We are often reminded that we live in an increasingly inter-connected world. Not just because of the inter-dependence of economies, but because communication and the internet have eliminated much of the affect of the distances that once divided us.
A year ago, the pictures of the Beirut port explosion shocked people across the world within moments of the blast. Similarly, over the past few days, it has been difficult to escape the immediacy of the nightmarish scenes from the Kabul airport.
In some countries though, events that occur in places geographically removed can be viewed as happening in remote areas, to people of whom we know little or nothing. In the UAE, such events are not so distant. They matter to people here, which affects the nature of our interest and response.
Here in the Emirates, 'foreign news' is 'home news' for many
Many years ago, when I edited a newspaper, I was asked by visiting foreign journalists why we devoted so much space to covering "foreign" news. My answer was that here in the Emirates, "foreign news" was, in fact, "home news" for many. Residents from the nearly 200 countries who live here have a personal interest in what is happening elsewhere. That in turn, I believe, has a major impact on Emirati attitudes to the wider world.
The UAE has long been a generous giver of humanitarian aid and a donor of development assistance. Both amongst UAE citizens and amongst other residents. And generosity is not just a matter of a government policy. This can be seen from the extraordinary goodwill shown by people of all nationalities, in their response to various charitable fund-raising programmes.
There are few other countries with such a degree of demographic diversity. Some of the residents come from countries that receive humanitarian aid from the Emirates and they recognise the value of that assistance.
It is of little surprise then that extensive news coverage of overseas events is relevant to communities within the UAE.
We have, for example, many residents from Afghanistan and from adjacent areas of Pakistan. Current events in Afghanistan, naturally, concern them and affects their lives. It is important to members of these communities who live here that developments in their home countries are properly covered and explained in the media here.
Our large Lebanese community is worried about the descent of their country into economic and political collapse. Shortages of medicines and petrol, among other essentials are important to keep up to date with, quite apart from the unsatisfied demand for an investigation into last year’s blast. Telephone calls and text messages can provide news about their families, but for a broader understanding, communities will turn to media outlets, as they should be able to.
Given our diverse population, there will always be crises abroad that are relevant to people in the UAE. Last week, it was reported that some of the casualties in Lebanon, from the fuel tank explosions in the Akkar district, were flown here for treatment. That is relevant to the Lebanese people in the UAE, even if they don’t know those who were injured or who were killed.
Equally, the UAE’s provision of facilities for the evacuation flights from Kabul is a matter of interest. On those flights, there may be friends or family members of UAE's resident Afghan community. As our media reports on such matters, there is a local as well as an international dimension.
There is a connection, I would argue, between the diversity of the UAE’s population, the support for the country’s provision of humanitarian assistance and residents' need to know about global events.
For our friends or acquaintances in the Afghan and Lebanese communities, an interest on our parts and a bit of empathy will not go amiss. Being attentive to what is happening elsewhere, even if we don't belong to those communities, enhances our perspective and understanding of the world. It is part of what living in a diverse society means.
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
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.
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
