Regarding Anam Rizvi's story Lessons from the wild: UAE teachers to host remote classes from The National Aquarium (December 13): this is a good step. More places need to do this. We are missing all the fun field trips we can no longer take our students on... the Emirates Zoo, Heritage Village, the Grand Mosque, a farm and so many more places.
Katie Kamdem, Abu Dhabi
Spoilt for one more choice when it comes to travel
With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: Could people who refuse to be vaccinated be prevented from travelling? (December 15): this will be another choice to make – to travel or not to travel. Because there would be several groups unsuitable for vaccinations, those with existing allergies or those who have had allergic reaction to other vaccines in the past or some similar conditions. It will be another way this virus will have changed our lives.
Monika Arora Agarwal, Dubai
Scientists ought to be people of the year
With reference to the report Joe Biden and Kamala Harris named Time 'Person of the Year' (December 11): in my view, the people of the year 2020 should definitely be the scientists and healthcare workers around the world. Usually, vaccines take years or decades to discover and refine. In the case of Covid-19, scientists have generated options within nine months. This is a giant leap for mankind. The world had stopped. Now, it could work again. Hopefully, some of the vaccines will deliver. The scientists deserve our applause.
The doctors, nurses and ward staff risked their lives and those of their families for the sake of patients. The least they deserve is a standing ovation.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
John le Carre leaves a rich legacy for readers
Regarding the editorial John le Carre shone light on murky worlds (December 15): this was an enlightening read. The demise of 89-year-old David Cornwell is a great loss to the literary world. Fans of spy fiction will no doubt find themselves returning to his novels such as Absolute Friends, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, A Most Wanted Man and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy . The news of his death might even have created new readers of his work.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Scores
Scotland 54-17 Fiji
England 15-16 New Zealand
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
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On sale: Now
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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