We live in the desert, and may forget that there are complex mini-ecosystems to be found here. Unseen under rocks and shrubs, there are important living things that come together to support a broader cycle of life.
For UAE gardeners, some of these creatures will be more welcome than others, especially for those who are growing their own vegetables and would prefer not to see the fruits of their labour being munched by bugs and grubs.
So how does the urban gardener keep the pests at bay, without negatively impacting the environment? Chemical pesticides and fertilisers are undoubtedly effective, yet can leave toxic residue in soil and on plants, which will accumulate over time – potentially impacting pets, children and adults, as well as the birds and the bees essential for pollination and plant reproduction. It has been reported that homeowners in the United States use three times more pesticides than farmers, and pet and other wildlife poisonings have been a direct consequence of using the proverbial sledgehammer to crack a nut.
The perennial misuse of chemical pesticides and fertilisers becomes even more significant if planted areas are later turned over for food growth, and trace elements of these chemicals remain in the soil.
Laura Allais-Maré and Rais Reza of Slow Food Dubai advocate a gentler, more complementary approach to dealing with unwelcome and troublesome garden interlopers. They recommend blending generally available items from your kitchen or medicine cabinet to condition and fertilise plants, as well as to repel and discourage pests.
At a recent talk and demonstration entitled Making Your Own Homemade Organic Pest Control, at the Organic Foods & Cafe in Village Mall in Dubai, they shared tried-and-tested recipes and strategies for nurturing plants and crops. All of these aim to discourage garden baddies, while allowing room for the good guys – bees, butterflies and dragon flies, for example – to thrive.
All the “recipes” begin with a plastic water bottle, to which various blends are added to create safe, non-toxic (to humans, animals and birds) plant conditioners and pesticides.
As Allais-Maré notes: “The best defence against pests is a healthy garden. Just as we may become susceptible to all sort of viruses or infections if we are not fed well, so your garden is the same. If you keep your garden strong, feed it well, use compost, etc, the chances of pests or fungi attacking it are brought to a minimum.”
Here are some easy recipes to help you on your way.
Plant-conditioning spray:
Epsom salts mix
Recipe: Add one level teaspoon of Epsom salts and two drops of hydrogen peroxide to 1.5 litres of warmish water. Also add a tip of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, plus three drops of pure neem oil.
Generally speaking, UAE soil isn’t mineral rich and its PH value can be low, so Epsom salts (buy them at the pharmacy) are a great conditioner for your plants, because they contain essential magnesium. It’s also a good conditioner if you see leaves going yellow. Add to your watering can and/or garden spray and apply directly to plants and soil. If you’re recycling a sprayer formerly used for household products, be sure to rinse well to avoid cross-contamination. Remember, too, that dusty plants find it hard to breathe, so anything that helps to keep their leaves clean will also promote their well-being.
Pesticide mixes:
Neem mix: To create your own neem pesticide (not to be confused with actual neem oil), pick a few leaves and/or small branches from a neem tree (there are plenty in the UAE). If you see the seeds in season, gather these as well, as they are especially effective.
• Place the leaves, small branches and seeds, plus two drops of hydrogen peroxide and warm water, in a large screw-top plastic water bottle.
• Leave the brew to stew for about a month in a sunny spot on your balcony or terrace, then open the cap slowly to allow any accumulated gases to disperse. Strain the mixture.
• Spray your plants with a dilution of one part neem mix to 10 parts water to deter a wide range of pests from your plants. Keep any remaining mixture in the fridge for longevity.
Allais-Maré is a great advocate of neem oil as a natural pesticide, and although she says it can be hard to find pure neem oil in the UAE, a more diluted form, Neem Guard, is readily available. Neem leaves and small branches are a good addition when composting, because they take their properties deep in to the soil when dug in.
Citrus mix: Orange peels (or any other citrus, including lime or lemons), plus mint and approximately two tablespoons of powdered cinnamon spice. This is effective against aphids, mildew, fungus and mealy bugs (citrus peels also deter ants and caterpillars).
