Your editorial, Is there a place for 'grey' buses? (July 24), addresses the problem of illegal taxis and minibuses catering for low-income passengers.
Obviously, the drivers of these vehicles are filling a massive void. I have lived in countries where this type of service exists and it is either already legitimate or becoming so.
The existing choice here seems to be between a few buses that run on select routes and can take up to two hours to complete their journey, or taxis that are too expensive for many workers. This breeds the environment for the illegal taxis to operate.
Make them legal and oversee them, so passengers and drivers can be protected. This will not diminish the number of people taking taxis. The people who already take taxis will continue to do so, and those who can’t will continue to use these other services.
Claudia Gabriel, Dubai
I think that people on low incomes should be able to share taxis.
Tarique Kamal, Abu Dhabi
Taxi fares should be lower. People only use the illegal services because they charge less.
Name withheld by request
The problem with allowing these vehicles is that you wouldn’t be insured if anything happened.
Loretta Ward, Dubai
Muslim ban is not the answer
I refer to Faisal Al Yafai's Facebook Live broadcast about his column, Syria is collapsing – and could take Turkey and Europe with it (July 19).
I am in Australia, and people are especially scared after the attacks on Nice and other western cities.
Now there is wide support among the Australian public for a ban on Muslim immigration. This is clearly not the solution, yet the idea has been gaining ground.
Sonja Minic, Australia
Supercar drivers need extra tests
I refer to Call for restrictions on young drivers (July 23).
As this country has one of the highest per-capita numbers of supercars, why is there not a special licence as there is elsewhere? This would require a separate test for those driving these powerful cars.
I Douglas, Dubai
Debt woes can be addressed
I am writing about The Debt Panel: Dubai IT professional earning Dh10,600 has built up almost Dh700,000 in debt with 14 financial institutions (July 18).
The situation of this person calls for proper financial advice. As mentioned by one of the panelists, he needs to contact the banks and explain the situation. The next step is to see which bank is charging him the lowest interest rate and try to consolidate the debt with that bank. Even a small difference of 100 basis points per month would enable him to save money on repayments.
For any remaining debt that is not consolidated, he should check the amortisation plan of the loan. Most bank loans have a deferment option that can be availed twice a year. He should seek deferments and try to organise payments according to the schedule given.
He can’t pay the entire debt in one go, but he can rid of it over several years.
Fahd Riz, Dubai
Portable music device missed
On The National's Facebook page, you asked what old technology we feel nostalgic about (The VCR tunes out, July 23).
I nominate the Walkman. Mathew Litty, Dubai
Critic is wrong about album
I don't agree with your reviewer, Adam Workman's, take on The Avalanches' album Wildflower (July 19).
This is a beautifully crafted piece of 21st century art. You can big up your summer by getting hold of a copy as soon as possible.
I just wish it was twice as long and was part 1 of 20. They are great artists and should be respected as such.
Listen to Saturday Night Inside Out. You will dance.
Drew I, Dubai
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
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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
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The biog
Hobby: "It is not really a hobby but I am very curious person. I love reading and spend hours on research."
Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell
Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
