Dubai’s zest for what's ahead has been on full display this week. As the city marks the opening of the Museum of the Future, why not explore the Arabic word for future this week?
As much as the concept of the future inspires and unnerves, the word mustaqbal has shades of meaning, depending on the context.
A high achiever with a seemingly bright future has a mustaqbal zahir. In contrast, a slacker with dim prospects can be said ma illo/ilha mustaqbal.
The unknown future is al mustaqbal al majhool. The near future is al mustaqbal al qareeb. The distant is al mustaqbal el baeed.
Parents ruminating on how to provide a stable future for their children could ask: keef bedna nettaman ala mustaqbalo/mustaqbalha.
Made an investment or set aside money for a rainy day? For any decision with the future in mind, you could say: hada befeed al mustaqbal.
As economic crises persist in several countries in the region, many are planning to move abroad, fearing a sombre future if they remain. A common expression used to justify the decision to emigrate is: mafi mustaqbal bi hal balad — there is no future in this country.
The word also has a romantic resonance. A couple who seemingly work well together can be said to have a future together or ilhon mustaqbal sawa. If you want to say it to your significant other, you could say ilna mustaqbal sawa.
Planning a break-up? You could say ma ilna mustaqbal.
In the end, there is only so much we could do to set future’s course.
If you want to tell someone not to worry too much about what is to come, you could say: la taqlaq/taqlaqi min al mustaqbal.
A common idiom that expands on the saying is: la taqlaq min al mustaqbal. Ana urid, enta turid, u Allah yafa’l ma yurid. This translates to: don’t worry about the future. You desire things, as do I, but in the end, Allah does what he desires.
Another oft-said expression is mustaqbal biyad Illah, or the future is in God’s hands.
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
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UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
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Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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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
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Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
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- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
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Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
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