In reference to Mawaqif will tow illegally parked cars (June 1), I welcome the move. I park legally with a permit and am often blocked in in the morning. However, Mawaqif is nowhere to be seen. I've seen several cars parked in the middle, and maybe one or two will be ticketed while others are ignored.
The reality is that parking is a big problem. We pay for parking permits when parking isn't guaranteed and often not available. We have to drive around in circles until someone leaves.
I don't move my car on Fridays as parking is free for all, so no one moves as they know they will not get a spot until the next morning. What sense does that make? Where's the rationality in it?
By the way, instead of making such a big issue about something like this, how about towing cars on Airport Road going towards the Corniche where cars are parked on the street, taking up a complete lane on a busy highway?
Chris Murray, Abu Dhabi
It's about time. The only question I ask is why wasn't this implemented sooner? I have to go through the painful procedure of calling the police almost every morning because there is a car double-parked behind me and I can't get out. This is what a Dh800 parking permit bought me.
Brian Kaner, Abu Dhabi
A plea for more precious leg room
I read with much interest your editorial on flying etiquette Pardon me, I have knees (June 2) about a punch-up on an intercontinental flight. I blame the airlines. They pack us like sardines and expect us to behave like humans? As it is, flying is now more of a nightmare than a luxury, with many preflight security checks and what not.
Isn't it time the airlines gave us something back? Start with an extra two inches of leg space.
Anwar Ali Khan, Dubai
List of disasters in a daily newspaper
Every once in a while, you read a city newspaper and you get a really good idea of what life is like there. Unfortunately, the picture you paint is disturbing. Connect the dots among the disparate stories and one would walk away from the breakfast table wondering about what kind of place he's living.
We have evidence of trade in exotic animals (the latest in a series of such awful stories), the arrest of a rape victim, the reluctance of rescue professionals to enter a burning building to save lives, the continued detention of illegal labourers (but no arrest of the contractor who employed them), the illegal exportation of cars and a high-speed chase on a heavily trafficked road.
I don't wish anyone to think that I, by virtue of being a western expatriate, am imposing my values here in highlighting stories that diverge from accepted moral behaviour. In the West, we have stories like this, too: people do behave immorally and badly in the West.
Marcel Petit, Abu Dhabi
Dubai stars in social media
The article Dubai debates: the word is out there (June 2) reported that town-hall-style debates are being transmitted on YouTube. Today social media is playing a vital roll in connecting people and countries. In recent days Dubai has been in high focus by Facebook and Twitter. Every day new innovations are happening in Dubai. Through these two media platforms, Arab culture and hospitality are now more visible.
K Ragavan, India
Protect the Arabian Leopard
The opinion article by Justin Thomas Is the catwalk the last ecosystem of the Arabian Leopard? (May 9) was very interesting. Arabs use animal names to name their children such as Fahad or Nimr, which mean leopard. I asked myself why do they name their children with animals' names? Is it because animals like the lion or leopard have good characteristics such as strength and bravery?
Currently, leopard-spotted bags, clothes or even furniture are so popular in the market, but the real leopard has become endangered. The Arabian Leopard is a beautiful animal. We have to increase people's awareness about endangered animals by arranging campaigns everywhere, especially in schools and universities, using the media to spread awareness among people, and implement laws which protect wildlife in our country.
Rose F, Abu Dhabi
Criteria for social responsibility
I refer to Socially responsible investments yield dividends (May 19). It's heartening to see that such firms are finally being established in the region. I hope that they will establish sound criteria and a due diligence process to differentiate the ventures that create meaningful social impact on a sustainable basis from others that are fads.
Vineet Chhatwal, Dubai
FORSPOKEN
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Starfield
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SQUADS
South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada
Coach: Ottis Gibson
Bangladesh:
Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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.”
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Wonka
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
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The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)