Tragedy in Nepal
With reference to Taniya Dutta's report Why does Nepal have so many plane crashes and what may have caused the Yeti disaster? (January 17): the elaborate coverage of this most recent air disaster was informative and at the same time painful to read. The tragic part was the co-pilot ‘s husband also died in 2006 air-crash. The aviation authorities should be diligent in monitoring periodically the state of aircraft to prevent disasters. I pray for the families of the departed passengers.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
A hope for Iraq
With reference to Sinan Mahmoud's piece Iraqis hope hosting Gulf Cup will help kick off national recovery (January 3): This was a nice piece. I hope Iraq steadily progress towards peace, prosperity, political stability, social and political justice and sustainability.
It will be fantastic if Iraq and all its citizens aim to build an Iraq that will replicate its glory days when it was the centre of Muslim civilisation. The times of greats such as Khalifa Haroon Al Rashid. A lesson can be learnt from Iraq's past that petroleum and petro-dollars are not always needed to build a civilisation and a prosperous country. It was done in the past and it can be done again.
I would love to visit Iraq someday as my relatives used to work there as highway engineers for many years before and during the Iran-Iraq war (in Mosul, Al Amarah, Dohuk, Sulaimania) and I have heard so much about Iraq from them, also from friends and acquaintances who were in the military and were deployed for the Gulf Wars. The biggest shock I felt after the invasion was seeing footage of run-down status in Iraqi cities, and I wondered, what happened to all the oil money... where did that go? Iraq used to be the second largest exporter of oil, only behind Saudi Arabia.
I hope Iraqis are able to build a better, far more prosperous stable and fair society, a just and healthy political system, and a future that is environmentally sustainable, and become a role model and inspiration for others.
I want to hear people talk about Iraq in the same positive note nowadays as they talk about the amazing progress from poverty of Bangladesh. On a side note, I would love to see the famous dates of Iraq also in stores here in the US. I see dates from next door Saudi Arabia but nothing from Iraq.
Wasim Islam, Washington, US
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
SPECS
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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
More from Aya Iskandarani
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Honeymoonish
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
