Bollywood's most talked-about couple Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have reportedly ended their six-year long relationship.

While rumours have been rife for quite some time that there have been tensions in Ranbir and Katrina's relation, now Pinkvilla has confirmed that the two have parted their ways.

"The two have officially parted ways. Three days back, Ranbir moved out of their Carter Road flat with all his luggage. Katrina soon flew off to Delhi to promote Fitoor. This is it for them. They have tried making it work for far too long but things weren't falling in place for them," a source told Pinkvilla.

The source further added, "Both of them have made peace with the fact that the relationship is not headed anywhere and their differences can't be resolved. For the last few months, there has been a lot of tension between them. Ranbir's proximity with Deepika during the promotions of Tamasha didn't go down well with Katrina. And she made no pretenses in vehemently putting it across to the media. In an interview with GQ, she'd said that she hopes Ranbir's choices change as he evolves. He has never been the kind of person who can stand being bound in a relationship like that."

Ranbir-Katrina had put up an united front during Christmas to silence rumours of trouble. So what led to this break-up?

Insecurity

The insecurities that Katrina had in the relationship is evident. The reserved, reticent actress' explosive GQ interview is testimony of that.

She had said, "My greatest fear is that if and when I get married and I am standing at the altar or the mandap, he (the groom) may not love me completely. That he may not know his mind well enough to be making those commitments. The anticipation of heartbreak is my only fear.”

Deepika Padukone

Ranbir's Kapoor ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone had nothing to do with the break-up. But Katrina was not happy with the two ex-lovers working together.

She was quoted saying, "I can't enforce my will on the people in my life. Their choices are their own. I may not be happy with them but I hope that as they mature or as they evolve, their choices will change!"

But Deepika is committed to making her relationship with Ranveer Singh work.

Not close to Ranbir's parent

During her interview with GQ Katrina almost sounded unhappy for not being close enough to Ranbir's parents.

She said, "I am not as close to Ranbir's family as I would like. But I would like to hang out with them more. Family would be a defining factor when I make the decision to marry. I am a very responsive person. So, if my partner gives me what I need, I can be the best girlfriend you can wish for."

It was out in the open that Ranbir's parents did not approve of Katrina. His mother Neetu Kapoor was unhappy with Ranbir moving in with Katrina. At the Kapoor's Christmas brunch when Katrina accompanied Ranbir, Neetu decided to skip the party.

Commitment issues

From the very beginning the two actors were cagey about going public. Also, Ranbir's non-commitment on wedding plans was a big reason for the split. The actor would develop cold feet each time this subject came up.

Katrina's GQ interview again revealed that she feared of being cheated on

The actor stated, "See men and women, they're different. Women give birth to babies, men don't. We can't say 'oh equality on all levels, we're all the same. No, our biological needs and bodies are different. Men have been the hunters and the philanderers.

"Being with an actor has its own set of issues, but the basic differences arise because men are men. Cheaters will cheat anywhere," she added.

Ranbir moves out

Recently, Ranbir moved out of their apartment. He was seen leaving the house with all his belongings.

But all these break-up news doesn't sound that convincing. There could be more to the whole story then what meets the eye.

Ranbir and Katrina will have to complete their upcoming film 'Jagga Jasoos' and a scope of a reconciliation can't be dismissed.

Drew Barrymore "works her butt off" during training.

The 45-year-old actress has worked out with trainer Marnie Alton for the past 15 years and Marnie says she is constantly blown away by Drew's work ethic.

She told Women's Health: "The girl works hard; I'll give her that. She blows my mind. She's got the spirit and energy that you would imagine she would.

"I find her to be a really hard worker, she takes direction and she wants to learn, so she trusts and she works her butt off. She also allows herself to be vulnerable, she allows herself to be directed, she allows herself to take risks, and she works really hard so for me that's an ideal client."

And Drew loves to do crunches to work on her core.

Marnie said: "She loves anything core-related. She loves crunches, all different types of crunches, so that's something that we definitely focus on. Typically we do that towards the end once the spine is really supported, so that we can get more into the abs and not hurt the back.

"For me, I come from a place where I think we have everything we need. You don't even need weights, you don't need shoes, you don't need machines. You need properly sequenced bodyweight movements and then you need to connect with them mentally."

And music plays a huge part in Drew's workouts.

Marnie explained: "One of the things that I focus on a lot is not 'getting through the exercise;' it's about feeling what it felt like"

"The music in our workouts is never background music, so I design playlists that have certain BPMs (beats per minute) so that we can do certain exercises on the beat. The music's going at a certain pace, we're going at a certain pace. It's all working together."

Rani Mukerji is extremely nostalgic on the 16th anniversary of her film Hum Tum starring Saif Ali Khan and Rishi Kapoor. Hum Tum released on May 28, 2004.  “Hum Tum will always be memorable for me because it was the film that Chintu uncle was part of and I fondly remember our shoot in Amsterdam. Recently, when I met up with him before his untimely demise, we were chatting about the Hum Tum shoot and we were recalling the days of how much fun we had during the Amsterdam schedule,” says Rani fondly remembering her shooting experience with the legendary actor.

Rishi started the trend of playing character roles with films that included Hum Tum. “I remember very clearly that for Chintu uncle, it was one of the first films in which he had started playing key character roles. He took a leap of faith and he agreed to play Saif’s dad because till then he was always the leading star. Somehow, he did this and he was just brilliant as usual and made our film truly special,” she adds.
Like many of us, Rani also reveals that she was a huge fan of Rishi Kapoor, the actor and the person that he was. She narrates her memories of acting with him in Hum Tum saying, “Chintu uncle belonged to the era where actors never did sync sound and Hum Tum was a sync-sound film. We were shooting in a house in Amsterdam which had wooden flooring and Dilip Subramaniam was the sound recordist. He kept telling Chintu uncle that each time he would take a step in the house, the floor would creak and the sound would come. Chintu uncle invariably moved and Dilip would say cut, we will need one more!”

And Rishi was never used to another take and would go berserk leading to the team cracking up. “Chintu uncle was just not used to one more take and we used to all crack up because he used to fire him. He used to say what the hell is this, why is the take not getting okayed and why is the floor creaking. He was hilarious. It was quite a first for him because he had to actually understand what this sync sound is all about because they used to all dub for their films and these things never mattered. It was a first and we used to have lots of chats and laughs about this. I have always been a huge fan of Chintu uncle and his demise has been a double loss for me, as somebody whom I knew very well and also as a fan,” she says.
Rani opines that a film like Hum Tum was definitely ahead of the curve by showing progressive portrayal of women in cinema. She says, “Hum Tum was a very, very special subject a very modern subject. It was definitely ahead of its time. The way my character Rhea reacts at the end and walks away from Saif’s character’s (Karan) life when he just randomly suggests to get married because they had physical intimacy, it was bold. I think that was way ahead of its time for a woman to do this in a Hindi film. For a girl to actually walk away from a man and break stereotypes and notions of how a woman should react, it was new but it was also much needed to show in cinema.”

