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.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, praised the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to launch the e-Government initiative 20 years ago.

He pointed out that the subsequent projects and smart transformation of Dubai into a city that delivers services via advanced smart applications has proved effective, not only in Dubai but across the UAE. Thanks to that drive, it was possible for government departments to ensure business continuity and deliver high-quality services during the lockdown forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The RTA was among the first public entities to deliver all services through user-friendly and innovative smart platforms. It kept increasing and improving the quality of its smart services on offer. Thanks to those efforts, RTA now offers services via four digital channels and a website," Al Tayer said.

"Our smart services proved highly effective during Covid-19 lockdown. The number of digital transactions rose sharply by 40 percent compared to the same period last year. Equally, transactions carried out through Mahboub Chatbot doubled to 100 percent. Consequently, the RTA’s happiness index of digital services clocked 90 percent, and customers’ use of digital and smart services rocketed by 300 percent during the National Disinfection Programme compared to last year," he added.

RTA has completed 80 projects as part of its digitisation, smart and 4th industrial revolution projects. Nine of these were completed last year highlighted by the 3D printing technology of metro parts, automated fare of marine transport services, Phase III of nol Plus loyalty points programme, Enterprise Command and Control Centre, an interactive device for marine transport services, virtual driving, building capacities in data science, robot, and the smart route.

To build capacities in data management, the RTA trained a data science specialist, established the first laboratory dedicated to transport data science and artificial technology in the MENA region. Initially, it developed 16 user cases and trained 16 employees. Two employees obtained a Masters’ degree in data science. Under Phase II of the programme, 136 employees will be trained, some will pursue a Masters’ degree, and 86 user cases will be developed.

In the field of sustainable and smart transport, the RTA established a link with 114 limo companies, seven e-hail companies, and two shared transport companies (hourly rental) using the Al-Merqab system, which streamlines and monitors the performance of limo and e-hail companies. The system is installed in 6,000 limos operated by 114 firms and tracked 19 million journeys of e-hail companies (Uber and Careem). The RTA linked 10,375 taxis with a central monitoring and managing system of surveillance cameras. It also installed smart cameras and dashboards for monitoring the behaviour of taxi drivers.

Among the projects completed in 2019 is the automated fare collection system (digital nol) of marine transport systems. The system is installed in 20 marine transport stations and completed more than a million transactions. The RTA installed 100 solar-powered nol card top-up machines which had performed more than three million transactions.

The RTA’s improvements in infrastructure and smart vehicles included the smart route system for testing drivers, which completed 800 transactions. The system reduced the time of retrieving video records of drivers testing by 75 percent. It enabled the development of 10 new guidelines for improving the quality and governance of testing. The system reduced the time of reporting accidents and vehicle faults by 75 percent.

The Smart Route uses artificial technologies, Internet of Things, face-recognition technology, three-dimensional panoramic photography, GPS and others. More than 2000 people were tested through the virtual driving system reached, and the success rate achieved was 79 percent.

About 3,000 transactions were processed through the trial parking booking system. nol Plus loyalty points systems processed about 86,000 transactions and the system attracted 6,635 subscribers till the end of last year.

In the field of Artificial Intelligence, Mahboub Chatbot completed about 245,000 transactions. The system reduced the number of calls to the Call Centre by 40 percent and provided 130 services. Thanks to this success, Mahboub won the biggest chatbot award in the region. The Robot (Pepper) delivered eight orientation workshops for new employees, and three training workshops for drivers attended by 30 drivers. The system was also used in eight exhibitions.

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.

The UAE summer season will commence on June 21st this year, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said.

He added that summer officially begins at 1:44 a.m. as per the UAE local time, and will continue until September 23rd, with temperatures to vary and reach a maximum of more than 43 degrees Celsius.

As of Monday, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MoHRE, will begin implementing the ban on works performed under the sun and in open places from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm until 15 September.

The annual decision, issued by the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, requires a worker not to stay in the workplace after 12:30 PM, prohibiting the resumption of work before 3:00 PM. It enforces employers who hire workers to provide them with a shaded place to rest in during their breaks.

Under the decision, daily working hours, for morning, evening or both shifts, are not to exceed eight hours. If a worker exceeds such eight hours within 24 hours, the extra time will be deemed overtime, for which the worker is to be paid, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law concerning the Regulation of Labour Relations.

