With regard to Adla Massoud's piece WFP pauses staff movements in Gaza after attack on UN-marked aid vehicle (August 28): Israel probably is comfortable knowing there will be absolutely no accountability, as has been the case for all these past months, and again and they’ve been pushing the limits because they know they can and there’s nothing the US will do.
Leila Almaeena, Dubai
Emirati teenager's impressive robot
In reference to Salam Al Amir's article Emirati teenager wins international gold for designing robot that acts as family doctor (August 27): Fantastic. This is great to see. He just needs to know that there are better role models than Elon Musk.
Mel Duncan-Schiele, London
What a brilliant boy. His doctor robot project is very impressive. And it's touching to hear Ali talk about his family's support.
Sonia Senco, Abu Dhabi
A new era in Jammu and Kashmir
In regard to Taniya Dutta's report Indian-administered Kashmir to hold first regional elections in a decade (August 16): The upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections will be significant as the first elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which changed the region's special status. Holding the elections in three phases aims to ensure security and orderly conduct, given the region's historical context. With different political parties actively campaigning, the election outcomes could potentially reflect the current political sentiments and have implications for the central ruling party, the NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from New Delhi. The results, set to be announced on October 4, will be closely watched for signs of how the electorate views the changes since 2019 and the overall governance of the region.
Dr Shiben Krishen Raina, Port Blair, India
Can Modi broker peace in Ukraine?
With reference to the article by Taniya Dutta India Committed to Russia-Ukraine Peace, Modi Tells Putin (August 27): This presents a compelling view of India’s position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedication to fostering peace amidst this prolonged conflict is commendable. The war has resulted in massive casualties and widespread destruction, and it is crucial to halt further loss of life and damage.
India’s historical commitment to non-violence underscores the potential impact of Mr Modi’s efforts. With continued advocacy and diplomatic engagement, there is hope that his initiatives could contribute to resolving the conflict. We will have to wait and see though.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
Premier League results
Saturday
Crystal Palace 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Cardiff City 2 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Bournemouth 2
Leicester City 3 Fulham 1
Newcastle United 3 Everton 2
Southampton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester City 3 Watford 1
Sunday
Liverpool 4 Burnley 2
Chelsea 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20will%20host%20Scotland%20for%20a%20three-match%20T20I%20series%20at%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Stadium%20next%20month.%3Cbr%3EThe%20two%20sides%20will%20start%20their%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20campaigns%20with%20a%20tri-series%20also%20involving%20Canada%2C%20starting%20on%20January%2029.%3Cbr%3EThat%20series%20will%20be%20followed%20by%20a%20bilateral%20T20%20series%20on%20March%2011%2C%2013%20and%2014.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day – 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227-4 at the close.
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.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
