I refer to your article Amid all the turmoil, peace could break out between India and Pakistan (March 4). It is quite disturbing to read stories of continuing animosity between the people of India and Pakistan. In reality, ordinary people stand to lose, because amid conflict the true wealth of these two lands cannot be realised. People in India and Pakistan should be able to live in a friendly atmosphere and showcase their goodwill, especially to younger generations. Neighbours cannot live with hostile minds, whereas a trusting friendship will improve the lives of all.
After the recent incidents, I read several articles about the Samjhauta Express train, which runs between India’s capital city and Lahore in Pakistan. The “friendship express” is a true reflection of how deeply intertwined these two nations are. If you read the stories of people travelling on the Samjhauta Express, you cannot imagine a conflict between their two homelands.
Suffice to say a nuclear conflict between these two would be unthinkably awful.
But we now have a situation in which peace and stability on the subcontinent are mostly dependent on how India and Pakistan lead their people. We can only hope that the youth in both countries take a different approach to bring about a safer future. History shows that the repercussions of war live on for decades and even centuries in the communal memories of people.
Let’s hope the beauty of the Samjhauta Express can be realised elsewhere and that the train runs smoothly to continue connecting the people of India and Pakistan.
Ramachandran Nair, Muscat
Arab nations can help give new life to war-torn Syria
I write in reference to your article Arab nations must be part of Syria's future (March 7). I congratulate you on an impressive editorial. The ongoing crisis in Syria will soon enter its eighth year, in spite of international community intervention. As a country known for its rich cultural heritage, values and trade, particularly in fruits, the state of Syria today is nothing short of a tragedy.
The UAE’s decision, reiterated last week by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, to re-open its embassy in Syria is a good one. Its main intention is to help redevelop Syria and for Arab nations to play a role in that. Sheikh Abdullah’s solidarity to lift the beautiful city of Damascus once more is laudable.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
ISIS recruits could be useful informants if rehabilitated
I refer to your article New Zealand ISIS runaway Mark Taylor: I feel betrayed by the group I joined and the country I left behind (March 7). Let this be a lesson for others who act on impulse without considering the consequences. Still, hate the sin and not the sinner.
Rehabilitation could turn Taylor into a helpful individual who could prevent others from joining such terrorist groups as ISIS.
Name withheld by request
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Results
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
