Motaz al Mazari's family has been making swords for around 200 years. All photos: Reuters
Motaz al Mazari's family has been making swords for around 200 years. All photos: Reuters
Motaz has added a special twist to his forefathers' methods, using spare car parts as the base for his swords.
Motaz has added a special twist to his forefathers' methods, using spare car parts as the base for his swords.
Jordanian sword manufacturer, Motaz Al Mazari, works inside his workshop in Irbid, Jordan April 24, 2022. Picture taken April 24, 2022. REUTERS / Jehad Shelbak
Jordanian sword manufacturer, Motaz Al Mazari, works inside his workshop in Irbid, Jordan April 24, 2022. Picture taken April 24, 2022. REUTERS / Jehad Shelbak
Demand for swords is modest, making it difficult to maintain it as a profession.
Demand for swords is modest, making it difficult to maintain it as a profession.
Each sword takes around one to two weeks to manufacture and is expensive to produce.
Each sword takes around one to two weeks to manufacture and is expensive to produce.
The financial returns are often insufficient to cover the time and effort spent.
The financial returns are often insufficient to cover the time and effort spent.

MENA

A look inside a Jordanian swordsmith's workshop

The craft is a popular hobby, but it is widely considered to be unsustainable as a profession

The National

May 12, 2022

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  • Arabic

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6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m 

7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m 

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9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m  

What are the influencer academy modules?
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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Marital status: Single

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.

Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.

The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.

Tomorrow 2021
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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

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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.”

Draw

Quarter-finals

Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)

RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)

Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)

Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon

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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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Updated: May 12, 2022, 9:23 AM`
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