Readers discuss whether Ramadan work hours should be applicable to all. Pawan Singh / The National
Readers discuss whether Ramadan work hours should be applicable to all. Pawan Singh / The National
Readers discuss whether Ramadan work hours should be applicable to all. Pawan Singh / The National
Readers discuss whether Ramadan work hours should be applicable to all. Pawan Singh / The National

Are Ramadan work hours applicable to all?


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Do taxi drivers have reduced work hours and reduced quotas during Ramadan (Workplace Doctor: Do non-Muslims have to work full hours during Ramadan in the UAE?, May 24)? It’s really important that anyone who drives for a living rests and eats well.

Lisa Kereliuk, Dubai

There is a purpose behind every rule. Reduced work hours in Ramadan are meant to make life easier for workers who are fasting. Those who don’t fast need to ask themselves whether they deserve that privilege.

It is not about Muslim and non-Muslim, because there are some Muslims who don’t fast for some reasons.

Asim Hamdan, Dubai

If none of the employees observes Ramadan, then I personally see no harm in the employer asking them to work a full day. In large companies with a more diverse workforce, there are restrictions on where non-fasting employees can eat, so that can pose a challenge. But in small, non-fasting companies, I think it would be business as usual.

Samia Iftekhar, Abu Dhabi

Many things can trigger a stroke

I don’t think unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle are only to blame for premature strokes (Half of UAE stroke victims are under 45, May 22). The weather here is really a challenge, compared to other places on the planet. Perhaps dehydration also plays a role.

Western people have, if anything, an unhealthy lifestyle and diet. I don’t think the answer lies there.

D Gert Ditlevsen, Dubai

No ‘science’ behind iceberg

I have read Jonathan Gornall’s piece The solid science behind the dream of floating icebergs to Fujairah (May 26). Please refrain from using terms such as “solid science” to explain an article in which no scientific explanation has been provided with hard evidence.

Musarat Ali, Dubai

Why waste so much energy and time by even thinking about bringing iceberg to Fujairah coast to make premium drinking water for the richest?

This seems to be a marketing drive by a drinking water brand. It is just nonsense.

Rajeev Rajapalan, Dubai

Red-tape affects businesses

A great many things in this country are dulled by red tape and exorbitant set-up costs, including business (Solar panel demand in Dubai dulled by red tape, May 18). Ultimately that is to the detriment of the country's economy and the UAE at large.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

We must defeat the dark forces

The cold-blooded murder of cop nearly 30 Coptic Christians in Egypt is unbelievable.

What’s worse, the incident took place just before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. It underlines that these terrorists, who always talk about religion, purity and piety, have no religion at all. All they have is a tremendous urge for bloodshed and an unfathomable contempt for human life.

All countries must leave their differences aside and come together to defeat these forces of darkness.

Nations that think they are safe and stay aloof must remember that it’s just a question of time before they are swept away by these dark forces.

There was a time when extremists used to abstain from killing and attacking during the holy month. That’s no longer they case. These days these bloodthirsty people do not see any reason to do so. Their sole aim is to kill. There is no purpose behind it.

It’s sad that no one is able to defeat these evil forces. The way they are carrying on with their activities, I am sure the end of the world is not far.

I am increasingly feeling hopeless.

Shahid Ashraf, India

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts

Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon 

Rating:*****

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')

Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

About RuPay

A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank

RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards

It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.

In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments

The name blends two words rupee and payment

Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs

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 three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

FIGHT CARD

 

1.           Featherweight 66kg

Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2.           Lightweight 70kg

Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3.           Welterweight 77kg

Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4.           Lightweight 70kg

Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5.           Featherweight 66kg

Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6.           Catchweight 85kg

Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7.           Featherweight 66kg

Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8.           Catchweight 73kg

Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)

9.           Featherweight 66kg

Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10.         Catchweight 90kg

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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