Fog diverts flights from Abu Dhabi
Fog diverts flights from Abu Dhabi
By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief, and Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: December 09, 2007, 23:20
Abu Dhabi/Al Ain: Thick fog on Sunday shut Abu Dhabi International Airport for more than five hours resulting in a diversion of at least 14 flights to other airports.
An official at Abu Dhabi International Airport disclosed that the airport was closed for five and a half hours owing to bad weather conditions.
“The airport was closed from 4am until 9.30am. Ten passenger flights and four cargo flights had to be diverted to other airports,” he told Gulf News.
Security first
While seven passenger flights were diverted to Doha, two were diverted to Muscat and one to Al Ain. All four cargo flights were diverted to Al Ain airport. Al Ain airport received a total of 17 diverted flights on Sunday, four from Dubai, eight from Sharjah and five from Abu Dhabi.
Senior airport officials reiterated that they were working towards alleviating disruptions to air traffic due to bad weather as much as possible.
Khalifa Al Mazroui, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said: “Although we understand the frustrations passengers go through, our first and foremost responsibility as airport operators is to the safety and security of our passengers.
“ADAC is currently upgrading the existing runway from CAT II to CAT III, which will enable landing and take off at a visibility level of 50 metres. The work will be completed before the end of 2008.”
With visibility reduced to 100 metres in most areas, particularly in Abu Dhabi, motorists had a tough time on the roads. However, the traffic police did not report any major accidents.
Officials at the UAE Meteorological Department yesterday said the early morning fog would continue to blanket different parts of the UAE along with a general slide in temperature and reduced visibility.
Describing fog as a regular seasonal phenomenon, a weatherman said it was the result of low overnight temperature and humidity.
on Sunday, the average temperature in the country was 26-29 degree Celsius. Over the next two days partly cloudy weather is expected with a slight fall in temperatures over most areas.
The weatherman said fresh shamal winds would cause dust storms this evening. The weather would remain rather cool at night and hazy over scattered areas by this morning.
Wind speed would be between four to 12 knots, stronger in the evening. It will gain strength by this morning reaching 28 knots over the sea. The sea will be moderately rough with waves as high as seven feet.
Reckless motorists ‘will be forced to clean roads’
Reckless motorists ‘will be forced to clean roads’
WAM Published: December 09, 2007, 23:20
Abu Dhabi: Stunt drivers and motorists who violate road manners in Abu Dhabi will be punished by being forced to clean the roads and school for 48 hours in addition to one week behind the bars, an Interior Ministry official said yesterday.
Brigadier Nasser Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Interior Minister’s office, revealed Abu Dhabi Police would crackdown on violators who abuse the roads and obligate them to work for two days in cleaning up the schools and roads.
The decision, which took effect on Sunday, aims to intensify punitive measures against offenders who drive dangerously and recklessly with no respect to safety.
“Although we appreciate the public celebrations of national and religious holidays, that does not mean people can take this as a chance to break the law, endanger their lives and those of others, breech the privacy of road users and tarnish the image of the UAE,” Brigadier Al Nuaimi said.
He warned against negligence of public safety, which will be monitored by a team of security men, who will be assigned to cover all parts of the city including roads and public places, to put an end to this menace.
Awareness
Al Nuaimi said an awareness campaign would shortly be launched to raise awareness among the public about the security, health and cultural dangers of such practices and their negative impacts on the nation.
The decision came in the wake of violations committed during the National Day celebrations, as some drivers were caught driving recklessly, making loud noises and using firecrackers.
Top Asian business leaders honoured
Top Asian business leaders honoured
Staff Report GULF NEWS Published: December 09, 2007, 23:20
Dubai: A number of businessmen were honoured at the first Asian Business Awards Middle East (ABA ME) held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening.
The ABA ME has been instituted to recognise and award business excellence within the Asian community and nurture economic relations between Middle East and the sub-continent.
The public had a clear and definite participatory role in the ABA ME awards process. The debut award year had 200,000 registrations. While the grand jury finalised the three nominees in each of the six categories, the public were once again imperative in the choice of winners.
The awards process this year had some of the prominent business personalities of the region on the grand jury panel. These include Michael J. Stevenson, senior partner Middle East region, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Abdul Aziz Sager, chairman, Gulf Research Centre, and president of Sager Group Holding in Saudi Arabia; Alex-ander John Andrakis, executive director, sales & marketing, Emaar Properties; Sultan Saoud Al Qasimi, managing director of the Al Qasimi group of companies and chairman of Barjeel Securities and Dr. Fatima Saeed Al Shamsi, secretary general, UAE University, Al Ain.
