Gulf News
News Update: COVID-19: Disinfection drive extended to 24 hours in Dubai
Strict measures in place to restrict movement in Dubai to curb spread of coronavirus
HIGHLIGHTS
- The measures will be effective from 8pm on Saturday, April 4, 2020 for a period of two weeks, subject to renewal.
- Individuals will not be allowed to leave the house, except for essential purposes or if they are working in vital sectors exempted from the restrictions.
- All people leaving home should wear a mask, gloves and ensure they keep a safe distance from others.
- Source: Gulf News
News update: Thank you heroes, Sheikh Mohammed tells front-line defenders in UAE against coronavirus
In a video message to medical professionals in UAE, he thanked the heroes
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised the hard work and dedication of UAE first line of defenders against coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a tweet, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Thank you to all of those in the first line of defense. Thanks you for your sacrifices, sleepless nights, and efforts made for the sake of the nation. You are the true nation protectors and our loyal soldiers. I call on everyone to thank them for their strenuous and sustained efforts being made around the clock. To all doctors, nurses, paramedics and administrators in our health sector, Thank You.”
Read more at: Gulf News
UAE residents help with Kerala relief efforts
https://gulfnews.com/your-say/your-reports/uae-residents-help-with-kerala-relief-efforts-1.2276864
Abu Dhabi: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This was proven by a group that I am a part of called the “Our Irinjalakuda”, a Facebook group based out of Irinjalakuda in Thrissur, India.
During the recent Kerala floods, the group with around 60,000 members and about 200 active volunteers formed a team and got to work. None of them were experienced or experts in disaster management. But, they lead, took orders, guided and acted forgetting their caste, creed, political party or ideologies.
The momentum they generated to coordinate this activity triggered and transformed to the group’s first relief support operation in the Alappuzha district, which was one of the heavily affected areas.
A small team left with a pickup truck, loaded with essential food and medicine supplies, to personally distribute to and support those in need. However, they didn’t know what was in store for them over the next few days.
All the dams and rivers started overflowing and the water level started increasing. As the paddy fields got flooded, the bridges and roads started collapsing and transportation became absolutely impossible.
Temporary disaster control centres were quickly formed. Members took different lead roles and were supported by local students. The effective use of WhatsApp and Facebook came to prominence at this point when electricity was cut and there was no radio or disaster management communication systems in place.
Jithesh Ambady, one of the members of the group, created a support group on WhatsApp, which became the lifeline of supplies for not only Thrissur district, but also to all the badly affected areas in Kerala.
He told Gulf News: “My mother and sister’s family are all witnesses and victims of this natural disaster. I was able to understand from them, the critical moments of seeing death passing right in front you. If I was able to do anything about it, it was all because of the good friendships I have. With the small time frame that we had, whatever we were able to do for the needy is the result of the priceless relationships we hold.”
He efficiently utilised the public transport buses. With the support from their staff, they transported essential medicines and food supply in the initial stages and later cleaning aids.
Dr Rose Anto, another member of the group, said: “The relief efforts taught us many things, but most importantly that humans should be interdependent and must keep an eye on social causes, always. If united we are strong.”
Those who were stuck outside of the town as well many non-resident Indians sprung into action, coordinating these activities by keeping vigil at night when those on ground took an hour or two for rest and regrouping.
The youth came up with several ideas and collaborated with the government authorities in the rebuild process. Teams were formed and spread out to each village and carried out cleaning operations and relief support.
Before the government system started their action, this relief group thought well ahead and sourced items for cleaning, disinfecting and also formed small teams to support restoration of water and electricity.
The team also started to clean the affected homes and scan them thoroughly for snakes or other reptiles. They worked in coordination with Snake Wild Animal Rescue Association (Swara).
All these activities were systematically done keeping the local authorities informed and taking them along to oversee, so that there is absolutely no fund or material mismanagement.
The disaster management outlined above is just one example. There are several other groups from all parts of Kerala that deserve merit. At the end of the day, everyone was united, stood together and worked their way around during those extremely difficult days. All are heroes and they proved that working together works.
