The Nepal government’s decision to set up a waste disposal centre at the base of Mount Everest is a welcome move.
This measure should be considered as part of its environmental initiatives, which should be adhered to by those who plan adventurous trips in the future. Unless people are aware of the value of preserving nature and its resources, we can never protect our precious resources for posterity.
Over decades, Everest has been heaped with waste, and it’s the responsibility of all of us, particularly the local authorities and mountaineers, to clean up the mess and discourage others from littering. Expedition organisers should also ensure proper arrangements for waste disposal during trips.
Ramachandran Nair, Oman
Use emergency services sparingly
Thank you, The National, for taking the initiative to educate the public about the use of Emergency Rooms and 999 (With the emergency workers at Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre, March 3, and Minor cases clog up emergency unit, March 4).
I’ve always been astonished to learn that many in the region go to Emergency for all ailments, or dial 999 for any complaint. In the US and Canada, people are turned away from emergency rooms and told to see their family physicians for non-emergency visits. Those who use 999 (911) for non-emergency situations are fined.
These vital and important services save lives. Using them casually or taking them for granted forces resources away from true emergencies and can costs lives. I hope you will continue to bring this important message to all in the UAE.
Elan Fabbri, Dubai
Ambulances that attend to emergency calls often do not have necessary supplies, nor are the paramedic personnel allowed to use even pain killers. This transportation service is not free if your case is not really an emergency and you will have to foot the the bill for your transportation to the hospital.
Aziza Al Busaidy, Dubai
Al Shehi gave his life for others’ sake
The death of the Emirati policeman, Tariq Al Shehi, in Bahrain is tragic (Emirati officer dies in Bahraini bomb, March 4). There is so much political unrest across the Gulf region, which is a major cause for concern.
It is heart-wrenching to hear of innocent people losing their lives to terrorism and violence. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the explosion. Tariq Al Shehi is a martyr who sacrificed his life for the sake of others. Hats off to his bravery and courage.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Patriarchies exist for many reasons
I'm writing in response to the article Women in Saudi Arabia demand end to 'absolute' male control (March 2).
Although I’m not an advocate of “absolute male control” over women myself, I still try to think about why patriarchies exist the way they do. It’s not easy, especially when I realise, for example, how norms related to segregation can hinder lives and safety for both men and women. As a Saudi woman, it seems difficult for me to fairly judge the status quo of where I come from, and to be honest, it’s a puzzle I haven’t made sense of yet.
One of the reasons people don’t consider me a feminist is because I don’t believe all women are the same. It’s just not that simple for me to conclude that every woman in Saudi Arabia wishes to challenge the structure of society and become more independent. Also, as frustrating as reality is, for some female citizens in the kingdom, I think feminist movements can be really counter-intuitive.
Every time somebody asks me how I feel about the driving campaign in Saudi, I just sort of roll my eyes. It really has become an essentialist question that hits a nerve, because the truth is, I don’t know how things will change in Saudi society, and I don’t believe allowing women to drive is what we really need to focus on.
Montaha Mousli, American University of Sharjah
Drivers know how to fool cameras
I am commenting on the Facebook post, Police radar in on road offenders (March 1). The drivers of the taxis I take know exactly where the cameras are and they slow down well before. But then they press the accelerator and speed on until the next camera. It is a ride of slow-fast, slow-fast, slow-fast, and the end result is a headache.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Some radars have the wrong speed. Like the one by Etihad Towers is 30kph and there is one by Marina Mall, which does not seem to be working.
Tom Wills, Abu Dhabi
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
