Readers say Etisalat and du should offer a better choice of packages. Sarah Dea / The National
Readers say Etisalat and du should offer a better choice of packages. Sarah Dea / The National
Readers say Etisalat and du should offer a better choice of packages. Sarah Dea / The National
Readers say Etisalat and du should offer a better choice of packages. Sarah Dea / The National

Frustration over telecom deals


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With reference to the news report TV included, whether you want it or not (June 22), my friend has had an Etisalat internet connection for more than two years whose speed is 1 MBPS, which is laughable. When he asked for an upgrade, Etisalat asked him to take their "talk, surf and call" option despite the fact that he didn't want a TV connection. He was told that he had no other option. So basically, even if one does not own a television, one has to take a TV connection to get internet services. It's a sorry state of affairs.

Kimberly Whittenberg Dezarn, Abu Dhabi

I wanted the internet and TV. No phone line. However, I was told that I had to have a phone line to have internet. They also gave me a choice of packages to pick. I did choose one and to this day since it was connected, my bill has always been above Dh1,500 a month. My package was half that amount. When I call and ask the reason, they say I have to go to their office as that information isn’t given over the phone. They charge me for the phone line even though the phone itself has never been plugged in. My internet is very weak and the television sometimes goes off, so there’s no TV until they can send a technician out to me in two days. However, they still charge for those two days of no internet or television. Are we all being played?

Favy Siasi, Dubai

Etisalat always charges for services that we don’t use. Our bills add up to amounts without justification. When we call them to ask for explanation, they give us reasons that are not convincing at all. Unfortunately we have no choice but to stick with their service.

Abeer Al Nowais, Abu Dhabi

In most cases, the landline is just as unwanted as the television. Currently, Etisalat (which is the only option) has its customers in a vice-grip. I hope this article can generate enough attention to spark change.

Alison Duhan, Ireland

Charity reflects the true spirit of Ramadan

The story Labour of love inspires is wonderful. The two businessmen who organised payment for the education of the two children of one of the five expatriates featured in the film A Place Called Home reflect the spirit of Ramadan.

Bikram Singh has spent 16 years in this country, earning Dh1,500 a month, most of which he spent on the education of his two children. I am sure the sacrifices he and his wife have made will be rewarded by the success of his children. I congratulate the gentlemen who came forward to help him.

Glenis Stevenson, Dubai

Animal protein not good option

I disagree with trainer and triathlete Roisin Thomas's opinion on Ramadan fasting (My Ramadan: An expat fasts for understanding, June 22). The suhoor should not contain animal proteins – meat, cheese or eggs – which do not contain any carbohydrates and therefore will not provide the consumer with any energy for the day.

It is imperative that complex carbohydrates or simple sugars (whole, fresh fruit) are consumed in the morning, which could include oatmeal, rice porridge, baked sweet or regular potato, or perhaps banana ice-cream. These will release energy throughout the day and ensure regulated blood sugar levels. They are much easier to digest than animal products, which are taxing on the digestive system and offer few benefits. There is more than enough protein in plant-based foods.

Soraya Beheshti, Dubai

Many reasons for bad parking

Regarding the editorial Think before you park (June 22), I think there's generally a lack of discipline in most people here and worse still, a lack of consideration for others.

Furthermore, a lot can be blamed on ignorance as well. I’m quite sure some people just don’t realise how badly they are behaving. And then there’s sheer arrogance which abounds.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry

Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm

Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Votes

Total votes: 1.8 million

Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes

Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes 

So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 395bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: from Dh321,200

On sale: now

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

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Feeding the thousands for iftar

Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth 

Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people

The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box

350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley

Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck

bundesliga results

Mainz 0 Augsburg 1 (Niederlechner 1')

Schalke 1 (Caligiuri pen 51') Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Miranda og 81')

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What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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