With reference to the report Taliban renege on promise to open high schools to girls in Afghanistan (March 23): this really disappointed me, especially as a Muslim woman. Education is very important and Islam encourages that. Whatever reasons the Taliban have to leave this young generation uneducated are unfair. A country will never develop if it does not educate both genders.
Aliyu Mekudi, Ibadan, Nigeria
Western nations must band together for Ukraine ceasefire
With reference to the Thomas Harding's report Sabre rattling over Russia's nuclear options but no 'button' sits ready to push (March 23): the last time that the world came close to a nuclear War was in October 1962, at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. US President John F Kennedy had quarantined all shipments to Cuba and asked Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba. Fortunately, good sense prevailed on all sides. Russia removed its missiles from Cuba and the US removed its missiles from Turkey.
Once again, as in 1962, the world is confronted with the possibility of a nuclear conflagration. Meanwhile, in its second month, the war is Ukraine is approaching inhuman and tragic levels. Four million people may have fled to Europe and the US as refugees. However, 40 million Ukrainians are in the country and are bearing the brunt of the shelling. Homes, buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, are being razed to the ground. A whole generation of young people across the world have not seen the destruction war can wreak, except in movies. Now we see pain and suffering on our televisions, round the clock.
Let's hope the endeavours of Nato leaders pay off and they can perhaps talk to the warring sides and negotiate a settlement. US President Joe Biden is to visit Poland this week. The western group of nations must ensure a ceasefire to end this war.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
Water girl makes the residents of her former city proud
With reference to Fehmida Zakeer's article Meet 'the water girl of India' helping the world to cut consumption (March 22): it was really good to read about the enterprise of 21-year-old Garvita Gulhati. It is quite an achievement to devise clever ways to cut water consumption and the views of the engineering graduate were interesting. In developing the app, she, like so many of her generation's climate volunteers, has shone bright and made India proud.
People need to be much more conscious of how much water they use, and not just on a few days a year when the spotlight is on the issue. It makes me happy to see that she studied in Bengaluru. She makes the city and resident like me very proud.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179Â (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started:Â 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based:Â Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
In The Heights
Directed by:Â Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5