Month: July 2008
Masters courses in Archeology and Heritage Management
Masters courses in Archeology and Heritage Management
Delhi Institute of Heritage Research & Management, New Delhi has invited applications for admission to the Masters Degree Programmes in (i) Archeology and Heritage Management and (ii) Conservation, Preservation and Heritage Management. The courses, of two year duration will commence on August 1, 2008.
Graduates (3 year Degree Course) in any subject of Humanities or Science are eligible to apply. Those who have appeared for the third year examination can also apply.
The selection to the course will be based on an entrance test consisting of a Written Test, followed by Group Discussion, to be conducted on 21.07.2008.
The Written Test of 3 hours duration will have 2 Sections with Section A consisting of Compulsory Aptitude Test relating to issues/matters/concerns dealing with heritage, both National and International and Section B consisting of Specialized Aptitude Test, for judging student’s knowledge/awareness in History / Culture / Archaeology / Conservation, Preservation, etc.
Both Sections shall have a similar format of objective multiple choice questions; short notes questions and a long essay. The written test will be followed by a Group Discussion and the final selection will be made on the basis of the aggregate marks in the written test and the Group Discussion. Candidates should score at least 40% marks each in the written test and the Group Discussion.
Application form is available at http://www.dihrm.com/courses.htm#Procedure%20of%20Selection
The form duly filled in, together with enclosures should reach the Director, Delhi Institute of Heritage Research & Management, 18-A, Satsang Vihar Marg, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110067, on or before 17.07.2008.
For more details, visit http://www.dihrm.com/
Abu Dhabi buys New York’s Chrysler Building
Abu Dhabi buys New York’s Chrysler Building
Bloomberg Published: July 10, 2008, 00:04
New York: New York’s Chrysler Building, the Art Deco icon that helps define the New York skyline, was bought by an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, the second purchase of a Manhattan landmark by Middle East investors in many months.
The skyscraper at 405 Lexington Avenue, the world’s tallest building until 1931, was acquired yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council for an undisclosed price. Last month a Dubai fund, Boston Properties, and Goldman Sachs Group paid $2.8 billion for the General Motors Building.
Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and other Gulf countries flush with oil revenue have taken advantage of falling prices to invest in real estate and financial companies around the world.
Middle Eastern investors have spent $1.8 billion this year on commercial property in the US, more than other international buyers, according to Real Capital Analytics, a New York-based property research firm.
“We’re sending our money their way” to purchase oil, “and that money is coming back and buying our assets”, said Dan Fasulo, market analysis director at Real Capital.
Abu Dhabi Investment Council acquired the Chrysler Building from a fund managed by Prudential Financial, said Theresa Miller, spokeswoman for the Newark, New Jersey-based insurer. Rick Matthews, a spokesman for Tishman Speyer Properties, which owns a minority stake in the tower, declined to comment.
Abu Dhabi Investment Council is prohibited by law from discussing its investments, an official said when contacted by telephone yesterday.
The Abu Dhabi fund was set to pay about $800 million for the building, said a person with knowledge of the transaction on June 11.
The 77-storey tower, designed by William Van Alen, was completed in 1930 on behalf of then-owner Chrysler and its founder Walter Chrysler.
At 319 metres, the Chrysler Building was the world’s tallest skyscraper before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building a year later.
New visa rules come into effect
New visa rules come into effect
By Adel Arafah (Staff reporter/KHALEEJ TIMES)
10 July 2008 Print E-mail
ABU DHABI — Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, has issued a decision amending certain provisions of the law of entry and residence of foreigners.
According to the amendments, which came into effect on July 5, a new type of visa, multiple entry visa, would be issued which allows the bearer to enter the country several times during the six months from the date of issue. The bearer will be able to stay for a maximum of 14 days after each entry into the country.
The Department of Naturalisation and Residency and the embassies and consulates of the UAE in foreign countries will have the authority to issue visas to the foreigners for visiting their relatives or friends who have legitimate resident visas in the UAE.
There will be two types of visit visas, both non-renewable. The first type, long-term visit visa, allows the holders to stay in the UAE for 90 days. The second type, short-term visit visa, allows the holders to stay in the country for 30 days.
For entry permits to visit the UAE, the request should be submitted in the prescribed application forms of the Ministry of Interior along with the documents required for each case.
A) If the purpose of entering the country is visiting a relative or friend, residing in the country legally, the following requirements should be fulfilled:
1. The visitor should be a spouse or one of the immediate relatives of the sponsor. An exception could be made for the second-degree relatives to visit the sponsor on approval by the Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior or his representative;
2. The sponsor should be a UAE citizen in case the visitor is a friend of the person who submits the application; and
3. Proof of consanguinity, marriage or justification for the visit must be furnished and the sponsor must stand as guarantees.
