Rahul Pathak and Ashtha Muthoo want to see their daughter Arya, 6, cured from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They hope to see her walk, eat, breathe and live a life without difficulties. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
Rahul Pathak and Ashtha Muthoo want to see their daughter Arya, 6, cured from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They hope to see her walk, eat, breathe and live a life without difficulties. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
Rahul Pathak and Ashtha Muthoo want to see their daughter Arya, 6, cured from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They hope to see her walk, eat, breathe and live a life without difficulties. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
Rahul Pathak and Ashtha Muthoo want to see their daughter Arya, 6, cured from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They hope to see her walk, eat, breathe and live a life without difficulties. Khushnum Bhandari/


'No parent should have to go through this'


The National
  • English
  • Arabic

September 02, 2021

Wishing the Taliban would give the guns a rest

With regard to Thomas Watkins's report US ends its 20-year Afghanistan war as evacuation mission is completed (August 31): I saw the video on The National of the celebratory gunfire in Kabul as the Taliban saw the last American plane take off and the sound of the fireworks was quite something. I don't even know what to say. The Taliban – they fight with guns, they dance with guns, and watching this it's evident they celebrate with guns, too.

Saima Anwar, Karachi, Pakistan

What a shame. A country's economy is destroyed, as well as the peace and the lives of the people living there.

Muhammad Fayaz, Dubai

Officially prioritising human rights in the UAE is a big move

With reference to The National editorial An independent human rights body will safeguard tolerance in the UAE (August 31): this is really a milestone event, one that will help the country and make all residents proud. It is the direction the world should be headed in.

Abdula Malik, Abu Dhabi

Solutions for 6-year-old Arya Pathak

With reference to Haneen Dajani's article Six-year-old child battling rare spinal disease needs Dh8 million drug to save her life (August 31): I am so sorry. I will pray for you all. May you receive the funds. It is shameful that something that can save a life can be so expensive. No parent should have to go through this because of an inability to pay.

Mary Catherine Abdo, Dubai

May God ease your difficulties and help you at the earliest so that little Arya has a very healthy, long life.

Sidra Fatima, Sharjah

I pray for your little one. I have a child with special needs and I know how tough it is to survive and give them therapies, with no help from insurance.

Kashmira Bharucha Jha, Dubai

It’s criminal that life saving medication can cost $2.1 million in the first place.

Beverley van Staden, Kuwait City, Kuwait

I know your pain very well. My daughter also has special needs, she's 21 years old. She can't walk, sit or talk. May God help your daughter and ease your troubles.

Sahar Samir, Fujairah

Amman gets public buses, at long last

With reference to Amy McConaghy's video 'The National' takes a ride on the new Bus Rapid Transit System in Jordan’s capital, Amman: Finally. I couldn't believe that a capital has no public transportation.

Alti Jana, Sarjaevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

These are nice buses. I used to ride the local taxis for 1-3 Jordanian Dinar about five years ago.

Ijaz Ali, Dubai

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadeera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERabih%20El%20Chaar%20and%20Reem%20Khattar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECleanTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHope%20Ventures%2C%20Rasameel%20Investments%20and%20support%20from%20accelerator%20programmes%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
New Zealand squad

Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: September 02, 2021, 3:00 AM