All children should have every opportunity to make the most of their natural abilities. That is the inarguable idea behind the Knowledge and Human Development Authority's ruling that all of Dubai's private schools must cater for children with special needs by 2020, and another important step in the UAE's journey to becoming a fully inclusive society. Since 2017, throughout the UAE the word "disabled" has been replaced by the empowering phrase "people of determination". These latest steps will be welcomed by many parents who see their children's courage every day.
Some have struggled to meet the costs of learning assistants or therapists to support their child. Others have even been unable to find school places for them. All that will now change. Every teacher must be trained to work with pupils of determination and, where extra support is required, costs will be limited. Society at large stands to gain from the recognition that all children come into this world with different needs. By their very nature, schools already deal with a broad spectrum of abilities and widening that range just a little further will allow a richer and more diverse group of young people to enjoy exactly the same educational experiences. In a year when the UAE is celebrating the values of inclusivity, this sends an important message.
After all, some of the world's great scientists and writers have succeeded despite facing physical challenges and learning difficulties. Take, for example, the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who lived for decades with motor neurone disease and the Irish author Christy Brown, who was paralysed by cerebral palsy. Meanwhile, the 19th-century French writer Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, struggled with dyslexia, which he described as "the handicap of being born with a special language to which I alone have the key". This is not to trivialise the hurdles some children have to overcome, but to emphasise that it is a dreadful mistake to consign any child to a limiting category. This alone is a valuable lesson for a new generation that will go out into the world as ambassadors for the UAE and its values of equality, understanding and mutual respect.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Company%20Profile
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Pathaan
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