B) If a woman wants to visit her husband who is a citizen of GCC countries but living in the UAE, she must have a valid residence visa in the country of her husband.
In all circumstances, the beneficiary should have a health insurance cover and pay Dh1,000 as a financial guarantee that would be refunded upon departure.
The visit visa holder will be allowed to enter the UAE once within two months from the date of issue.
Visitors may be allowed into the country for studies and the holder of this type of visa will be allowed to enter the UAE once during the two months from the date of issue and they could stay for 60 days and may be extended for the same term twice.
One of the universities or institutes or educational or research institutions licensed in the UAE should provide the guarantee for the study visa. The beneficiary should have health insurance cover and deposit Dh1,000 as guarantee that would be refunded upon departure.
Visit visas may be issued for medical treatment. The holder of such a permit may enter the country once, within two months from the date of issue. The person could stay in the country for 90 days from the date of entry. Such permit may be extended only once for the same period. A hospital must sponsor the patient and a medical report must be furnished along with the refundable deposit of Dh1,000.
Visas for attending an exhibition, festival or conference will be only for a single entry within two months from the date of issue. The person could stay in the country for up to 30 days from the date of entry. This visa cannot be extended. The occurrence and timing of the event must be certified in a letter issued by an official department. A refundable deposit of Dh1,000 must be paid.
The holder of a tourist visa may enter the country once within two months from the date of issue. The person could stay for a maximum of 30 days in the country from the date of entry. Such visas could be extended once for the same period. The sponsor of the visitor must be the tourist agency or institution. A deposit of Dh75,000 must be paid when applying for an institution card.
A refundable deposit of Dh1,000 shall be paid for such a visa for people of certain nationalities to be specified by the decision from the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry. The application should be submitted to the department concerned a week before arrival and the number of people for whom the visa is sought must not be more than 10. The itinerary should be attached with the application. An exception to the number of members of the group may be given by the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry. The persons must have health insurance cover.
The UAE ambassadors and consuls abroad are also authorised to issue entry visas for public figures, dignitaries and alike. The condition of sponsor may even be dropped in such cases.
The beneficiaries, as per the bylaw, must, in all cases, have medical insurance.
Be on the preventive
Be on the preventive
Wednesday July 9 2008 12:02 IST Navya PK EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
CANCER, one of the deadliest diseases ever, has claimed more lives than one might imagine. According to WHO, cancer is the second largest leading cause of death worldwide.
Though advancement of medical science has brought about new technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, mortality rates have been on the rise and awareness at a low.
“Awareness about cancer should be created among public as well as physicians. Doctors often wrongly diagnose the symptoms and the disease reaches a stage where it can no longer be cured,” says oncologist Dr.Jagannath Dixit. It’s estimated that 80 per cent of cancer patients in India are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. The causative factors of cancers can be obvious or indirect. For instance, it’s a little known fact that viral infections and immune system dysfunction can lead to cancer.
Different types of viruses, including Hepatitis, are responsible for 15 per cent of cancers worldwide. AIDS can lead to a type of cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma, probably due to weakened immune system. Twenty per cent of all AIDS patients suffer from Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Though not very common, heredity can also be a cause for cancer. For instance, colon, ovary and breast cancer are found to run in families. Environmental factors such as radiation, pollution and changes in lifestyle are other causes. However, the susceptibility of the person is the most important factor and hence exposure to a carcinogen does not necessarily cause cancer.
The susceptibility of individuals can be studied only if adequate data is available, which is a major stumbling block. “Currently, registration of cancer patients is done only in government hospitals which makes it hard to get accurate data. The gene pool in India is quite big, and studies should be made to determine which section of the population is susceptible to different types of cancer. This is possible only if all cases are registered,” says Dr.Vivek Trikha who heads OncQuest, a cancer research organisation. India has not progressed much in the treatment aspect either. Government hospitals do not supply cancer drugs and do not have adequate manpower. In India, there are only 180 cancer treatment centres, which cannot take care of the 2.5 million patients in the country at present.
Those in the lower socio-economic strata suffer more as cheaper drugs are less efficient and have greater negative effects. In such a grim scenario, prevention — to the extent possible — is the only wise option.
In addition to the use of tobacco and alcohol, poor dietary habits can also lead to cancer. With the improvement in lifestyle, the consumption of oily and junk food is on the rise. Breast cancer, in particular, is caused by lack of fibre in food. So fat content should be substituted with fibrous food. Also, children should be vaccinated to prevent Hepatitis and thereby reduce the risk for cancer. One can also decrease the use of mobile phones to prevent excessive radiation. The risk of contracting cancer increases with age. Some of the preventive measures are avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and improving your dietary habits by consuming more fibre and less fat.
