Even though child labour or slavery is common in India, I was shocked to learn that the country is home to half of the world's modern slaves and that Delhi alone has more than 100,000 of them (Of human bondage, March 15).
More shocking, however, is that people still buy “slaves” and brag about it. My impression is that no laws and NGOs can bring this problem under control unless the mindset of the people changes. It’s acceptable in India to make children perform every kind of physical labour.
I have seen people who are reluctant to send children to school as they fear that they will have to perform all their household chores themselves.
This attitude will not change overnight. In fact I will be surprised if this attitude changes at all. Where is the conscience?
Varsha John, Abu Dhabi
Can plane mystery be solved soon?
The news report Malaysia airliner's disappearance a "deliberate act" (March 16) was disturbing. For more than a week the Malaysian authorities abstained from revealing the possible reasons for the plane's mysterious disappearance.
What made them delay in announcing the possible reasons? With the new lead, however, we can hope that investigators will reach a conclusion that will give some consolation to the relatives of the passengers on the ill-fated plane. I still hope that the passengers are alive and safe.
K Ragavan, India
I understand the disappearance of the plane has caused immense suffering for the families of the passengers, but I feel that they should respect the airline’s position too.
There are people all over the world who are always trying to find new ways to commit crimes and their focus never deviates from the aviation industry.
Airlines have been proactive and have taken lessons from each situation to improve security.
I know it’s easier said than done, but be patient. I have a feeling that all will be well in the end.
Ameerah Jolene-Ann van Heerden, Dubai
Pay attention to zebra crossings
I am responding to the news article Al Ain takes measures to increase road safety (March 13).
I have a suggestion that could save many pedestrians’ lives: don’t put zebra crossings immediately on turn offs from a roundabout. It’s the most ridiculous place I have ever seen them.
Have clear signs indicating a zebra crossing ahead and make sure street lights are positioned over the crossing if it’s not a pedestrian-controlled crossing or use bright flashing amber lights with illuminated black-and-white poles. Also repaint the crossings regularly as the lines fade due to a lack of rain and teach the residents of Sanaiya how to use them. Most of them just randomly amble across the road as and when they feel like it, not looking in the direction of the cars.
Name withheld by request
Build drainage to tackle rain chaos
I enjoyed the heavy showers on Friday. But it was a nightmare for me when I hit the road in the evening.
The roads were full of slush while some of them were clogged with water. Although many new roads have been built in Abu Dhabi, the Friday downpour proved how risky they can be in the absence of adequate drainage facilities.
This problem has persisted for many years, but when new roads are built it seems little attention is paid to this problem.
In places like Musaffah, the condition was perhaps the worst. Not only roads, but even Dalma Mall was in a bad shape. The parking area was flooded. Water was leaking from everywhere and broken lights were hanging here and there. Some shops in the mall were busy wiping water away from everywhere. While building infrastructure, contractors will be wise to keep these problems in mind.
P Dominic, Abu Dhabi
Respect laws of a nation you visit
This refers to the article Drunk British tourist ran about naked at Shoreline on Palm Jumeirah (March 13). Why sell alcohol in the first place if drinking is illegal?
Also, alcohol consumption is prohibited for Muslims, so why penalise non-Muslims for consuming it when it is normal for them?
Aziza Al Busaidy, Sharjah
It’s common sense that you must educate yourself about the rules and regulations of a country that you intend to visit.
Concerning banning alcohol, I fully agree that if people want to drink, they will, no matter what the laws are. Even though the British Embassy is doing a lot to spread awareness among their citizens here in the UAE, I feel some people are just arrogant. There is no harm in showing respect to a country’s laws.
Name withheld by request
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
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.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
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Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5