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Sharjah apartment block fire, 462 new cases in the UAE - The Daily Update

On today's update, a fire at a 51-storey building in Sharjah, the latest coronavirus figures and a new strand of the disease. Also, India's repatriation to start and the Pakistani consulate warns of a fake ticket scam.

The National

May 06, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

On today's update, a fire at a 51-storey building in Sharjah, the latest coronavirus figures and a new strand of the disease. Also, India's repatriation to start and the Pakistani consulate warns of a fake ticket scam.

Cody Combs joins us for what's trending.

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Sharjah tower fire - in pictures

Sharjah is to replace hazardous cladding on buildings, with work starting this week. Such cladding was cited as the cause of a major blaze at Abbco Tower in the emirate in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sharjah is to replace hazardous cladding on buildings, with work starting this week. Such cladding was cited as the cause of a major blaze at Abbco Tower in the emirate in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The damaged Abbco Tower after a huge blaze on Tuesday night. The building was fitted with cladding that was banned in 2016. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The damaged Abbco Tower after a huge blaze on Tuesday night. The building was fitted with cladding that was banned in 2016. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Families watch as flames spread through their building late on Tuesday night. Several surrounding towers were evacuated as a precaution. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
Families watch as flames spread through their building late on Tuesday night. Several surrounding towers were evacuated as a precaution. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
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SERIES INFO

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series

All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Test series

1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March

Play starts at 9.30am

T20 series

1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March

TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Listen to Extra Time

The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
​​​​​​​Princeton

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Results

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47

2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time

3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep   

4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo

5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates

7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ

8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03

9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep         

10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Bah

Born: 1972

Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992

Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old

Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school

 

BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

Monster Hunter: World

Capcom

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
England v South Africa
Ireland v Italy

Saturday, November 10
Italy v Georgia
Scotland v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Wales v Australia
Ireland v Argentina
France v South Africa

Saturday, November 17
Italy v Australia
Wales v Tonga
England v Japan
Scotland v South Africa
Ireland v New Zealand

Saturday, November 24
|Italy v New Zealand
Scotland v Argentina
England v Australia
Wales v South Africa
Ireland v United States
France v Fiji

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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