Protesters block a railway track in reaction to record petrol and diesel prices in Mumbai, India. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
Protesters block a railway track in reaction to record petrol and diesel prices in Mumbai, India. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

School fees can be truly extortionate in the UAE



Please refer to your article UAE schools face tougher competition for pupils (September 12). It would appear that schools are finding it hard to fill their places because there is so much competition. Perhaps some of the more expensive schools should consider more sensible fees. I am sure that extortionate school fees are causing parents to look elsewhere for their children's education.

Name withheld by request

Fuel prices in India take their toll on the common man

I write in reference to your article Indian opposition leads­ ­nationwide protests over high fuel prices (September 11). The recent strike this week spurred by increased fuel prices in India and followed by vandalism by the protesters is a troubling development for the country. Unfortunately, fuel prices are usually not the same across the nation and vary from state to state. Despite the fluctuation of the international oil price, the prices for Indian consumers are fixed. That in ­itself is not a bad thing, but there is no uniformity nationwide and as a result the common man suffers. Those in power appear unable to remedy this. Protests should be peaceful and there is never any excuse for looting and damaging public property, but their grievances are somewhat justified.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

We need a good property calculator for the capital

I write in reference to your online article New online ­calculator helps Dubai ­residents decide to rent or buy (September 12). This is a great tool. But I just sold last week in Abu Dhabi, and the calculator is only for Dubai residents. It would be great to see a similar innovation for Abu Dhabi residents as well, because the buying fee structure is quite different.

Anthony Edwards, Abu Dhabi

Race-based hiring practices are a tough issue to solve

Please refer to your article Job adverts must not specify ­gender or race, says UAE ministry (September 11). This issue is everywhere – I have seen race-based hiring practices in Japan too. It is a very hard thing to solve.

Muhannad Alblooshi, RAK

The news that there will be a crackdown on those who specify a particular gender or race when hiring in the UAE is certainly positive. However, when it comes to selection ­processes or even interviews, there will always be discrimination.

Laxman Shrestha, Nepal

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 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE