With regard to Paul Peachey's report Conflict between humans and animals raises pandemic threat (April 28): maybe if we stop breaching their territory, the scale of pandemics can be reduced. We need to respect the space of wildlife as well if we want a safe future.
Sophia Lorraine Fernandes, Dubai
The children must be kept safe, as long as it takes
Regarding Jamie Prentis's article Alert issued as children hospitalised with severe coronavirus-related illness (April 27): this is why schools must not reopen in the UK until at least September or longer. Probably when there is a cure available.
Matt Edwards, Dubai
A tough time to be the head of a country
I write to you in reference to the article by Sunniva Rose One dead after a night of riots in Lebanon (April 28): the violence in Lebanon, is a grim warning of how a protracted lockdown can fray nerves and tempers. As a result of the lockdown many workers and youngsters, who may not have adequate savings have to sit idle in their homes, many without food and money.
This is happening across countries whether it be Lebanon, Kenya, Nigeria, Bangladesh, etc. In many countries the frustration of the unemployed and the hungry will overflow in the form of violence and rioting on to the streets, as has happened in Lebanon.
The governments of various countries are also under intense pressure. If they lift the lockouts too soon, they run the risk of massive infections, which their health systems cannot manage. Most developing countries are short of testing kits, hospital beds and even medicines. In developed countries, citizens have unemployment allowances, medical benefits, pensions for senior citizens, etc. These do not exist in developing countries. So the pain is more.
Governments will have to act with ample discretion and start opening selected sectors of the economy in a gradual manner, so that the disease is contained and yet people are able to make a living and have a life. It is not easy to be the prime minister or president of a country in these times.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
In a league of his own: curtain call for a fine, versatile actor
Regarding Sophie Prideaux's report Legendary Indian actor Irrfan Khan dies at the age of 53 (April 29): this is a deep loss to the film industry and to audiences everywhere who loved his acting and his pick of the most versatile roles. Irrfan Khan was in a league of his own. I especially enjoyed his films The Lunchbox and Life of Pi. May his soul rest in peace.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Gone too soon. He was one of the greats.
Abid Ali, Dubai
Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
