An H-2A rocket, carrying a government information gathering radar satellite, lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima space centre on the Japanese island of Tanegashima in March, 2017. KhalifaSat will be launched from the same site on a similar rocket. Kyodo / Reuters
An H-2A rocket, carrying a government information gathering radar satellite, lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima space centre on the Japanese island of Tanegashima in March, 2017. KhalifaSShow more

KhalifaSat: a nation poised to explore the oceans of space



With the launch of the KhalifaSat observation satellite on Monday morning, the UAE will demonstrate literally and metaphorically that not even the sky is the limit for a nation that aspires to be counted among the greatest on Earth by the time it celebrates its golden jubilee in 2021. Much has been written about the astonishing pace of development in the UAE, but at a historic moment like this, it bears repeating. In a single lifetime the peoples of the seven emirates have not only broken free of the shadow of centuries of harsh subsistence to claim their place on the sunlit uplands of the modern world, but have lifted their gaze from the terrestrial horizon and set their sights on space.

KhalifaSat is not the first satellite to carry the UAE flag – eight commercial vehicles have been put into orbit since 2011. But as the first to be built entirely by UAE engineers, KhalifaSat represents a significant milestone in the nation's fast-moving ambitions. The UAE Space Agency was established only four years ago. Next year, the first Emirati astronaut will blast off, bound for the International Space Station. In 2021, the Emirates Mars Mission will land a UAE-built probe on the red planet – the first Arab expedition to another world. Such is the unbridled confidence of this nation that by 2117 the UAE even aims to have established the first human settlement on Mars.

Exploring space has obvious practical and commercial benefits, placing the UAE at the cutting edge of technology and contributing much to the ambition of Vision 2021 to create a resilient, knowledge-based economy in a post-oil world. But space travel has never been about the merely practical. The UAE's great adventure raises a banner of hope and optimism that serves as a catalyst for educational excellence and technical achievement, not just in the UAE but in the wider Arab world.

In holding out the promise of a better future, it also honours a long-neglected scientific legacy that extends back to the Islamic golden age. After all, no fewer than 24 of the craters of the Moon are named after the great Arab scholars of the past, from the ninth-century Mesopotamian astronomer Muḥammad Al Battani to the 14th century Moroccan geographer Ibn Battuta. For centuries, the most technically advanced form of transport in the land that in 1971 became the UAE was the dhow, the simple tool that made existence possible for the generations of Emiratis whose often harsh and perilous existence was dependent upon fishing and pearl diving. Today, their descendants are setting sail on what President John F Kennedy called the great ocean of space, launching spacecraft, training astronauts and preparing to explore other planets. Now that is what you call a giant leap.

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

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

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

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

Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

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.

UAE%20ILT20
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Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

Company%C2%A0profile
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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.


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