List: The winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: N.R. Narayana Murthy, chairman of the board and chief mentor, Infosys Technologies.
Global Asian of the Year: Lakshmi N. Mittal, president of the board of directors and chief executive officer, Arcelor Mittal.
Outstanding Asian Businesswoman of the Year: Renuka Jagtiani, chief executive officer, Landmark International.
Outstanding Asian Businessman of the Year: Sunny Varkey, chairman, GEMS Education and Welcare World.
Asian Rising Star of the Year: Ramesh Prabhakar, managing director, Rivoli Group.
Young Asian Achiever of the Year: Madhu Koneru, managing director, RAK Minerals and Metals Investments.
Outstanding Asian Contribution to the ME Development: Syed M.Salahuddin, managing director, ETA Ascon and Star Group.
Asian Business Leader of the Year: Yousuf Ali, managing director, EMKE Group.
The Arab Honour Awards
ABA ME The Arab Rising Star Award: Salah Salem Al Shamsi, president, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce.
ABA ME The Arab Business Excellence Award: Mohammad Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, honorary chairman, Al Fahim Group.
ABA ME The Arab Lifetime Achievement: Obaid Khalifa Jaber Al Merri, chairman, Al Jaber Group.
Basics of insuring your home
Basics of insuring your homeBy: Kavita Sriram, TNN
To own a house is every individual’s dream come true. The house could have taken away your life’s savings or you may have to repay the debt for decades.
There is so much at stake when it comes to the safety of your house. Have you considered insuring this precious possession of yours?
What is home insurance?
When it comes to your house, it holds not only economic but also tremendous emotional bonding. The possibility of damage to your house cannot be ruled out. Home insurance tries to preserve the safety of your valued house. It protects it from unforeseen eventualities that can cause damage. A home insurance policy covers the structure and contents of your home from natural to man-made calamities. It also comes with additional features like protection for the family, loss of cash in transit and baggage loss.
Home insurance comes with two-fold protection, one for structure and another for content. Structure cover is a comprehensive cover that envelopes the construction of the house including its walls, roof and the flooring. Content cover protects all the contents and belongings within the house. It provides insurance for all the expensive jewelry and cash at home.
What are the issues covered?
Fire is a major catastrophe damages the structure and its contents. A home insurance policy provides protection from fire and such disasters that are can prove very expensive. The contents of the house should be insured for their market value. The building cost is equated to the cost of reconstruction today.
There are other perils against which this insurance protects your home. It includes explosion or implosion , aircraft damage caused by aircraft, damage/loss due to riot, damage due to impact by rail or road vehicle or animal , bursting/overflowing of water tanks, apparatus and pipes, leakage from automatic sprinkler installations, lightning and bush fire, loss caused by storm, landslide etc.
What are optionally covered?
The home insurance needs can be diverse and can be tailor-made to suit various needs of home owners. On payment of extra premium you can extend the umbrella of cover to include additional benefits. You can include burglary, loss/damage of domestic appliance, personal accident and baggage loss, public or third party liability, plate glass, etc.
Typically, not included under the cover is willful destruction of property; loss, damage or destruction caused by war; wear and tear and atmospheric conditions etc.
How are payments made?
You have the option to either choose a comprehensive cover or separate cover. Under a comprehensive cover, all the sections are to be covered. The more sections you take for additional cover, the more discount you get on the premium.
This policy can be taken for a period of five or ten years. The longer the term of the policy, the more the discount on premium. The premium is usually paid every year.
How do you make claims?
In order to get the claims process rolling, submit to the insurer a completely filled and signed claim form, copy of the policy, copy of FIR, report from police and a copy of all invoices, bills, price listing and estimated copy of repairs.
Intimate the insurer. The insurer then transfers your request to the claims department . And the insurer authenticates and settles your claim within a stipulated time frame.
Some points to bear in mind
Give an accurate value of whatever you want to insure. You may need to pay higher premium, but all your valuables will be amply covered. In the case of appliances, ornaments and items in the house, provide the insurer with list of things including the model number, name of manufacturer, year of purchase, value, and other specifications .