Companies responsible for works which must continue for technical reasons are exempt from the ban. Workers can continue working during the banned hours if they are working on projects that cannot be postponed for technical reasons such as asphalting of roads and laying concrete as well as repairing damage in water pipes, petrol pipes, sewage pipes or the disconnection of electrical lines.

This also includes those working on projects licensed from governmental departments which could affect the flow of traffic, or also that which could affect electrical, water supplies or communications.

Employers of exempt companies must provide cool drinking water in proportion with the number of workers and in accordance with the requirements of public safety and health, as well as thirst-quenching items, such as salts, lemon and etc., as used by the local authorities, in addition to first-aid kits in the workplace. Strict adherence to all precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 must also be observed.

Any establishment that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the decision shall be fined AED 5,000 per worker, and a maximum of AED 50,000 in case several workers are employed during the ban. In addition, the breaching establishment will have its file suspended or its status downgraded in the MOHRE classification system adopted by the Ministry, based on how grave the breach is.

The concerned establishment is entitled to complain within 10 days from the date of confirming the breach, by submitting a request accompanied by the documents to be examined by a special committee that will make a final decision on it.

Under the Minister’s decision, an employer is responsible for breaching the decision by hiring workers during the ban, and so is anyone who illegally hires a worker in contravention of the provisions of the decision.

Pursuant to the provisions of the decision, employers must place a schedule of the daily working hours in a prominent site in the workplace, and in addition to Arabic, the schedule must be written in the language, which workers understand.

The decision also requires employers to provide appropriate protective devices that protect workers from the injuries they may have due to using the machines and other tools, and to follow all the other methods of protection, provided in the Labour Law and its implementing Ministry decisions. Workers must follow the instructions that aim at protecting them from the dangers and stop committing any act that is likely to impede the implementation of the instructions.

MOHRE urged community members to report any violations by calling the toll-free number, 80060, which is available for 24 hours a day in four different languages.

The Center will receive the customers’ calls and the information in relation to the site where a breach has occurred and forward those complaints, through an e-system, to the inspector who is nearest to the site.

The Dubai Government Excellence Program launched a benchmarking project centring on the global best practices and institutional learning in managing the current coronavirus pandemic. The project involves a team of Dubai government employees with experience in institutional learning and benchmarking, and who have been trained by the “Dubai We Learn” initiative, with aimto support the efforts of the Dubai government and the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

The benchmarking project is based on five overarching themes covering global best practices in managing the coronavirus pandemic, including Crisis Management; Healthcare Management, Food Security & Supply Chains, Economy, and Societal Behaviour.

As part of the implementation of the project, the team was formed of government entities employees who achieved exceptional results in the "Dubai We Learn" initiative projects throughout the past three sessions; Dr. Ayesha Al Mutawa from the Dubai Corporation heads the team for Ambulance Services, with the participation and under the supervision of the program board. The team was further divided into five sub-teams based on members’ academic and professional qualifications and experiences, with each sub-team handling each of the overarching themes of the project.

The project took place over the course of one month and included learning from global best practices in managing the coronavirus pandemic, centring on countries that have successfully tackled the crisis, such as China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.

Dr. Hazza Al Nuaimi, Coordinator General of the Government Excellence Program, stressed the important role the program plays in enhancing the preparedness of government entities to address any future challenges that arise, and their ability to deal with crises based on scientific evidence and recommendations. This contributes to Dubai’s leading character, and reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, which aim to support government entities in adopting and embracing best practices, and keeping pace with rapid changes.

Dr. Al Nuaimi added: "Through institutional learning and benchmarking, the projects implemented by the ‘Dubai We Learn’ initiative have yielded impressive results in enhancing the performance of participating government agencies. This new project builds on the success of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in managing the coronavirus pandemic, and encompasses fresh ideas and initiatives that support Dubai’s leading role in crisis and disaster management at large, and the current crisis in specific.”

In turn, Dr. Ayesha Al Mutawa from the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services and head of the team leading the global best practices project, stated that the methodology of the project is based on the first three stages of the "TRADE Best Practice Benchmarking Methodology” for institutional learning and benchmarking, and on understanding the processes underpinning the research and implementation of leading practices. The project stimulate the members to share innovative ideas and initiatives that have the potential to support the Dubai government in dealing with and containing the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Al Mutawa also stressed that the project will record the ways in which Dubai is managing the pandemic, for future learning purposes and to enhance the Emirate’s ability to manage crises.