As the government works on the rebuilding process, questions are in plenty from the general public on how we can cut costs and function efficiently. The government could introduce a mandatory and major cut on the allowances for ministers and support staff and reduce their numbers.
Apart from that, there are several commissions and bodies, which are consuming enormous funds from the government. Why not dissolve them once and for all and save costs?
There are also a large number of advisors for several ministers who are pampered with huge payment and government facilities. Why not reduce them and let the government come out with an open online portal for public to provide free and professional advice?
Each government minister and all higher authorities are luxuriously pampered with at least one or two police escort cars and personnel when they move around. Why don’t we implement a permanent stop to this?
All the above questions, if answered, could lead to quicker rebuilding of our beautiful Kerala.
— The reader is an Abu Dhabi resident.
News U Wish To Read – 7 August 2017
Energy
It’s a buyer’s market for LNG
The National
More liquefied natural gas (LNG) coming into the market will keep prices depressed despite an increase in demand from Asia, analysts said.
LNG producers are ramping up from Qatar to Australia and the United States, while Egypt is expected to emerge as a new export player.
Australia has increased its market share in the first half of the year to 20 per cent from 12 per cent last year, according to BMI Research, and its exports are forecast to grow by 23 per cent over the financial year to the end of June, according to Australian energy advisory firm, EnergyQuest.
Published: 5 August 2017
Follow: https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/it-s-a-buyer-s-market-for-lng-1.616942
Adnoc active on the debt front as it pushes ahead with transformation strategy
The National
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is studying a number of fund raising options at both group and asset level that will help unlock value and optimise the group’s balance sheet as it pushes ahead with its new approach to drive growth.
Adnoc is in discussions with banks for a club loan of approximately US$5 billion that will be used for ongoing corporate activities. It is also looking into financing options for select midstream infrastructure assets including potentially tapping debt capital markets via a bond issuance. Plans are at an early stage so the size and scope of any potential bond issuance has not been decided. The company said it has no intention to issue bonds at the holding or main operating company levels such as Adco, Adma-Opco and Zadco.
Published: 02 August 2017
Total Ready to Make Acquisitions as Financial Strength Grows
Bloomberg
Total SA said it’s ready and able to make acquisitions and pursue growth, shrugging off uncertainties about oil prices as its financial position strengthens.
Europe’s second-largest oil and gas company has the firepower to buy up fields on the cheap and press ahead with new developments, taking advantage of lower levels of debt, rising profit and surging cash flow, according to a statement Thursday.
“Total has a stronger balance sheet,” Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne said as the company reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations. “The group has the flexibility to take advantage of the low-cost environment by being able to launch profitable projects and acquire resources under attractive conditions.”
Published: 27 July 2017
Politics & Economy
Indian rupee to get stronger, NRIs should remit now
Khaleej Times
If you’re a non-resident Indian (NRI) and looking to remit a handsome amount back home or planning to buy a property or invest in any venture, the time is now.
Going by views of analysts and industry executives, the Indian currency is likely to strengthen further against the US dollar — thereby against the UAE dirham, because the Emirati currency is pegged to the greenback — in the wake of Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to cut interest rates last week, and may strengthen as much as 1.1 per cent.
Published: 7 August 2017
Follow: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/economy/indian-rupee-to-get-stronger-nris-should-remit-now
Looking for a job in UAE? Here’s the salary guide
Khaleej Times
Starting salaries for professional roles in finance and accounting, financial services, technology and administration in the UAE will grow by 2.5 per cent over the next year, according to the Robert Half 2017 Salary Guide.
The guide is the most comprehensive and authoritative resource on starting salaries and recruitment trends in finance and accounting, financial services, IT, legal, and HR and administration. The Salary Guide enables employers and employees to benchmark salaries for over 185 different permanent professional roles in the UAE.
