Kudos to the UAE for organising a stellar Expo 2020 Dubai
With reference to your podcast Expo 2020 closing ceremony, Will Smith apology, Prince Philip memorial, AlUla - Trending (March 29): UAE has demonstrated once again its tremendous abilities, in bringing Expo 2020 Dubai to the global stage. The pictures and videos from the site have been incredible all these months. And I have been reading the coverage with great interest. The sheer number of visitors has been amazing, despite the hurdles of this past year, including Covid-19. It shows how capable UAE is of pulling off an event to match all global standards. I look forward to watching the closing ceremony. And I wish to express my gratitude to the organisers for making it such a memorable event and solidifying the UAE's position on the global map.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
A remarkable first for a UAE airline from Abu Dhabi to Paris
With regard to Hayley Skirka's report Etihad’s first A350 takes off for Paris: extra-wide cabins and ultra-quiet flying (March 31): Not the first twin-isle for sure, but the first A6 A350.
Anssi Pyykkonen, Dubai
Ukraine has become a battleground for proxy wars at too high a cost
With reference to Soraya Ebrahimi's report Kremlin says nothing 'promising' from Russia-Ukraine talks (March 31): the Ukraine war is now being increasingly perceived as a West versus Russian engagement. Ukraine is being reduced to a mere proxy battleground between Nato and Russia. Going by the ferocity and frequency of Nato and western chastisements of Russia, it would appear that it is them battling Russia, not Ukraine. If the war continues from months, Ukraine is in danger of becoming another Vietnam. In the Vietnam War, while American troops fought on the ground, the Viet Cong had the support of other Communist nations like the USSR. In the Ukraine war, Russia is fighting upfront. However, Nato countries are supplying missiles and equipment to Ukraine, but refusing direct engagement. So, Ukraine is de facto becoming a proxy war between Nato and Russia. The Ukraine war should not become a combat between the superpowers, that is, Russia and the US, fought on Ukrainian soil, using Ukrainian soldiers at the cost of the lives of Ukrainian citizens. Nor should Ukraine become an ideological battleground between the pro-democracy western nations and erstwhile communist countries like Russia. Unfortunately, there is the real fear that Ukraine will lose the most and will be crippled in this political chessboard.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
