I write to you in reference to Janice Rodrigues' piece 10 summer staycation deals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: from late check-out to hotel credit (June 4). Unfortunately it is too hot for me to enjoy staying outside, but I wish all those who do go on a staycation in the UAE to have a lot of fun. Everyone deserves it.
Dulce Veludo Peinado, Dubai
Greening the desert will be useful for the future
With regard to your editorial Desert agriculture will be a driver of the UAE's post-pandemic strategy (June 4): this is such good news. I hope the UAE will bloom like a flower thanks to this green initiative.
Karine Poghosyan, Yerevan, Armenia
This was an interesting read. As the editorial rightly points out, new technologies in agriculture go a long way to secure a country's future. It would be wise to continue on this innovative path even after the pandemic has gone. Across the world we need to rethink the sourcing and production of our food supplies. It was a good piece.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Covid-19 gym closures have got people running outside
Regarding Sophie Prideaux's article How the pandemic inspired a new wave of runners around the world (June 3): evidently this trend has to do with the closure of gyms all around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. People have needed to be creative in order to exercise daily and stay fit and continue to do so.
Dana Hurrell, Sharjah
I urge runners to be cautious. Running on concrete can hurt your hip, knee and ankle joints, especially if you are prone to health problems in these areas.
Laila Lallas, Dubai
Has the pandemic proven that socialising is overrated?
Regarding a video that was shared on The National's Facebook page with the caption Dubai reopened its shopping malls (June 3): even companies are nowadays realising that meetings done in person are overrated. You can achieve everything through video calls.
Touhid Ahmed, Dubai
I disagree with Mr Ahmed. How should a 4-year-old make up for spending time playing with his or friends outdoors? This cannot be done by video-calling them. It is not the same thing as actually being outside with your friends. Children need social interaction.
Nora Farcreek, Abu Dhabi
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
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