Over the past many years of competitive global sports, the industry has produced more male criminals than their female counterparts.
Whether it is murder, adultery, match fixing or tax evasion, the crimes have mostly been the preserve of men.
From South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje’s involvement with Indian bookies to the philandering Tiger Woods, from Lance Armstrong’s steroid indulgence to Oscar Pistorius and OJ Simpsons murdering their lovers, and Lionel Messi’s tax case to Mike Tyson’s bouts of spousal abuse, the industry has been sullied by illustrious people whose on-field fame made them believe they were above the law.
Pistorius’s defence team’s plea for a leaner sentence or even community service was rightly denied this week, restoring faith in a judiciary that has treated famous people in the same way as ordinary mortals.
AR Modak, South Africa
Oman needs public transport
We had visited Muscat during the Eid holidays and felt that the culture of using public transport does not exist there (Oman plans transport overhaul for traffic woes, October 24.
The town centre is far from residential areas, making it nearly impossible for people to commute without cars. That creates a problem for thousands of people who don’t have cars. This is why an efficient transport system is the need of the hour and will be welcomed by the public.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Tenants should have some rights
In reference to the question-and-answer column Can tenant take artificial grass and swimming pool when leaving Dubai villa? (October 22), I would like to think that if the tenant has paid for the installation of things such as artificial grass or a portable swimming pool, he should be able to take them when leaving that place. The rule concerning this must be clear.
Emma B, Dubai
Effort needed to curb trafficking
The suggestion by Maj Mansoor Al Shamsi, head of the Dubai Police anti-human trafficking and crimes unit, that Gulf countries form a coalition to track, investigate and prosecute human traffickers is practical (Call for Gulf coalition to combat trafficking, October 22).
Human trafficking is a scourge that should be tackled together by all countries.
It’s sad that human trafficking is spreading, which indicates that more efforts are needed to take on this menace. There is no more time to waste. What is needed is action.
K Ragavan, India
Try to keep terrorists away
I refer to the news report Europe besieged by terrorists (October 22). I wonder why European countries are allowing people who have joined terrorist organisations to return. I think they should make a rule that if anyone joins groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIL, then that person will lose his or her citizenship. They must be kept out for the sake of safety of innocent people.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Don’t let them back in, no matter what. These people will do more harm than good to any nation.
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
Thug got what he deserved
Philip Spence, who attacked the Emirati sisters in London, deserves a life sentence(Life should mean life, October 23). He is a dangerous member of society and should never be released.
Shakankiri Marie Ange, Dubai
He has left one of the Emirati sisters in a prison of disability. She cannot have her normal life back, so why should he? He terrorised the whole family and used extreme violence.
Jennifer Wilkinson Bielitz, Dubai
GCC rail service will be great fun
Trains are the way to go. Make them clean and green.
Name withheld by request
Materialising the plan will be a great achievement. I wish best of luck to the governments of GCC countries.
Ahmer Khan, Dubai
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
