The best way to spend New Year's Eve

With regards to your report, In Dubai, a New Year's Eve to remember comes at a price (December 27), it doesn't matter where you are on New Year's Eve. What matters is the people that are around you when the clock strikes midnight.

If you have money to spend, then go for it and spend to your heart's delight. Most big cities around the world are the same, you would have to spend a lot of money to have a good seat to see the fireworks.

Angela Pop, Dubai

I'd rather witness the fireworks from some distant place and save my hard earned money for a different occasion. The prices for New Year's Eve are over the top and hyped.

Name withheld by request

I will be in Dubai this year for New Year's Eve and have decided to find a place farther back from Downtown but still be able to see the Burj. The only problem is finding the best spot.

Samantha Jolly, Dubai

My advice is to watch the fireworks online with all the different angles, like a bird’s eye view, that give me goose bumps. When you watch it on a big screen, it is like you are there. Hassle free for little money.

Genesis Lachica, Abu Dhabi

Animals need our attention

Concerning your recent story, Dumped puppy given gift of love as charities brace for abandoned pets (December 27), it is extremely sad to hear of an increased number of pets being abandoned and left for dead by their owners in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The numbers are particularly high during and around Christmas as people travel and even give these animals as gifts to their loved ones. Adopted animals can be blessings for a family. Taking animals in also helps to reduce the growing burden on animal welfare groups throughout the country.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

This year has been very bad for dumped pets. At Helping Hands for Small Paws Dubai, we are running out of homes for them. We offer advice for how people can make the most of their pets. There are many pets up for adoption.

Please note that we do not have a shelter. We are just a group of people trying to help small creatures.

Dinky Dani Lapin, Dubai

How to stop cheating

Regarding Justin Thomas's recent column, Cheats seldom prosper ... but they do graduate (December 28), the best way to crack down on cheating is for parents to take charge of their children from day one and to inculcate in them a very strong sense of right and wrong, solid ethics and a powerful moral compass.

Dave Pryce, Abu Dhabi

The worst part about this story is that so many who cheat are able to pass their exams and some with flying colours. Exams cheats should be penalised to the fullest extent possible.

Muna Breik, Dubai

Why did Modi go to Pakistan?

After reading your editorial, Optimism for a new start on India-Pakistan (December 27), I feel a number of points must be resolved.

Mr Modi is a product of India. As a politician, he wants to expand business and focus on the major challenges facing the country, like energy.

We can't overlook the role that religion plays in Mr Modi's motivations in office. He is a Hindu and feels it necessary to spread Hindu influence in a positive way around the world.

After all, Hinduism is part of the cultural fabric of India and this can't be overlooked.

Ayesha Mel, India

This is a dramatic development India's prime minister visiting his counterpart in Pakistan.

Personal relationships will certainly yield better ties and bilateral relationships between these two important countries in one of the planet's pivotal regions.

Will Mr Modi's visit have any effect on peace between the two countries? We will have to wait until next year. But at least we are ending 2015 on a positive note. I hope that 2016 will bring more peace and stability to the region.

K Ragavan, India

Mr Modi was in Pakistan for one reason: business. The prime minister of Pakistan is India's key to Afghanistan and its markets.

Security is second only to business interests.

Faisal Yaqoob, Pakistan

The best way to spend New Year's Eve

Readers discuss New Year's Eve in Dubai. Other topics: India-Pakistan, dumped pets and cheating