Weight, elevated insulin increases breast cancer risk
Weight, elevated insulin increases breast cancer risk
Wednesday July 9 2008 18:16 IST EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE/IANS
SYDNEY: Obese women or those who have high glucose or insulin levels are more likely to be diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers came to this conclusion after tracking more than 60,000 Swedish women over a 20-year period, from 1985 to 2005.
All of them were cancer-free when recruited and had been tested for glucose, insulin and other hormones associated with obesity and diabetes risk.
Insulin resistance is most commonly caused by being overweight and inactive and is often a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.
Anne Cust of Melbourne University, who led the research, said that past studies had shown a strong link between being overweight and increased breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women.
But this study is the first to demonstrate the influence of insulin-resistance on the stage of cancer diagnosis.
“Women with insulin-resistance or who were overweight were less likely to be diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancers but at greater risk of being diagnosed with stage 2 to 4 tumours – larger, more advanced cancers,” she said.
“We know that being overweight and having insulin resistance is a risk factor for getting cancer but – in the case of breast cancer — our study indicates that the cancer will be more advanced.”
Cust said the research findings were particularly significant at a time when there were major public health concerns about obesity and Type 2 diabetes rates.
Findings of the study have been published in the latest issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
ICRI to teach healthcare management
ICRI to teach healthcare management
Wednesday July 9 2008 19:22 IST IANS
NEW DELHI: Aimed at providing qualified manpower to the booming medical tourism sector, the Institute of Clinical Research India (ICRI) Tuesday said it would start teaching healthcare management.
The ICRI has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA) for jointly conducting hospital operation management and healthcare industry related courses.
“We wish to bring in a paradigm shift in the healthcare and wellness segment using the science of management and training to ensure continuity, maximize capacity and improve quality of care,” said S.R. Dugal, chairman of the board of directors, ICRI.
“India has a huge potential in terms of capability and quality and this is what we need to harness today in the healthcare and wellness segment,” he added.
According to a McKinsey and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) study, medical tourism in India can become a $1 billion business by 2012.
The government has predicted that India’s $17-billion-a-year healthcare industry could grow 13 percent in each of the next six years, boosted by medical tourism.
ICRI is one of India’s leading clinical research institutes and currently operates out of Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Medical degrees from Russian universities
Medical degrees from Russian universities
T. SARAVANAN for THE HINDU
Studying medicine and engineering in Russia is relatively cheaper, but would necessarily require learning Russian.
The Russian Centre for Science and Culture, the cultural department of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chennai, organised a campaign in Madurai recently to create an awareness of education opportunities available in engineering and medical universities in Russia.
The centre helps students get admission in these universities recognised by the Association of Indian Universities in the case of engineering institutions and Medical Council of India in the case of medical universities.
Recognised universities
The medical universities recognised by the council are: Moscow Medical Academy, Moscow; People’s Friendship University, Moscow; I.P. Pavlov State Medical Academy, St. Petersburg; Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd; Stavropol State Medical Academy, Stavropol; Tver State Medical Academy, Tver; Rostov State Medical University and Kuban State Medical Academy, Krasnadar.
The point to note is that only undergraduate medicine courses are recognised and not postgraduate courses.
C. Suresh Babu, director, Study Abroad Educational Consultants, an accredited official representative of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in India, said that there are more than 200 – 300 universities recognised by the Association of Indian Universities offering engineering courses.
“Pursuing engineering education in these universities will be a rewarding experience for students as they are much in demand once they finish their courses,” he said.
Employment opportunities are plenty for the students as Russian companies work on numerous projects all over the world.
Single specialisation
There are universities exclusively for single specialisation such as aviation, aerospace, architecture and nuclear power engineering.
“Students successfully completing nuclear power engineering courses in Russia stand a chance to get jobs in the Koodankulam nuclear power project in India,” he said.
Medium of instruction
The English medium of instruction is available only for chemical, mechanical and computer science courses. “All other courses such as power engineering, oil mining, geology, aerospace and avionics are available only in Russian as they are self-developed and books might not be available in English,” he said.
In medicine courses, English medium is available only up to third year after which students have to undergo their education in Russian.
“Clinical study starts from the fourth year. Hence, the students will be attached to a hospital where they may have to interact with the local people and Russian surgeons. Therefore, students have no other go but to study Russian language to successfully complete their education,” said Mr. Suresh.
Scholarship is also available based on marks and other social activities.
“Students with valid sports certificates and interest in public service will get additional leverage to get these scholarships,” he said.
Cost of living
The cost of living compared to Western countries is much less for students pursuing education in Russia.
They require around Rs. 40,000 – 50,000 per year for accommodation and food.
In all, a student would have to spend around Rs.10 lakh to 12 lakh for the six-year medical course while it would be around Rs.8 lakh to 12 lakh to obtain an engineering degree.
