Nuclear capabilities hold a dangerous future
The increasing proliferation of nuclear warheads is a real concern, even though the international community has been quiet in recent times (‘UN to begin work on new North Korea sanctions’, Gulf News, September 11). North Korea has continued to engage in testing its nuclear capabilities.
The reality is that there is no consistency in the process of handling nuclear weapons across the board, thus leading to more countries acquiring the technology, which is of a sensitive nature. The North Koreans have been actively involved in such activities recently, which is causing them to become a great threat.
While world powers have condemned the recent tests of North Korea, these countries have yet to embrace enough defence capabilities for their own safety — it needs much more attention.
At the same time, economic sanctions can halt such actions to some extent. The priority should be in tackling the primary reason why North Korea has been investing so much in its nuclear capabilities. As far as nuclear issues are concerned, it looks like the United Nations continues to fail in bringing enough uniformity, thus leading to many countries finding their own way in building their nuclear arsenal and getting ready to meet any challenges they face.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
A privilege to help
Corporations should be honoured to be a positive part in the lives of children with special needs (‘Corporates, individuals urged to sponsor children with special needs’, Gulf News, September 11). If I was well off, I would be honoured to help them and others. It’s a true privilege – not a burden.
From Ms Rosella Larcom
UAE
Facebook comment
Difficult task
I don’t understand how this could have happened (‘Man dies after falling down garbage chute from 15th floor’, Gulf News, September 11). The door in the garbage chute is so small. He technically needed to bend his head down to lose balance, if this were the case. I hope the mystery will be solved.
From Mr Lioba-Hassan Robiso-Lotfi
UAE
Facebook comment
How is it possible?
Mr Lioba-Hassan Robiso-Lotfi, I am perplexed, too. How can someone fit in a garbage chute? The door is usually small and the chute’s pathway is round. I am just asking myself how this could have happened, because the victim must have gotten stuck.
From Mr Freddy Smith
Dubai
Facebook comment
Concerned parent
Now, I’m worried about letting my son put out the trash alone in the garbage room. Let’s all be more careful.
From Ms Natalie Mae Winner
UAE
Facebook comment
A fluke?
The garbage bag the man was holding was heavy, judging by the CCTV footage. Perhaps, he was trying to throw it down the chute just as something heavier was thrown by someone from the higher floor. As a result, his bag pulled him down.
From Mr Ubaid Tariq
UAE
Facebook comment
Not possible
It’s not possible, Mr Ubaid Tariq. Garbage chutes these days open up outside as a tray. You put the garbage on the tray and push the door close. There is no way he would need to stick his hand into the actual chute.
From Mr Nabeel Sarwar
Dubai
Facebook comment
Cameras in garbage room
There should have been a camera inside the garbage room. Our building has one to check if residents just keep the garbage in the room or throw it in the chute. We could have known the cause if the camera was in there, but now, it will remain a mystery! The poor man…
From Ms Adeela Mushtaq
UAE
Facebook comment
Managers must make the difference
Relationships in the workplace have a big impact on a business’ objectives and growth. It’s not only about the knowledge, experience and skills you have, but also about the personal trust and respect between you and your team members.
If you are a manager, when employees around you are not feeling happy in the workplace, you probably feel you are right and they are all wrong. In this case, you wouldn’t realise your own mistake or development needs. In this scenario, you would rarely make an attempt to change yourself and instead, continue to wait for others to change or understand you. For example, when some employees feel they have been neglected, in terms of pay level or promotion opportunities, because of their gender, age or ethnic group, they lose their motivation and struggle to do their tasks. Managers need to be flexible and think about their feeling, not just ignore the negativity and move forward.
If people around you are not able to get happiness from the way you manage, then you need to look at your own life in a detached way to see what you are doing wrong, and where you could change. Even the slightest change brought by a manager, with sincerity, would have a great effect on the people around.
From Mr Ali Al Aradi
UAE
If Trump can, anybody can!
I cannot believe anyone with the slightest sense of sanity would trust Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States. I just can’t believe it. It is like watching a comedian trying to make the audience laugh. I cannot believe the media is taking him seriously.
The man does not seem real! It is as if he is a fictional character. Perhaps what we are witnessing isn’t real election madness. We are being duped or hypnotised! We are being deceived into believing something that isn’t real. Whenever he is asked something, he starts wandering into space and says anything that comes to his mind. He talks and talks until the reporter is confused and gives up.
He drives me crazy when he talks!
In one way, Trump has encouraged me not to give up in life. If a man like him has managed to make billions, then anyone else can try. He is the embodiment of President Barack Obama’s famous phrase: ‘Yes, we can’. Yes we can, no matter what. We can achieve anything.
Perhaps Trump has been sent to instil hope into the hopeless. No need to look down upon yourself. Yes, we can accomplish anything. If Trump can achieve so much, everyone else can.
From Mr Abu Bakr N. Kasim
Toronto, Canada
Oil prices are moderate
The oil prices underwent some drastic changes over the last two years (‘Oil prices drop after surge higher’, Gulf News, September 9). A price drop of more than half! Ironically, the market is flooded with more oil than is the actual demand. Technically, we call this phenomenon a ‘glut’. On account of this price factor alone, some major economies have collapsed, reduced their capital expenditure, widened the current account deficit and made the jobs of thousands redundant. Some consumer countries have gained a lot, accumulated their foreign exchange reserves, narrowed current account deficits and increased capital expenditure.
We should note some interesting things. No country abandoned oil production on account of the price drops. On the contrary, they maximised production. That means there is still a margin, even though there are different break-even points for different countries, and they are still gaining margins at low prices.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) meeting cannot make a long lasting breakthrough in the price factor without taking non-Opec members into confidence. Instead of a production freeze, there should be a uniform cut in output among all producers, and this would definitely raise the price even further.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Common people suffer
According to a news report, a young police officer from Kashmir tied the knot with a Pakistani girl. The two families are related to each other, but were separated during the partition in 1947.
It is a matter to note that the people living along the line of control (LOC) have been the worst sufferers of the conflict and acrimony between India and Pakistan. Opening of all traditional routes between these two neighbouring countries would increase people-to-people contact, leading to better understanding between each other.
In 1947, most families were divided and were left split on either side. As such, people of the Subcontinent are emotionally attached to each other because of historic relations, the same language, culture and neighbours. The citizens of both the countries have a keen desire to see their dear and near without the difficulties of visa and border impediments. The imperial line drawn in blood between India and Pakistan was the outcome of divide-and-rule policies of the British. Regretfully, today’s leaders on both sides of the border are still refining this evil practice.
I request the governments of both countries to please realise the tremendous difficulties being faced by the people of India and Pakistan due to border restrictions and visa impediments.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
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