This will ensure that your claim at a later date is not unnecessarily rejected. Verify if your cover makes up for the replacement value of your valuables.
Indian institute opens new campus
Indian institute opens new campus
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: December 05, 2007, 23:14
Dubai: The new campus of The Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Dubai, at academic city was inaugurated yesterday by Dr K.K. Birla, Chancellor, of the institute.
The new campus of The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani – Dubai (BPD) at the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) has state-of-the-art facilities and an academic block, library block, workshop block, students hostels, sports facilities and auditorium spread over 15 acres of land.
“I’m very happy that the new campus has been established in a record time, I’m sure BITS – Dubai campus will enjoy the same reputation as BITS Pilani campus, and I sincerely hope all our alumni wherever they go and whatever they do will shine in their assignment and thus bring glory to all the campuses of BITS, Pilani,” said Birla.
BPD Director Mohammad Riazuddin told Gulf News they are offering ten full tuition fees scholarship to UAE national students.
“Currently we have 1,450 Asian students, none of whom are nationals. Thus we are offering 10 scholarships to encourage Emirati students to benefit from our highly-competitive education standard.
“We expect to reach our full capacity, 2,500 students, by September 2008. Four batches of graduates have graduated so far. About 20 per cent of our students further their education in elite universities worldwide,” said Riazuddin.
Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and DIAC, said: “BITS Pilani’s permanent campus in DIAC marks another significant milestone for DKV. It demonstrates the University’s strong commitment to meeting the needs of students, the academic sector and the entire community.
“BPD’s strategic move will lead to substantial benefits, including a significant reduction in the institution’s long term operational costs.”
Exchange rates spark confusion
Exchange rates spark confusion
By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: December 03, 2007, 01:41
Dubai: Arbitrary dirham rates offered by UAE money changers, in some cases as low as Dh3.05 per dollar or almost 17 per cent lower than the official rate, are sowing more confusion in the market where speculation on the dirham’s revaluation is already rampant.
The UAE currency has been pegged at 3.6725 to the dollar since 1997 and until Sunday there was no change in the official peg.
UAE Central Bank Governor Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi last month spoke about social and economic pressure to give up the dollar peg and to adopt a basket of currencies.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have cut interest rates in the recent days to make it less attractive for investors to bet on the appreciation of their currencies. But that has not discouraged people from taking bets on the dirham’s revaluation.
The forward markets on Sunday were expecting the UAE dirham to appreciate to 3.54 against the dollar in a year.
“It is happening because there is a huge demand for Gulf currencies,” Monica Malik, senior economist at EFG-Hermes investment bank, told Gulf News.
“Increasingly we feel there is going to be some sort of currency reform in the next six months,” she said, but added that the two-day summit of Gulf leaders starting in Doha on Monday may not come up with a firm action on the issue.
Analysts have been expecting Gulf government action on the dollar pegs as the cost of living across the region has been rising as imports have become costlier due to the slide in dollar’s value.
Money changers, hotels and stores in shopping malls were accepting dollars at rates ranging from Dh3.05 to Dh3.50 per dollar yesterday.
They began revising the exchange rates on Friday and gradually raised the dirham rate against all other major currencies. Unofficial exchange rates of other currencies versus the dirham were similarly affected.
Tourists complained that they were getting fewer dirhams for their currencies.
“It is strange,” said Ahmad Jan from Saudi Arabia as he walked between a bank branch and a money exchange at Deira City Centre and noted that the bank offered 60 fils more per dollar.
“What you see here is the official rate,” a manager at the bank said.
Moroccan visitor Nasser Bin Omar said he accepted the lower dollar rate from the money dealer because he did not want to wait in the long queue at the bank.
“Offering a lower rate [than the official rate] to the US dollar against the UAE dirham is against the law. Money exchange houses should stick to the UAE Central Bank guidelines,” said B.R. Shetty, vice-chairman of the NMC Group that operates UAE Exchange.
However, UAE Exchange Centre was offering Dh3.30 per dollar, about 11 per cent lower than the official rate on Sunday.
As revaluation speculation gripped the market, many expatriates were also delaying their remittances. A manager at a money exchange in Dubai’s Al Ghusais area said there has been a decline in remittances.
36th UAE National Day Celebrations in Abu Dhabi – 2 Dec 2007
Happy Birthday, UAE!