“Before Hum Tum, we hadn’t seen many roles where women were strong and self-reliant like that. They would hardly take a stand like that. So, it kind of spoke about the new emerging woman. So, I think Rhea’s character stood for the modern Indian woman at that time and I remember when Adi offered me the film along with Kunal, I had completely gone gung ho and really, really loved the script and had said – this is great! Let’s do this!,” she signs off.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been "getting on better" since agreeing on the custody schedule for their children.

The pair split in 2016 and were legally divorced last year but are said to be on good terms after finally agreeing arrangements for their six children - Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

A source told Entertainment Tonight: "Brad's kids are the most important thing to him. He tells his friends he learns so much about life from his own children.

"He and Angie have been getting along so much better since the custody rules have been worked out. They have come so far."

The 56-year-old actor is also "proud" of daughter Shiloh and is excited about celebrating her 14th birthday on Wednesday (27.05.20).

The insider added: "Shiloh is close to both of her parents. All the kids have been looking forward to Shiloh's birthday and plan to celebrate with a birthday cake.

"Brad is so proud of Shiloh and who she has become. He loves that she always stays true to herself and is good to her brothers and sisters."

The 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' star's marriage to Angelina, 44, was officially declared over in April 2019 and it was reported that the relationship was "the best it's been since their split".

A source said at the time: "Brad and Angelina have come a long way.

"To the surprise of many of their closest friends, their communication has improved tremendously and they're both dedicated to co-parenting.

"Their kids have a custody schedule and that's made a huge difference for the whole family. The schedule has alleviated any of the planning pressures Brad and Angelina have faced in the past. Now the kids spend time with both their parents and are happy and thriving."

When cleanliness is lost and ghusl (complete body wash) is not performed before the start of the fast, is the fast still valid?

Before prayer and certain religious rituals a Muslim must make sure that the body is in a clean state. Cleanliness of the body is lost after sexual intercourse, orgasmic discharge, completion of the menstrual cycle, giving birth and death by natural causes.

The fast is valid if the person had the intention to fast before Fajr prayer, even if he/she did not perform ghusl, commented the Central Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (AWFAQ).

Children and elderly are excused from keeping the fast during the month of Ramadan. But when it comes to children, introducing the concept of fasting is recommended from a certain age. After some time, parents should enforce the holy practice, which is considered as one of the five pillars of Islam.

Does swallowing stomach reflux invalidate fast?

Food, which comes out of the stomach accidentally, does not break or invalidate the fast, unless this is swallowed back. In such a case the person should re-fast this day as the fasting is invalid.

Can you visit dentist without breaking your fast?

Central Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) answers:

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from any form of consumption during fasting hours. Therefore, the swallowing of any substance would break the fast, the religious authorities have said.

Bearing this in mind, is it permissible to go to the dentist?

“It is permissible to get dental treatment during fasting but on the condition that the water is not going up to the throat. And Allah knows best,” commented the Central Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf), the official authority to issue fatwas in the UAE.

According to Rania Al-Haridi, a Dubai-based dentist, most of the people avoid visiting dental clinics during their fasting hours out of fear of breaking the fast inadvertently during the treatment.

“Statistics show that the number of patients visiting dental clinics after Iftar is much higher than those visiting during the day,” she said.

However, visiting the dentist during the fasting hours does not necessarily break the fast if precautions are taken, she claims.

“Nowadays, precautions can be taken by highly improved medical suction devices which work on getting rid of any liquids, saliva or blood during the treatment.

Which treatments do break the fast, and which ones do not?

While certain treatments do not influence the fast, others will, so it is important to do some research before allowing the treatment.
Anesthetic needles used during treatment sessions do not break the fast, confirms Awfaq. “Injecion of anesthesia as well as therapeutic does not break the fast because it is injected into a muscle. And Allah knows best,” was the fatwa.

When it comes to tooth extractions, a risk of breaking the fast comes at play. Although “uction plays an important role in the disposal of fluids, complications might arise leading to severe bleeding, explained Rania, recommending this treatment to be postponed till after Iftar.

When asked about cosmetic treatments Rania replied: “Cosmetic treatments such as installing faceted ceramic, tooth whitening, and preventive treatments like cleaning are all preferably postponed till after Iftar because these kind of treatments are totally dependent on water and are not usually very urgent.”

She added that patients should be careful not to swallow any components of dental fillings, since many of them contain aromatic materials and ones with a distinctive taste, like the ‘cloves’.

- As told to Majorie van Leijen

More questions answered...

Dr Ali Ahmed Mashael, Grand Mufti, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Dubai (IACAD), answers readers' questions on fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Can a woman fast in advance for days she is going to miss due to her menstrual cycle?

It is not permissible to fast in advance for days she will miss during Ramadan. All rituals have a fixed timing and a person must abide by this time.
So it is not permissible to perform a ritual before its real time.

How should a person travelling by plane on last day of Ramadan break the fast?
 
The person should take his/her iftar according to the timing of the country in whose airspace the plane is at the time of iftar.
Usually the crew alerts fasters to the time of iftar.

What happens if a person eats or drinks by mistake? Does s/he need to refast? 

Can one pay fidyah (feeding poor people) instead of re-fasting days missed?

A person must re-fast the days which he/she missed, even for a legitimate excuse, such as travel or menstruation.

It is not permissible to feed the poor instead of re-fasting those days, unless the person is very weak due to a chronic disease. In such case one can pay ‘fidyah’ or feed the poor for each day.

What if a person passes away and does not have the money to give charity as kafara?

A person who dies due to serious illness is forgiven from fasting and his guardians or relatives are forgiven from fasting on behalf of him as well.
If a person recovers from illness, but still cannot re-fast the days missed, then his guardians or relatives can re-fast on his behalf.

In case guardians or relatives cannot re-fast, they should feed the poor for each missed day as kafara. If they do not have enough money, they can approach a charity on behalf of him.

Physical intimacy between husband and wife while fasting?

A simple expression of intimacy – even kissing one's wife - does not invalidate the fast. However, a couple must avoid  sexual intercourse during the fast.

Can a woman seek medication to prevent her menstrual cycle so as to keep the fast?

There is nothing wrong in seeking medication as long as it does not result in any harm to the woman's health.
If there is any chance of the medication causing damage or negatively impacting one’s health, she should refrain from such pills.

What if one wakes up thirsty and drinks water during the Fajr prayer Athan? 

The Athan is a sign of the beginning of fasting period. Therefore, the person cannot drink or eat anything after the Fajr prayer call. 

If a person consumes anything s/he must re-fast after the month of Ramadan.

What if one has finished the fast, but then travels to the country where his family is still fasting?

If the person reaches before the Fajr prayer call he must fast with the people of the country he has travelled to. This is because he is in a country that has not seen the crescent of 'Shawal' yet. If he has to, he may be break his fast in private, but not in front of the people there.

What to do in case of bleeding gums, or phlegm due to throat dryness?

If a person is suffering from bleeding gums and feels the blood in his/her mouth, then s/he should spit it out. Phlegm/sputum also do not break the fast, as long as they are not swallowed.