According to the survey, competition for the best candidates is heating up in the UAE with 68 per cent of employers planning to attract new employees in 2017 and on an average, pay scales could increase by up to 5.8 per cent in comparison to 2016.
Published: 6 August 2017
Follow: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/looking-for-a-job-in-uae-heres-the-salary-guide
Community, Environment & Society
Year 2018 to celebrate Zayed’s vision
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared 2018 the “Year of Zayed” in the United Arab Emirates.
The year 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of the late founding father Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and yesterday’s announcement is coinciding with the anniversary of Shaikh Zayed’s Accession Day, the day he assumed leadership in Abu Dhabi on August 6, 1966, marking the start of a new epoch in the history of the country.
Published: 6 August 2017
Follow: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/year-2018-to-celebrate-zayed-s-vision-1.2069463
Apply for UAE visa from comfort of your own home
Gulf News
You can now, from the comfort of your home, complete applications related to nationality, and residence, without having to visit typing offices or customer service centres.The Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday launched “E-channels”, a new system of smart services that lets nationals and residents apply for entry permits and residency visas within 10 minutes.
Published: 01st August 2017
Follow:http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/apply-for-uae-visa-from-comfort-of-your-own-home-1.2067647
Thousands of road-safety breaches by lorry drivers leads to police campaign
The National
More than 30,000 fines have been issued to lorry drivers in Dubai in the first six months of this year alone for not abiding by road safety rules.
Police on Tuesday launched a one-month lorry driver safety campaign in a bid to reduce the number serious accidents and deaths involving heavy-goods vehicles. So far this year there have been 14 serious accidents and 15 deaths involving HGVs on Dubai roads.
Published: 01 August 2017
Don’t come on visit visas for job hunting, Indians told
Gulf News
Indian Consulate asks expatriates to verify job offers and visas before arriving in the UAE. Indian jobseekers should not come to the UAE on visit visas and must authenticate their employment offers and entry permit visas before heading to the UAE, the Indian Consulate in Dubai has said. The advisory from the mission follows high numbers of calls and visits by Indian workers who have been duped by agents or employers on a regular basis. “We have got several cases of people falling into trouble when they come for employment or for looking for employment on visit visas. There are also cases of women being forced to work as maids etc by dubious agents who get them to the UAE on visit visas as well as sending them to Oman and other countries.”
Published: 02 August 2017
Technology
iPhones, Facebook and internet are sucking our time and making us miserable
AFR.COM
In a past life, we served on our local council. Despite the impressive size of our gross budget, our free choice in spending was remarkably limited.
By the time our road grants were spent on roads, child care funding on child care, the indoor and outdoor staff paid and the rubbish collected, funds for truly discretionary spending were tight. According to Associate Professor Adam Alter, a psychologist at New York University, the days of our lives are just like that.
Published: 4 August 2017
Sports
Gatlin spoils Bolt’s farewell in 100m with remarkable gold
Khaleej Times
Usain Bolt was no longer stunning. He was just stunned.
At the end of a career in which he has dominated his sport for a decade, Bolt was beaten in his final 100-meter race by an American almost five years his senior – Justin Gatlin.
Calling it quits at the age of 30 and looking for a golden farewell in his last individual race at the world championships, Bolt lost to a man who produced a comeback not only on Saturday but also through a doping-tainted career.
Published: 6 August 2017
News U Wish to Read – 31 July 2017
Energy
Oil rises ahead of oil leaders’ meeting in Abu Dhabi
The National
Oil rose on Monday, putting July on track to become the strongest month this year, as news of a producers’ technical meeting next week added to bullish sentiment driven by the threat of US sanctions against the Opec member Venezuela.
Oil traders also eyed the bullish impact from a production outage following a fire at Europe’s largest refinery and further signs that the US market is tightening after heavy inventory falls and slower new oil rig additions last week.
