Nivriti Butalia
Nivriti Butalia
Assistant Comment Editor


Ajay Hinduja (L) and his wife Namrata arrive with their lawyer at the court house, in Geneva, on, June 10. EPA
The Hinduja family trial was a rare case of domestic workers fighting – and winning

The prosecution shone a light on the world of exploitation but whether this changes attitudes among the great global middle class remains to be seen

June 26, 2024, 11:00 AM
Marina Walk Fountain, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
Dubai has a certain vibe – it's part of what makes the city special

There's more to the emirate than the nightlife or the food scene

April 22, 2024, 2:00 PM
A computer gaming technician installs a liquid cooling system, at Al Ain Centre, also called Computer Plaza, that has several computer and mobile phone repair shops. Victor Besa / The National
How cities nudge people to repair broken things

There are good, old-fashioned alternatives to buying replacements and perpetuating a throwaway culture

January 09, 2024, 7:00 AM
A man dives into a pool in the Yemen's capital Sanaa on July 20, 2023. AFP
More children should be taught to swim

With its beaches and countless swimming pools, the UAE can take the lead in water safety and rescue

July 24, 2023, 2:00 PM
Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) in Dubai. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National
Elderly friends in Dubai keeping loneliness at bay

A leisurely gathering of older friends in the city offers a counter to a global problem

March 02, 2023, 7:00 AM
A row of coins are seen left in remembrance to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty
Are flowers for the Queen a waste of resources?

Some people are dismayed at money spent on tributes that could have been put to better use, but that misses the point

September 15, 2022, 9:00 AM
Authorities in Chennai, India, intercepted 2.5kg of gold granules hidden in four containers of the instant orange drink, Tang, on May 10, 2021. Courtesy: Chennai Customs
What explains India's gold-smuggling problem?

There is a never-ending stream of stories about Indians being foiled by customs officers

May 11, 2022, 4:00 AM
The use of audiobooks has skyrocketed during the pandemic. NNCPR
2022 is your chance to get into audiobooks - here's why

The pandemic has changed the way we consume literature, and it could be permanent

January 11, 2022, 7:00 AM
A march in remembrance of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 23. AFP
George Floyd and the sacred role of anniversaries

In America, May 25 carries weight for the Floyd family, but its significance goes beyond their door

May 25, 2021, 3:31 PM
Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty (C) arrives at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office for enquiry regarding Sushant Singh Rajput case, in Mumbai on September 6, 2020. / AFP / Punit PARANJPE
The way Rhea Chakraborty has been treated does no favours to Indian society

The trial of the actress in TV studios and on social media has been unfair and hysterical

September 15, 2020, 1:01 PM
A girl sells a facemask to costumers at Pindi Food Street in Rawalpindi, June 2. Farooq Naeem/ AFP
Zohra Shah: The harsh lives of girls in servitude

In too many homes around the world, there are separate plates, glasses and teacups for the 'servants'

June 09, 2020, 7:39 AM
Protesters during a demonstration against rising sexual violence towards women and to demand justice for victims and survivors of rape cases. What has been disturbing over the past week throughout India are the scenes of jubilation at the deaths of the four suspects in a rape case. EPA
For women to be safe, people's mindsets need to change around the world

Until entrenched patriarchy and misogyny are addressed and the authorities step up security, they will keep looking over their shoulders

December 10, 2019, 1:24 PM
The Dubai Mall, December 2018. Photo: Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
In an age of vapid consumerism, we can still put our money where it counts

From Black Friday to Cyber Monday and up until Christmas, shops and malls around the world have traditionally been filled with customers snapping up deals

December 08, 2019, 7:13 AM
Sikh pilgrims at the shrine of Baba Guru Nanak at Gurduwara Darbar Sahib during the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in Kartarpur, Pakistan on November 9. Sohail Shahzad / EPA
Ayodhya and Kartarpur Corridor: two vastly different faces of India

The corridor shows how interfaith harmony can work while the row over the Babri mosque is indicative of how deep religious divides run in the country

December 08, 2019, 7:13 AM