Dr. Al Mutawa added: "Implementing this project will result in numerous benefits concerning crisis management, and will enable us to strategically approach decision-making through quick wins based on the latest and most credible learnings, and through global best practices on managing and recovering from pandemics and crises. The project’s results and success stories will be documented in a report and a research paper, with the aim of being published in international scientific journals and shared with the world.”

Maha Al Suwaidi, Project Manager for the Dubai Government Excellence Program, said: “The Dubai Government Excellence Program played a prominent role in enhancing Dubai's flexibility to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, with excellence characterizing the Emirate’s crisis management levels, and its strong ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Given our commitment to continuous progress and development, this project supports the efforts of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management and our strategic planning for future challenges, and enhances Dubai’s preparedness in handling crises and reducing their consequences.”

“Dubai We Learn” is one of the initiatives implemented by the Dubai Government Excellence Program aimed at promoting a culture of institutional learning, research and development, including benchmarking against global best practices and the sharing of knowledge between the government and relevant international experts. The initiative is based on five main stages including project management; the evaluation of the current situation; the identification of best practices; the application of best practices; and the evaluation of results.

The UAE Volunteers campaign started a training program for volunteers to support health emergency response teams and nursing staff. The training will provide volunteers with nursing skills in 3 days only, to enable them to support experts on the field and provide medical and nursing services that support the national efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Obaid Al Shamsi, Director General of National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), said that the "UAE Volunteers" campaign, with the support of the Higher National Committee for Regulating Volunteering during Crisis, the volunteers.ae platform supervised by the MCD and the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development, and the support of (NCEMA); managed to attract over 8,000 volunteers who possess first aid basic skills and experience to work under pressure and within teams. From this group, 150 volunteers signed up in the pilot phase of the training upon its launch.

Al Shamsi added, "This volunteer training is a response to the current situation in the country and to the needs of experts on the field. The training will equip 1,000 volunteers with basic skills to help the nursing staff, hospitals, and field units in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah in the pilot phase. The program will continue to attract more volunteers as needed."

Al Shamsi also explained that the intensive training program was prepared by a team from the Abu Dhabi Center for Public Health of the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi. The training will be carried out in cooperation with the Training and Development Center at the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), with the participation of expert trainers from various health and academic sectors. The primary goal of this training is to relieve some of the pressure that the medical and nursing staff are experiencing.

Hessa Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Development in the Ministry of Community Development (MCD), and the spokesperson of the UAE Volunteers campaign added, the training aims to support healthcare emergencies and front line medical and nursing staff, and in the long-term to develop a strategic plan for the "After COVID-19" initiative. This initiative includes the following measures: - Preparing a database for volunteers who are trained as medical staff assistants during crises; - Using this database to develop response plans during crises, emergencies, and disasters; - Welcoming individuals who are interested in developing their skills and enrolling in health programs to obtain specialized accredited certificates; - Encouraging national talent to join supportive medical specialties; - Promoting nursing as a profession for young people of both genders; - Encouraging volunteerism by offering the youth suitable opportunities to ensure their continuous development.

Hessa Tahlak explained registration requirements in the theoretical and practical components of the training. For the remote theoretical training, 150 participants will take part in each course for 8 hours a day for two days. This theoretical component will introduce the program, present information about COVID-19, explain infection prevention, and cover skills in health administration, communication, patient support and transportation, and medical waste management. Participants will undergo a remote training test.

As for the practical training, it is available for 24 participants for 4 hours during one day. The practical training will cover basic clinical skills such as measuring vital signs, resuscitation and rescue skills, and the use of personal protective equipment. Participants will undergo an evaluation test and obtain certificates of completion that are approved by the training authority The UAE Volunteers campaign is implementing the pilot stage of the training with an integrated plan. The first cohort of volunteers was selected, and the first training course started at the Training Center of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection in Sharjah. The second cohort started in the UAEU in Al Ain. The final test and assignment of tasks will follow, and volunteers will be assigned to the nursing team in the field hospital. From each group of volunteers, a supervisor will be selected to ensure their effectiveness in the field and assess their performance and impact.

Volunteers will be employed on a need and location basis. A schedule will be prepared for the volunteers, and their work progress will be monitored. Daily work reports, updates, satisfaction levels, and the program impact evaluation after 10 days will also be prepared. The pilot phase will be evaluated based on the effectiveness of participants to ensure that the training course achieved its goal in supporting the medical and nursing staff.

