Safety measures implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus have led to a drop in traffic levels and an improvement in air quality in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National 
Safety measures implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus have led to a drop in traffic levels and an improvement in air quality in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National 

Abu Dhabi's air can be kept clean long after restrictions are lifted



With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: Air quality in Abu Dhabi continues to improve due to restrictions (May 9): I for one am very keen for this to continue even after restrictions are lifted. Never have I seen the sky at night so black, the sea so blue or so many birds singing in the trees. Mother Nature it would seem needed only a helping hand for her to begin the process of restoration to the environment. 
We can do with fewer trips in the car to the shops and malls, fewer days out to amuse the children, fewer flights per annum.
Let's continue to connect with our families, entertain and exercise at home where possible, shop wisely and efficiently.
Should every household contribute, then surely the quality of our air, the land and the sea will continue to flourish.
I wish wellness to all. Let's be kind and protect the environment.
Jane Bett, Abu Dhabi

India's toxic leak reminiscent of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy 

Regarding the article India gas leak: evacuation zone widened around Visakhapatnam plant (May 8): the 1984 tragedy at the Union Carbide factory in the city of Bhopal that claimed over 3700 lives is still in our memory. This accident at the polymer factory that took away 11 lives must be investigated. I pray for the departed and for the speedy recovery of the hundreds injured.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

Children have their theories about the coronavirus, too

Regarding Emma Day's report 'It's spiky balls inside you': Watch kids share thoughts on the coronavirus (May 7): feels good to hear from kids.

Manish Anilkumar Ayare, Mumbai, India 

The plight of India's migrant workers trudging home on foot

The report Train runs over Indian workers returning home amid coronavirus lockdown (May 8): this was horrifying to read. The workers were resting on their long journey home on their feet. In India an estimated 140 million migrant workers have been displaced since the lockdown was declared on March 22. Since then we have seen heart-rending scenes of labourers, parents carrying children and also children carrying elderly parents on their backs, trudging home on highways, walking sometimes 200 to 800 kilometres over a period of eight to 10 days to reach their villages.

Special trains have now been arranged to transport some of the migrant workers home. However, millions are yet walking along highways, without food, water or shelter. Buses should be arranged to pick them up wherever they are to transport them back home to their villages.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

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Tour de France

When: July 7-29

UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland

ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJustine%20Triet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESandra%20Huller%2C%20Swann%20Arlaud%2C%20Milo%20Machado-Graner%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) US$175,000 1,000m
7.05pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (Dirt) $100,000 1,900m
7.40pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,800m
8.15pm: Handicap (D) $135,000 2,000m
8.50pm: Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,400m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) $135,000 2,410m.

Manchester City transfers:

OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)

INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m 

ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho

ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

UAE v Zimbabwe A

Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs

Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai