This refers to the story No rest areas means workers scramble to find shade during UAE midday break (August 1).
It’s not only UAE companies that are mistreating their workers, but others as well. These companies should be inspected often to make sure they are treating workers properly and adhering to the laws. Workers should have proper rest areas, proper breaks and proper amount of food and water. The buses that transport them should also be air-conditioned.
Name withheld by request
The death of the man napping on a site in Ras Al Khaimah was avoidable. If he had been given a proper place to rest during the hottest part of the day, he would still be alive.
Teri Coley Adams, Abu Dhabi
It’s time for the UAE to increase the minimum pay for labourers.
Ameerah Jolene-Ann van Heerden, Dubai
There need to be portable air-conditioned rooms where workers can rest during their break, similar to the portable offices that engineers sit in. I have often noticed workers sleeping in strange places and it would be easy not to notice them if you are distracted.
Elisabeth Kendall, Abu Dhabi
Debate on social issues helps grow understanding
I like Khalid Al Ameri's articles and the way he comments on the UAE's social issues (Emiratis must know that success is more than being able to afford a luxury lifestyle, July 31). Keep it up.
We always need to discuss these topics so as to become aware of the issues. That way we can reflect on the good and bad and improve ourselves. As young people, we will make mistakes, but we must learn from those errors. Would people stop judging us then? Never. But we should move forward.
Deena AlMansoori, Abu Dhabi
End occupation of Palestine
I write in reference to the news article Israel storms in after truce fails (August 2). Israel broke the 72-hour ceasefire by killing five Palestinians. Israel is continuously breaking ceasefires, and the media and politicians seem to always start their story with rockets being fired from Gaza.
The correct narrative should start with the illegal occupation of Palestine and the victims’ call to end the occupation of Palestine.
Marwa Miqoi, Morocco
The United States confirmed on July 30 that it had restocked Israel’s supplies of ammunition. This confirmation came a few hours after it strongly condemned the attack on a UN school in Gaza. The Israeli army had requested replenishment on July 20 to address the decline in stocks, the Pentagon said.
The US department of defence approved the sale three days later, confirmed a spokesman. The US said earlier that it was “committed to ensuring the security of Israel, and it is crucial to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a high capacity and reactive self-defence”. The arms sale is consistent with these objectives.
Part of the ammunition, worth about US$1 billion (Dh3.6bn) comes from stocks stored by the US military on Israeli soil for the use of the Israeli defence forces for emergencies.
The Pentagon spokesman stressed that these munitions were stored there “for several years, well before the current crisis” and that the “decision to issue ammunition from this stock was purely ministerial and did not require the approval of the White House”. But he did not say whether the White House was involved in the decision to sell ammunition to Israel. This is American hypocrisy. Shame on the US.
Ali Moulay, Dubai
Because of Israel’s behaviour, anti-Semitism is growing across the world.
Gérald Bau, France
Highlight dangers of illegal steroids
I appreciate The National for highlighting the dangers of illegal steroids (Use of illegal steroids on the rise among UAE women, August 1). As a sport nutritionist, I can say that there is a need for education on performance-enhancing supplements not only among the professionals in sport and fitness industries, but also among schoolchildren.
Vijay Ramburuth, Dubai
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
