• The chief executive of Irish discount airline company Ryanair, Michael O’Leary poses for a photograph after speaking at a press conference in London, Britain. Ryanair have launched their London summer 2017 schedule, with 2 new routes to Strasburg and Faro, and more flights to Sofia and Nuremburg. Hannah McKay / EPA
    The chief executive of Irish discount airline company Ryanair, Michael O’Leary poses for a photograph after speaking at a press conference in London, Britain. Ryanair have launched their London summer 2017 schedule, with 2 new routes to Strasburg and Faro, and more flights to Sofia and Nuremburg. Hannah McKay / EPA
  • The Black Rock Lighthouse Service installation is shown in the distance during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nevada. Chase Stevens / Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP
    The Black Rock Lighthouse Service installation is shown in the distance during Burning Man at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nevada. Chase Stevens / Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP
  • Riot police clash with supporters of Dilma Rousseff as they protest against new Brazilian President Michel Temer at the Paulista Avenue, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff was stripped of the country’s presidency in an emotional impeachment vote Wednesday and replaced by conservative rival Michel Temer, who promised to heal Latin America’s biggest economy. Miguel Schincariol / AFP
    Riot police clash with supporters of Dilma Rousseff as they protest against new Brazilian President Michel Temer at the Paulista Avenue, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff was stripped of the country’s presidency in an emotional impeachment vote Wednesday and replaced by conservative rival Michel Temer, who promised to heal Latin America’s biggest economy. Miguel Schincariol / AFP
  • Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, North Sumatra. Many residents in the area have been forced to relocate to other villages of Northern Sumatra at a safer distance from mount Sinabung volcano, one of most active in Indonesia. Ebenezer Pinem / AFP
    Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, North Sumatra. Many residents in the area have been forced to relocate to other villages of Northern Sumatra at a safer distance from mount Sinabung volcano, one of most active in Indonesia. Ebenezer Pinem / AFP
  • People watch as a paraglider flies past them as they sit atop Long Reef Point on the first day of Spring in Sydney, Australia. David Gray / Reuters
    People watch as a paraglider flies past them as they sit atop Long Reef Point on the first day of Spring in Sydney, Australia. David Gray / Reuters
  • Sunrise above a foggy field near Altranft, Germany. Patrick Pleul / EPA
    Sunrise above a foggy field near Altranft, Germany. Patrick Pleul / EPA
  • Animal rights activists protest against dolphin slaughter in front of the Japanese embassy in Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. Activists protesteted against Japan’s dolphin drive hunt which annually starts in September in Taiji, Japan. Eugenio Loreto / EPA
    Animal rights activists protest against dolphin slaughter in front of the Japanese embassy in Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. Activists protesteted against Japan’s dolphin drive hunt which annually starts in September in Taiji, Japan. Eugenio Loreto / EPA
  • Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff gestures at the Alvorada presidential palace in Brasilia after she was stripped of the country’s presidency in a Senate impeachment vote on August 31, 2016. Rousseff was stripped of the country’s presidency Wednesday in a Senate impeachment vote ending 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America’s biggest economy. Evarusti Sa / AFP
    Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff gestures at the Alvorada presidential palace in Brasilia after she was stripped of the country’s presidency in a Senate impeachment vote on August 31, 2016. Rousseff was stripped of the country’s presidency Wednesday in a Senate impeachment vote ending 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America’s biggest economy. Evarusti Sa / AFP
  • A man walks under spectral coloured umbrellas of the art installation ‘REGEN.WALD’ (rain.forest) in Vienna, Austria. The installation is part of the annual cultural projects ‘space and place’ and ‘Vienna lives’. Christian Bruna / EPA
    A man walks under spectral coloured umbrellas of the art installation ‘REGEN.WALD’ (rain.forest) in Vienna, Austria. The installation is part of the annual cultural projects ‘space and place’ and ‘Vienna lives’. Christian Bruna / EPA
  • A Hindu priest recites prayers from a holy book while performing a ritual near the bank of Bagmati River during Kuse Aunse (Father’s Day) at Gokarna Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. Hindus all over the country, whose fathers have passed away, come to the temple for worship, holy dips, and to present offerings on this occasion. Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters
    A Hindu priest recites prayers from a holy book while performing a ritual near the bank of Bagmati River during Kuse Aunse (Father’s Day) at Gokarna Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. Hindus all over the country, whose fathers have passed away, come to the temple for worship, holy dips, and to present offerings on this occasion. Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

World in focus – best photos for September 1, 2016


  • English
  • Arabic

A look at the best photos from around the world today.

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

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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

T20 World Cup Qualifier

October 18 – November 2

Opening fixtures

Friday, October 18

ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya

Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan

Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed

Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
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 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now