New reading law calls for celebration

Readers hail the new reading law. Other topics: shopping malls, drones, camera

I am writing in reference to your news report UAE's new reading law hailed for encouraging the nation to pick up a book (November 1). I am a teacher who spends most of her time reading.

We need to ensure in all workplaces people have the facilities to spend some quality time reading and researching hard copies and not on computers. This is a brilliant initiative.

Tanya Milbourne, Abu Dhabi

Please make textbooks affordable. I spent a small fortune on university textbooks in the UK and here they are even more costly.

Daniella How, Dubai

I really admire the initiative on reading. It’s necessary to get people to read, for their personal benefit as well as for the benefit of society. But the law that requires employers not to intervene if an employee wants to read during working hours might sometimes cause trouble. What if an employee prefers to finish a book rather than the work they are supposed to do?

Also, I do not think you can inculcate a reading habit through legislation. Although this one is different in terms of meaning of the word “law”.

I hope the culture of reading that we are trying to create encourages entrepreneurs to set up bookshops as well as offer books at attractive prices. In many countries there are second-hand bookshops where you can often stumble upon something that’s probably not available in regular shops. A similar thing can also happen here.

Imagine a big space dedicated to second-hand book stalls instead of second-hand cars. Such initiatives will surely generate interest in reading among the public.

Another benefit of having such shops is that people can sell the books they have finished reading and buy new ones with that money, which is a win-win for both consumer and trader.

Petrina Peyang, Abu Dhabi

Not just book enthusiasts, but those who want to learn are celebrating this. It is just an awesome public policy initiative.

Kathryn Chang Barker, Oman

Do we need more malls?

I refer to the news report Lulu Group to build malls in Dubai, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain (November 1). I am really tired of shopping malls and I am sure most people here feel the same.

Is there really any appetite left for malls? Is there really any reason to allocate more space to these businesses? I wonder why these investors do not think of investing in more creative and innovative ways.

There are many new areas where businesses can flourish. At the same time, those businesses can contribute more meaningfully to society.

Moreover, these malls offer the same stuff available in every other mall. I am sure these malls are not going to be unique in any way.

Name withheld by request

Drones drain airlines’ money

The drone nuisance has caused millions of dirhams of losses to airlines and unnecessary delays to passengers (Dubai and Sharjah airports closed due to drone, October 30).

I call on the Government to consider a complete ban on all drones in this country.

Sami Kamal, Dubai

Don’t talk about megapixels

With regard to your review of Sony's Xperia XZ smartphone (Review: Sony's Xperia XZ smartphone is a winner in the selfie stakes, November 1), I would like to point out that megapixels are not the best determinant for the quality of a camera; aperture and sensor size are more important. No one needs 23 megapixels, and they do nothing to help camera users in low light conditions.

Chris Reid, Dubai

As for Samsung mobiles, the company should review all its models (Thousands of UAE consumers get compensation for exploding Galaxy Note 7s, October 31).

They literally constantly overheat and the battery goes down so fast.

Jamil Martin, Dubai