India’s batting order leaves much to be desired, a reader says. Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
India’s batting order leaves much to be desired, a reader says. Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Indian batsmen failed to deliver



Although India won over Bangladesh (World T20: India creep past Bangladesh in frenzied final over, March 24), the Indian batting order failed to deliver in the match. The stars such as Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawn, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh together could not ensure a sizeable score.

It was left to the bowlers such as Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya to save the team from utter humiliation.

However, Dhoni emerged a hero as he enabled India to scratch a victory from Bangladesh through two brilliant stumpings.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

No easy answer to our security challenges

I refer to the article Trump response to Brussels attack: 'close US borders' (March 24). As awful as the terrorist attacks are, there is more bloodshed inside the United States by loonies with guns than all the terrorist attacks put together. So what is Mr Trump going to do about that?

Dave Pryce, Dubai

Mr Trump is right. The situation is in a mess. Only he forgets to mention a tiny little detail: it was American/ European greed and their thirst for oil and desire to sell more guns that caused the immigrant influx, to begin with.

Amitis Etemadi, Dubai

Maybe it’s time for us to realise that the world is a very dangerous place. Enforcing the borders is common sense. Just look at the EU, which is has opened its door to refugees.

Robert G Antonio, US

The world is a changing place with new threats and we must adapt our strategies to combat them. I foresee new security measures at most, if not all, international airports and an additional layer of security in all departure and arrival halls. It will mean arriving five to six hours before your flight. A time will come when we will have to give up some of our freedoms for security.

Unfortunately, we can’t have freedom and be secure at the same time. Technology will play a greater role and I think in about 10 years each person will wear an electronic tag, which could be tracked by security agencies within and beyond local borders. Telcos will process more charging data record (CDR) and more CCTV and scanners will be installed.

Collaboration among security agencies will have to be ramped up three fold just to stay ahead. Drones and robotics will play crucial roles in securing borders and critical assets. As long as people have extremist views, terrorism will threaten us. There simply isn’t enough human resource to track every suspect.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Youth can gain work experience

In reference to the article Youths struggle to find work experience in the UAE (March 13), I grew up here and gained work experience without any problem, and the opportunities were fantastic. In fact, it was easier for me here than my friends back home. That's because there were no young people competing for professional, unpaid or low-paid experience here.

Kathy Lee, Abu Dhabi

There are many options. You can volunteer at some of the veterinary clinics and animal rescue facilities, where you can learn how to deal with the animals, staff and customers.

Diane Monet Nobles, Dubai

Firms ought to respect privacy

I fully agree with Lisa Justice that this country is in dire need of a proper and thorough data protection law (We need data protection law, March 21).

From my experience, there is no satisfactory mechanism in place to protect consumers who do not wish to be pestered with marketing calls.

In this regard, I refer particularly to the conduct of one financial services firm operating in Dubai which is famous for making unsolicited calls to newly arrived expatriates. When I was called by this company, I asked them how they obtained my number and I was told that it would have been obtained from a business card. This was patently incorrect and I would very much like to know how they really did obtain it. They certainly did not obtain it with my consent.

Ralph Lawson, Dubai

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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

if you go

The flights

Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes. 

The hotels 

The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now