There's no justification for children to go hungry
With refence to the editorial Israel must let more food in to Gaza and end the starvation (July 28): Thousands of children are hungry in Gaza. According to the UN, one out of five children in Gaza suffer from malnutrition. What is the culpability of these innocents? They are not members of Hamas or any militant establishment. They have no role in the current discord. Yet, they are hollowed by hunger. Those who endure these acrimonious days will carry scars of deprivation and hurt for the rest of their lives.
It is time to end this protracted wretchedness of children. Food and health care should be continuously provided on a priority basis to children. The UAE should be extolled for supplying food and medicines to the people of war-shattered Gaza. The children should be in school with books. Instead they are on the streets with pots, scrounging for food. When will mankind awaken?
Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai
First woman brigadier in Dubai Police makes history
In reference to Nick Webster's piece Trailblazing Dubai Police officer shares pride after being named first female brigadier (July 27): Many congratulations to her. This is matter of pride for the city.
Masooma Ajaz, Dubai
The cultural legacy of Ziad Rahbani
With regard to Saeed Saeed's piece Seven ways Ziad Rahbani changed Arabic music (July 27): Interesting piece. Just one clarification: Kifak enta was not a love confession to a childhood sweetheart. It is from Fairouz to Ziad inspired by what she told him the first time she saw him after he came back to Lebanon.
Rachele Hayak, Abu Dhabi
Many of Ziad's lyrics, rhymes and harmonies will stay with us forever.
Francoise Eid Salameh, Doha, Qatar
He was a genius who shaped generations with his music and satire.
Rana C, Beirut
To add, his jazz style was influenced by the classical tradition he was trained in, and it shows in the structure and direction of the music, which is impressive even beyond the Arab world, in western culture.
Nour H, New York
Heartbreaking to see Fairouz at the funeral. Even though her son was 69 years old and lived a fruitful life, he was still her baby.
Dean M, Chicago, US
So fortunate to have been around when he was creating magic with his music.
Rabab Atie, Beirut, Lebanon
Rest in peace, Ziad. The voice of our generation. And just a note that calling Fairouz renowned feels like an understatement. She was nothing short of legendary.
Rebecca Rahi, Tyre, Lebanon
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
