It's sensible to ban children from moving around on self-balancing boards in public places (Motor boards prompt Abu Dhabi Police warning, October 14).
Children tend to be careless without their parents’ supervision. Innocent people will be blamed if an accident occurs.
Genesis Lachica, Abu Dhabi
This device is dangerous for a child’s health, as it will make them lazy and give them a reason not to participate in any physical activity.
Miriam Seferian, Abu Dhabi
In reference to your editorial Toy of the moment (October 14), I wonder why are these toys being imported considering the Government is trying hard to fight obesity. These devices make children lazy.
Christie King Eckardt, Abu Dhabi
What should actually be done is improve and widen the pavements and remove all the obstacles that force pedestrians to end up walking on the streets. More parks around the city would also be nice to see.
Linda Abu Ghattas Gomez, Abu Dhabi
Before banning these toys, stop drivers from speeding. Here the issue just needs to be handled with common sense. A person below 13 years should not be allowed to use these boards. It is written in the user manual, which also says that the user should wear a helmet, knee pads and ankle pads.
Tumwesigye Julius, Uganda
Hardliners in India pose threat to democracy
I feel sad that intolerance is growing in India (Indian politician doused in ink over Pakistan book launch, October 13). The attack by right-wing Hindu activists on Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was organising the book launch in Mumbai, is just one among many attacks that have taken place in recent months on people who have dared to voice their own opinion or contradicted right-wing views. These people are creating an environment never experienced before in India.
When Narendra Modi won the elections, hopes were running high among the masses. They are now despondent. These incidents pose a grave danger to India’s democratic character. It would be good for the country if the Modi government can effectively deal with these issues.
Ravi Jayachandran, India
iPhone upgrade is not just subtle
Your article Apple iPhone 6s, 6s Plus review: new camera welcome but not much else to entice (October 13) says: "Unlike the comprehensive design overhaul of last year's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the latest upgrades to its smartphone range are, as expected, on the subtler side". But the "Force Touch" screen is not a "subtle" upgrade, it's a complete new way of interacting with your iPhone.
Ivo Dielen, Ras Al Khaimah
And the credit goes to ...
Officially, the director of the beautifully-made film Meenaxi is the legendary painter MF Husain, but insiders know that the film is largely Owais Husain's creation (Artist Owais Husain learns to create on his own terms in Dubai, October 15).
The son gave the entire credit of direction to his then nonagenarian father, who was known as the “hermit painter”. The bicycle ballet with the handlebar bells and the beautiful song Rishta will remain in the collective memory forever.
Dilrasheed, Dubai
Entrepreneur shows the way
Omar Abedin's resilience is simply phenomenal (Abu Dhabi entrepreneur tells how he came back from the brink after $360,000 debt, October 14). I wish him best of luck. I'm convinced he'll see the pinnacle of success, because he has the ability to use a setback to his advantage.
Konney Adjetey, Ghana
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
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