I refer to your editorial A New Iraq for the next generation (March 10). This article truly helped me understand the main issues at stake in the country today, and the plight of the Iraqi people.
Decades of conflict have left the oil-rich country scarred by war and religious extremism. The Iraqi people deserve stability and security and I am glad to see the country is slowly but surely recovering from years of internal struggles.
The nation has a significant amount of natural resources and is home to different communities that had coexisted in harmony before the war broke out. Today, Iraqis are ready for a bright future away from the extremist rule of ISIS and the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.
K.Ragavan, Bengaluru
Fireworks should be banned to stop pollution
I refer to Katy Gilett's article UAE's first fireworks contest to take place at Abu Dhabi's Mother of the Nation festival (March 7). This article caught my attention immediately because I firmly believe fireworks are detrimental to the environment.
We live in a world plagued by rising levels of pollution so it is crucial that we do not encourage activities that significantly contribute to climate change and that we do not even need in our everyday lives. I do not wish to take the fun out of festivities and I am aware that the public enjoys fireworks as a form of entertainment, but there are better and cleaner options for our enjoyment.
Take the Sharjah lights festival. This event awed its audience without having to resort to needless pollution. Fireworks disturb the local fauna at night and release fumes and chemicals into the atmosphere that damage the hard grown greenery of the UAE.
I believe we should ban fireworks in an effort to reduce air pollution and so that future generations can also enjoy the beauty of the UAE.
Hamza Khan, Dubai
Thoughts and prayers to victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash
I refer to your article Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 crashes en route to Kenya with 157 on board (March 9). I was extremely sad to hear the tragic news of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. I wish to offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God console your hearts in this moment of grief, and may the victims rest in peace.
Asif, Shanghai
Employers should comply with labour laws
I write in reference to Keren Bobker's article "Can my employer keep my basic salary low to avoid a high gratuity payout?" (March 9). I truly hope that one day readers will not need to seek advice for such issues. Unfortunately, some employers continue to have unethical practices. They fail to comply with the UAE labour laws, that exist to protect us, resulting in the poor treatment of their employees. This must end now.
Gianmaria Vidale, Abu Dhabi
SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Honeymoonish
Director: Elie El Samaan
Starring: Nour Al Ghandour, Mahmoud Boushahri
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Foah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: RB Dixie Honor, Antonio Fresu, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid
Power: 653hp at 5,400rpm
Torque: 800Nm at 1,600-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
0-100kph in 4.3sec
Top speed 250kph
Fuel consumption: NA
On sale: Q2 2023
Price: From Dh750,000
SPEC SHEET
Processor: Apple M2, 8-core CPU, up to 10-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina, 2560 x 1664, 224ppi, 500 nits, True Tone, wide colour
Memory: 8/16/24GB
Storage: 256/512GB / 1/2TB
I/O: Thunderbolt 3 (2), 3.5mm audio, Touch ID
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery: 52.6Wh lithium-polymer, up to 18 hours, MagSafe charging
Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD
Video: Support for Apple ProRes, HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10
Audio: 4-speaker system, wide stereo, support for Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking (with AirPods)
Colours: Silver, space grey, starlight, midnight
In the box: MacBook Air, 30W or 35W dual-port power adapter, USB-C-to-MagSafe cable
Price: From Dh4,999
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray