Apart from doing science and maintenance work on the International Space Station, Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has also been busy conducting live video calls with UAE residents.
Dr Al Neyadi, 41, held his first live video call with the public on Tuesday at the Dubai Opera, an event that was attended by 1,900 students, police officers and residents.
Dressed in a blue astronaut jumpsuit, he took questions about how life has been so far since arriving at the orbiting laboratory about three weeks ago.
One of the pupils asked him what his biggest challenge has been.
“The space environment is very difficult but we are getting more familiar day after day,” Dr Al Neyadi said.
“I can be upside down, but I won't have that feeling.”
Microgravity conditions on the ISS causes astronauts to lose a sense of direction.
On Earth, for example, 'down' is the direction gravity pulls us to and 'up' is the opposite direction.
Keeping full in space
Dr Al Neyadi has also been trying different foods on the space station.
“Luckily, we have big variety of food. We have cargo vehicles that arrive to the station that bring our food,” Dr Al Neyadi said, while answering a pupil's question about what he has been eating.
“For example, this morning I had scrambled eggs which comes in a dehydrated packet, so all we need to do is to fill it with water hot water.”
He said he has also been eating sweets.
Dr Al Neyadi's full menu at the space station has not been revealed yet, but he does have Emirati cuisines with him.
Getting some shut-eye
Another pupil asked the astronaut how he sleeps if there is a lack of gravity.
Dr Al Neyadi said that he only needs some kind of restraining band that keeps him from floating away.
“We don't really need a pillow,” he said.
Astronauts restrain their body in a small sleeping compartment or sleeping bag to stay in one place.
Astronauts in the past have also complained about a lot of background white noise on the ISS, including the sound of air-conditioning fans and machinery, so many use ear plugs.
Exercising to keep bones healthy
Dr Al Neyadi said he exercises daily for two hours, which is mandatory for astronauts.
“We tend to lose body mass because we don't have gravity here,” he said.
“That's why we have to train two hours every day on a treadmill, a cycle or a weightlifting device.”
Astronauts cannot feel weight in space, so they have to create resistance when lifting weights, for example, using a vacuum cylinder that simulates weight.
On Tuesday, Dr Al Neyadi also sent his greetings to all mothers.
"On Mother's Day, I send greetings to all mothers. Greetings to those who stood beside us at every step, and supported us at every stage," he said on Twitter
"All my love to the mothers of the world wherever they are. From Space, Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for upholding the most important job on the planet."
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
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Our family matters legal consultant
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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GAC GS8 Specs
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Company%20profile
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THREE
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