Chilli mix (see step-by-step guide): Whole red chillies, plus onions and garlic (preferably not the Chinese supermarket garlic, as this is already highly processed during its growing cycle). This is good against all insects, and chillies also deter seed-eating rodents. Leaf-eating birds don't like chillies either, but further dilute the mixture if spraying on soft-leafed vegetables or salads, such as lettuce. Don't spray directly onto flowers or petals.
Radish mix: Radishes with leaves, plus grated unperfumed soap (such as a cheap Castile soap). This is effective against aphids, spider flies, white flies and soft-bodied insects, as well as cockroaches. It can also protect against plant fungus.
For the three recipes above:
• Roughly chop the ingredients, then add them to a blender and pulse until it has a rough paste consistency.
• Add the mix to a screw-top water bottle, and add warm water. Shake contents to blend well (aim to fill the bottle a third to half full of mixture; the rest should be water).
• For extra piquancy, add a couple of drops of pure neem oil to each of the blends, although this isn’t essential.
• Keep blends in a cool, dark place for a couple of days to allow the material to break down a little. Then strain the mixture and use on plants in the ratio of one part mix to 10 parts water, and spray every three or four days. For additional protection, alternate the different mixes, spraying different ones on different days. Blends are at their most effective if used within a day or two, but will keep for a week or a little longer if stored in the fridge.
• It’s always good practice to water or spray not only the plant but also the surrounding soil, as a lot of bugs, for example leaf miners, lay eggs around the base of plants. Once hatched, they will start eating from there.
• Also remember when spraying to treat both sides of leaves, as species such as white fly will take shelter and breed on the underside of leaves.
• With all the mixes demonstrated, for better results, you should apply more often, rather than using a stronger dosage use smaller doses over a longer time, not vice versa.
Allais-Maré advocates spraying in the evening, after dusk, because the good insects, such as bees, butterflies and dragon flies, don’t move around at night.
“It will give the solution time to dry and do its job, but then not bother the pollinators. Also, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of rubber gloves to do the mixes, especially for chillies, which can be problematic if they come into direct contact with the eyes.”
Diversity of planting also helps to keep insects at bay. This will mean that they won’t have the opportunity to settle and reproduce in large numbers in a single area where there’s a concentration of their favourite food, and keeping them moving stops them proliferating.
Each of the recipes can be blended to create natural and safe pesticides that attack different types of pest. An important message is that these pesticides aren’t really killers, but rather act as repellents. In other words, you’re aiming to make your undesirable insects wish they were elsewhere rather than zapping them dead. Similarly, companion planting discourages pests from settling near certain crops they might otherwise find attractive.
Would one vat filled with all of all the above blends be even more useful? Allais-Maré, a former chef, explains why this isn’t the case: “These mixtures work with both taste and smell, and the blends are designed to be repellent to specific types of plant pests. If the strong smelling mixtures are put together, then the individual elements get lost in a cocktail. Thus using the mixtures every three or four days, in rotation, will help to stop a cycle of a wide variety of pests, without negatively impacting on either the long-term quality of soil or creating toxicity for humans, pets or birds.”
Organic farmers in the UAE deploy their own versions of these blends, on a larger scale, to work with their crops. The smaller urban or balcony gardener may have only one specific problem they wish to address, so can focus their activity accordingly.
One last tip from Allais-Maré for slugs: “Broken egg shells scattered on the soil around precious plants prevents the slugs from travelling to reach them”.
The presentation at Organic Foods & Cafe was part of a series of practical gardening talks run by Slow Food Dubai. The next event, at Organic Foods & Cafe in The Greens, Dubai, on December 16, from 9am, will feature advice, tips and demonstrations on organic composting techniques. For more information, visit www.slowfooddubai.org.
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MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
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Company%20profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Where%20the%20Crawdads%20Sing
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Persuasion
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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