Published: 31st July 2017
Follow: https://www.thenational.ae/business/oil-rises-ahead-of-oil-leaders-meeting-in-abu-dhabi-1.615697
#TheNational #OilandGas #AbuDhabi
Dubai Ruler and Sheikh Mohammed visit Adnoc headquarters – in pictures
The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Sunday visited the Abu Dhabi Natiinal Oil Company headquarters.
Their Highnesses expressed their pride in those in the UAE who adopted the values of leadership, excellence and innovation to promote the country’s international competitiveness.
They also stressed the importance of maintaining economic diversity based on the UAE’s strengths and experiences, especially in essential sectors such as energy.
Published: 30th July 2017
#ADNOC #THENATIONAL
Adnoc charts strategic path that will strengthen links with global economy
The National
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is charting a course unlike many of its peers as it prepares to face a radically different energy future, said experts including Daniel Yergin yesterday. The company’s leadership made it clear in comments to The National on Monday that it will not be following the path that many national oil companies (NOCs) have – and which close neighbour Saudi Arabia plans – in selling off a piece of the parent company.
Published: 14th July 2017
#ADNOC #ECONOMY #THENATIONAL
Adnoc on new expanded partnership approach
Gulf News
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) recently announced the expansion of its strategic partnership model, as well as the more active management of its portfolio of assets. Following the launch of a new initiative to expand its strategic partnership model, Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Group CEO of Adnoc, met last week with both potential and existing partners in China and Japan. These discussions focused on the new partnership and co-investment opportunities created through Adnoc’s new approach, as well as the deepening of UAE bilateral relations with both countries.
Published: 22nd July 2017
Follow: http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/energy/adnoc-on-new-expanded-partnership-approach-1.2062662
#ADNOC #GULFNEWS
Sheikh Mohammed lauds Adnoc’s new approach
The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said Adnoc’s new strategic approach, which includes expanding the types of partnerships it forms and spinning off some of its services businesses, will help the economy meet its key fiscal and employment goals.
Published: 15th July 2017
Follow: http://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/energy-majors-see-emphasis-on-gas
#ADNOC #THENATIONAL
Kuwait sees oil inventories falling faster as Opec keeps cutting
Gulf News
Crude oil inventories will decline at a faster pace worldwide in the second half of the year as demand increases and Opec members comply better with a global agreement to cut output, Kuwait’s Opec Governor Haitham Al Ghais said.
Published: 15th July 2017
#OPEC #KUWAIT #GULFNEWS
Politics & Economy
UAE GDP to recover in 2018 on higher investments, global trade flows, says report
The National
The UAE economy will accelerate at a rate of 3.3 per cent in 2018, thanks to an increase in government investments, a rebound in world trade flows and an uptick in global tourism, according to a new report.
The forecast by consultancy Oxford Economics, in collaboration with accountancy and finance body ICAEW, is broadly in line with projections made earlier this month by the IMF, which is predicting 3.4 per cent growth for next year.
Oxford Economics and ICAEW forecast that the UAE’s growth will slow this year to 1.7 per cent, a more bullish estimate than the IMF’s 1.3 per cent estimation. The country’s economy grew 3 per cent last year, according to the Central Bank.Published: 25th July 2017
#THENATIONAL #ECONOMY #UAE #GDP
Business environment and confidence in Dubai to pick up in Q3, a new survey shows
The National
Business confidence and conditions in Dubai are forecast to strengthen in the third quarter, with small and mediums-sized companies expressing more optimism than large corporations, according a survey from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The growing confidence comes “in line with an increase in the number of new companies” expected to join the chamber in the third quarter, which is an indicator of business activity in the emirate, said Hamad Buamim, President and chief executive of Dubai Chamber.
Published: 25th July 2017
#THENATIONAL #GDP
Etihad submits non-binding offer for Alitalia
The National
Etihad Airways has emerged as one of around 10 bidders interested in acquiring a partial or full stake in the Italian airline Alitalia, suggesting the Abu Dhabi-based carrier remains committed to its investment in the troubled airline. The non-binding bid, submitted ahead of a deadline on Friday, also suggests that Etihad may not be ready to reverse course on its international investment strategy, despite last week selling off its stake in Switzerland’s Darwin Airline following a strategic review launched last year.