Do injections – in case of sickness, blood donors – invalidate the fast?

Injections in specific body areas, like the thighs, do not break the fast. As far as intravenous injections go, there is some disagreement among scholars on the issue. Hence, it is best for a person to re-fast that day.

If a person needs to donate blood, and therefore is injected, it does not make the fast invalid.

Does the use of toothpaste break the fast?

“There is nothing wrong in using the toothpaste from sunset till the Fajr prayer call. During the day of Ramadan, if saliva mixed with the taste of the toothpaste is swallowed, it will break the fast.

"If the person is careful and ensures no saliva goes down the throat, then the fasting is valid.”

If one is on an aircraft what timing should one follow to break the fast?

The person should break the fast when the sun disappears in the sky while he is on the aircraft and shouldn’t break the fast according to the timings on ground-level. The person should wait till the sun disappears while he is on board.

If the 'athan' of the Maghreb is at 6.40pm and someone drinks at 6.38pm, just two minutes before the Iftar timing. Does this invalidate the fast?

If the Muslim ate or drank before the 'athan' of Maghreb a minute or less, thinking that the Maghreb prayer call has announced, in this case he has to refast that day, and there is no sin on him because he did not do it deliberately.

What  to do when one is travelling?

Dr Mashael said it is permissible for the person who left the country before dawn (Fajr prayer call) not to fast. Majority of scholars allow not to fast when travelling during the daytime. But if a traveller wants, he can fast.

Can an asthma patient use an inhaler during fasting?

“A patient may use asthma medication prescribed if s/he needs to do so. It breaks the fast because the /pumpspray contains water and other chemical elements.

"The person must re-fast this day.

"However, if the disease is chronic, the person can feed another in poverty or donate an equivalent amount.”

What if someone hears the ‘adhan’ (call to prayer) of Fajr while he was taking his/her suhoor?

The Muslim who wants to fast should throw out the food in his mouth when he hears the ‘adhan’. Do not continue eating and drinking. Do not ingest what is in the mouth.

In case food is swallowed, the person should perform a re-fast for that day.

Is it permissible to use a deodorant or light incense (bakhoor) during fasting?

Deodorant does not break the fast, but a person shouldn’t use perfumes or inhale the smoke of incense (bakhoor). If inhaled deliberately, it breaks the fast and the person should re-fast that day.

Can one use a medicinal nicotine patch on the body to quit smoking, during the fasting hours?

Nicotine patches and the like are allowed if none of its ingredients go into or through the stomach of the person.

Nothing can be swallowed by the person.

That which is absorbed by the body – like smells in aromatherapy - will not effect on the validity of the fasting.

Therefore, use patches that will not spoil the fast.

A person should control himself and refrain from smoking during the day in Ramadan and at night also - give up the habit.

- As told to Mohammad El Sadafy

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

The International Media followed with great interest the Resolution of the UAE Cabinet that approved the multi-entry tourist visa for the UAE for a period of five years for all nationalities, which will have a significant impact regionally and globally in this important time.

The Resolution delivers many promising messages to the UAE community and the whole world, the first and most effective one is the stability and sustainability of the national economy and its ability to address the fluctuations and changes that affected the region over the past decades.

Last October, the UAE ranked first regionally and 33rd globally in tourism and travel in 2019, according to 52 competitive indicators, the most notable of which is the stability of the country's economy.

The United Arab Emirates has achieved this accomplishment as tourism in the country is an institutional work that has a solid base in the formation of the UAE society which is based on hospitality and tolerance which are deeply rooted inside Emiratis.

What attracts the attention of researchers in the global tourism sector is that the UAE has excelled in the innovation accelerators such as information and communication technologies, labour market efficiency, business dynamism and innovation potential.

The country received about 21 million tourists in 2019, including 15 million during the first half of the year. The contribution of the Tourism sector in the country's Gross Domestic Product exceeded AED161 billion, which is a huge achievement in "UAE Vision 2021" and in the forecasts for 2027 targeting AED234 billion.

In consideration of the development sustainability, sectoral contributions figures are taken with the GDP, accompanied by employment figures, and the innovative potential to engage the public and private sectors.

In the employment field, the tourism and travel sector provides about 325,000 job opportunities distributed in a wide range of tourism products, starting with hotels that includes about 125,000 rooms.

The competitiveness of the Emirati tourism sector is enhanced by innovation that added, in the past few years, new patterns such as environmental and agricultural tourism, which comprises of 151 sites.

These new patterns are based on distinguished infrastructure during the past decades and is still in shopping and entertainment areas, as well as the industry of hosting international and regional conferences and events that will be highly represented in the Expo 2020 Dubai.

In addition to the country's accumulative achievements that ranked the country first regionally, the Resolution of the five years multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities, not only enhances the absolute precedence of the country as a tourist hub, but also delivers a message of confidence in the UAE economy in the light of a turbulent region which is full of crisis that undermine the ability to plan and to achieve sustainable development.

It was no coincidence that the Resolution of five years multiple entry tourist visa came at the first meeting of the Cabinet in the new year.

In 2020 the UAE had a commitment to designing its future for the second half of its centenary, based on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to be a Union which is based on a humanitarian message, economic stability and tolerance as well as an open tourism sector protected by security and innovation.

The occasional Hollywood import to India - actor Omi Vaidya known as the lovable Chatur Ramalingam from 3 Idiots re-enters the Indian scene with the new season of his web series called Metro Park – Quarantine Edition. Metro park came last year and was rather successful.

Omi plays the role of Kannan in the show along with Ranvir Shorey, Pitobash and Purbi Joshi among others. “If you know Kannan, he’s a very anxious uptight fellow. He’s pretty paranoid and the paranoia is a part of our lives now and people are uncomfortable staying more than 6 feet away wearing full head masks - distrusting their own family because of exposure and stuff.  That whole personality is sort of shown in Kannan,” says Omi who also got his wife to handle the camera when he was acting as all the actors had to get their videos shot at home. “It was an experience,” recollects the actor.

Omi was last seen in the Bollywood film Blackmail playing a character called Boss DK. He played late actor Irrfan Khan’s boss who runs a toilet paper manufacturing company.

The actor remembers the time when he worked with Irrfan in his last Bollywood appearance. “Blackmail was the last Bollywood movie in which I acted with the wonderful Irrfan. You watch a lot of actor work when you come on set, They sort of meet your expectation of what you’re going to see - they’re loud, they’re big and they perform in a way that makes sense but Irfan was very different. He was really quiet. He didn’t really talk to anyone. He was focused on the work and the way that he acted was something very unexpected. Many a time, he didn’t really know his lines and I wondered why doesn’t he know his lines? He had one word - something like ‘achcha’ and he didn’t know what it was and I wondered why would he do this? I am the one struggling with Hindi here and why wouldn’t he? The reason I realised is that he wanted to have a natural reaction to what I was saying. When you already know what you’re going to say and you have a predetermined idea of how you’re going to say it. But when you don’t know your line and you just hear somebody talking, you naturally react and that was very interesting to see. It reminded me of how I worked in The Office with Steve Carell. It reminded me of the way he worked, because he also would just not know his lines and it didn’t really make sense in the scene but when you watched the replay you would go ‘achcha. this is a genius right here’!” recollects Omi.

