I applaud Dubai's decision to open a design educational institute ('First of its kind' design educational institute to open in Dubai, October 25).
This is not just an example of thinking outside the box, but a great initiative in itself.
Dubai has a large number of foreign universities and institutions focusing on science and business studies.
What’s conspicuously missing is art, craft and design. This institute will help fill that void to some extent.
I hope the emirate will soon have a world-class art college that will not only provide a creative outlet for a large number of talented people from this country and beyond, but will highlight art from the Middle East.
Petrina Peyang, Abu Dhabi
A country full of great people
I sincerely thank Nisansala for not ignoring the situation (Kitten thrown out of taxi window in Dubai, October 25). The UAE has many wonderful people who step in when the innocent and downtrodden are put in unspeakable positions. A round of applause to those with generous hearts and selfless souls.
Daniella How, Abu Dhabi
Sadly nothing will change unless the authorities take action and enforce the law.
Dana Sanders, Dubai
Sadly, even when the perpetrator is known, as in the case of the boy from Ajman who killed a cat by throwing it against a wall, the punishment is way too lenient.
Individuals committing such crimes should be given exemplary punishments so as to send a strong warning to others.
Wiltrud Matthes, Dubai
No place for the poor to live
Don't blame those who share rooms (Crackdowns on room-sharing in Abu Dhabi not deterring labourers, October 26). My cleaner works for a company I would love to name and shame. He gets paid only Dh700 a month.
How can anyone live on that amount and save? The root cause of the living arrangements is because of poor salaries. Maybe the authorities should crack down on employee abuse and the Government should set a minimum wage. Then and only then can problems like these be successfully tackled.
Carla Botha, Abu Dhabi
Can you please report on places that someone can afford to legally live when their salary is Dh1,200 and the company provides no accommodation? Also, why are these people called labourers? They are expatriates.
Chris Reid, Dubai
Prohibitive house rents in Abu Dhabi make life difficult for many. The problem is compounded by the law that prohibits sharing accommodation.
Either rents have to reduce significantly or the authorities have to allow people to share accommodation.
MA Mannan, Abu Dhabi
America has a double standard
America’s vice president Joe Biden is filmed on BBC’s Newsnight programme condemning Russian president Vladimir Putin’s occupation of Ukraine. “We will never recognise Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea and neither will the world,” he states.
How is it then that the same United States not only accepts the illegal occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, the illegal occupation of the district of East Jerusalem, the illegal occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights and the five-year illegal blockade of 2 million civilians in Gaza?
If the US continues to accept the criminality of illegal settlement in the occupied territories, then why not accept the equally criminal occupation of Crimea? There is clearly one law for Benjamin Netanyahu and another for Mr Putin.
Which is interesting when one realises that there are about 1 million Russians living in Israel.
Anthony Bellchambers, UK