The glare of the tennis spotlight
With reference to the report Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open over media boycott controversy (May 31): how sad that she feels unable to focus solely on the game. I wonder why she can't have a spokesperson to handle the media appearances on her behalf.
Nicola Rage Hamilton, Abu Dhabi
She is not a natural public speaker. She should've been given the space and freedom to just play. Sad that a tennis player has had to withdraw because she feels denied permission to be herself – that is, a sportswoman.
Srinath Sambandan, Hyderabad, India
This is upsetting. She is there to play, not to be a speaker. An obsession with celebrity culture evidently does take a toll.
Ciprian Mancas, Dubai
Not all people are fluent speakers. Some stutter and stammer and their breathing can become irregular. These same people, however, can speak fluently when not observed by an audience. She is a super tennis player. I wonder, whether anyone really needs the post mortem after each game.
Wilna Horstmanshof, Abu Dhabi
Sharjah takes an impressive step
With regard to the article Sharjah Ruler raises minimum wage for Emiratis to Dh25,000 (May 31): A remarkable step.This is the UAE, where a better life for citizens is possible, and that is very impressive. The world could be a better place if all countries similarly strived to make life easier for their people.
Olatunji Olusegun, Ilorin, Nigeria
Vaccination in India's villages can't be solely through apps
With reference to the report India's death toll surpasses 300,000 even as Covid-19 dips in cities (May 24): India's Supreme Court has wisely asked the federal government how villagers will register for the vaccination given that applying for it requires an app on a smartphone. A vast number of people in India's villages do not own smartphones or computers.
For vaccines to reach them, camps will have to be set up. The electoral lists should be used to monitor and maintain a record of the completed vaccinations. Information from these rolls can later be transferred to the app, if required. Innoculation drives in the villages are important. The need to register on an app cannot be the hurdle. We must get our priorities straight.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
The sight of destroyed classrooms
With reference to the video on your Facebook page about the Palestinian pupil Mohammed Al Najjar seeing his destroyed school (June 1): God bless this brave boy. I feel for him and his classmates, to have to see their school in this shape. I wish them all the best and would like to convey to young Mohammed that he does have a chance at a bright future. My message to him is: continue studying hard and grow into an adult who supports universal peace.
Abraham Estacio, Quezon City, Philippines
more from Janine di Giovanni
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
More on Quran memorisation:
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Crime%20Wave
%3Cp%3EHeavyweight%20boxer%20Fury%20revealed%20on%20Sunday%20his%20cousin%20had%20been%20%E2%80%9Cstabbed%20in%20the%20neck%E2%80%9D%20and%20called%20on%20the%20courts%20to%20address%20the%20wave%20of%20more%20sentencing%20of%20offenders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERico%20Burton%2C%2031%2C%20was%20found%20with%20stab%20wounds%20at%20around%203am%20on%20Sunday%20in%20Goose%20Green%2C%20Altrincham%20and%20subsequently%20died%20of%20his%20injuries.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%E2%80%9CMy%20cousin%20was%20murdered%20last%20night%2C%20stabbed%20in%20the%20neck%20this%20is%20becoming%20ridiculous%20%E2%80%A6%20idiots%20carry%20knives.%20This%20needs%20to%20stop%2C%E2%80%9D%0D%20Fury%20said.%20%E2%80%9CAsap%2C%20UK%20government%20needs%20to%20bring%20higher%20sentencing%20for%20knife%20crime%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20pandemic%20%26amp%3B%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20how%20bad%20it%20is%20until%20%5Bit%E2%80%99s%5D%201%20of%20your%20own!%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