Dubai Traffic Police has transferred the impounded Enzo Ferrari to a special warehouse to prevent damage, said Captain Khaled Al Kamali.

In a statement to Emirates24|7, Capt. Kamali said, despite Dubai Police saying the Enzo Ferrari is not for sale because Interpol has identified the vehicle as stolen, “every day we are getting offers of purchase, the last of whom was a Lebanese businessman".

He said the Enzo Ferrari was only one of many impounded luxury cars that are being investigated by Interpol for theft. Because of that, none of them will be sold or disposed of in any manner.

Meanwhile, the Enzo Ferrari case in pending in Dubai courts where many parties are disputing its ownership, including the owner of the car showroom that sold it, the buyer and others.

The Enzo Ferrari is one of a limited number of custom-made cars.

Emirati car rally driver Mohammed bin Sulayem owns one of them. The Enzo Ferrari was impounded by Dubai Police after a tip off from the Interpol that it was stolen from a British citizen. The police is awaiting the Dubai Court’s decision before handing it over to its owner.

Thirty-five other luxury cars lie impounded with Dubai Police, including seven vehicles stolen in the UAE.

Nine of the impounded cars are awaiting court verdicts before being handed over to the original owners. The remaining cars were impounded for not renewing their registrations for a long time or for non-payment of accumulated fines.

[Click here to read more about cars with expired registrations]

Through its website, Dubai Police has urged owners whose cars were impounded for more than six months to get their vehicles released by paying the accumulated fines as early as possible.

Otherwise, the cars would be sold by public auction one month after the announcement made in the last week of April.

The total number of impounded cars in Dubai is 309.

READ EARLIER STORIES...

$1 million Ferrari Enzo is not for sale: Dubai Police

Many British, Americans, Indians and Russians have asked to buy a limited edition red Ferrari Enzo, that has been gathering dust at the Dubai Police car pound, along with several other luxury cars.

Despite rumours of an impending auction circulating around the world, Dubai Police told Emirates 24|7 that the cars have been seized as part of evidence from various crimes such as robbery, and are not for sale.

Captain Khalid Al Kamali, said 9 luxury cars have been seized as they were part of thefts. Seven of them were stolen from their owners within the UAE, and two cars from abroad.

"The one Ferrari Enzo and the another regular Ferrari are required by Interpol. So, the nine cars are not for sale."

The police have received many calls from traders - Britons, Americans, Russians and Indians want to buy the Ferrari Enzo, worth about a $1 million, after a report published by Emirates 24|7 on luxury cars seized at the General Directorate of Traffic in Dubai.

Al Kamali said the cars on Interpol notice are usually stolen from another country. "They shall not be disposed of, except in accordance with procedures specified in coordination between the real owner of the car, Interpol and the Interior Ministry in the UAE," he added.

There are more than 35 luxury cars at the Dubai Police car pound of which, nine [including the Ferari Enzo] are not for sale based on reports of theft.

The rest are held for various reasons including failure to renew the licence of the car for a long time and non-payment of accumulated fines.

Also, some are held as they were involved in accidents and their owners fled from the scene, and some cars are held at the request of the investigation, or issues still pending in court.

The nine stolen cars include the two Ferraris (both red), yellow Porsche, silver Porsche, black Corvette, silver BMW and three black Mercedes.

Capt Al Kamali stressed that vehicles that are booked based on claims or reports of domestic or international theft cannot be part of the auctions organised by the Traffic Department of Dubai.

Auctions are for all other cars that have been with the polie for more than 6 months, have not been involved in crime and have been unclaimed by their owners. According to Law 34 of 2008, such cars can be auctioned following an announcement published in the local press 30 days before the date of the auction.

Auctioned Dubai cars go for just Dh10,700

Seized cars were sold at a public auction for an average price of some Dh10,700.

The General Directorate of Traffic in Dubai held an auction on Wednesday in which 127 cars were put on the block.

They sold for Dh1.36 million.

These cars had been lying unclaimed at the police car pound for more than seven months.

Cars that have been with the police for more than 6 months, have not been involved in any crime and have been unclaimed by their owners, can be auctioned. According to Law 34 of 2008, such cars can be auctioned following an announcement published in the local press 30 days before the date of the auction.

31% abandoned cars not retrieved by owners

Thirty-one per cent of owners of neglected or abandoned cars confiscated by the municipality do not recover the vehicles within six months from the date of confiscation, according to statistics of Dubai Municipality.

The percentage of owners who do not recover their abandoned cars fell from 41.5 per cent in 2010 to 31 per cent this year.

The Waste Department of Dubai Municipality tracks abandoned and neglected vehicles in the parking yards and public places and then fixes a notice to the cars asking owners to report to the municipality within 15 days from the date of the notice, failing which the vehicle will be towed to the municipality’s scrap yard and kept there for six months.

The municipality gives the car owner a deadline of six months during which time he can retrieve his vehicle after paying a fee of Dh710.

The municipality will auction the car if it is not retrieved by the owner within six months

1,492 usable cars were confiscated in 2010, out of which 875 (58.5 per cent) were recovered by their owners. In 2011, 1,189 cars were seized, out of which 823 (69 per cent) were claimed by their owners.

Ibrahim Yaqoub, director of contracts at Dubai Municipality, said the car owners’ financial problems forcing them to leave the country was one of the reasons for abandoning their cars. Sometimes, people go on vacation, leaving the car in a parking lot and are surprised to know that the car has been auctioned off when they return.

The numbers of the car bodies taken from the streets of Dubai last year were 1,221, which decreased to 1,132 in 2011.

He said Dubai Municipality will launch a new service in 2012, which is to send SMS to owners of cars abandoned in streets, warning them that the municipality will confiscate their cars within 15 days. He added the department is coordinating with RTA which has the numbers of the cars.

Luxury cars lie impounded by Dubai Police

Thirty-five luxury cars of different makes, totally worth tens of millions of dirhams, are currently impounded by Dubai Police at Al Qusais, according to Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin, director of the General Department of Dubai Traffic Police.

Among them are four Ferraris, one of them Enzo class valued at about a million dollars.

There are also Porsche, Corvette, Infiniti, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes and Dodge cars among the impounded vehicles, Al Zaffin said.

Traffic fines assessed by the court on some of these vehicles come to about Dh100,000, he said.

Some of the cars were stolen, some are involved in crime, some were confiscated for debt repayment defaults and some for non-payment of traffic fines, he added. Some were left unmoved on the street for long periods of time.

In some cases, the cars were seized because the drivers had fled after their vehicles were involved in accidents.

"The Ferrari Enzo, wanted by Interpol, was seized by the CID. Its British owner had left it in the parking lot for more than 20 months after traffic fines had piled up,” Al Zaffin said.

