Talking sense and a sinking feeling

Prosecutor gets to the point

The comments by Mohammad Ali Rustom, the head of family and juvenile prosecution in Dubai, have to be commended.

Rustom has urged the UAE government to outlaw the carrying of weapons such as knives. He described the practice as a "timebomb" and said he was particularly concerned about armed teenagers.

However, there will be many people in the UAE who will find it shocking that such a law is not in place already. After all, what possible reason could the average Joe have for walking around with a weapon in a country where the crime rate is so low?

So if it's not for defence then I guess it is for image - a symbol of power.

However, as Rustom suggests, such an action is a "timebomb" and at some point circumstances may well dictate that the weapon will be used - either by the person or against him or her.

The result will be another tragedy such as that befell Ali Mohammed Hassan. The 14-year-old was stabbed to death by a gang of youths outside his home in Al Rashidiya in 2010.

So, I fully agree with Rustom's view that there should be zero tolerance on carrying a deadly weapon. After all, it's only common sense.

A sinking feeling

The news that Australian billionaire Clive Palmer wants to build a new Titanic cruise liner left me scratching my head.

Exactly what will this replica be celebrating? One of history's worst disasters? The death of 1,500 innocent people? A hunger for excess over safety?

I suspect that the glamour attached to the events of the night of April 15, 1912, by blockbuster movies such as 'Titanic' have clouded his judgement.

What next, a Japanese tsunami theme park? Glow-in-the-dark Chernobyl snow globes?

Simon Pluckrose is Head of News at Al Sidra Media LLC, which publishes 7DAYS, 7daysindubai.com and 7daysinabudhabi.com