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In war-torn Gaza where daily survival is a struggle, one man is bringing people a taste of joy – one slice of pizza at a time.
Mohammed Al Amarin, 28, was inspired to introduce the concept of mobile kitchens to Gaza during a two-month visit to Italy two years ago, where he learnt to make pizza and developed a passion for pepperoni topping. He has spent the past four months preparing, overcoming immense challenges created by the war, before finally making his dream a reality.
“This is the first time a mobile kitchen has been introduced in Gaza,” Mr Al Amarin told The National.
“At first, I faced a lot of obstacles – finding the right materials to build the cart, securing iron and wood, and dealing with high prices. At one point, I even considered abandoning the project, but then I realised how much displaced people in tents and those far from markets needed it.”
Families in Gaza have suffered from food scarcity and rising costs throughout 15 months of Israel's siege and devastating military offensive against Hamas. Although a ceasefire has halted the relentless bombardment and ground fighting since January 19, Gazans face a massive challenge to rebuild their homes and their lives. The pizza kitchen gives them not just a warm meal but also a taste of hope in a time of despair.
Mr Al Amarin, a resident of Gaza city, launched his mobile pizza kitchen in the southern city of Rafah. The area has been devastated by the war, with homes replaced by tents and the streets filled with rubble. Navigating Rafah with his car-drawn trailer is difficult, but Mr Al Amarin is encouraged by the joy with which he is received.
“People were incredibly happy with the idea and kept asking me to return because they have no way to travel to Khan Younis just to buy food,” he says, referring to the city just north of Rafah. “Children especially loved the project, waiting eagerly for me to arrive every day.”
Mr Al Amarin has a crew of four to help him transport the mobile kitchen and serve up simple vegetarian pizzas from the trailer's wood-fired oven. The pizzas are given out free under an arrangement with local charities.
“I love the idea that the restaurant comes to us instead of us having to go to it,” says Mohammed Abu Al Aoun, 24, whose family lives in a tent in the Al Mawasi area of Khan Younis. He was waiting eagerly for the mobile kitchen so he could take pizza home to his children.
“My kids keep asking for pizza, but buying one costs around 15 shekels [$4.20], which is simply unaffordable for us right now,” Mr Abu Al Aoun told The National. “When I heard there was a kitchen moving around, my children were so excited and waited every day for it to arrive.”
Hamza, 12, was among the first to queue up in front of the mobile kitchen when it arrived in Al Mawasi, eager to collect his free slice.
“I’m happy that I can finally eat pizza,” he says. “We waited many days for the kitchen to come, but because of the rain, it couldn’t make it. When it finally arrived, we all gathered quickly so we wouldn’t miss out.”
Like many other displaced Gazans, Hamza’s family relies on daily food distributed by Tikkia, a communal initiative that primarily provides rice and macaroni. The pizza kitchen offers a rare change in diet.
“I want this project to grow. I dream of a mobile kitchen in every part of Gaza, so no child has to wait too long to enjoy something as simple as pizza,” Mr Al Amarin says. “Seeing the smiles on the children's faces assured me that it was truly worth it.”
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.
4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.
5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Company%20Profile
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Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Joy%20Ride%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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