He said 23 luxury cars had accumulated fines ranging from Dh98,300 to Dh100,000.

Ten of the impounded luxury cars belong to Emiratis, seven to Europeans, one to a Russian expatriate and the remaining six are owned by companies, he added.

According to Dubai’s Domestic Law No.34 of 2008, the luxury cars will be auctioned six months after impounding, after advertising in Arabic and foreign language newspapers.

He compared the impounded luxury cars to football players bought with millions but left sitting on the bench without playing. Some of the cars were driven by youth who did not buy them with their own money, so they did not know its value, he said.

Inspired by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and as per the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, AND His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to enhance the quality of life for people of determination, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Chairman of the Board of MOI's Social Security Fund has launched an initiative dedicated to people of determination, offering them Fazaa Hemam privilege card.

The card is an outcome of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Community Development and Ministry of Interior’s Social Security Fund, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and the UAE Special Olympics. The initiative is supported by a number of several government entities offering a wide range of discounts and facilities.

The launch, made on video call, was attended by H.H. Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, Shamma Bint Suhail Bin Faris Al Mazrouie, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Special Olympics, Falah Muhammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Department of Municipalities and Transport-Abu Dhabi, Abdullah Abd Alali Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, Rashid Al Qubaisi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of SEHA and Abdullah Al Sahi, Acting Undersecretary of Department of Municipalities and Transport, and Lt. Colonel Ahmed Bouharoun Al Shamsi, Director General of the Ministry of Interior’s Social Security Fund.

H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the Organisation is always working to cooperate with all its strategic partners in various initiatives and projects in order to enable and integrate for People of Determination into society in light of the wise vision of leadership and the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He added that this cooperation comes with the Ministry of Interior’s Social Security Fund "Fazaa" by launching a membership with exceptional benefits for its holders of People of Determination, local or residents, in the name of "Fazaa Hemam " an embodiment of the vision of rational leadership in achieving social integration and encouraging the building of a society in which there are equal opportunities for all and the principles of the government in enhancing cooperation and coordination between agencies and institutions to serve those with determination .

H.H. Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed thanks and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and praised the role played by the MOI in maintaining security throughout the UAE to provide the appropriate climate for development, progress, appreciating the interest and keenness of His Highness People of Determination through Launching many humanitarian initiatives.

The card of exclusive privileges is offered by Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination in partnership and coordination with the Ministry of Interior’s Social Security Fund "Fazaa" and UAE Special Olympics. The new card will provide people of determination, both citizens and residents, with exceptional proactive services which aim at making them happy. The personal and unique card, which bears joint logos, is officially registered in the UAE and approved by all government entities, and entitles its holders to obtain the preferential services offered by such entities.

Under the new initiative, people of determination will get the special card along with a version of Fazza membership called "Fazaa Hemam" which comes with exceptional privileges, promotional discounts, and free facilities for a number of government services, in partnership with Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and the UAE Special Olympics.

The matchlessly designed card bears the logos of the three partner government entities, and after its official registration in the UAE, will be endorsed at all government entities to provide preferential services to its holders.

The new initiative aims to enhance the services provided to this valued group and improve their quality of life. It provides cardholders with a full suite of services in healthcare, government and social security services, better quality of life, and exclusive discounts in all activities, stores and centers offering special need services for people of determination. The initiative also cooperates with government departments, such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, offer them online job opportunities.

The card provides special facilities for people of determination in customer service, facilities and benefits from companies owned by people of determination, and free delivery in municipality, licensing and foodstuff services. In the financial field, privileges include exemption from fees in recreational and other facilities. A for the knowledge field, the initiative provides introductory booklets in several languages, in addition to brochures, publications, guidebooks and awareness-raising manuals in Braille writing system in both Arabic and English at the participating entities’ service centers. In the entertainment and sports field, the initiative provides fitness equipment for exercising and warming up to boost immunity and physical strength.

The new card comes in two categories; the first with the UAE Special Olympics logo, in collaboration with the UAE Special Olympics, is dedicated to people of determination with intellectual disability. The second card is dedicated to all people of determination, both citizens and residents, with different disabilities from birth to 49 years, according to the Disability Classification Guide approved and issued by Zayed Higher Organization. Holders of the second card are people with intellectual and auditory disabilities, visual impairment in autistics and those with multiple disabilities, psychiatric disabilities and communication disorders, and those with attention deficit and the hyperactive.

In addition to all the privileges mentioned above, 10 thousand Fazaa e-Cards linked with ZHO cards for people of determination will be offered to beneficiaries. They can use the card without having to carry the other card, especially when both cards are linked with ZHO/Fazaasmart app. Applying for the cards will be available online as of today.

Pop star Cher, an award winning actress had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet President Obama in person.

The lady with jaw dropping looks at the age of 66 was accompanied by her mother, Georgia Holt.

Cher’s mom is an ardent fan of the President and this was her first public appearance ever.

Georgia Holt, upstaged the event simply by being herself.  If you think Cher looks good at 66 years of age, you’ll be amazed to see her mother looks an absolute stunner at  the age of 86.

The legendary singer took to Twitter where she touted that the president was amazed at her appearance considering her age.
 
“Told him mom’s 86. He said “Georgia, tell me what u eat” & smiled!”
 
She tweeted that her mother was swept off her feet by Obama’s admiration. She added, “Mom was all “OMG!”

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, paid a glowing tribute to health and other workers and actors from the public and private sectors as well as public benefit organisations for being the country's "first line of defence'' while heroically fighting the COVID-19.

In a message of thanks and gratitude to more than 50,000 selfless heroes at the frontline, Sheikh Hamdan said:'' My dear brothers and sisters, the brave heroes at the frontline.

In our desperate times, you rose to the challenge. Armed with your selflessness, you've redefined the meaning of service and sacrifice. Your courage has built an invincible fortress protecting our society.

You are today's finest soldiers, the barrier between us and the pandemic. We cannot thank you enough for your spirit that protects our nation.

Thank you for putting our safety before yours. You have set an example for the heroes to come. Your sacrifice is inspiring, humbling, and a legacy that our history will remember forever.

With God's grace, we will get through these times. And together, we will emerge stronger and more determined to continue our journey of shaping the future.

Thank you

Germany will extend its travel warning for non-European countries until the end of August but lift border controls to all its neighbours by mid-June, Reuters quoted ministers as saying on Wednesday.

As the coronavirus crisis in many European countries eases somewhat, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany does not yet have systems with the rest of the world to assess and coordinate travel without entailing potentially incalculable risks.

"We cannot and will not risk Germans being stranded all over the world again this summer or holidaymakers returning to Germany with the virus undetected," said Maas in a statement.

Germany had already announced it would lift a blanket travel ban for EU members, Britain, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from 15th June, opening the way to separate travel advice for individual regions.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Wednesday Germany was going further and would lift border controls by 15th June, while cautioning it would reconsider if the virus situation worsens.

Seehofer also said existing rules for non-EU citizens wanting to come to Germany would be extended until the end of June.

