Serena Williams argues with referee Brian Earley during her women's singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan at the 2018 US Open in New York.
Serena Williams argues with referee Brian Earley during her women's singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan at the 2018 US Open in New York.

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Shame on Serena Williams for her unsporting conduct

Our readers have their say about the tennis star, Burt Reynolds and food labelling

Letters to the Editor

September 09, 2018

In reference to your news report 'I don't cheat to win. I'd rather lose': Serena Williams defends her integrity after US Open final controversy (September 9), Ms Williams is an accomplished and respected tennis player and star. However, her conduct on the court in the US Open Finals was shoddy.

Ms Williams was clearly at fault. Her coach was tutoring her. Even if she missed the tutoring, she did smash her racquet in frustration and nobody can ever call the umpire a “thief” at a match in the presence of a global, live TV audience. Just because a player is an international star does not give him or her the right to abuse match officials.

Ms Williams has been highly unsporting in her conduct. Her tantrums have overshadowed the achievements of 20-year-old Japanese player Naomi Osaka. The fact is that when Ms Williams realised that she might lose after the first set, she started losing her temper. To exacerbate matters, she is giving the entire episode a feminist undertone by alleging that the umpire handed down some penalties because she was a woman.

This is a simple case of awful behaviour. It has nothing to do with feminism. Ms Williams should learn from Roger Federer, who is the epitome of tranquillity and excellent behaviour, whether he wins or loses. I am disappointed with Ms Williams. I was an admirer of her game but now I think she might just be a gifted brat.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Burt Reynolds was an unforgettable screen legend

Regarding your article Burt Reynolds, star of film, TV and tabloids, dead at 82 (September 8), the elaborate coverage of the demise of the Hollywood actor was a fascinating read about his career.

He started working in TV and later become popular in the cinema. He was bestowed many awards and had many credits to his name.

No one could forget his memorable performance in Deliverance. He was crowned with many laurels in his lifetime and was also a producer and a director and apparently was also a good stuntsman. His departure is a great loss to the Hollywood film industry. May his soul rest in peace.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

We need full disclosure on everything going in our food

With reference to your online story Should governments force businesses to disclose calorie information? (September 9), it's not the calorie information that is important. What about high-fructose corn syrup, glutamates, genetically modified organisms and other ingredients causing the problem? Don't repeat the mistakes of other countries.

Anita Viherpuro, Dubai

It’s pretty easy to find out this information if you have Google. The individual has to take responsibility.

Darren Banner, Dubai

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Grubtech

Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi

Launched: October 2019

Employees: 50

Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)

 

Sheer grandeur

The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.

A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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