With regard to the article on the Brics summit, The Brics and mortar of the new world order (July 9), creating a new world order doesn't necessarily mean that you have to start with the big fights such as the situation in Greece. Countries like South Africa and Brazil don't want open confrontation with the West. Yet they have agreed to start the New Development Bank, which says something about their long-term intentions.
The argument that Brics lacks the ability or even the will to create a new world order, at least in terms of economics, does reflect what Brics is attempting at the present moment.
But if the new Brics bank helps countries like Egypt, for example, would that qualify as an example of defying the western-dominated financial order?
If the bank goes on to help developing countries across the global south and thus strengthens the economic bonds of the southern hemisphere, wouldn't that be a step towards changing the world economic order?
Ahmed Said, Egypt
Decades of devotion at work
After reading your uplifting piece, Portait of a Nation: After 35 years, it's time to retire for Abu Dhabi school worker (July 10), I just wish that we had more role models like Moideen Kunhahamed. Our youngsters can learn the tenacity needed for a great career from such people. Actually, we all can learn lessons from this humble man and his decades of hard work.
Matthew Litty, Dubai
Looking for a great landlord
With regard to your article, Abu Dhabi and Dubai renters' peace of mind a matter of landlords and locations (July 10), it must be noted that our landlords, at least in Abu Dhabi, have always been kind to us.
We haven’t had a rent increase of more than three per cent a year. The result of such behaviour is that they have always had the best people living in their buildings.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
When it comes to our rental situation, we haven't had peace of mind in Abu Dhabi because we have had really difficult landlords who seem to think that we have the ability to print money.
Carol Goodey, Dubai
Orphans get a new family
Regarding your report, Family Village officially opens doors to welcome 19 orphans (July 10), the entire project sounds amazing and the most wonderful thing is how happy the orphans look.
I hope they do well in this family village because these children deserve a place like this. Well done to everyone involved!
Angela Pop, Dubai
An island jewel in the UAE
Concerning your piece, Lulu Island: an uncultured pearl in a sea of development (July 10), I have had the opposite experience with the island.
For me, Lulu Island has made the water on the beaches of Abu Dhabi unbearable because it created a barrier that keeps fresher waters from the Gulf away from the shoreline. The water between Lulu’s shoreline and the Abu Dhabi coast gets hot easily and makes swimming not very enjoyable.
Omar Jaramillo, Berlin
I first went to Lulu Island seven years ago by boat. The island was so promising at that time. I thought that it would be the centre of leisure and relaxation for many years to come. But ever since, nothing much has changed and now it is frequently closed to the public. It could be a such a great treasure.
Eric Sapurna, Abu Dhabi
I've been living here for three and a half years and Lulu Island is right across from the Corniche, where I live. It is always closed to the public but I often see cars on the island. Who gets to go to the island on a regular basis?
Rejane Serao, Abu Dhabi
Recycling starts with education
With regard to your article, UAE recycling: Residents and government must share responsibility (July 8), the thousands of used bottles would be a great start to implementing the new scheme. Sadly, of course, these bottles are getting smaller and smaller.
More waste for less water. Positive incentives and education are much better than fines. Without educating the household staff in particular, this new scheme will be fruitless.
Christine Gstottl, Dubai
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
The fake news generation
288,000 – the number of posts reported as hate speech that were deleted by Facebook globally each month in May and June this year
11% – the number of Americans who said they trusted the news they read on Snapchat as of June 2017, according to Statista. Over a quarter stated that they ‘rarely trusted’ the news they read on social media in general
31% - the number of young people in the US aged between 10 and 18 who said they had shared a news story online in the last six months that they later found out was wrong or inaccurate
63% - percentage of Arab nationals who said they get their news from social media every single day.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
