12/04/2026

theSunday Special VI ON SUNDAY APR 12, 2026

Dubai dog lovers revel despite Mideast fears

D UBAI: A beach here was thronging with dogs and their owners milling around, with beauty competitions and stalls selling everything a pet owner could want, as revellers at the Barkfest event paid no heed to the war gripping the Gulf. The city has been a continuous target for Iranian drones and missiles for more than a month, as Tehran lashes out at neighbouring Gulf states in the war against the United States and Israel, but neither those on two legs or four at the event seemed to mind. Two huskies wearing pink ski goggles posed for photos in front of a machine blowing bubbles, followed by a chihuahua and its owner in matching sombreros. In the distance, a jet ski skipped across the sea. “For now it’s fine,” said Poppy, a British Pet owners flock to beachside festival with furry companions

Think before sharing. Spreading rumours is a crime” punishable with a US$55,000 fine and two years in prison.” “ Western expats in the glitzy Gulf city, where crime levels are extremely low. However, not all residents are as indifferent to the consequences of the war. Many, especially those with children, continue to leave the city, while neighbourhoods are sometimes abandoned when Iran threatens specific US businesses with facilities there. Despite the ongoing conflict, Barkfest managed to escape warnings of missile or drone threats. – AFP to 5.5 million tonnes which would typically account for about 10% of global exports, according to StoneX. India, which imported more than 40% of its urea and DAP, a blend, from the Middle East last year, has asked China to allow the sale of some urea shipments. However, analysts said China may keep curbs on exports in place over the coming months. “If China starts exporting, local urea prices will quickly jump in line with the global market. The government doesn’t want that situation,” said StoneX analyst Josh Linville. China’s General Administration of Customs and its state planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. India is one of the few countries that has also explored coal gasification as a strategic alternative feedstock for urea. – Reuters

A pet owner with two dogs during the festival held at Barasti Beach. – AFPPIC

However in China, which has also put curbs on exports of other types of fertiliser and directed the early release of commercial fertiliser reserves, little switching is expected. “I’m sticking with corn this year because it’s still more profitable than soybeans,” said a corn farmer with the surname Guo in northeastern Heilongjiang province. China is set to produce a record 76.5 million tonnes of urea this year, up 6.3% from last year, with domestic demand estimated at 66 million tonnes, including 43 million tonnes for agriculture, according to the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association. Thomas said nine new plants are expected to commence production this year, adding 4.9 million tons per year, mostly coal-based. Last year, China exported 4.9 million tonnes, somewhat below historical norms of 5 now rare on social media. “Think before sharing. Spreading rumours is a crime” punishable with a US$55,000 fine and two years in prison,” the Dubai police posted on its social media account. Another post encouraged the public to be “the eyes” of law enforcement by reporting “negative behaviour or actions that threaten the security of the community”. On social media, the authorities have reported succesful interceptions of incoming Iranian attacks, but only ever speak of “sounds” and not explosions. Reclining on a lounger with her two Peruvian hairless dogs, Barbie and Claudia, Latvian fertility specialist Maria said she was “really glad that these kinds of events are organised”. She added that she felt “safer here than going back to London”, without elaborating on what dangers she might face in the British capital. The line is a common refrain among

27-year-old who works in the business of import and export of fake eyelashes. She was visiting the event alongside her partner, an online fitness coach, and one of their French bulldogs. She said her other dog was suffering from an ear infection and had to stay at home. The Emirati authorities have been working hard to protect Dubai’s image as a safe haven in a turbulent region, despite the Iranian barrages. The country’s expensive air defence systems have worked well, intercepting the vast majority of the more than 2,000 drones and 500 missiles launched by Tehran. Nevertheless, at least 10 individuals have been killed since the start of the war, while sites across the country have been damaged. However, pictures of the damage are hard to find, with the authorities having made it illegal to share images of the attacks, arresting dozens of people. As a result, images of burning hotels, shattered flats and smoke-filled skylines are

Authorities have been working hard to protect Dubai’s image as a safe haven. – AFPPIC

Farmers in China escape fertiliser shortage thanks to coal surplus BEIJING: Farmers around the world may be switching to less nutrient-hungry crops as the Iran war hits the supply of fertilisers, but in China, they are sitting pretty with plenty of stock, thanks to the country’s rather unique reliance on coal to produce urea. CRU fertiliser analysis head Willis Thomas. China’s vast deployment of coal, which it also uses to create oil, gas and other products, has been particularly prescient even if it is more polluting than natural gas, as it reduces the need for energy imports that could be cut off in a conflict. Australian growers are also expected to favour barley over nitrogen-intensive wheat and canola in the upcoming season.

However, some analysts say China may not allow exports of urea – the most widely used fertiliser globally – after spring planting as it normally does, as that could drive up local prices. Beijing typically waits to see if there is a surplus in May before assessing how much could be shipped abroad. Whereas other big exporters of urea, a nitrogen-based plant nutrient, such as Russia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia use gas to produce it, some 78% of China’s urea output is produced with coal, a relatively cheap resource it has in abundance. “China is largely self-sufficient in urea and it is less exposed to natural gas price volatility than many other producing regions,” said

He said benchmark prices for urea have surged some 70% since the end of February as the war prevents ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about 30% of the fertiliser’s global trade. He also said urea prices last week were trading at around US$700-US$780 per metric ton on a free-on-board basis in Indonesia. In contrast, in northern China, prices were around 1,760-1,840 yuan (US$255-US$267) a ton last week. The US Agriculture Department last week said farmers plan to plant less corn, a nitrogen-intensive crop this year than last year, and would plant more soybeans.