Not many people have the opportunity to be part of historic events. I consider myself one of a few fortunate individuals who is getting the chance to experience history in the making.
I joined the Solar Impulse team a few weeks ago, prior to the take-off from Abu Dhabi.
From the outset, it was a bit unsettling to leave my comfort zone and join a new team, especially a team that hails from a different part of the world, with cultural nuances that are vastly different from mine.
However, the team was very welcoming and accommodating. Most of them are in their twenties, which made the transition very smooth.
The take-off from host city Abu Dhabi was on March 9, marking the first official flight leg of Solar Impulse 2.
Andre Borschberg, pilot and co-founder of Solar Impulse, was at the controls of Si2.
I was on the tarmac alongside former colleagues from Mubadala and Masdar and my new team-mates. I was elated to begin my own journey around the world – exploring new cultures, meeting new people and pushing my boundaries.
As you may know, the plane has a single-seater cockpit, designed to minimise its weight and energy consumption. Upon take-off of the fuel-free aircraft, all the other crew members boarded a chartered plane, dubbed the “chase” plane, to the next destination.
Initially I was super excited to get on a private plane, having thoughts of lavish surroundings. But I was brought back down to Earth when I saw that it was a small plane with tiny seats. The moment we boarded the chase plane, we had to alight because of some technical issues. The air conditioning wasn’t working too well either but, fortunately, it was just a short trip to Muscat. Despite the heat, we were in good spirits and excited to finally begin this adventure together.
Thankfully we reached Oman well in advance of Si2’s arrival, allowing ample time to prepare for the plane’s descent into Muscat alongside our new hosts, the Oman airport authorities. Omani hospitality is second to none, reminiscent of our own tradition of hospitality in the UAE.
The Omanis were delighted and proud to see a GCC national as part of the Solar Impulse team. The “Al Salam Alaikum card” gave me some points in Oman and Abu Dhabi when working with the team.
I had the pleasure to meet an Omani named Sultan Al Subhi, who showed keen interest in the plane. I learnt that he was an innovator and had been featured on a television programme for inventors on MBC4 called Stars of Science.
Oman was hectic for us. Leaving aside the warm hospitality, the amount of work we had was enormous and our time on the ground was very limited, as Si2 made a mere pit stop in Muscat prior to its trek across the Arabian Sea.
Although the marketing and communications team was fortunate to have the opportunity to catch a few hours’ rest, my ground crew colleagues were hard at work to ensure that Si2 was in top shape after its first flight leg and ready to take off for its trip to the subcontinent.
India was particularly interesting, with cows on the streets, small buildings in different colours, bicycles and tuk-tuks.
The dichotomy between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad is stark yet beautiful, and has opened my eyes to a completely new culture and lifestyle. From the airport we headed directly to the tent where we held the first press conference in India and dealt with the excited media.
The turnout was huge and the event was a great success for us because of the vast media coverage, which means that Solar Impulse is achieving its mission to show the world that renewable energy and clean technology are viable solutions.
Now, it’s time to get back to work.
I look forward to keeping you updated throughout my journey across the globe with Solar Impulse. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram via the handle @HasanRTW.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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