Shoppers in face masks at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, April 29. Pawan Singh / The National
Shoppers in face masks at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, April 29. Pawan Singh / The National
Shoppers in face masks at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, April 29. Pawan Singh / The National
Shoppers in face masks at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, April 29. Pawan Singh / The National

Safe but wary: why people are in two minds about visiting malls


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With reference to Sophie Prideaux's piece Why it's completely normal to feel anxious about going outside again, even once it is safe to (May 1): I feel that going to a mall in the middle of the coronavirus crisis is like dancing in a storm without an umbrella.

Hani Qasim, Dubai

For me, it’s not about being scared of the virus that is keeping me away. It’s the atmosphere – temperature taken everywhere, masks, gloves, keeping distance. I know it is necessary, it is just not very appealing. Would rather stay at home.

Saraih Jones, Dubai 

Take heart: trials for coronavirus are promising 

With regards to your optimistic editorial Coronavirus: There is new hope for treatments (May 3): hopefully, the projects to identify the right drugs to treat the virus will bear fruit quickly. During this time of stress and lack of adequate social contact, it is important to count our blessings too. There are lessons in this lockdown. Countries should now spend more on health and less on arms. India spends just 1.28 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product on health. Globally, we need to focus on keeping our cities cleaner. We should also improve housing conditions and sanitation in slums. In the late 1990s, the Brazilian government built small colourful housing apartments to house those who live in the "favelas" (slums). Such initiatives can save many lives. Everyone is anxious. When will the lockdown end? Will I retain my jobf? What is my future and that of my children? When will an effective vaccine be found? I am reminded of a poem I wrote 51 years ago, in 1969 whose title may be relevant today. It was called Never Give Up.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Some people think that traditional medicines such as ginger tea and coffee can cure the coronavirus. We need to let the real scientists do their jobs and save lives.

Alhaj Sabitou Ibrahim, Tuvalu, Oceania

Spare a thought for zoo animals in eternal lockdown

I write to you in reference to Jamie Prentis's story Coronavirus: German zoo could feed animals to each other (April 15): "I feel like a caged animal" is how people are describing how they feel with the lockdown in place. Now is a good time to recognise what it is actually like for a caged animal in a zoo. Animals would naturally shun contact with humans, keeping hidden away in their natural habitat. But in a zoo they cannot escape. The have nowhere to go. Their behaviour changes. It's called zoochosis. Birds pluck out their own feathers. Elephants sway back and forth. Tigers pace incessantly. Polar bears swim in circles. Shutdowns world over will come to an end and we will be free to roam again. Animals in zoos don't have this option. Visit an accredited animal sanctuary instead.

Eleanor Thomas, California, US

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Result:

1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds

2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds

3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds

4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds

5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds

6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES

 

June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

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War and the virus
Leading all-time NBA scorers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419

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