Regarding Anam Rizvi's story Lessons from the wild: UAE teachers to host remote classes from The National Aquarium (December 13): this is a good step. More places need to do this. We are missing all the fun field trips we can no longer take our students on... the Emirates Zoo, Heritage Village, the Grand Mosque, a farm and so many more places.
Katie Kamdem, Abu Dhabi
Spoilt for one more choice when it comes to travel
With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: Could people who refuse to be vaccinated be prevented from travelling? (December 15): this will be another choice to make – to travel or not to travel. Because there would be several groups unsuitable for vaccinations, those with existing allergies or those who have had allergic reaction to other vaccines in the past or some similar conditions. It will be another way this virus will have changed our lives.
Monika Arora Agarwal, Dubai
Scientists ought to be people of the year
With reference to the report Joe Biden and Kamala Harris named Time 'Person of the Year' (December 11): in my view, the people of the year 2020 should definitely be the scientists and healthcare workers around the world. Usually, vaccines take years or decades to discover and refine. In the case of Covid-19, scientists have generated options within nine months. This is a giant leap for mankind. The world had stopped. Now, it could work again. Hopefully, some of the vaccines will deliver. The scientists deserve our applause.
The doctors, nurses and ward staff risked their lives and those of their families for the sake of patients. The least they deserve is a standing ovation.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
John le Carre leaves a rich legacy for readers
Regarding the editorial John le Carre shone light on murky worlds (December 15): this was an enlightening read. The demise of 89-year-old David Cornwell is a great loss to the literary world. Fans of spy fiction will no doubt find themselves returning to his novels such as Absolute Friends, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, A Most Wanted Man and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy . The news of his death might even have created new readers of his work.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
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
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
