Welcome to The National's weekly newsletter Beshara, where we share the most positive stories of the week
Dear reader,
From left, Hajj pilgrims Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi have ridden from Spain to Makkah on horseback. Photo: Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi
Sometimes, the greatest pleasure you can experience is fulfilling the promise of a lifetime.
With nearly two million pilgrims arriving in Makkah for Hajj this week, a small group of horse riders have completed an extraordinary journey. They retraced a route to the city taken by Andalusian Muslims more than 500 years ago.
Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha covered 6,500km over nearly seven months.
The idea came from Hernandez Mancha, a Spanish teacher who made a promise 36 years ago that if he passed a critical exam, he would become a Muslim and travel to Makkah on horseback to perform Hajj. He kept his word, embraced Islam and has now fulfilled the last part of his vow.
This journey is not only inspirational, it is also a reminder to aim for a better life. Whether it is a spiritual quest, saving a loved one, or protecting nature, these stories show us the impact of purpose. For more of which, read on ...
Cancer patient Oday Al Jedba, 12, with his father Khaled Al Jedba. Wajod Alkhamis / The National
Falling ill with a rare immune condition may have led Gazan child Oday Al Jedba, 12, to save the lives of his entire family, as it resulted in their evacuation to the UAE.
They had been told that Oday would be treated in the UAE and was set to board one of the first evacuation flights. “We sent him on the flight not sure if we would ever see him again,” said his father, Khaled Al Jedba, 38.
Doctors at Yas Clinic in Abu Dhabi determined he needed a bone marrow transplant. For almost a year, the UAE worked tirelessly to bring the rest of his family to Abu Dhabi. Oday’s sister, Doaa, 15, was found to be a match.
“The day we all arrived to the UAE, I bent down to the floor to kiss the ground and thank God,” said Mr Al Jedba. “We survived. We all survived.”
On March 10, Oday underwent the transplant operation at Yas Clinic and is now recovering at Emirates Humanitarian City.
QUOTED
'This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud'
Sea turtles are released at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Beach in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abu Dhabi's mission to eliminate single-use plastic bags is offering a safer passage to sea turtles navigating the emirate's waters.
The emirate introduced its single-use plastic ban on June 1, 2022, in a major push to protect the environment and greatly reduce plastic pollution in the sea.
The campaign has brought significant benefits, with an estimated 360 million plastic bags taken out of circulation by the end of 2024.
SNAPSHOT
The Grand Mosque in Makkah. Nearly two million Hajj pilgrims have travelled to the city this year. AFP
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4 Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2 Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday Game 5: Monday Game 6: Wednesday Game 7: Thursday
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.
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer) 5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi 6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard 6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel 7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers 7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle 8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
