I write in reference to your article Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan dies at 80 (August 19): the article was sad to read. As the first black African to serve as the secretary-general of the United Nations, Annan oversaw many reforms. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and his Kofi Annan Foundation continues to do a wonderful job in fostering Africa's agriculture sector. He was also a vocal advocate for peace.
His death is a great loss to the world, especially in all those areas that are blighted by conflict. May his soul rest in peace.
K Ragavan, Bangalaru
Debates over the niqab do a disservice to the Islamic faith
In response to your letter There's the rub: conscience won't make cowards of us (August 7), I strongly disagree with the notion that the niqab or burqa represent Islam. Far from it, Islam enjoins modesty in every aspect of human dress and conduct and it applies equally to both men and women.
Modes of dress are primarily rooted in culture, not religion. The all-enveloping burqa, for instance, is essentially a South Asian symbol. Covering the face is actually prohibited during the Hajj rituals at the holy Kaaba and all pilgrims travel on passports carrying photographs as identification. In Muslim countries, including the UAE, women’s attire is Islamic, modest and dignified without needing the face to be covered. (Exceptions are rare and for personal reasons.) A Christian nun’s habit is another example of modest dress. I do not believe countries banning face coverings are attacking Islam. For ease of identification and security requirements, the face should never be covered. Raising non-issues unnecessarily in the name of Islam is doing a disservice to the pristine faith.
Mohammad Hamza, Dubai
Vajpayee wove India together with charm and poetry
In reference to your article Former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee dies at age 93 (August 16), the former prime minister led by consensus and discussion. His three tenures as prime minister were calm and amiable and he was liked by people from all religion and communities. In fact, Vajpayee wove India together with his charm and poetry. He was never flamboyant or egoistic. Indeed, during the last few years, he had withdrawn from public life and hardly commented on politics. His party, which has been in power since 2014, has not exactly followed in his footsteps. There has been unnecessary polarisation in the country and law and order has declined. The economic lot of the common man has not resulted in improvements, despite the drumbeat of scintillating growth digits. Vajpayee's wisdom and sagacity will be missed in India.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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