Jump in US Covid-19 cases is due to reckless behaviour

I write to you in reference to your live blog entry US sees biggest one-day increase in Covid-19 cases (June 27).

This news item elaborately covers the highest 24-hour increase of Covid-19 cases in America. The US has announced a record 45,242 new cases on Friday June 26, signalling an alarming infection rate in the nation. These figures would not have jumped this high had people followed basic hygiene measures and simple medical recommendations such as wearing masks in public and practising social distancing. Some Americans' desire for total independence and freedom of movement, even in the midst of a pandemic, has hindered the US's response to the coronavirus.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Should countries begin to reopen their economies so fast?

I write to you in reference to Nicky Harley's article UK drops quarantine for arrivals from low Covid-19 risk countries (June 27). Everyone seems in such a hurry to reopen these days, yet the number of cases worldwide is climbing.

Kavita Bhatia, Dubai

Although the number of coronavirus cases is rising, the dire state of the global economy warrants the easing of restrictions. Reopening the economy is crucial to help businesses survive. Many companies have already gone bankrupt and people have lost their jobs as a result from the economic downturn of the coronavirus. Even some governments are now having money troubles. The coronavirus has affected us all in different ways. It is understandable that some countries wish to reopen their economies to keep their finances afloat. In these cases, people need to act responsibly and protect one another from infection. Unfortunately this sense of responsibility does not always prevail, and some people have behaved recklessly.

Dean Al, Vancouver

The Nile Dam remains divisive, but the intention behind it are laudable

I write to you in reference to your article 'Millions at risk' if Ethiopia fills dam unilaterally, Sudan warns (June 25). The Ethiopian government and the people of Ethiopia have no intention of harming Egypt nor any downstream country. The country just wants to use its fair share of the Nile River to lift its own people out of poverty.

Selamawit Aberra Vigneau, Addis Ababa

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While you're here

Watch: Davos 2021 panel discusses the future of work for women

Alice Haine: Investing in gender parity 'makes good business sense'

Kareem Shaheen: How the pandemic could set Arab women back

Simon Rushton: Home schooling forces UK mothers to quit jobs

Kareem Shaheen on Canada

Canada should look past the US election outcome

There would be no Alphonso Davies without open borders

Hard-hit Canada is springing back to life – or to the already cliched 'new normal'

South Africa's T20 squad

Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

The specs

Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 715bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh1,289,376

On sale: now

All or Nothing

Amazon Prime

Four stars

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

UAE currency

Super Saturday race card

4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m