Dubai property developer Nakheel has announced the increase in demand for villas, with sales worth AED223 million in the last three months, as buyers look for more indoor and outdoor living space to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

According to a press release issued by the company today, Nakheel has sold 70 villas with a sales value of AED170 million since March in family villas at Nad Al Sheba.

Ready villas at Al Furjan are also proving popular, with AED53 million worth of sales across 20 villas in the same period. Nearly 70 percent of villas released at Nad Al Sheba, and 95 percent of the 400-plus villas at the most recently completed phase at Al Furjan, are now taken.

Commenting on the announcement, Aqil Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Nakheel, said, "The robust sales highlight investor trust in Dubai real estate and the Nakheel brand. With a growing number of end-users among our customers, it’s clear that buyers are committing long term to the real estate sector with a home to call their own.

"Remote working, home schooling and earlier restrictions on movement have resulted in people spending most of their time at home – with many rethinking their living arrangements and realising that they could do with more space to work and play. This, combined with competitive deals and our new virtual sales tool, has led to strong demand for family villas with extra rooms and private gardens at some of our most prestigious communities."

Etihad Airways and Aldar Properties have entered into a historic partnership that brings benefits to UAE-based Etihad Guest members and shoppers in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

Through this exclusive agreement Etihad Guest members can now earn and spend their Etihad Guest Miles on purchases made with their Visa cards at three malls within Aldar’s retail portfolio - Yas Mall, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Jimi Mall – collectively comprising over 650 retailers.

Members will earn one Etihad Guest Mile for every AED3 spent on purchases with their Visa cards over AED50, or can choose to seamlessly spend their miles for transactions over AED50.

In a first for the Etihad Guest programme, members can now earn Tier Miles on purchases, allowing them to elevate their Etihad Guest Tier Status, regardless of if they have chosen to earn or spend their Etihad Guest Miles. Members will earn one Tier Mile per AED3 when using a Visa card.

Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Aviation Group, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with Aldar, one of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s most iconic and recognisable brands, bringing more choices to our Etihad Guest members to earn and use their Miles across shopping and lifestyle, supporting Abu Dhabi as a hub for tourism, culture and world-class shopping experiences.

"Etihad Guest members can now elevate their Tier Status while shopping across Aldar Malls, even while using their Miles, which is a first of its kind offer, showing our commitment towards our loyal members during these difficult times."

In turn, Saoud Khoory, Executive Director of Retail Asset Management at Aldar, commented, "The partnership paves the way for future collaborations with Etihad, where we will explore ways to create additional value for our customers. Rewarding and generating value for our loyal customers is the foremost objective of these initiatives, and this unique partnership helps us to achieve this aim."

To earn and spend miles, shoppers simply connect their Visa card to their Etihad Guest mobile app. The Etihad Guest app is fitted with the new ‘Miles on the Go’ technology allowing members to earn or spend miles when they swipe their linked Visa card in any of the three Aldar Malls.

Shoppers will automatically earn miles if the transaction is over AED50, and if the member has sufficient miles in their account, the member will be prompted via a push notification, with an offer to redeem miles for their purchase.

Mystery continues to shroud the sudden death of British national Evelyn Rose Clarke, even as friends and family recalled the colourful life of the young airline stewardess who plunged to her death from a residential building in Bur Dubai earlier this week.

Liked for her “warm and loving nature”, while complimented for her powerful singing voice, the young 28-year-old Scot arrived in Dubai a few years ago from Bonnie in Scotland with four other friends and dreams of a career for herself with Emirates.

Who knew, within a few short years, her life would end so tragically, leaving behind many unanswered questions and a night cloaked in secrecy.

‘Evelyn’s smile was infectious’

Piecing together her life until that fateful April 8 morning in a residential building in Al Mankhool, Bur Dubai, a Facebook memorial page anecdotes about her from her family and friends, who refer to her as the “life of the party”, who, from a young age, had a “zest and smile that was infectious and simply lit up a room.”

Clarke was a precocious child who enjoyed watching shows such as ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, and loved prettying up in front of the mirror.

In late 1998, young Clarke also dabbled a bit in media, “presenting a weekly programme on the hospital radio station at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine from 1998 until 2000,” recalled one friend who presented a show with her during that time.

Another recalled meeting her in mid-2000, when Clarke decided to enrol in a beauty course, before venturing into aviation by getting a job at London’s Gatwick Airport.

A few years later, her love of adventure saw her switch to cabin crew, signing up with Thomas Cook Airlines, where her “compassion and winning personality” won her many friends and hearts.

But a greater purpose awaited her, and a job with Emirates was got soon.

Fellow mate P S wrote: “Evelyn, we all started out on a journey together – five girls from Bonnie, Scotland moving out to Dubai. I will never forget our joining flight, we had the best laugh and you made us all at ease during a very anxious time. I never thought it would end like this.”

Clarke appeared to be a well-loved flight attendant with this incident shared by CQ who wrote: “On a flight to Brisbane we had a very old woman on board, who had dementia. She was dazed and confused and Evelyn checked on this lady literally every few minutes for 14 hours, without hesitation and the woman felt comforted by Evelyn’s attentive nature; another passenger called and told her she was a patient and caring individual and he was glad she was on that flight to care for the lady.”

Fateful night

Even as her parents, brother, friends and colleague come to terms with their grief, questions still remain regarding Clarke’s whereabouts on Sunday night that led her in the wee hours into the Afaf Building from where she would never exit alive.

According to reports, Clarke spent Sunday night out on the town, and was discovered in the Afaf Building at 4.15am on Monday morning.

How she arrived there remains unsolved, while reports suggest she actually lived one block away in the Emirates staff residences behind Spinneys.

“She had never entered this building before,” confirmed a staff employee from Afaf, speaking to Emirates 24|7. “When we found her, she was hysterical. She kept screaming someone was after her, was trying to kill her. She identified him as male and feared for her life.”

The security staff member said earlier: “It was around 4.15am and the night shift watchman was in his quarters, in the washroom, when he heard a noise in the lobby, along with the sound of the elevator being called.

“Curious, he went up to the first floor and found our regular newspaper delivery boy dropping the morning edition. When the security asked him to not make a racket, it was the delivery boy who informed him that a barefoot woman had entered the building and seemed quite scared.”

The security guard on duty had to check the floors twice before heading to the seven-storey building’s two-level rooftop.

The rooftop comprises two floors in Afaf, with the lower level housing the gymnasium, with a stairwell connecting to the upper level roof, which, the guard said, always remains locked.

According to an eye witness, the stairwell was filled with smoke when the door was opened, with clear indication that a fire extinguisher had been deployed.

He continued: “There was smoke everywhere and the fire alarm was also triggered. We were blinded for just a few minutes but by then she had fallen through the open window on the stairwell. There was nothing anyone could do.”

The staff employee was unclear whether she fell or jumped. “But there was no one else there. She was not pushed,” he added.

Questions remain

Puzzled residents of the building wonder what Clarke was doing in the building in the first place.

But wild theories abound.

