I write to you in reference to Nicky Harley's article Donald Trump calls off secret meeting with Taliban and Afghan leaders (September 8) about the proposed Afghan peace deal.
Kudos to US President Donald Trump. I think there is absolutely no point in talking to extremist and terrorist organisations if they do not ensure that there will be zero violence and attacks during the peace negotiations.
Mumtaz Ahmad, Bangladesh
Mugabe was a controversial figure in Zimbabwean history
I write to you in reference to your article Robert Mugabe to be buried at heroes' shrine (September 7): this article was truly informative.
The demise of former dictator Robert Mugabe is a conflicting time for Zimbabweans. On the one hand, Mugabe liberated his country from British rule. But on the other hand, he was a terrible dictator who looted his country and made innocent people suffer a great deal.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
Our daughter has been skydiving from a young age and loves it
I write to you in reference to Selina Denman's article As Skydive Dubai opens to young children: would you let your 12-year-old go skydiving? (September 7): our daughter begged us from the age of 10 to go skydiving. At 13, we decided to give her a tandem as a Christmas gift while in New Zealand, as it wasn't available at Skydive Dubai at the time.
Many tandems later, she is now begging us to do the full course!
Nicki Whittaker, Dubai
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
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
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