Published: 22nd July 2017
Read more: https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/etihad-submits-non-binding-offer-for-alitalia-1.613209
#THENATIONAL #ETIHAD #ALITALIA
France aims to be ‘facilitator’ in Gulf crisis talks
Gulf News
DOHA: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Doha on Saturday that Paris wants to assist Kuwait-led mediation talks on the crisis between Qatar and four other Arab states. “France should be a facilitator in the mediation” led by Kuwait, Le Drian told reporters following talks with his Qatari counterpart Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
Published: 15th July 2017.
Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/france-aims-to-be-facilitator-in-gulf-crisis-talks-1.2059346
#GULFNEWS #UAE
UAE wants resolution, not alleviation of Qatar problem
The National
The UAE said efforts to ease tensions rather than directly address the problem between Qatar and the Arab countries isolating it will only lead to worse crises in future. “We believe that there are two ways of dealing with things, whether to try and ease tension or try to address a problem,” Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said on Thursday. “We do not believe that an attempt to ease the tension will address the matter, but will lead to delaying the problem, which will lead to a doubling of the situation in the future.”
Published: 13th July 2017.
Read more: https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/uae-wants-resolution-not-alleviation-of-qatar-problem-1.568763
#THENATIONAL
Community, Environment & Society
Get ready for 80% humidity in UAE
Gulf News
The weather across the UAE is expected to get stickier as humidity levels are expected to rise by Monday night and into Tuesday morning.
The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said the weather will become “very hot and hazy” over the next two days, especially over coastal areas.
The highest temperature recorded on Sunday was 51.8 degrees Celsius in Mezaira, at 3pm.
Temperatures on Monday are expected to reach 44C in coastal areas and 47C in internal areas, with humidity levels to reach up to 80 per cent.
Published: 31st July 2017.
Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/weather/get-ready-for-80-humidity-in-uae-1.2066646
#GULFNEWS #ENVIRONMENT #TEMPERATURE
Oman announces E-visa for international tourists
Gulf News
Tourists planning to visit Oman can apply online for visas by submitting their applications at https://evisa.rop.gov.om/. The first stage comprises non-sponsored tourist visas for people from 67 countries as well as GCC residents employed in 116 professions
Published: 26th July 2017.
Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/oman-announces-e-visa-for-international-tourists-1.2064527
#GULFNEWS #OMAN #VISA
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival puts call out for artist submissions
The National
The Annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival has announced submission dates for this year’s competition. Entries will be taken from August 20 and close on October 20, 2017 in four categories, film, photography, visual arts, and student work. New this year, there is a recycled art sub-category within Visual Arts, where participants are required to use recyclable materials from Ras Al Khaimah, or focus on the story of recycling in order to enter.
Published: 23rd July 2017.
#THENATIONAL #RASALKHAIMAH #ARTSFESTIVAL
Drivers welcome move to buckle up in the back seat
The National
UAE residents have welcomed the introduction of new traffic laws that fine anyone without a seatbelt on in the back of a car and are pleased to hear it’s being enforced. Any back-seat passenger seen by police without a seatbelt on could end up landing their driver with a Dh400 fine and four black points, and children under 4 must be in a child car seat. Before July 1 the law only dictated that people in the front seats must buckle up.
Published: 15th July 2017
Read more: https://www.thenational.ae/uae/drivers-welcome-move-to-buckle-up-in-the-back-seat-1.609055
#THENATIONAL #ROADSAFETY #BUCKLEUP
Dubai to host conference on sustainability, green technologies
WAM
The key challenges facing the environment will be the underlying theme at the 19th edition of the Water, Energy,Technology and Environment Exhibition to be organised in Dubai on October 23rd-25th.The event, organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, for the 4th year running, will shed extensive light on the headwinds facing the water, energy and environment sectors in the region, with the participants to seek to come up with innovative eco-friendly solutions that support economic growth while preserving natural resources and protecting the environment.
