It was interesting to read your editorial about public works projects in Abu Dhabi (Infrastructure programmes are welcome, October 16).
On Facebook, The National asked what other projects we would like to see in the capital.
I think a light rail transport system would be good, as there are lots of pedestrians struggling to walk on uneven pavements. I know some people who walk 3 to 5 kilometres in the heat because they can’t afford a taxi.
The bus service is not enough. Many streets lack proper bus stops, and the schedules are not convenient, especially for buses connecting the downtown area and the suburbs.
I’d like to see more comfortable and affordable transport alternatives for Abu Dhabi commuters.
Jehad Makhoul, Abu Dhabi
I would like to see the Main Bus Terminal renovated.
George Philip, Abu Dhabi
Unhappy with TV package
I wish to share a complaint about my Etisalat television package.
I have been using Etisalat’s Triple Play service with a full sports package for the past couple of months. However, I was surprised when I could not find certain channels. I thought it might be a technical glitch and called Etisalat.
I was informed that BeIN has changed its services, and if I want those channels back I should pay an extra Dh20 a month on top of my full sports package subscription. My argument is that the contract is between myself and Etisalat and should be honoured as such.
After a lengthy debate with the customer care officer, I realised that the official line is that there is nothing they can do about it. So, I asked to remove the TV option and have telephone and internet services only. I was told that they would charge me a penalty fee for removing the TV service.
I am truly stumped at this, as I believe it was Etisalat that breached the contract.
M Mahmood, Abu Dhabi
Education will save fish stocks
The initiative described in UAE fishermen prepared to change their tune in face of falling stocks (October 14) is fantastic.
Educating the fishermen will allow them to become part of the solution to saving fish stocks.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Insults should be punished
I am writing in relation to your story, Woman who threw glass at man over party dispute loses court appeal (October 15).
The only conclusion to draw from this incident is that people who drink should only drink as much as they can handle. Also, it is best to avoid such gatherings if one does not wish to get involved in fights.
As much as we should blame the woman for throwing a glass at the man’s face and leaving him with a permanent disability, it is sad that the man was only fined for consuming alcohol and was not punished for hurling insults at the woman.
It is disappointing to hear of incidents where women are verbally abused, disrespected and insulted.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
I don’t agree with comments on social media that the woman was defending herself.
The man ignored her first assault, so she raised her efforts and threw a glass in his face, causing an injury. This is why she was handed a prison sentence.
R Stirling, Dubai
Fees exceed official limit
In UAE merchants slip in extra charges for credit card deals (October 15), your personal finance columnist says that the maximum fee is 2 per cent.
However, I know that some budget airlines charge a 3 per cent service charge for using a credit or debit card.
Ben Neal, Abu Dhabi
Some hospitals charge a fee for credit-card use, and it is more than 2 per cent.
A Rahman, Dubai
Vacant flats, but rents stay high
There are many vacant flats and rooms in apartment buildings and villas in Abu Dhabi and its suburbs.
Although some of these have been empty for months, rents are not going down.
MA Mannan, Abu Dhabi
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Read more from Johann Chacko
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
More from our neighbourhood series:
RESULT
Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
NBA Finals results
Game 1: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114
Game 2: Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103
Game 3: Cavaliers 102, Warriors 110
Game 4: In Cleveland, Sunday (Monday morning UAE)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
