The article More than just fees to consider when enrolling in UAE nurseries (June 10) was nice. Perhaps it's worth looking at teacher salaries as a follow up. I feel that is also a big issue – you get what you pay for and at the moment big fees seem to be spent on neither resources nor staff, who are also being asked to do more and more administrative work at the expense of the child.
So you have a situation where children have no resources or teachers to play with.
Adam Pitt, Dubai
Emirates should upgrade seats
In reference to your story Airbus reveals plan for even more passengers on A380 (June 8), I think Emirates should think about the comfort of passengers. I travel long distances and those seats are not comfortable at all. Some years ago, there was more legroom in between seats. Each seat had a leg rest, while there was ample space between two seats.
Now it feels like any other airline, except the services that are top class.
Prakash Kumar Singh, Dubai
The seats are really uncomfortable. There is no proper armrest, not enough leg space. You cannot walk down the aisle without brushing against other passengers.
Saif Omar Al Suwaidi, Sharjah
My last experience on a Glasgow flight was poor. The in-flight service was not great and there were delays at both ends. As for the new seating arrangement, it is not comfortable.
Willie Peden, Abu Dhabi
Dubai travellers are penalised regardless of the cabin class (Emirates plans premium economy class as customers tighten travel budgets, June 10). I love Emirates, but the price difference compared to stopovers can be up to double, whatever class you travel.
A business class flight to Boston in November, for instance, is Dh21,000, while other airlines offer the same service for below Dh12,000.
The same flight in economy would be Dh5,000, while competitors offer refundable fares at Dh3,000. The difference is huge, whereas people travelling from other countries with Dubai stopovers pay much less. I don’t think that premium will make a huge difference.
Nicola Siotto, Dubai
Premium economy is what we need – something between business and economy.
Lama Younis, Dubai
It was heartening to know that the Japanese boy was found alive (Japanese boy abandoned in forest as punishment found alive after six days, June 4). This incident reminded me of my childhood, when I was rebellious. My parent never thought of punishing me this way. They rather preferred to teach me nicely. Naturally, because children are not supposed to behave like adults. It's the responsibility of parents to teach them what's right and what's not.
I am sure parents who love their children will never put them in danger.
Alice Su, US
The news of Manohar Aich’s death was a sad one, not just for fitness enthusiasts but also for others (India’s first Mr Universe dies at age 104, June 7).
At age 104, he was a role model for many. I am an American who was introduced to bodybuilding and powerlifting by this man.
The most important lessons I got from Aich was that you must build your physique only with the help of wholesome foods and natural supplements, unlike many bodybuilders who are heavily dependent on steroids. We can learn a lot from the life of this man. Rest in peace, “Pocket Hurcules”.
John Soule, US
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
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
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.
BLACK%20ADAM
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jaume%20Collet-Serra%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Sarah%20Shahi%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Pierce%20Brosnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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 SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Vikram%20Vedha
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gayatri%2C%20Pushkar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hrithik%20Roshan%2C%20Saif%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Radhika%20Apte%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
more from Janine di Giovanni
