A reader complains that parts of the film Chicken with Plums, a scene from which is shown, used a number of cinematic tricks to portray American life in a negative way. Courtesy ADFF
A reader complains that parts of the film Chicken with Plums, a scene from which is shown, used a number of cinematic tricks to portray American life in a negative way. Courtesy ADFF
A reader complains that parts of the film Chicken with Plums, a scene from which is shown, used a number of cinematic tricks to portray American life in a negative way. Courtesy ADFF
A reader complains that parts of the film Chicken with Plums, a scene from which is shown, used a number of cinematic tricks to portray American life in a negative way. Courtesy ADFF

Riots won't solve any of the world's economic woes


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So now some anti-bank protests (or whatever they are) are starting to turn violent (Riot as 100,000 take to streets of central Rome, October 16).

I can understand that people in many countries are angry at bankers and politicians who let the crisis develop. But the solutions will not be found in the streets and for that matter will not be found at all by most people. The way forward for the global economy depends on careful identification of problems and determined reform. None of that is best done to the sound of breaking glass.

The problem is that the secular priesthood charged with solving all this consists of the very people who caused it. It's infuriating, but riots will not help.

Dino Piscione, Dubai

Film was biased against Americans

Your story Double screening takes Film festival spotlight (October 15) prompts me to make this comment:

I felt Chicken with Plums was a delightful and charming movie - until Nasser Ali's son finds his new home in America.

The director chose to exaggerate negative stereotypes about Americans. For this scene only, the lighting was changed from natural to fluorescents, and textures and fabrics went from rich to harsh.

And the son who once thought of strangers as friends, was curiously playful with the fish at the market, and stayed up late to pray for his father suddenly became a dimwit with no depth once he was part of the US. The scene was painfully anti-American. I left angry and disappointed.

Jane Plane, Abu Dhabi

Wellness check essential: survivor

Thank you for the story about me (Cancer survivor says she would not be here without family's love, October 15).

I want to re-emphasise the important role played by my husband, parents, sister, in-laws, kids, cousins, colleagues and friends along with the medical fraternity; all of them helped make me a successful survivor.

I urge everyone to do the wellness check, and extend unconditional support to those who need it.

One aspect to be corrected: It is my sister, rather than a friend, who pushed me to do the check.

Suchita Dsouza, Dubai

Good name for pilot's daughter

The royal wedding ceremony (Bhutan's dragon king weds, October 14) was truly magical.

But I can't help smiling about the fact that the new bride, daughter of an airline pilot, is called Jetsun.

MRB, Dubai

Ports help tie the world together

I really enjoyed A sea of opportunity thanks to one of the UAE's great success stories (October 16), about Jebel Ali port.

The story was lively and informative and the pictures gave a sense of the pulse of life of a great port.

To me cargo ports and airports have an almost mystical importance: they stitch the world together, making long-distance travel and trade possible.

Bruno Hat, Dubai

Many Americans can afford iPhone

There was a striking picture with your story World queues up for new iPhone 4 (October 16).

We hear so much about hard times in the US, but there were dozens of people lined up to buy this new phone in someplace called Clarendon, Virginia.

I can only imagine what the queues must have been like in big cities.

Perhaps America isn't quite as destitute as all the gloomy reports suggest.

Gerry Berners, UK

What makes this woman famous?

Your "news" story Kim packs them in, then packs (October 16) contains this statement from a fan of the American "celebrity" Kim Kardashian:

"It's remarkable how she built an empire out of nothing and made a name for herself. She really is an inspirational woman."

Inspirational? Really? What exactly did she do to become so famous?

Name withheld by request

Please, that's enough about Kim Kardashian.

In my opinion she is a fine example of the whole large class of pseudo-celebrities. These people become famous and are covered in detail by novelty-hungry media, even though they have not met the age-old prerequisite of having real talent or accomplishing anything.

These people are created out of whole cloth by a public-relations industry which manipulates the media and plays the public for suckers.

DL Alofs, Dubai

FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

Federer's 19 grand slam titles

Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal

French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling

Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic

US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray

Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
%3Cp%3EThe%20Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research%20is%20a%20partnership%20between%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%2C%20University%20College%20London%20and%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%20Children%E2%80%99s%20Charity%20and%20was%20made%20possible%20thanks%20to%20a%20generous%20%C2%A360%20million%20gift%20in%202014%20from%20Sheikha%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%2C%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20General%20Women's%20Union%2C%20President%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Council%20for%20Motherhood%20and%20Childhood%2C%20and%20Supreme%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20Family%20Development%20Foundation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.