A painting depicting a 'princess and warrior' from the One Thousand and One Nights Series, 1914, of the Collection of Ca' Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna, Venice. Getty Images
A painting depicting a 'princess and warrior' from the One Thousand and One Nights Series, 1914, of the Collection of Ca' Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna, Venice. Getty Images
A painting depicting a 'princess and warrior' from the One Thousand and One Nights Series, 1914, of the Collection of Ca' Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna, Venice. Getty Images
A painting depicting a 'princess and warrior' from the One Thousand and One Nights Series, 1914, of the Collection of Ca' Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna, Venice. Getty Images

Why the sun never sets on the Arabian Nights


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Periodicals, pantomimes, Disney films, books and toys — the Tales of 1001 Nights have long sparked huge interest and spawned nothing short of their own industry.

Favourites as children’s stories, these tales brought to the world iconic characters such as Aladdin, Sindbad the Sailor and Ali Baba, and have enthralled countless generations.

They have been translated into multiple languages, formed the basis of many PhD theses, and also been the focus of academic conferences.

Why have these stories, often known as the Arabian Nights, proved to be so popular and why has their appeal endured century after century?

There is a universal element to the stories that helps, suggests Dr Orhan Elmaz, senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and editor of Endless Inspiration: One Thousand and One Nights in Comparative Perspective.

“The stories are generally about binary opposites, for example, life and death, poverty and riches,” he says. “It’s all about fate and how it can change you and your life. They’re very existential in the questions that they try to address, which makes them timeless.”

“If you look at the language of the Nights, you will find that the stories are very linear … They add suspense, but in general there’s just one line of action that you’re headed to.

“There are no geographical details. There are not lots of descriptions of things that are secondary to the plotline. These stories could happen anywhere at any time.”

Dr Orhan Elmaz, senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Photo: Dr Orhan Elmaz
Dr Orhan Elmaz, senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Photo: Dr Orhan Elmaz

How has The Arabian Nights proved so enduring?

In their complete form, they are told over 1001 nights by Shahrazad, King Shahriyar’s beautiful wife, who has to tell her bloodthirsty husband a new and compelling tale after dark each day to save herself from being killed and replaced by another young woman.

Her vivid imagination conjures up stories that have rarely been equalled in drama and richness, with characters ranging from warriors to thieves, sultans, slaves and jinns who are found in palaces filled with incomparable riches, windswept seas and bustling cities.

The tales can be traced back to before the ninth century, Dr Elmaz says, and although often associated with Arabia, they are hugely varied in origin, with some having their roots in a collection of stories in Persian and, ultimately, Indian folklore.

Illustrating their varied history, some tales feature Harun Al Rashid, a celebrated eighth and ninth century caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate (which held sway over Arabia and beyond at the time), while others, Dr Elmaz says, mention the coffee houses of 15th century Cairo. Some may be transformations of earlier tales, or may have given rise to later stories.

Many stories of diverse origin are thought to have been brought together into a collection in Arabic in Cairo in the late 1700s, although by this time many had already found their way, via French, into English-language periodicals.

By then, the tales of 1001 Nights had already been circulating in Ottoman Turkish translation for centuries, probably informed by translations into Persian.

Two of the best-known tales, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, are sometimes described as orphan stories as they can be traced only as far back as French translations.

“The manuscripts, there are so many of them, but we haven’t put our hands on all of them. We’re still looking,” says Prof Wen-chin Ouyang, of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. “It’s a complex body of writing that has an oral tradition, that has a written tradition, and this body of writing generates itself through absorbing, adapting and rewriting stories from everywhere. The format is that you can just add stories.”

The geographical setting of the stories is diverse, with tales set in regions including North Africa, East Africa, the Middle East and India.

In the West, much early interest was linked to Orientalism, an enthusiasm for eastern societies that developed at a time of colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa.