On its 36th birthday, the UAE has much to celebrate. Right from the inception of the federation in 1971 when the emirates joined hands to form a progressive and stable nation, the UAE has gone from strength to strength. It has achieved within a short period of time socio-economic successes which only a few countries in the world today can match. Speaking on the creation of the nation, the UAE President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, recently said, “December 2, 1971 will remain the most precious event in the country’s history… Our dream wouldn’t have come true without the support of great men and an ambitious, brave leader.”
With great honour and pride of being a resident here for half of my life time, I am happy to present through my page, a part of the celebrations that happened in Abu dhabi on 2nd December 2007.
Decorative hoardings at Corniche Street
Cars and Procession at Corniche Street
Cars and Procession at Corniche Street
Cars and Procession at Corniche Street
Laser show at Abu Dhabi Municipality building
NDC Building
ADNOC Distribution Building
Union National Bank building
Buildings at Salam Street
Sheikh Khalifa Energy Complex buildings
ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO building
ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO building
Chamber of Commerce building
ADIA building
ADCO Building
ADCO Building
ADCO Building
Fire works at Abu Dhabi Corniche
Fire works at Abu Dhabi Corniche
Fire works at Abu Dhabi Corniche
Fire works at Abu Dhabi Corniche
Fire works at Abu Dhabi Corniche
Traffic controlled by the authorities in Corniche Street
Health Tips – Sore Throat……
A sore throat can really get you down, so here are a few things you can use to take away the suffering.
Vinegar can ease the pain. Any type will do but wine vinegar or cider vinegar may taste better. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow. Do this 3 times a day until things are on the mend.
Put some warm water in a glass and mix with some salt. Put in your mouth and gargle and spit out. Don’t swallow. This should get rid of the soreness.
Take a few almonds and mix them with a couple of teaspoons of honey. Sit down and eat away. This will give the pain of a sore throat nothing to moan about. Honey is a natural pain killer, so are almonds. The almonds will also help to relieve the inflammation.
Hope that one of these ideas will bring you some relief.
Health Tips – Snake Bite
Treatment:
* Keep the victim calm and still.
* Keep the affected area below the level of heart, so as to contain venom locally.
* Wash hands thoroughly or put on the latex gloves before attending the wound.
* If the bite is not bleeding, wash the wound well with mild soap and water and pat dry with clean swabs or other non-fluffy material.
* If the bite is actively bleeding, control the bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean and dry cloth until the bleeding subsides.
* Remove any of the constricting items.
* Lightly compress the limb above the wound with a roller bandage.
* Immobilise the injury, immobilise an injured arm with a sling and an injured leg by binding it to the injured leg.
* If the patient stops breathing, be ready to resuscitate if needed.
* Observe the bite for signs of infection (increasing skin redness, swelling) and other vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure).
* If the area around the wound begins to swell and change colour, the snake was probably poisonous.
* Get medical help as soon as possible.
Warning
* Do not apply ice or a cold pack to snakebite because cold can cause the venom to spread further.
* Do not apply a Tourniquet such as a belt, necktie or cord.
* Do not slash the wound with a knife.
* Never try to suck the venom orally.
* Patient should never be put to strenuous physical exercises.
* Site of the bite should not be raised above the heart level.
* No stimulants or pain medicators should be taken without the prescription of the doctor.
* Removal of the dressing/elastic wraps to be avoided until you are at a facility ready and able to administer antivenom.
* Do not eat or drink unless told by the doctor.
Prevention
* Do not thrust hands or feet into any areas if you cannot see into the area.
* Avoid playing or picking up any snake unless you are properly trained.
* Wear long pants and boots if possible while hiking into an area known to have snakes.
* If given adequate warning, snakes will avoid coming near to you. Hence before entering an area with an obscured base, tap ahead with a walking stick.
36th UAE National Day Celebrations
The world’s largest aerial banner takes to the skies above Abu Dhabi
Largest ever aerial banner flies over Abu Dhabi
Agencies Published: December 02, 2007, 15:23
Abu Dhabi: A new world record was set on UAE National Day as a UAE flag measuring 50,000 square feet flew over Abu Dhabi, forming the largest aerial banner ever flown.
The banner was towed by helicopter and was clearly visible from up to 20 kilometres away.
The route was specifically designed to take the flag right across the capital making it visible to virtually the entire population of the city of Abu Dhabi.
A building on Salam Street in Abu Dhabi is illuminated with the UAE flag and portraits of Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammad and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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