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 five pillars of Islam
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
The specs: 2018 Honda City
Price, base: From Dh57,000
Engine: 1.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 118hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
More coverage from the Future Forum
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
HWJN
Director: Yasir Alyasiri
Starring: Baraa Alem, Nour Alkhadra, Alanoud Saud
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45+2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
Company profile
Company: Splintr
Started: May 2019
Founders: Mohammad AlMheiri and Badr AlBadr
Based: Dubai and Riyadh
Sector: payments / FinTech
Size: 10 employees
Initial investment: undisclosed seven-figure sum / pre-seed
Stage: seed
Investors: angel investors
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
