I write in reference to your article Dubai taxis clock up 25 years and a billion passengers (January 4): that Dubai's taxis have ferried up to one billion passengers and made more than 680 million trips over the past 25 years is just eye-popping. All world-class cities have excellent public transport facilities that are complemented by adequate infrastructure – from good roads to cashless payment systems – and in this aspect, Dubai is right up there with the world's best metros.
While these statistics prove that Dubai is indeed a thriving economic centre – after all, people mostly use public transport on weekdays to go to work – they also drive home the importance of developing an environmental consciousness. The more people use public transport, the better for air quality.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
Let the new decade be about responsible personal spending
I write in reference to Nima Abu Wardeh's article How the 1 per cent rule can transform your savings pot one step at a time (January 3): as we enter a new decade and strive for the future, I read a lot about "AfterPay" which seems to be of great benefit especially to its shareholders. I have decided to reintroduce a well-established concept, "BeforePay", which has been in use for a long time and the benefits will help our economy.
The concept is simple and very popular with older people: you save money and then buy what you need or even what you want. There are no interest costs or fees for late payments as you cannot forget any payments.
Perhaps we all need to be realistic and take the sensible approach – although some items such as cars or houses might need to be bought with bank assistance. With so many people in need, it might also be worth considering the idea of only buying what we need rather than what we want and giving to charities. Give now. Karma will repay you later.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne
Jacinda Ardern is known all over the world – not just in New Zealand
I write in reference to Shelina Janmohamed's article Attempts are on to airbrush Jacinda Ardern out of history – because she is a woman (January 2): too late – we all know her outside of New Zealand.
Name withheld by request
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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
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
