Researchers at Columbia University in New York have found a link between air pollution when inhaled by pregnant women and lower IQ scores in childhood. The study, published in the medical journal Pediatrics, involved 249 children of New York City women who wore backpack air monitors for 48 hours during the last few months of pregnancy. They mostly lived in low-income neighbourhoods - Harlem and the South Bronx - and were exposed to varying levels of air pollutants such as car, bus and lorry exhaust fumes. Children whose mothers had breathed in the highest levels of PAHs during pregnancy scored four to five points lower on the IQ test. However, the results were still within the average range of IQ for all children. It's not clear whether the effects of exposure to smog before birth has any noticeable effect on a child's day-to-day life.
In the journal Science, a study by Italian researchers shows that being raised bilingual makes a child's brain more flexible. It claims that although children raised in bilingual environments have to learn twice the amount, their speed of acquisition of two languages is comparable to monolinguals. Researchers monitored babies in their first 12 months, and believe those raised bilingual become more flexible at learning speech structures than monolinguals. "Bilinguals may acquire two languages in the time in which monolinguals acquire one because they quickly become more flexible learners," the study read.
Children who lead a sedentary, couch-potato lifestyle take an extra three minutes to fall asleep for every hour of the day spent physically inactive. Researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand monitored sleep patterns among 519 seven-year-olds, measuring how long they spent asleep, awake but inactive, and active. It took 26 minutes on average for a child to fall asleep once put to bed, but those who had been inactive during the day took longer. Every hour of sedentary behaviour during the day added 3.1 minutes to the time it took to fall asleep.
A multimillion-dollar United Nations strategy to save children worldwide has had little effect, a new study suggests. Designed by the World Health Organisation and Unicef, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Programme has been implemented in more than 100 countries since 1997. The aim was to reduce deaths in children under the age of five due to diarrhoea, pneumonia, measles and malnutrition. The London-based think-tank International Policy Network looked at Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, as a case study. They compared results between areas that implemented the strategy with those that did not, and found there was surprisingly little difference. The study was published in the medical journal The Lancet.
A new study reveals that mothers who received anaesthesia during Caesarean sections are no more likely to have children with learning disabilities than mothers who had natural births. About 20 per cent of children from both groups were found to develop difficulties with reading, writing or maths by the age of 19. Researchers were surprised to find that women who were administered local, as opposed to general, anaesthesia were the lowest-risk group overall. On average, the findings suggested they had only a 15 per cent chance of having children with learning disabilities. Researchers are at a loss to explain why this group is least at risk.
Recent research by Play England, of the UK's National Children's Bureau, has found that more than half of all parents feel that the pace of modern life prevents them from engaging in enough playtime with their children. As many as 84 per cent of parents with children under the age of seven express a desire for additional time to play. In addition to lengthy working hours and commutes, 73 per cent cited excessive homework as detracting from available playtime. Some argue that schools have failed to make enough time for unstructured activities, which are thought to contribute to certain types of learning unattainable through formal lessons. Many parents believe that lack of play causes children to be less happy, attentive and well-behaved.
Researchers at the University of Trento in Italy emphasise the importance of preventive treatment for younger people in combating the spread of H1N1 swine flu virus. The study, published in the journal BMC Central Infectious Diseases, says that although age should not be a factor in receiving treatment once the illness is contracted, preventive measures should focus on people under the age of 25 in order to limit the number of antiviral drug doses needed. Because many countries have limited supplies of the antiviral drug stockpiled, scientists are trying to determine the most effective use of existing stores. Younger individuals are more likely to spread the virus through school, college, and social gatherings. Thus, their use of antiviral drugs is expected to have a more extensive effect than that of older people.
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
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
TO%20CATCH%20A%20KILLER
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
Of those admitting to seeing drugs for sale online, 56 per cent saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55 per cent on Instagram and 47 per cent on Facebook.
Cannabis was the drug most pushed by online dealers, with 63 per cent of survey respondents claiming to have seen adverts on social media for the drug, followed by cocaine (26 per cent) and MDMA/ecstasy, with 24 per cent of people.
The%20specs
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LOVE%20AGAIN
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