With reference to the report Whoopi Goldberg suspended from 'The View' over Holocaust comments (February 2): one should weigh his or her words carefully when they are on a public platform or on-screen conducting a show or interview. Ms Goldberg may not have meant what she said, but spoken words – like shot arrows and passing moments – never come back. It is just an unfortunate fact.
Nazim Hasan Khan, Dubai
India's budget focuses on long-term growth
With regard to Rebecca Bundhun's piece India's growth-focused budget to boost economy as inflation rises (February 1): India’s budget delivered by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received mixed reactions from industry leaders, political parties, particularly those in the opposition, and panelists in TV debates. The lack of agreement seemed to be one of the main outcomes of the budget.
Salaried middle-class people’s tax slabs remain the same, which is both good and bad news. But it is regrettable that there won’t be a rise in bank interest rates for senior citizens this year either. As a senior citizen myself, I am sad about this apparent negligence towards pensioners. Countless retired people and pensioners have for decades contributed to the growth of the nation.
That quibble apart, I applaud the thought given to the future of the country and its development across sectors. That the intention has been to make India a force to reckon with in the coming decades is laudable.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
The unpredictable range of lightning?
With reference to the video on the US lightning bolt measuring 768km sets world record (February 2): it’s interesting how we are only just hearing about this now – almost two years after it was actually recorded. Lightning struck in April 2020 and spanned 768 kilometres. That’s a stunning record, especially as the previous longest bolt – almost four years ago – measured a “meagre” 59km.
Stephen Andy Wise, Austin, Texas, US
The struggle for bird-keepers is real too
I am writing to you about Mahmoud Rida's video Pigeon breeders in Lebanon are struggling to survive (February 2): this is an old Islamic tradition of the Shaybanid dynasty. We see its influences in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. They built special towers for the birds, some of which still survive. It is incredible to see evidence of such a different way of life even today.
Ijaz Ali, Abu Dhabi
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