Published: 04th July 2017
Read more: http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302621501
#WAM #SUSTAINABILITY #ENVIRONMENT #WETEX
Sports
Sebastian Vettel overcomes steering problem to win Hungarian GP
Gulf News
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel overcame steering difficulties to win a tense Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday and extend his championship lead over rival Lewis Hamilton to 14 points heading into the summer break.The four-time Formula One champion made a decent start from pole position, crucially holding off teammate Kimi Raikkonen on the long straight into Turn 1.
Published: 30th July 2017
#GULFNEWS #F1 #SEBASTIANVETTEL
AaDhaar – NRIs new fear! To or not to apply for Aadhaar?
To news reports published in prominent newspapers Khaleej Times and Gulf News have created lot of confusion and fear among NRIs based in UAE.
On 24th July 2017, Khaleej Times came out with the news below:
NRIs urged to apply for Aadhaar Card
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/nris-urged-to-apply-for-aadhaar-card
Filed on July 24, 2017 | Last updated on July 24, 2017 at 08.29 am
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are advised to apply for the Aaadhar card to avail of state benefits and for hassle-free transactions in future.
According to a manager of the NRI section of State Bank of India (SBI), the government has not exempted Indian expats from the Aadhaar card.
Jose GL, NRI section manager at SBI’s Varkala branch, Kerala, told Khaleej Times:
“My advice to NRIs is to apply for Aadhar Card, as there is a chance for the government to make it mandatory for expats as well. Without an announcement, the government has now asked everyone to link their Permanent Account Number (Pan) with Aadhaar, for income tax returns. There is no doubt that Aadhaar will become compulsory and beneficial for several transactions in the coming years.”
Today, 26th July 2017 Gulf News have come out with a totally contradictory version of it:
‘NRIs not eligible for Aadhaar ID card’
http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/india/nris-not-eligible-for-aadhaar-id-card-1.2064508
Published: 14:32 July 26, 2017
Binsal Abdul Kader, Senior Reporter
If banks, or any Indian institutions, demand that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) produce Aadhaar for official transactions, simply inform them that NRIs are not eligible for the identity card issued to residents of India, a top Indian official told Gulf News on Tuesday.
“Just tell them that we [NRIs] are not eligible for Aadhaar, therefore, don’t force us to produce it,” Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said in a telephone interview from New Delhi.
Whether to apply for an Aadhaar, the thought has now become aa dar (upcoming fear) for expatriates here.
Who to follow and what to do is very important and appreciate responsible newspapers should do necessary homework before publishing such important formation of high importance.
Appreciate to have a clarification from the Indian Embassy authorities on which of these reports are to be followed by all.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
26th July 2017
Keeping children safe
I feel it is advisable to have regulations for seat belts continue to be applied for all seats in the school buses that are on our roads (‘New drivers to get two-year licence, starting from July 1’, Gulf News, April 17). The advantage factors I find behind such an enforcement of safety regulation are many. First and foremost, at any given point in time, the student is safeguarded from impacts due to sudden braking.
Secondly, when it is normally enforced on a daily basis it will become an automatic habit, which will be carried on to their private travel with friends and family. They will be leading the way as ambassadors of road safety.
It may also reduce the driver distractions that happen often in the school buses where children run around or jump on the seats, ignoring the request of the supervisors and drivers. It may thus reduce the bullying that might be happening in some cases.
Safety education is something children should be reminded of every moment. It is because we tend to take some small points lightly, thinking that we know it or “it will not happen to me” that many accidents occur. So, why do we miss out on the opportunity of a road safety education opportunity for children? Teach them young and travel with them safely throughout!
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Read more on the subject:
Draft seat belt law does not cover school buses
Seat belts on school buses should be made mandatory
A system that helps save water
Reader came across a school project that reuses water in the flushing system
Published: 15:40 April 9, 2017
A few days ago, after a hectic schedule at the office, I decided to visit a friend and spend some quality time relaxing. During our conversations, I could hear some sounds from the washroom. I was curious to know what was happening and came to know that my friend’s son and his classmates were working on a water conservation project for their school.
