With reference to the report How the UAE is helping people in Gaza – in numbers (April 9): that's a great effort. Nothing can be better than a ceasefire and ending the killings, but it is still worthwhile to send aid on such a large scale. Good to read about the water desalination plants being set up and the bakeries to ease famine conditions. The hundred doctors and lab technicians and a floating hospital are all very necessary. Any help is good at this stage. People across the world are praying for the misery in Gaza to end.
Reshma Khan, Abu Dhabi
A chief minister in jail
With regard to Taniya Dutta's report Delhi leader Arvind Kejriwal to stay in jail after losing appeal over arrest (April 9): it's been a dramatic few weeks for the chief minister of Delhi and his Aam Aadmi Party that came to power with promises of no corruption, and development for the people of Delhi, and by providing free electricity. However, now the Delhi High Court has rejected Mr Kejriwal's plea and admitted that charges against him by the Enforcement Directorate have merit. Despite this verdict, he is going to appeal in the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land. We will have to wait and see whether or not he succeeds, and if he's granted bail before India's general election.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Non-stop flight on a leisure airline?
With regard to Hayley Skirka's report Travel Unpacked: All-business class airline takes flight and 101 things to do in Abu Dhabi (April 11): I found Hayley Skirka’s article about upstart airline Beond to be of interest. However, I found a line in it could be misconstrued: “Currently, Beond flies from Munich, Zurich and Riyadh to the Indian Ocean holiday haven.” As presently constituted, the airline’s small fleet of A319 and A321 aircraft do not have the range to fly to Male from Munich or Zurich, and it is not clear that they intend to fly Riyadh to Male non-stop, or rather route passengers through their Dubai hub. Passengers from Europe to Maldives should be aware that flights could involve re-fuelling stops and may not be “non-stop”. It is an important distinction in my opinion.
Mark Skoning, Dubai
A voice for the Palestinian people
With regards to the article UAE envoy to UN Lana Nusseibeh awarded Shield of Palestine (April 10): Ms Nussiebeh has been an outstanding voice for the great people of Palestine and a star ambassador for the UAE. Wishing her every success.
Shahameen Jehan, Abu Dhabi
RoboCop: Rogue City
Developer: Teyon
Publisher: Nacon
Console: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Rating: 3/5
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
Company Profile
Name: Direct Debit System
Started: Sept 2017
Based: UAE with a subsidiary in the UK
Industry: FinTech
Funding: Undisclosed
Investors: Elaine Jones
Number of employees: 8
Company profile
Company name: Leap
Started: March 2021
Founders: Ziad Toqan and Jamil Khammu
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Funds raised: Undisclosed
Current number of staff: Seven
SPECS
Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4-litre V8
Power: 625 bhp
Torque: 630Nm
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh974,011
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
Getting there and where to stay
Fly with Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to New York’s JFK. There's 11 flights a week and economy fares start at around Dh5,000.
Stay at The Mark Hotel on the city’s Upper East Side. Overnight stays start from $1395 per night.
Visit NYC Go, the official destination resource for New York City for all the latest events, activites and openings.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
Fixtures
Wednesday, April 3
Arsenal v Luton Town, 10.30pm (UAE)
Manchester City v Aston Villa, 11.15pm (UAE)
Thursday, April 4
Liverpool v Sheffield United, 10.30pm (UAE)
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
BIRD BOX BARCELONA
Directors: David and Alex Pastor
Stars: Georgina Campbell, Mario Casas, Diego Calva
Rating: 2/5
Diriyah project at a glance
- Diriyah’s 1.9km King Salman Boulevard, a Parisian Champs-Elysees-inspired avenue, is scheduled for completion in 2028
- The Royal Diriyah Opera House is expected to be completed in four years
- Diriyah’s first of 42 hotels, the Bab Samhan hotel, will open in the first quarter of 2024
- On completion in 2030, the Diriyah project is forecast to accommodate more than 100,000 people
- The $63.2 billion Diriyah project will contribute $7.2 billion to the kingdom’s GDP
- It will create more than 178,000 jobs and aims to attract more than 50 million visits a year
- About 2,000 people work for the Diriyah Company, with more than 86 per cent being Saudi citizens
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)