Taking care of pets is our responsibility


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My pet is part of my family and brings me so much joy I could never abandon her (Dog shelter struggling to cope with summer influx of abandoned pets, June 7). You will have to consider the cost of transport and boarding of your pet if you want to relocate.

Then there are other expenses such as food, vet and grooming. If you can’t afford these then don’t get a pet.

Even when I have boarded my pet for 10 days, it was the only time she looked distressed and it was clear that she thought we had abandoned her. It really upset me.

Michelle Grissa, Dubai

People who abandon their pets are cowardly and a disgrace to the human race.

Serlena Wardman, South Africa

This is a reflection of the throwaway-replacement mentality of our newly affluent society. The more we have the less we value. It’s often not the cost of moving the pet but the fact that they are considered replaceable, as are partners.

Janet Hogan, Dubai

Register people with pets when they enter the country; track them until they leave and perhaps make them put down a deposit that is partially refundable to help them pay for their pets’ return home and help with the pet overpopulation problem.

Kimberly Whittenberg Dezarn, Abu Dhabi

Issues on teacher licence

How can this licensing system supersede formal qualifications from a university (Fewer than half of teachers pass UAE licensing test, June 6)?

Personally speaking, I believe having a formal qualification should be a prerequisite.

Amirah William, Dubai

What is the test based on? Is it a country-developed test?

I would suggest bringing up local young teachers and having them pass the test and teach their younger generations.

Luminita Carmen Aldea, Abu Dhabi

Why is window tinting illegal?

Having tinted windows could reduce heat transfer, making it more comfortable for the driver (Fasting means greater road safety challenges for truckers, June 4). It’s beyond me why the RTA does not allow a vehicle registered in the company’s name to tint windows.

I recently went to 3M and asked what is the rationale. They said that they didn’t know and that they were simply following instructions.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Qatar’s actions are intolerable

I totally support the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s stand against Qatar (GCC diplomatic crisis: UAE and Saudi cut ties with Qatar – latest updates, June 8).

If Qatar has to remain within the GCC, it ought to behave trustworthy.

It’s illogical to expect these countries to continue to tolerate Qatar’s subversive activities.

Ahmed Ameen, Dubai

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

RIDE%20ON
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

THE%C2%A0SPECS
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The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

FULL%20RESULTS
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France