, what worries me now is the diversity and the waste generated from glass powder and from the dust that is going around in the city,” Prof Saliba said.

“And now people are trying to clean up the mess in front of their homes, and you can see roads covered with glass and even powders. This is extremely dangerous if inhaled.”

  • A woman stands inside a damaged restaurant. AP Photo
    A woman stands inside a damaged restaurant. AP Photo
  • People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
    People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
  • Workers are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
    Workers are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
  • A man sleeps near a damaged car near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. REUTERS
    A man sleeps near a damaged car near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. REUTERS
  • Workers line at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
    Workers line at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
  • French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
    French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA
  • People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
    People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA
  • A view of the port of Beirut on January 25, 2020, left, and on August 5, 2020, a day after the explosion. AFP
    A view of the port of Beirut on January 25, 2020, left, and on August 5, 2020, a day after the explosion. AFP
  • Bride Israa Seblani poses for a picture in the same place where she was taking her wedding photos at the moment of the explosion. Reuters
    Bride Israa Seblani poses for a picture in the same place where she was taking her wedding photos at the moment of the explosion. Reuters
  • People stand with their belongings as they leave their damaged homes. Reuters
    People stand with their belongings as they leave their damaged homes. Reuters
  • A Lebanese man shows injuries on his back after the massive explosion in Beirut. EPA
    A Lebanese man shows injuries on his back after the massive explosion in Beirut. EPA
  • Men are seen sitting inside a damaged home, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
    Men are seen sitting inside a damaged home, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
  • A pedestrian takes photos of a badly damaged building in Beirut. Bloomberg
    A pedestrian takes photos of a badly damaged building in Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Lebanese Druze clerics check damaged cars. AP Photo
    Lebanese Druze clerics check damaged cars. AP Photo
  • A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by the explosion. AP Photo
    A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by the explosion. AP Photo
  • People walk with their belongings in the area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
    People walk with their belongings in the area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
  • The curtains in the rooms of the Le Gray hotel in the Lebanese capital Beirut swaying in the wind. AFP
    The curtains in the rooms of the Le Gray hotel in the Lebanese capital Beirut swaying in the wind. AFP
  • A view of a damaged Fransa Bank. EPA
    A view of a damaged Fransa Bank. EPA
  • People check damaged vehicles. EPA
    People check damaged vehicles. EPA
  • Volunteers clean the streets amid the wreckage. Reuters
    Volunteers clean the streets amid the wreckage. Reuters
  • People carry belongings after evacuating their damaged housing units at area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
    People carry belongings after evacuating their damaged housing units at area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA
  • A destroyed Bank Audi SAL branch stands in Beirut. Bloomberg
    A destroyed Bank Audi SAL branch stands in Beirut. Bloomberg
  • A worker wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance to a destroyed Fransabank SAL branch in Beirut. Bloomberg
    A worker wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance to a destroyed Fransabank SAL branch in Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Volunteers carry brooms as they walk to clean the streets. Reuters
    Volunteers carry brooms as they walk to clean the streets. Reuters
  • A woman sits in front of a damaged building. EPA
    A woman sits in front of a damaged building. EPA
  • A general view of the Beirut port area after the massive explosion. EPA
    A general view of the Beirut port area after the massive explosion. EPA
  • An aerial view shows the massive damage done to the Electricity of Lebanon building. AFP
    An aerial view shows the massive damage done to the Electricity of Lebanon building. AFP
  • A view of the damaged building of the Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. EPA
    A view of the damaged building of the Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. EPA
  • Volunteers gather aid supplies to be distributed for those affected by Tuesday's blast. Reuters
    Volunteers gather aid supplies to be distributed for those affected by Tuesday's blast. Reuters
  • Lebanese men clears rubble, one day after the explosion at the Beirut Port, in the Gemayzeh area. EPA
    Lebanese men clears rubble, one day after the explosion at the Beirut Port, in the Gemayzeh area. EPA
  • Lebanese youth salvage a velvet sofa from a destroyed apartment in the Gemayzeh area of Beirut. EPA
    Lebanese youth salvage a velvet sofa from a destroyed apartment in the Gemayzeh area of Beirut. EPA
  • Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
    Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
  • An injured Lebanese shop owner sits at her desk selling her wares. EPA
    An injured Lebanese shop owner sits at her desk selling her wares. EPA

She said people should wear masks and gloves and spray water to settle any airborne particulates.

But Prof Saliba said cheap paper masks would not be able to filter out the finest and potentially most harmful dust.

“I'm telling people that the precautions you take for the pandemic you need to keep them and actually double down on them,” she said.

Prof Saliba said thick gloves should be worn when handling dust, along with a face shield or goggles to stop it getting into eyes and heavy-duty masks to prevent inhalation.

She little was known about what chemicals were in the toxic fire and what might still be around the city.

“Chemically speaking, ammonium nitrate on its own will produce nitrogen dioxide and we saw that with the brown smoke over Beirut on the night of the blast,” Prof Saliba said.

“What we know today is that the brown smoke that was there on the night of the blast has dissipated.”

That does not mean the city is now safe.

“We need the inventory of what was there during the blast and we need to take samples from the ground,” Prof Saliba said.

“What are the other chemicals that were burning with the ammonium nitrate? I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for that because we were not able to do thorough chemical analysis.

“We don't know whether there are other chemicals stored in addition to what they’re saying.

"We need a clear mapping of the industrial facilities in the area and for the material that was stored in the containers.”

She said that air-quality monitors at her university picked up the surge in particulates and pollutants to hazardous levels straight after the blast.

But Prof Saliba said these dropped within hours as wind cleared the air.

While they could be harmful in large quantities, she said they were not uncommon in the polluted city.

“Sometimes when we get dust storms from the desert close by, we get to this level," Prof Saliba said.

"But what is more important is the amount of nitrogen dioxide.”

She said that gas was very dangerous.

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

GP3 qualifying, 10:15am

Formula 2, practice 11:30am

Formula 1, first practice, 1pm

GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm

Formula 1 second practice, 5pm

Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

'Shakuntala Devi'

Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra

Director: Anu Menon

Rating: Three out of five stars

Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

While you're here
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