Thai king's health causes growing concern



Concern over the health of Thailand's 81 year old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been hospitalised for almost a month, has sparked turmoil in the country's stock market. Mr Bhumibol, the world's longest reigning monarch, was hospitalised on September 19 for fever, fatigue and lack of appetite. The length of the king's hospital stay and the lack of detailed information from the royal palace have created widespread worry about his condition. Thailand's benchmark stock index rose 1.9 per cent at today's opening to 705.74, but then slipped to a 0.5 per cent gain as morning trading continued. The skittish rebound came after stocks had tumbled more than 7 per cent in the previous two days. The health of the revered monarch is an extremely sensitive topic in Thailand in large part because of concerns about his succession. The palace said late on Thursday that the king was able to eat more and that doctors would continue to give him "dietary supplements and physical therapy". The palace said on Wednesday that the king had a lung inflammation, a condition it first mentioned late last month. Lung inflammation can be a symptom of pneumonia, although the palace has not used that term. The statement said his "general condition is good" but that he would require some time to fully recover "as is the case for the elderly". King Bhumibol's son, the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, does not yet have the stature or moral authority of his father, who has been a unifying figure for the 63 years he has been head of state. Adding to nervousness about the future is the political unrest that erupted in 2006, when the prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by a military coup after being accused of corruption. * AP

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

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
About Krews

Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

Number of employees: 10

Sector: Technology/Social media 

Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support

 

Scoreline

Syria 1-1 Australia

Syria Al Somah 85'

Australia Kruse 40'

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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