One neighbour said: “Maybe she was taken to one of those dodgy massage parlours that are hidden away in the area and she escaped from there. Maybe someone from one of these places was chasing her.”

Why did Clarke deploy a fire extinguisher or was it a smokescreen to hide something?

Meanwhile, watchmen of neighbouring buildings have all voiced a similar question: “Why was such a dangerously positioned window left unlocked?

“Windows with no grills are usually left locked by building maintenance and checked by building security to ensure everyone’s safety. This is standard practice.

“Even if this window was halfway up a stairwell to a locked roof, there are children who usually play in stairwells. You simply cannot take a risk of leaving these windows unlocked.”

While Dubai Police continues to investigate the case, a forensic report is also awaited, which may shed some light on young Evelyn Rose Clarke’s tragic end.
 

[The building on the right from which Evelyn plunged to her death: All pictures by Bindu Suresh Rai]

EARLIER STORY:

A woman’s body was discovered outside her residential building in the early hours of Monday, with authorities speculating she fell to her death from her sixth floor apartment in Al Mankhool, Bur Dubai.

It is still unclear whether she committed suicide or it’s a case of wrongful death.

A source from Dubai Police spoke with Emirates 24|7, confirming the incident, saying: “A woman’s body was discovered outside her building in the morning hours of Monday, but we are still investigating whether it was suicide or murder.

“Several individuals have been remanded and are under investigation. However, details will only be clear once the autopsy report comes back.”

When quizzed, the official confirmed her as a British national who was reportedly out on the town the night before the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the UK press have identified her as Evelyn Rose Clarke, an airline stewardess who worked with Emirates airline.

An airline spokesperson confirmed her demise, saying: “Emirates can confirm that a 28-year old British female whose body was found in Dubai was employed with Emirates as a cabin crew member. While investigations continue, our sympathies go out to her family, who are currently being supported by our staff welfare team.”

 A UK Foreign Office spokesperson has been quoted by British tabloid ‘Daily Mail’, confirming they were aware of the death and were providing consular assistance to authorities.

Eyewitness account

“It happened between 5am and 6am. The police and paramedics arrived shortly on the scene and the first thing they did was remove the body before other residents woke up,” a resident of the Afaf Building in Bur Dubai, where the body was discovered, said on the condition of anonymity.

“This is a residential community and the main road is a popular route for various school buses. They moved fast but the police and people from CID stayed there almost all day gathering evidence.”

The resident revealed that the woman lived on the sixth floor of the building, where “a few illegal massage parlours also operate.”

Tributes pour in

The 28-year-old’s untimely demise has seen a memorial page created on Facebook by family and friends, with an outpouring of grief from all those who knew her.

A friend wrote on the Facebook wall, saying: “I’m so shocked and saddened by this news. It hasn’ t sunk in that such a happy and beautiful girl has been taken from us.

“My thoughts go out to your family and to your many friends; sleep well angel.”

Another wrote: “I remember the day you came running into my room saying let’s open a night club call it ‘ME’ for M**** and E*****. It was 7.30am and you where so serious. So many memories I have with you I will never forget you my beautiful friend.”

A third friend wrote: “I am still so shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts are with your family and friends at this very sad time.

“I’m so proud E***** that I had the pleasure of flying with such a beautiful and bubbly person a little ray of sunshine. You were taken too soon…”

This is the second balcony death this week, with an Indian resident in his twenties falling to his death from the 10th floor of a high rise in Jumeirah Lakes Tower (JLT).

That case is also under investigation.

In the first incident, the man landed on the terrace of the soon-to-open chicken restaurant Chesters.

According to eyewitnesses, the body was lying in a pool of blood before it was found and removed.

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HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, accompanied by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), witnessed the lifting and installation of the Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) on top of the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 metres, at the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world.

The CSP project is part of the 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 950MW 4th phase is based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with investments totalling AED 15.78 billion.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, accompanied by HE Al Tayer, checked the progress of construction of the 4th phase. HE Ahmed Buti Al Mehairibi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA’s Executive Vice Presidents and other DEWA officials were present.

Abdul Hamid Al Muhaidib, Executive Managing Director of Noor Energy 1, briefed His Highness on the progress and installation of the MSR. Noor Energy 1 is owned by DEWA, the Silk Road Fund, which is owned by the Chinese Government and ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia.
 
“We congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on this historic achievement for Dubai: the installation of the Molten Salt Receiver on the world’s tallest solar power tower, which stands at 262.44 metres tall and we seek to increase it, at the largest Concentrated Solar Power project in the world. This is part of the 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, with investments totalling AED 15.78 billion. This demonstrates the UAE’s leadership in the use of clean and renewable energy,” said Al Tayer.

“We promise His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum that we will continue to build clean and renewable energy projects, guided by his vision and directives to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050’s objectives to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050,” he added.

Al Tayer thanked His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for witnessing this major milestone, which underlines the UAE’s contribution to building the future of the world with environment-friendly solutions for sustainable development.

Al Tayer stated that the smoothness and continuity of construction work over the past period for this strategic project, despite the coronavirus pandemic. It has taken one and a half years to complete 60% of the CSP tower and without injuries. The concrete part of the solar power tower is now complete at a height of 222 metres. The MSR was built and assembled while the tower was being built.

“ACWA Power is proud to partner with DEWA and Silk Road Fund and support all efforts to make the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 a reality. Today, we reached another significant milestone in the world’s largest CSP plant, Noor Energy 1. We have completed the lifting of the Molten Salt Receiver in a record time, keeping the highest standards of safety despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and many other challenges. This is yet another demonstration of ACWA Power’s commitment in to the solar industry and the endeavours made in the region to achieve a clean energy future,” said Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power.

The MSR is the centre and the most important part of the CSP plant. It receives solar radiation and turns it into thermal energy. Up to 50% of the overall project’s first phase has been completed. This includes the solar power tower, the parabolic basin complex, and the photovoltaic solar panels.

The fourth phase of the solar park combines CSP and photovoltaic technology and is rated for 950MW. It will use 700MW of CSP, 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from the solar power tower and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. On its completion, the project will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, allowing for energy availability around the clock. The fourth phase will provide clean energy for 320,000 residences and will reduce 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. This project covers 44 square kilometres and has broken many world records, including the lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of USD 7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kW/h) for the 700MW CSP and USD 2.4 cents per kW/h for the 250MW photovoltaic solar panels.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the IPP model, with a planned capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 and investments of up to AED 50 billion. The 13MW photovoltaic first phase of the solar park became operational in 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase was commissioned in March 2017. The photovoltaic third phase has a capacity of 800MW. A Power Purchase Agreement was signed in March 2020 for the 900MW photovoltaic fifth  phase based on the IPP model. It will become operational in stages starting in the third quarter of 2021.

Despite the suspension of commercial flights in Kuwait as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE Embassy in Kuwait, with the close follow up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MoFAIC, the youngest Emirati child stranded abroad has returned to the UAE.

