In reference to your article Emirati couple who caused a storm with unorthodox engagement party tell their story (May 24), I believe their genuine happiness is what upsets people. I am in tears reading their story and finding out about her father's views on the wedding (a father who really cares about his daughter) makes me have faith and hope they will be very happy together. Wishing them a long and beautiful life together, filled with laughter and joy.
Camila Diforena, Brazil
Having attended many boring weddings, where the bride and groom sit like statues on the stage while everyone stares at them, I can safely say that I would rather attend Ahmed and Mashael’s wedding any day. Her father should be applauded for the way in which he gave his precious daughter away in marriage.
Ahmed, I pray that you will finally have the mother, father and family you longed for.
Finally, congratulations to both of you. May you have a life of faith, love and happiness and may your home always be filled with laughter, kids and family.
Maja Umm Hamad, Dubai
Why peace with Farc is so necessary in Colombia today
In reference to your brilliant editorial Next Colombian president should not take fragile peace for granted (May 28), it will indeed be a tragedy if the agreement between the government and Farc rebels falls apart or is jettisoned. Then Colombia's countryside could return to mayhem again. It is a beautiful country and Bogota is a very attractive and historic city. But five decades of violence have smothered growth.
I fully endorse your view that the Farc agreement should hold so Colombians can progress. Your claim that “peace agreements are never perfect, but they are invaluable. Successive leaders should be wary of ditching hard-fought peace accords” is wise. I am sure it would have been endorsed unequivocally by Simon Bolivar, who fought for the sovereignty of Andean countries, such as Colombia and Venezuela, from Spanish rule about 200 years ago.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
France’s enlightened ideas on show with ‘Spider-Man’
I write in reference to your article France's 'Spider-Man' granted citizenship after heroic balcony rescue (May 29): the recent heroic deed by a Malian migrant who saved a four-year-old child appears to have resonated in the upper echelons of French politics. The hero in question, Mamoudou Gassama, was honoured by French President Emmanuel Macron and will become a French citizen; a great accolade for the 22-year-old who arrived in France just months ago. Mr Macron is not the first French leader to do this. France is known for its revolutionary ideas. Now we know why. Kudos to Mr Gassama and the French president.
K Ragavan, Denver
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Frida%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarla%20Gutierrez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Frida%20Kahlo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
