The show must go on: Budapest orchestra joins Hungary’s Euro 2016 celebration

A Budapest orchestra did not let their opera performance get in the way of watching Hungary's Euro 2016 game, dashing backstage mid-show to watch a crucial game on TV.

With Hungary losing 1-0 against Iceland in a Group F tie, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra musicians downed instruments between Acts of Richard Wagner’s “Siegfried” opera to catch the closing stages.

"When the second act of the opera was over, the orchestra pit emptied in record time," Marcell Nemeth, spokesman for the MUPA concert hall in Budapest, told sports daily Nemzeti Sport.

Hungary rescued a draw two minutes from the end with an own goal by Iceland defender Birkir Savarsson.

When the musicians came back for the third act they had painted Hungary’s national colours on their faces in celebration, Nemeth said.

The performances of surprise Group F leaders Hungary have delighted success-starved Hungarians.

After their 2-0 win against Austria in the group opener and the 1-1 draw against Iceland thousands of people celebrated on the streets of Budapest, blocking traffic on main roads.

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On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero

(Coffee House Press)

While you're here

Why do we shy away from talking about a politician's religion?

What does a decline in adherence to faith say about Britain?

Here's why even the non-believers must understand faith

Museum of the Future in numbers

78 metres is the height of the museum
30,000 square metres is its total area
17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
Dh145 is the price of a ticket

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

From exhibitions to the battlefield

In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.

It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.

It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.

It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.