Academic year
Generally, colleges in Russia reopen on September 1. But first-year students are given one month’s time to join.
“For Indian students there will be a one-month pre-departure orientation programme, where fresh students will be briefed about Russian language, weather and etiquette, said Mr. Suresh.
Dolphin Energy to fence Al Ain–Fujairah pipeline
Dolphin Energy to fence Al Ain–Fujairah pipeline
KHALEEJ TIMES 9 July 2008
ABU DHABI – Dolphin Energy said that work is about to begin to fence key sections of its Al Ain to Fujairah Gas Pipeline (AFP).
The contract for $19.1 million has been awarded to Al Husam General Contracting Establishment of Abu Dhabi, who will erect fencing along more than 100 kilometres of the 184 kilometre pipeline. This programme has been designed to improve security and to ensure public safety.
Some 40 kilometres of guard-rail will be installed as a security barrier at the Fujairah end of the pipeline. The work will be completed by year end.
Simultaneously, 70 kilometres of the southern section of the line, directly north of Al Ain, will be fenced with welded mesh fencing. Pedestrian and vehicle access crossings will also be provided along the fence, for public use. Completion of this element of the contract is scheduled for September 2009.
Dubai residents could soon cancel labour cards at residency department
Dubai residents could soon cancel labour cards at residency department
Dubai: Labour Card cancellation could soon be done at the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and at its offices in Dubai.
Those who need to cancel their labour cards can complete the procedure of cancellation at the DNRD without the need to visit the Ministry of Labour.
A team from DNRD and the Labour Ministry is studying the possibilities of implementing the new service.
Humaid Bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said the new service will benefit a large number of expatriates.
Major Khalifa Mattar Balkoba’a, head of external centre sector at DNRD, said the department is looking forward to provide the best service.
He said it is a one-stop-visit option to assess the needs and administrative requirements.
Police call for compulsory fog lights
Police call for compulsory fog lights
Matt Kwong for THE NATIONAL
ABU DHABI // Fog lights capable of penetrating dense early-morning haze should be mandatory for all vehicles to reduce the high accident rate, a new police report suggests.
“All cars in the UAE must have fog lights because we have this exceptional weather here,” said Yousif al Katheeri, a warrant officer who drafted the report. “Front fog lights should be in all cars, even Japanese ones. It doesn’t take much to install them and it could save so many lives and reduce so many accidents.”
A 200-car pileup on the motorway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai on March 11 claimed four lives and left dozens of others injured.
Mr Katheeri said the scale of that accident – blamed on reckless driving and early-morning fog – convinced him that better headlights on cars could have saved lives that day.
“European cars are all already using fog lights,” he said. “Making them compulsory in the UAE could be very useful, so I’m ready to submit it [the report] to the traffic unit.”
Regular headlights dazzle other motorists in foggy conditions, but fog lights, which are mounted lower, increase visibility by projecting concentrated beams of light closer to the ground. Fog usually hovers between 30 and 45 centimetres above the surface.
Rear fog lights also increase the visibility of cars to traffic approaching from behind, and are considered to be better than four-way hazard lights.
Currently, all cars in the GCC are required to have a warning buzzer that sounds when the driver exceeds 120km/h, said Alan D’Souza, a business development manager for the Hertz rental car company in Dubai.
“But there is no mention of fog lights in the GCC specs – nothing at all yet,” said Mr D’Souza. “They might save lives when they’re used at the right time and at a safe distance. Still, there are a lot of factors to consider.”
Newer European cars all have the safety feature, he said, and both front and rear fog lights are mandatory in many parts of the continent.
“But it is a cost element for Japanese carmakers,” he added.
Drivers also have to know when to use the special headlights, he said. “Some people have fog lights but don’t even know where the switch is, or some don’t even know they have them.”
One motorist, Clive Mantell, from London, said putting fog lights on cars already in the UAE would be a “pain in the neck”, but also a welcome move.
“I think it’s to be applauded,” he said.
“It’s a bit surprising it’s taken this long [for a report] because the weather isn’t a new thing. I hope drivers get assistance from the manufacturers because this is an excellent idea.”
He added: “I used to live in Germany during the 1970s, when we had to have fog lights. You just weren’t licensed to drive unless you had those lights, so we just installed them.”
He called the thick fog “one of the most extraordinary aspects” of his experiences living in the UAE. “I’ve seen more foggy days than in my last four years living in London and The Hague, [which are] reputedly foggy cities.”
However, the main cause of most accidents seems to be reckless driving, Mr Mantell said. “Let’s be clear. The rear fog light isn’t going to stop all accidents. When the fog comes down, a good proportion of people just put on their four-way lights, continue speeding along and keep their fingers crossed. That needs to change first.”
mkwong@thenational.ae
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