With regard to Ali Al Shouk's article Meet the Abu Dhabi resident planting hundreds of trees to make the UAE greener (June 3): What a beautiful initiative. The 200 trees he's planted benefit not only the neighbours who enjoy the shade and breathe cleaner air, but also other residents. It's nice to drive past pockets of green. Mr Al Awsi is right that anyone can do this once they take permission from the authorities. I hope more people are inspired and follow his example anywhere in the world. Collective community effort can really benefit the environment.
Kafui Kavi, Accra, Ghana
First Emirati woman to scale Everest
With reference to Nick Webster's report First Emirati woman conquers peak-to-peak Everest challenge (June 8): Climbing both Mount Everest and Lhotse in a day is awesome! many congratulations to her.
Karen Al Ali, Abu Dhabi
Accountability needed in India bridge collapse
With reference to Taniya Dutta's report Bihar bridge collapse: State's chief engineer is suspended (June 6): This bridge reportedly costs 205 million dollars. The authorities must run a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse and examine how exactly the funds have been utilised. How is it that structural defects in the bridge were not detected earlier? An incident like this is damaging on several levels. An inquiry may reveal this to be yet another example of how typically some middle men may well be making large amounts of money, allocated originally to an infrastructure project, endangering the lives of the common people. Fortunately, this bridge was under construction and no one died. But it is a reminder of a tragedy last October when the 233-metre suspension bridge in the state of Gujarat killed 135 people. Accountability has to be sought.
Bipul Sharma, New Delhi, India
Seeing the video puts the matter into perspective. That this was the second time the same portion of the bridge collapsed could be a sign of poor contractors. Evidently, something was not done right.
Ephicien Mark, Douala, Cameroon
This is a sad state of affairs preceded by the Odisha train disaster. Opposition parties have been alleging lack of involvement by the authorities who were assigned to this mammoth project across the river, and questioning the quality of raw materials used for construction. Allegations of corruption have come up. But whatever the actual reasons, it is unacceptable that a bridge should collapse once, let alone twice. This is unacceptable. Administrators in Bihar will have to answer tough questions. The state should take responsibility for the projects in their region. Will this project will be carried on and good strategies employed by engineers in the future, and how long will it now take to complete is another question.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started:Â 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based:Â 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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education:Â Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