It is always amazing to see projects on water and energy conservation. The children were fixing a self-made wash basin, connected to the toilet’s flushing system. When the flushing mechanism fills the tank, a pipe channels extra water to the basin, dedicated to washing one’s hands.
I was amazed by the concept. There were a few young boys working on it and the tools they used were all simple. The basin was a simple ice cream tub and two pipes were connected to it as an inlet and outlet.
In this newly created flush system, when you flush, water from the storage tank moves to the toilet and fresh water fills the tank for the next flush. While filling the tank, some water is redirected to this wash basin. This water supply lasts for about a minute, or until the tank fills up. The water collected in the basin then goes to the tank for the flush. It saves a large volume of water!
One of the students told me: “Normally, we need 20 seconds to scrub our hands with soap and then wash up, but this process consumes a lot of water. This model will save this resource.”
In a day, a person washes his or her hands seven times on average, as stated by WaterWatch, a US-based non-governmental organisation. During hand wash, up to 14 litres of water can be consumed by just one person. But, by using the device created by these students, only 5.6 litres of water would be consumed by one individual in a day. In a family of four, that saves up to 33 litres of water per day. And the best part is, all this water is then reused, to flush the toilet.
I later found that the students had implemented the idea in different places, and thousands of litres of water were being saved in their school and in the homes of some of the students. This idea is the brainchild of Keerthi Kumar Jagannath, an administrative staff member at the Abu Dhabi Indian School, Al Wathba. He deserves great appreciation and honour for initiating, motivating and encouraging students to take up such projects.
He has a target of equipping 1,000 washrooms with this set-up. When I spoke with him, I found it was his passion to invent, demonstrate and inspire others with such innovative ideas.
Such efforts should be endorsed, in order to foster improved environments. The power to save the planet rests with us. I hope more schools, malls and corporations adopt this simple method in their flushing system so we can save a huge volume of water every day.
— The reader is based in Abu Dhabi.
To read it in original visit Gulf News Dated 10 April 2017.
Parents in a frenzy for Aadhaar
This news report is sensational and shocking until now. All Non-Resident Indians (NRI) have been urged to get their Aadhaar done for the mandatory official identification and usage purposes.
One concrete example is the students’ need of this card for the forthcoming National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). A number of parents had to travel back to their home state in India for the sake of obtaining an Aadhaar card for their children in order to qualify for the exam. They were clearly informed that if their children do not have an Aadhaar card, they will not be eligible to take the NEET. They were told to register in the NRI category, which was prominently highlighted for them to adhere to. However, it does not end there. What about the other important activities like applying for mobile subscriptions, handling transactions at local registration offices, etc. Indian authorities urge the public to obtain their Aadhaar card, where details on their biometric and demographic data are compulsory information including their thumb impression.
From Ms Ramesh Menon
UAE
Read the corresponding news to this letter:
Indian expats ‘not eligible for Aadhaar IDs’
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
Published: 14:02 March 25, 2017
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
This is an extremely important move from Dubai’s Environment, Health and Safety Control Authority (“Local order against daredevil selfie takers”, Gulf News, March 21). They are curbing the recent craze of ‘selfie-adventurists’ doing dangerous stunts on top of high-rise structures. Not only is this a death-defying act, but also creates negative motivation for others to follow and receive ‘instant fame’ on social media.
In fact, people don’t just perform these kinds of stunts in Dubai alone – it happens everywhere. In one of my trips to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, I witnessed a family encouraging children to jump repeatedly from the guard rails for a picture-perfect opportunity, while someone else kept clicking pictures on their camera. This happy excursion could have become tragic any time one of them fell down the side of a steep slope. I hope there will be more awareness programs to constantly alert and remind people of any imminent danger. Safety should be our priority at all times.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
ClicksandWrites 
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