Europe at the time was “fascinated” by what it then called the Orient, according to Muhsin Al Musawi, professor of classical and modern Arabic literature, comparative and cultural studies at Columbia University in the US.

“That happened because of the rise of empires and the interest in these lands,” he says.

“Why is it lasting? I think the ability in the narrative itself to adapt easily to the taste of the reading public and the public, in general, is very important.”

Artists perform the musical Aladdin in Madrid on March 16, 2023. EPA
Artists perform the musical Aladdin in Madrid on March 16, 2023. EPA

Disney brought Arabic tales to the big screen

That popular appeal continues. In 1992 Disney’s animated version made half a billion dollars at the box office — and was followed by successful direct-to-video sequels and a television series — while the 2019 live-action remake with the Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Will Smith as the Genie grossed more than $1 billion.

In 2009 Aladdin received the Bollywood treatment, but in this case, not even a starring role from Amitabh Bachchan was enough to turn the film into a hit.

Aladdin has, of course, also been turned into popular musicals on Broadway and in London’s West End, and various Arabian Nights stories remain favourites for seasonal pantomimes in theatres. The tales have even been turned into board games.

While the Nights have been enjoyed by the public across the world for centuries, academic interest has taken longer to develop.

In the Middle East, they have sometimes not been considered an important subject matter for researchers because they are not written in classical Arabic, but more attention has been paid to them in recent decades.

“For literary scholars, it’s the intricate composition of each story … rather than the beauty of language. It’s the narrative play,” Prof Ouyang says.

“That takes you to not the literal meaning of the story, but to another level that requires you to think more about what the story is trying to say.

“You can get the surface entertainment part, fun, adventure. If you listen closely you get the education part … you begin to think more about existential questions — how do you define your relationship with the material world? Then there’s a part that allows you to contemplate the universe, nature and think of life beyond this one.”

Among the recent academic publications is Prof Al Musawi’s book The Arabian Nights in Contemporary World Cultures: Global Commodification, Translation and the Culture Industry, which in 2022 won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for books on Arabic culture in other languages.

Prof Al Musawi teaches a course on “decolonising” the Arabian Nights, a particularly topical area of interest.

“How is it possible to liberate the text from the editorial, which was added by translators, editors and so on?” he says. “Quite often the translators are acting as if they are authors, so they can change something.”

Sometimes talk of decolonising the stories may refer to understanding what may be seen as problematic references to race within the texts.

Given that the tales have been translated into many languages, they offer an even greater wealth of riches to multilingual people.

Dr Elmaz, for example, can enjoy reading them in Albanian, Arabic, English, German and Ottoman Turkish, while Prof Ouyang can turn to versions in Arabic, Chinese, English and French.

Prof Ouyang particularly likes the Chinese translation by Na Xun, a Chinese Muslim scholar of Arabic, whose versions offer further demonstration of the Arabian Nights’ ability to be adapted to suit different cultural traditions.

“I like that translation because he made the Arabian Nights stories read as if they’re Chinese stories,” she says.

“Somehow [he] uses the language and narrative of Chinese storytelling for his translation … It just reads fantastically.”

Company Profile

Company name: Big Farm Brothers

Started: September 2020

Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur

Based: Dubai Investment Park 1

Industry: food and agriculture

Initial investment: $205,000

Current staff: eight to 10

Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets

What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.

Result:

1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds

2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds

3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds

4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds

5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds

6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)

Final scores

18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)

-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)

-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)

-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)

-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

Profile of Foodics

Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani

Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

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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

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Essentials

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours. 

The package

Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

EA Sports FC 24
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

Tenet

Director: Christopher Nolan

Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh 

Rating: 5/5

WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
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if you go

The flights

Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com

Seeing the games

Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com

 

Staying there

Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com

 

Squads

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

ASHES SCHEDULE

First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

360Vuz PROFILE

Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah 
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology 
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million 
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.

Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: April 01, 2023, 10:24 AM