India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased lockdown measures. AFP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased lockdown measures. AFP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased lockdown measures. AFP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased lockdown measures. AFP

I am glad India is finally easing its lockdown


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  • Arabic

I write to you in reference to your article India to ease world's biggest lockdown as coronavirus cases rise (May 30). This piece about the Indian government's proposal for easing the lockdown despite the recent increase in coronavirus cases in the country was interesting but unsurprising. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also decided to meet low-income workers and others who have been impacted by the economic downturn from the coronavirus, a good public relations move. On the one hand people should thank the Indian government for easing restrictions and allowing them to make a living, but on the other hand people should not take this for granted and must continue to follow social distancing rules.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Dubai's most iconic restaurant is making it through the pandemic

I write to you in reference to Janice Rodrigues's article A Satwa institution: Ravi owner on keeping restaurant afloat amid pandemic (May 31). Ravi has amazing food, hopefully the restaurant will only grow stronger and maybe, one day, open a branch here in Al Ain City.

Shaheen Naryabi, Al Ain

This is my favorite restaurant in Dubai! I wish the very he best for them.

Lore Loredana, Dubai

Physical distancing is not yet part of our culture

I write to you in reference to Gillian Duncan's piece Coronavirus restrictions: what Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents can and can't do (May 26).  Every time I go to the supermarket, if I try to implement social distancing while waiting in the queue, someone will just cut in front of me.

Dulce Veludo Peinado, Dubai

During lockdown, she took the time to pamper her rescue cats

I write to you in reference to Evelyn Lau's article Building a 'catio': Why I spent Dh3,000 on an outside space for my four rescue cats (May 30). Well done, this is a great way to treat your pets.

Malinda Smalberger, Dubai

Good job Evelyn.

Feda Jarad, Abu Dhabi

Will the pandemic be the end of self-service buffets?

I write to you in reference to Janic Rodrigues' article Goodbye, buffets: Could self-service meals become a thing of the past in the UAE? (May 29). How sad, this was my number one thing to do once restrictions are lifted here.

Abdul Hannan Sadiq, Abu Dhabi

UAE brunches were legendary, but unfortunately quite wasteful. Hopefully, restaurant owners will find a better way to host brunches after this all winds down.

Cheryl Murray, Abu Dhabi

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

SUZUME
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Makoto%20Shinkai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Nanoka%20Hara%2C%20Hokuto%20Matsumura%2C%20Eri%20Fukatsu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Itcan profile

Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani

Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India

Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce

Size: 70 employees 

Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch

Funding: Self-funded to date

 

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.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

OPENING FIXTURES

Saturday September 12

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Fulham v Arsenal

Liverpool v Leeds United

Tottenham v Everton

West Brom v Leicester

West Ham  v Newcastle

Monday  September 14

Brighton v Chelsea

Sheffield United v Wolves

To be rescheduled

Burnley v Manchester United

Manchester City v Aston Villa

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets