In the direction of clean energy
With reference to Nilanjana Gupta's piece First glimpse as Dubai’s hydroelectric plant in Hatta takes shape (January 26): Well done for the clean energy by hydro-electric plant projects. Best wishes and keep up the good work.
Farouk Mukhallalati, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
A trip down memory lane
With reference to John Dennehy's report Jonathan Raban's writings on Dubai and Abu Dhabi take you back to another era (January 25): This brought back memories, especially of the Creek. I was there in '70s as the UAE came into existence and I had the chance to travel widely, across Habshan, a town in Al Gharbia, Tarif, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain among others.
Terrance De Brystow, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Jacinda Ardern understood leadership
With reference to the report New Zealand's Chris Hipkins to replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister (January 21): Jacinda Ardern surprised the world by stepping down as the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
It is hard to imagine a politician who would be willing to step down when they realise they don’t have enough in them to lead. She didn’t give up on her responsibilities, she believed someone else could do a better job. Ms Ardern’s departure is also a mental health warning to other politicians who may hang on despite the fact that they don’t have "enough in the tank" to lead.
A leader like her is a dream of every country – empathetic, young and charismatic. The best example of her empathy was when she stood with the Muslims wearing a hijab in support of victims of the Christchurch attack. The country sent a strong message by standing united in grief after the mass shootings.
She is a role model who has shown the world how to balance work and family despite being the head of a country.
Ms Ardern is a strong representative of female leaders who have displayed tremendous courage to lead a nation in an often misogynistic world.
She was tough on the virus and though people would blame her for overdoing it, she did her best and succeeded to reduce deaths from Covid-19. She had to pay the price for her strict measures during the pandemic, but she did everything she could to protect her people. Though her reputation was mixed amongst her countrymen, people outside New Zealand admired her leadership. She also silenced guns through significant gun control legislation. Jacinda-mania may have lost steam, but she took her country to greater heights.
Dr Praveen Sreekanthalal, Abu Dhabi
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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-of-age
- 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/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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
