With reference to Beirut live: At least 100 dead and 4,000 injured in Lebanon blast (August 4): that explosion was massive. It almost looked like a nuke. Peace to you all in Lebanon. We send prayers from Canada.
Pete Leclair, Toronto, Canada
I feel sorry for this country and its people that have gone through so much suffering.
Ali Kaaliie, Cape Town, South Africa
This is my beloved city.
Chantal Chaftary Abi Assal, Abu Dhabi
Pray for us and please look to help our devastated country and people.
Nada Awad Rizkallah, Beirut, Lebanon
The videos of that mushroom cloud are horrific. Lebanon and the people of Lebanon desperately need a break from this agony.
Grace Boutros Janho, Dubai
Sending prayers and good wishes from Pakistan. We stand in solidarity with the people of Lebanon.
Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Islamabad, Pakistan
The whole world is fighting to contain the spread of coronavirus and this explosion has added to the sufferings of the country.
Ramachandran Nair, Muscat, Oman
I have never seen anything like that explosion in my life and I hope never to see it again. My heart breaks for Lebanon.
Trina Mole, Florida, US
Schools are right to give parents the option
With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to keep distance learning as an option after calls from parents (August 4): this option is a good thing. If parents would like to go for blended learning, they have that option too. I am happy to have the choice because my daughter has a weak immune system and I don't like the idea of having the children wear masks for too long.
Nisha Subramanian, Abu Dhabi
Have parents who want to continue to teach their children from home had them out of class since March? And will they keep them at home until all restrictions are lifted?
I agree those with medical conditions should continue with distance learning and teach from home, but others should go back.
Fatma Shabanova, Abu Dhabi
The new Barakah power plant is a milestone
I write to you in reference to Barakah signals a new era of nuclear power in the Middle East (August 3): The National editorial rightly pointed out that this project not only heralds a new era but will also provide employment across sectors. The UAE has created a revolution over the decades and this project is one more milestone in its journey.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
More on Quran memorisation:
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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Mobile phone packages comparison
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
