India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it on Forbes' list of most powerful women in the world. REUTERS
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it on Forbes' list of most powerful women in the world. REUTERS
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it on Forbes' list of most powerful women in the world. REUTERS
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it on Forbes' list of most powerful women in the world. REUTERS

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Ambitious Arab and Asian women are truly the leaders of tomorrow

Our readers have their say on Arab and Asian women leaders, Greta Thunberg, Houthi trials of journalists, and car insurance

Letter to the Editor

December 15, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

I write to you in reference to Nivriti Butalia's opinion piece For women to be safe, people's mindsets need to change around the world (December 8).

In this new age of uncertainty, it is heartening to see that women from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India are making it on the list of Forbes’ most powerful women in the world.

It is high time that women from Asia and the Arab world are recognised in the worlds of business and beyond.

Their achievements should be perceived as empowering not only their home countries but also women across the world.

Among the nominees is India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was ranked well ahead of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, British Queen Elizabeth II and US President Donald Trump’s daughter and Advisor Ivanka Trump.  This sends an indirect message to the budding younger generation that nothing is impossible if they set their mind to it.

Women should not be afraid to take their fate into their own hands and. They have the power to make this world a better place.

Ramachandran Nair, Muscat

Greta Thunberg fully deserves to be honoured by ‘Time’ magazine

I write to you in reference to the article Greta Thunberg named 'Time' Person of the Year (December 11).

She richly deserves the honour. She has mobilised global opinion and focus on a key issue of our time, climatic changes and preserving the planet. At the young age of 16, she has become the voice of the world. Greta and her family should be proud.

The world needs more young leaders like her.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Houthi rebels are arbitrarily arresting journalists in Yemen

I write to you in reference to Ali Mahmood's article Houthi court begins trial for Yemeni journalists held on trumped up charges, lawyer says (December 11).

Houthi-ruled Yemen has become a banana republic with kangaroo courts. To arrest journalists who are simply doing their job is a blatant attempt to keep people from finding out the truth. But the truth always wins. Freedom of speech encourages  the media to be fair and honest in their reporting.

Nazim Hasan Khan, India

If the car is insured, anyone with a valid driver’s licence can drive it

I write to you in reference to Keren Bobker's article Can my sister drive my car when she visits Dubai? (December 14): If the car is insured, anyone with a valid driver's licence can drive it.

Miltiadis Kyvernitis, UAE

What is an ETF?

An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.

There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.

The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash. 

Match info

Deccan Gladiators 87-8

Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16

Maratha Arabians 89-2

Chadwick Walton 51 not out

Arabians won the final by eight wickets

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

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