The world stands in solidarity with Beirut

With reference to Beirut live: At least 100 dead and 4,000 injured in Lebanon blast (August 4): that explosion was massive. It almost looked like a nuke. Peace to you all in Lebanon. We send prayers from Canada.

Pete Leclair, Toronto, Canada

I feel sorry for this country and its people that have gone through so much suffering.

Ali Kaaliie, Cape Town, South Africa

This is my beloved city.

Chantal Chaftary Abi Assal, Abu Dhabi

Pray for us and please look to help our devastated country and people.

Nada Awad Rizkallah, Beirut, Lebanon

The videos of that mushroom cloud are horrific. Lebanon and the people of Lebanon desperately need a break from this agony.

Grace Boutros Janho, Dubai

Sending prayers and good wishes from Pakistan. We stand in solidarity with the people of Lebanon.
Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Islamabad, Pakistan

The whole world is fighting to contain the spread of coronavirus and this explosion has added to the sufferings of the country.

Ramachandran Nair, Muscat, Oman

I have never seen anything like that explosion in my life and I hope never to see it again. My heart breaks for Lebanon.

Trina Mole, Florida, US

Schools are right to give parents the option

With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to keep distance learning as an option after calls from parents (August 4): this option is a good thing. If parents would like to go for blended learning, they have that option too. I am happy to have the choice because my daughter has a weak immune system and I don't like the idea of having the children wear masks for too long.

Nisha Subramanian, Abu Dhabi

Have parents who want to continue to teach their children from home had them out of class since March? And will they keep them at home until all restrictions are lifted?

I agree those with medical conditions should continue with distance learning and teach from home, but others should go back.

Fatma Shabanova, Abu Dhabi

The new Barakah power plant is a milestone

I write to you in reference to Barakah signals a new era of nuclear power in the Middle East (August 3): The National editorial rightly pointed out that this project not only heralds a new era but will also provide employment across sectors. The UAE has created a revolution over the decades and this project is one more milestone in its journey.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

The biog

Age: 32

Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.

Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas

Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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Racecard

6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m

7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m

8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m

Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening

Biography

Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day

Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour

Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour

Best vacation: Returning home to China

Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument

Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes

Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

While you're here

Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, there must be patience and empathy

Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal

Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30:

UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

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The essentials

What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

When: Friday until March 9

Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.

Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.

Information: www.emirateslitfest.com