Ramadan – what to drink, how to behave and the tragic events in Yemen – were the biggest stories on social media.
Yemen’s agony
It was the night before Ramadan and four car bombs, which were timed to coincide with sunset prayers, went off in Sanaa. ISI, or Daesh in Arabic, claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which left 31 dead and wounded dozens, even as the Twitterverse repeated its plea for peace – or at least a Ramadan ceasefire – in Yemen.
@TTaaaaRq tweeted bleakly: So Ramadan in Yemen has started with suicide bomb blasts in four mosques.
And in a reference to the attack on a building reportedly used as the headquarters of the Houthis @press__c said “Daesh has disabled the Houthis”.
@almadaorg said that now, more than ever, a humanitarian ceasefire was needed and the Russians and Americans had been discussing it.
@News_Sa24 wondered if there was any hope to be read into the fact that the Geneva talks between representatives of the Houthis and exiled president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi would continue for another day.
But @ALAYYAM_net commented on the country’s dismal reality, pointing out that things were going downhill now that an alleged ISIL ally was able to surprise the Houthis and Yemen’s former president Saleh “with new tricks”.
@japr_almeshal sent a fervent prayer to Muslim countries around the world facing conflict, instability and political trouble: “May Allah protect our brothers and sisters in Syria, Iraq, Burma, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Gaza.”
Ramadan Kareem
Social media will probably get much more inventive about Ramadan in the weeks ahead. Watch out for Week One fasting selfies and lots of new hashtags. But for now, the start has been marked by lots of discussion on what it really means to fast.
Reem @Rgattarneh explained that fasting “forces you to forget about food and remember who you are and why you’re here.”
@Mister__khan suggested that with all the sacrifices, Ramadan was “a month of forgiving, of healing, of changing, of reflecting, of helping, of improving, of reviving and of remembering.”
@Mooni_lb decided to use the first day of Ramadan to acknowledge past mistakes by sending a general note seeking forgiveness from “all those whom I ever made sad, if even for a day”.
Yosra @AfterHardship mused on one of the little realised problems of this month — socialising a little bit too much and enjoying its so greatly that you’re sad when Ramadan ends. “The danger isn’t in becoming more inward-looking during Ramadan, “ he tweeted, “it’s spending too much time with people and enjoying it a lot.”
Food for thought
If a month can be said to have a favourite drink, for Ramadan it has to be Vimto.
It tastes different doesn’t it during Ramadan said @Lara_M7.
@9999_a7md suggested giving another drink a try, something Zahra @S2ktfyBk408 seconded, whilesuggesting healthier options such as any kind of natural juice. Omar @Dantani mused on overindulging in the sugary hit and tweeted that the whole month was probably going to be marked by zombie-like behaviour with everyone drinking Vimto and no one doing any work.
Several strands of discussion started to suggest suitable replacements for Vimto.
@ysf_SG8 named Sunquick juice, Nade @nadayaseen15 tweeted Suntop juice and Ohood @ohoodhady and @TriixO_ were united in their appreciation of Tang.
Sara @se123941 and @bahalkarbalia suggested laban (yogurt) but @ghalazayed11 said there could be no better, more healthful drink than water”.
Khalid @itii1992 was jokey. By the time the day’s fast ends it doesn’t make any difference to me, he tweeted, “whatever I find in front of me I will drink it.”
And Mohamed @Moehassan1991 didn’t care much about drinks but iftar food: “Ramadan is here and you know what that means - it’s samosa season.”
Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor
salalawi@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
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The five pillars of Islam
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The five pillars of Islam
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
THE BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.
Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.
Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