Two-month-old Zeina Al Amiri, the child of Dr. Abdullah Al Amiri, was born in Kuwait this past April. Zeina's mother and older brother Zayed were based in Kuwait since July 2019, as Dr. Al Amiri was completing the Cleveland Clinic Service Excellence Training Programme in the United States.

However, with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Al Amiri returned to the UAE in March 2020, joining the ranks of frontline healthcare workers to combat the spread of the virus.

"After ten months apart, and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE Embassy in Kuwait, an emergency passport for my child Zeina was issued, and my family returned safely to the homeland," Dr. Al Amiri recalled.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that it continues its efforts to repatriate Emirati citizens currently stranded abroad.

In a statement, MoFAIC noted that coordination efforts with UAE embassies and missions, as well as relevant authorities are underway to ensure the safe return of Emiratis.

Khalid Abdullah Belhoul, MoFAIC Under-Secretary, affirmed the ministry's keenness and follow-up of its leadership on the full progress of work to ensure the safety of UAE citizens, and to facilitate the necessary procedures to their repatriation.

He noted that MoFAIC continues to coordinate with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA, and all concerned parties inside and outside the country to monitor developments and to repatriate citizens and their companions safely.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issues emergency passports through UAE missions abroad to newborn children or in the event of loss, theft, damage or expiry of the UAE passport, enabling Emiratis to return to their homeland. An application can be submitted online via the MOFAIC website or the UAEMOFAIC smart app.

Emirates plans to operate four flights between Dubai and Cairo on 14th, 18th, 19th and 21st June. Customers can also connect to these flights in Dubai from any destination on Emirates’ current network of 30 destinations in the GCC, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

In a statement by the airline on Thursday, flights can be booked on emirates website or via travel agents, Emirates sales office and contact centre.

Only Egyptian citizens and those who meet the entry requirements of the destination will be allowed to board, the airline noted. Passengers will be required to comply with all requirements of the destination country.

When she was a little girl, her mother told her the story of ‘Cinderella’, and ever since UAE’s Rizwana Khan Ghori dreamt of building her own little fairyland.

She was all of seven when she was first introduced to the world of cartoons, and 12 years on, she got around to giving life to her fantasy and started collecting plush toys.

Today, the collection stands at 900!

It's beautifully arranged in one part of her office space (as she’s in the middle of moving homes), and is valued at a staggering Dh300,000.

Among the 900 toys, the most expensive one is valued at Dh10,000. “It’s limited edition Molly Cunningham.” And the least expensive is Jimini Cricket for $1.

She had approached the Guinness Book of World Records, but was told she’s still got a lot more to go before breaking a record. However, closer home, India’s Limca Book of World Records is currently reviewing her collection, and it would be matter of time before she finds her name in the 2016 edition.

Born into the Ghori community, Rizwana spent much of her formative years in Kerala before moving to Sharjah.

Over the years, this 30-year-old has painstakingly put it all together, and 900 toys later, she still believes her collection is incomplete. “There’s never an end to a collector’s dream. There’s always that one toy that can be added to the collection,” says Rizwana, who is constantly communicating with other collectors around the world, trying to source rare finds and even strike a swap deal.

She’s now on the lookout for a 40-inch limited edition of Woody. “I had almost won it in an eBay auction, but lost out in the last minute. It was disappointing, but I’m sure I will get it.”

Her first find was the toy named Gadget, which was made in the 1980s. “There are about 17 of those now, and I have one of them.”

Rizwana locates most of her precious finds on eBay, and agrees her passion doesn’t come cheap. “But, it isn’t about the money. I must add that I started working early on, so I’ve contributed a lot to the collection. It’s not just my father indulging me.”

She remembers how she didn’t have a credit card when she had started her collection, and much of the transaction on eBay then happened through e-payment. “I’ve bought toys from people who were willing to let me send the cash by post. So, I used to go to the Sharjah post office, and put the cash in an envelope and send it to the seller. And, once they received the money they would ship my toy.”

This was around 11 years ago, and she claims to have bought 150 toys like this, where the payment were as low as $6 (roughly valued at Dh22 today).

But, her most special toy is Gadget from rescue ranger. “I had searched for nearly 7 years, and had almost given up hope when one day it propped up on eBay. I couldn’t believe it, and immediately shelled out $1,500 (roughly Dh5,000). I even paid Dh600 for shipping because I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing it.”

Another treasured toy is a limited edition Genie, which her brother had gifted her. “This was 7 years ago, and he gifted the 40-inch Genie saying it would bring magic into my life, and it did.”

Rizwana is upset that she could never meet Walt Disney. “I had visited Disneyland, and returned with 5 suitcases filled with plush toys!”

She is thankful for her father for backing her unconditionally. “He has never asked me why I do what I do. And would always go the extra mile for me. My mother, on the other hand, would occasionally cast her apprehension about my collection.”

In fact, her father has built special racks to display her collection, and has put CCTV cameras in the room. The surveillance footage appears on her phone app. “I can get to view them on my phone whenever. For a collector, there’s always a fear that something would happen to the collection, but now I'm at ease because I can monitor them 247.”

The collection also demands her time, as she has to vacuum them, and ensure they are protected from external damages.

Rizwana’s two-and-a-half-year-old daughter strangely isn’t impressed with her collection, and prefers gadgets to plush toys. “Hopefully she’ll learn to appreciate it when she’s a little older.”

If the time ever comes and Rizwana has to bid goodbye to her collection, then she wants to auction it and use a sizeable portion of the funds towards charity.

UAE energy firm Dana Gas plans to cut costs in 2016 as the company gears up for a prolonged period of low crude prices, its chief executive said on Sunday.

The Abu Dhabi-listed firm plans to cut general and administrative expenses by 55 per cent in 2016 and operating expenses by a smaller amount, CEO Patrick Allman-Ward said.

"We need to prepare ourselves for the continued low oil price environment going forward," Allman-Ward told reporters on an earnings call.
Oil prices have fallen by more than half since a June 2014 peak.

Since the beginning of the year the firm has cut $5 million in costs by lowering general and administrative expenses, as well as reducing the workforce in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a company statement on Sunday.

Dana Gas reported a net loss of $9 million in the three months to September 30, from a profit of $38 million in the prior-year period, it said in the statement.

Allman-Ward said the fourth quarter would be similarly challenging.

A bright spot is Egypt, where the company expects production to increase significantly in 2016, he said. Dana expects initial production from the Balsam Field in the Nile Delta to come on stream before the end of the year.
The company recorded 32,144 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Egypt in the third quarter, a decline of 21 percent from the same period in 2014.

Allman-Ward also said he expected a judgment ‘imminently’ on a legal dispute with Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The company is one of the largest oil and gas investors in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

On September 21 it was among claimants that made an application to the London Court of International Arbitration Tribunal for a final monetary award against the Kurdish government for outstanding unpaid invoices for produced condensate and LPG.

Dana Gas saw falling profits in the first and second quarters and a loss in the fourth quarter of 2014, hit by a slump in oil prices. Crude prices have dropped substantially since a June 2014 peak.