The time for action on global climate change is now
Tanzeed Alam, director of policy for the Emirates Wildlife Society, is right to assert in A brief history of the future (September 27) that climate change calls for urgent action, but not for the reason he states.
Of the approximately $100 billion (Dh367 billion) spent each year in the world on climate finance, 95 per cent of it is devoted to controlling global climate decades in the future.
Only 5 per cent goes to helping people affected by real climate change, such as in the drought-stricken Sahel region of East Africa.
Even if it were possible to control climate change, it makes no sense to focus more on what might happen in the distant future than on helping vulnerable people adapt to climate change today.
When I spoke to African delegates at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in 2009, they were angry that developed countries seemed to place more value on people yet to be born than those suffering today.
Whether one believes humanity is causing problematic climate change or not, whether one is politically to the left, right or centre, it should not matter.
Tom Harris, International Climate Science Coalition, Canada
UK queen does a world of good
I am writing in reference to Alan Philips's article, Britain's monarchy raises the question of royal oversight (September 28).
Both of the examples cited in the article demonstrate Queen Elizabeth's genuine interest in doing good.
The British are very lucky to have her. She is well informed, well meaning and very caring.
B Zukerman, Dubai
Texting drivers should be fined
There is a very simple and obvious solution to the problem highlighted in Year on from footballer's death and drivers still text (September 28).
Every driver who is involved in a collision on the road, however minor, is currently tested for drugs and alcohol.
I think the driver should also be required to present his mobile phone to the police at the scene of the accident.
If the police suspect that the phone was in use at the time of the collision, it should be impounded and tested.
If the mobile was in use at the time of the collision, there should be an automatic six-month driving ban and a Dh20,000 fine.
If the driver was found to be texting at the time of the collision, there should be an automatic 12-month ban and Dh 50,000 dirham fine.
No exceptions, no excuses. Problem solved.
Dan Willis, Abu Dhabi
Communication tops to-do list
I was interested to read List of daily tasks helps you get back in the old routine (September 23).
Except for correspondence that is hateful or nasty, the top priority on your to-do list should always be to acknowledge receipt of messages you receive.
You never know how important it may be to communicate with those who take the trouble to write to you.
Kenneth Landriau, US
Praise for officer who saved girls
I was shocked to read Two little girls rescued from locked car (September 28).
How fortunate that this police officer saw these children and helped them.
I am amazed that, every day, children are still being left in cars - especially in this part of the world, where it gets so hot.
I am glad to see the authorities took action in this situation when they blocked the parents from leaving the car park.
However, I am curious to know what the result was.
L Martin, Dubai
Action required on child abuse
Doctors tell of trouble in reporting child abuse (September 28) made me feel sick.
In a country where there are so many advances in many areas, this is disgusting.
If people think they can get away with it, it will only escalate. I hope this is an issue the authorities will address.
A Williams, Dubai
Help zoo animals before crocodiles
Regarding Crocodiles to be introduced to Dubai (September 26), I think the money being used for this could be better spent on relocating the animals now housed at Dubai Zoo.
The facilities those animals live in are atrocious. Before opening a new facility, why not improve the existing facilities?
D Mews, Dubai
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Honeymoonish
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Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
