In reference to your article Emirates makes a joke of its American rivals with Jennifer Aniston advert (October 6), American airlines are getting pretty bad. I'm not even six feet tall and I feel cramped. If they have movies they're generally either old or ones that flopped at the box office, and the less said about the food the better.
Etihad and Emirates are the preferred airlines for me.
Paul Martin, Al Ain
Last week I flew Emirates in first class. It was fantastic. I can’t say I’ve travelled much on US carriers but for a long time British, European and Asian carriers have stepped up their game.
US carriers may have a massive domestic market, but with London and now Dubai being global hubs US airlines really need to compete with the rest of the world’s airlines to retain a foothold on international routes. I can’t see there’s much need for Americans to fly US carriers for overseas travel when they can easily go via London or Dubai on British Airways or Emirates and get a better experience.
Dean Foley, Dubai
Prizewinner deserved it
It is heartening to read that after 20 years of hard work and struggle, luck has smiled on Mizanur Abdul Wahab (Bangladeshi farmworker wins Dh1m in Abu Dhabi prize draw, October 6). This also goes to prove that life is so unpredictable and that one should remain hopeful regardless of circumstances, because nothing is constant.
This poor man will now be able to fulfil his dreams and the wishes of his family members. I am glad to know that Mr Wahab intends to put his money to good use.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
I sincerely hope that Mr Wahab’s business prospers and he never experiences hardship again.
BG Mesina, Abu Dhabi
I am so happy for Mr Wahab. I hope he enjoys every minute of his well-deserved win. May God bless him.
Ann C, UK
Bank practices are regrettable
Banks, corporations and billionaires have lost their morals (Yunus slams banking system, October 6).
I have nothing against people succeeding, but they should do this in a manner that does not involve making money at any cost and they should never use the phrase “it’s just business”. Sadly, there is much wrong in our world.
Dave Pryce, Dubai
We need to care about Syria
I refer to Faisal Al Yafai's opinion article The Putin Doctrine has now reached Syria (October 6).
I fear no one really cares about Syria. What different countries are doing is looking after their own interest. If Russia really cared about Syria, it would have intervened a long time ago.
Zahed Amin, Al Ain
As Russia flexed its muscles, the world just sat up and took notice. They didn’t do anything. Those in power rarely care about the people. What they only care about is their own positions.
Jean Francoise Ng Lewis, Dubai
We must defeat ISIL’s ideology
Terrorist groups like ISIL will be defeated when scholars point by point clarify how they do not represent Islam (Deprive ISIL of its propaganda, October 6). It may seem obvious that ISIL doesn't represent Islam to people who grew up educated in Islam, but for the teenagers upset at the world or looking to rebel against mainstream society, ISIL can appear alluring.
Chris Reid, Dubai
The more the media highlights the activities of ISIL, the more they fulfil their objectives.
Importantly, those who know little or nothing about Islam are misled by such news.
Rachida Djebel, Dubai
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
