Iran’s irresponsible actions destabilise Middle East
At the time when the Middle East is passing through a critical stage of its history, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani Army chief are trying hard to solve diplomatic stalemates in the region (‘Sharif conveys Saudi terms to Tehran’, Gulf News, January 20). For this purpose, they visited both Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The reality is that Iran’s irresponsible behaviour is making things go from bad to worse in the Middle East. Iran blindly helps Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Iran’s Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian conflict is the main cause of uncertainty in the region.
Bahrain is also paying a high price for Iran involvement in its internal affairs. Iran’s support to Al Houthi fighters are also making things go from bad to worse in Yemen. Al Houthis are targeting civilians to aggravate the conflict and even hospitals and mosques are not safe. Doctors without borders medical facilities have been targeted twice in the last month and several innocent people have lost their lives. Due to Iran’s irresponsible behaviour, extremist elements are gaining more power and support, which is very unfortunate.
From Mr Khawaja Omar Farooq
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
We should be ashamed!
Nobody seems to care enough! The world doesn’t do anything for the Syrians killed by Daesh (‘Daesh kills at least 135 in eastern Syria’, Gulf News, January 18)! We just watch and say ‘sorry’! We should be ashamed. This is not human, it shows how we have forgotten to be united and that’s why we became such an easy target. What happens there can happen everywhere.
From Ms Brindușa Negrea
UAE
Facebook comment
We deserve better
I have been hearing about an increase in the pay for security guards, but it has now been four years and we haven’t seen anything (‘Revealed: Sectors to get highest wage hike in UAE’, Gulf News, January 18). Instead, the companies are just letting us go.
I have left it all for God to decide. We are doing an honourable job and we deserve a pay rise given the standard of living these days. Yet, we are not given a chance to cook for ourselves, which would save us a lot of money.
From Mr Alexander S. Nkugwa
UAE
Facebook comment
Reducing road accidents
The decision to reduce speed limits on the Dubai-Hatta Road is a welcome move (‘Maximum speed limit lowered on key road’, Gulf News, January 16). As far as road safety is concerned, the decision to bring down the maximum speed is to consider a preventive initiative to reduce mishaps. It is obvious that public safety has taken a step forward and this is a gesture for the users to respect the new proposal.
As the traffic on this route is increasing by the day, the move to control its maximum speed will help people be more aware of the seriousness of road accidents. Let’s hope that organisations and individuals take it positively and adhere to the new guidelines.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Muscat, Oman
Less doctor visits, a good thing
I think it’s a great idea for those with cold or flu symptoms to be able to get prescriptions or sick notes without having to wait for hours to meet with a doctor (‘Health care app set for a leap into artificial intelligence’, Gulf News, January 16). It also would prevent the spread of disease in the waiting rooms. But, anything beyond those, I think meeting the doctor in person is essential.
From Ms Alecia Martin
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Charlie Hebdo is satire only
Jordan’s Queen Rania is a nice woman and I really love her. Charlie Hebdo is a satirical newspaper (‘Rania answers those vilifying refugees’, Gulf News, January 17). I don’t think too much about what they draw on their pages, but I smile when I read what she has written. I live in Dubai and I love everyone here and I really respect Emiratis. I love this Muslim country and I love the way they are with me. But, France is a different way of life and thinking. I hope for peace for all of you and a better world.
From Mr Christophe Beauclair
UAE
Facebook comment
Crossed the line
Charlie Hebdo has never been known by the quality of its paper, but more by its provocative style. It’s one way to make yourself known when you have nothing else to brag about. Before the attacks on Charlie Hebdo, this paper was dying. It is despicable to dishonour the memory of a little boy who died just because he wanted a better life. This has got nothing to do with satire. It’s just low - very low.
From Ms Linda Cretu
Brussels, Belgium
Facebook comment
Help them for the future
She is only saying that if you provide a good education and better circumstances, these refugees will better contribute to the community. We will see doctors and engineers. But, if they grow up under miserable circumstances, everyone should expect the ugly side.
From Mr Adam Melad
UAE
Facebook comment
Disrespectful
Using the image of a dead baby, for me, as a mother is abhorrent. I cried when I saw that small helpless figure, it broke my heart. Freedom of speech shouldn’t cross over into disrespecting a tragic loss of life and the suffering that these refugees have endured.
From Ms Faye Ratcliffe
UAE
Facebook comment
Traffic delays threaten lives
Today, in the global scenario, traffic has become a big question mark, and this issue should be answered by the international community. The traffic increase is mainly due to migrating populations and everyone wanting to travel by car. Because of too much traffic, no one has the patience to get to their destination, so we see speeding, reckless driving and accidents. So many commuters are travelling with one person per vehicle and it’s taking up more space on the roads, creating a bigger traffic menace.
To avoid this, people should join their friends and begin carpooling systems to reduce traffic. Offices and schools should be flexible in their timings, because this would also contribute to traffic reduction. Better road infrastructure would also increase the traffic flow. If traffic is maintained with these precautions and rational drivers, we would decrease the likelihood of accidents and casualties.
Companies should provide transportation for carrying groups of employees to the same areas. Ultimately, people need to cooperate in all possible ways to reduce traffic and make travel more comfortable. In my home country, only a few states have good infrastructure. The Indian government should develop this important issue. My home city is not developed with good roads, even though it is a world famous IT destination. Traffic delays your work, patience and, above all, it threatens your life.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Let’s help India’s farmers
It is a positive move to allow genetically modified (GM) mustard to be commercially grown in India for the benefit of the people of India (‘PM to decide future of GM mustard’, Gulf News, January 15). At present, India consumes edible oil derived from GM rapeseed grown in Canada. It is said that the transgenic mustard hybrid will provide 30 per cent higher yield than other varieties.
If we can have GM mustard, which protects the economic safety of farmers with the least impact on other agricultural crops, the project should get a go-ahead from the government. Let the government give more financial aid to agricultural programs in universities to do research and development for the benefit of the common man.
The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has put a monopoly on commercial cropping of Monsanto. Now in India we are on the path of precision farming and green house technology, but it did not revolutionise our agriculture sector. The government will have to invest more in research with the involvement of scientists, biotechnologists and, more importantly, the farmers.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
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