A long overdue reunion and return home

Awaiting an astronaut's return to Earth

With reference to Sarwat Nasir's piece Will Russia bring home American astronaut from International Space Station? (March 15): political differences should not be construed as hatred or animosity. The scientific exploration of space is for all on Earth. Let's hope the astronaut Mark Vande Hei lands back safely on the Soyuz spacecraft due on March 30.

Nazim Hasan Khan, Uttar Pradesh, India

A long overdue reunion and return home

With reference to the report by Laura O'Callaghan and Paul Peachey Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori reunited with families after return to UK (March 16): I feel so relieved and happy that Ms Zaghari and Mr Ashoori are finally reunited with their spouses and children. Their families have really fought hard and stood by their cause for all these long years. Both the British-Iranian dual citizens being released and on that flight back home was such heartening news.

Pauline Van Lelyveld, Blantyre, Malawi

How much do the UN's orders determine Russia's moves?

With reference to the report UN orders Russia to end Ukraine invasion (March 16): Sadly, the ruling doesn't mean much. Russia doesn't grant the ICJ jurisdiction over citizens of their country, the same as the US. Furthermore, the UN can't do much besides voice criticism. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has full veto authority over any substantive UN action.

Rodney Edens, North Carolina, US

Tough choices for Ukrainians

With reference to Michael Young's op-ed Notes for Kyiv today, from Beirut in '82 (March 16): the Ukrainians should be encouraged to leave as soon as possible through the humanitarian corridors that have been set up. We have seen what is happening to the cities. Kyiv could become another Grozny and Aleppo. Nobody in Ukraine wants that.

Alii Rosanna, Dubai

I have a friend who just escaped from Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine. She has no family left so she is looking for places that she can emigrate to. But others have sick mothers and fathers and it is their home. She cries everyday for her friends that are stuck or fighting or hiding in bomb shelters. I think the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is doing what Ukranians want and doing it well. The memories of the west's invasions in the Middle East, the senseless killings by over a million combined, and what led up to that is still so fresh. I truly feel for the civilians in Ukraine. I hope peace prevails.

Bert Monroe, Washington, US

Red flags

Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

UAE rugby in numbers

5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons

700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams

Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams

Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season

Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season

More on Quran memorisation:

Mastering the memory: the phenomena of Quran memorisation

Teenager girls recite the Quran flawlessly, despite not speaking Arabic

Kareem Shaheen on Canada

Canada should look past the US election outcome

There would be no Alphonso Davies without open borders

Hard-hit Canada is springing back to life – or to the already cliched 'new normal'

Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press

The biog

Age: 59

From: Giza Governorate, Egypt

Family: A daughter, two sons and wife

Favourite tree: Ghaf

Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense

Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”

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

Sole survivors

Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.