This training course aimed at facing health emergencies and supporting medical and nursing staff was only possible thanks to the support of a number of federal and local authorities, namely: - The Abu Dhabi Center for Public Health of the Health Department, which designed programs and provided training materials and trainers; - The NCEMA, which identified needs and the required number of volunteers to support the nursing staff and offered training sites and requirements; - The Training and Development Center at the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, which provided training sites, specialized trainers, and equipment; assigned volunteers as needed to field hospitals and medical centers; and provided an electronic training platform; - The College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAEU, which provided trainers and equipment for the course and offered logistical support and training sites; - The UAE Armed Forces, which offered their expertise in organizing emergency response and nursing programs for the military and acted as consultants in the development of the current program; - The Dubai Health Authority, which offered expertise in developing the program and offered trainers and training sites: - The Emirates Foundation, which offered the volunteers.ae platform through which volunteers are selected according to specific requirements, and which provided volunteer supervisors to assess the effectiveness of participants in field work.

The UAE Volunteers campaign announced by the Higher National Committee for Regulating Volunteering during Crisis, was launched in early April, under the umbrella of the volunteers.ae platform, in a partnership between the MCD and the EFYD, and under the supervision of the NCEMA, as part of its vision to unify voluntarism in the country, ensure integration between government and private sectors, involve the community, ensure cohesion in the UAE, and support national efforts to curb COVID-19.

The national campaign aims to support volunteers in the country, harness the experiences, skills, and talents of the members of society and involve them in volunteering, through both field placements and virtual volunteering opportunities, within an integrated and sustainable system of volunteerism during crises.

It is worth noting that the volunteers.ae platform offers citizens and residents interested in volunteering in the UAE Volunteers campaign both field and virtual volunteering opportunities under the umbrella of the Higher National Committee for Regulating Volunteering during Crisis.

Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the www.volunteers.ae platform, call VOLAE 800 (80086523), or e-mail: info@volunteers.ae.

While a majority of the shoot for the much-awaited blockbuster from Yash Raj Films - Shamshera starring Sanjay Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor – is over, a small patchwork that is needed to complete the film had eluded them as the lockdown took place. Now with the edits in order a shoot is being planned at the self-contained Yash Raj Studios soon. While there is no definite date in mind for the shoot even as we have touched 80 days in lockdown, Yash Raj Films has planned a schedule to complete the film soon.

“As you are aware the principal shooting of the film is now complete and there is only a small patchwork of three to four days pending for the film. The shoot has been planned in the near future, but no definite date has been fixed,” says a source.

Shamshera is a dacoit drama produced by Aditya Chopra and has been directed by Karan Malhotra who directed the acclaimed remake of Agneepath with Hrithik Roshan in the lead. The film is a period drama set in the 1800s and talks about a dacoit tribe that exists during the time of the British rule in India.

The film also stars Aahana Kumra and is based on a story by Aditya himself. The film also has a lot of foreign actors and was in the making for quite some time now.

As part of its ongoing efforts to support UAE businesses during the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Emirates Islamic, one of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the UAE, is offering Business Banking debit cards free of charge to eligible SME clients.

Emirates Islamic’s Business Banking debit card offers an alternative channel to customers seeking access to cash and supports their ongoing cash flow requirements. SME clients will have access to their accounts through the network of Emirates Islamic’s ATMs and CDMs. The debit cards will be issued free of charge to eligible business banking customers, and in partnership with Visa, accepted at millions of locations worldwide for retail and online purchases.

To enable secure payments on the go, the card can be added to mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. To protect clients further, Emirates Islamic’s Business Banking debit card also offers warranty and purchase protection for lost, damaged and stolen goods.

“We remain committed to supporting UAE SME businesses and the economy during this difficult time by developing innovative products and services that address their challenges while ensuring that customer excellence remains at the heart of our proposition,” said Wasim Saifi, Deputy CEO at Emirates Islamic.

“Our Business Banking debit card offers SME clients, including LLCs, a convenient way to manage their business expenses efficiently, providing them a seamless, digital alternative to withdraw cash,” added Syed Ghazanfar Naqvi, Head of Business Banking at Emirates Islamic.

In 2019, Emirates Islamic was named ‘Best SME Bank’ at the Enterprise Agility Awards, presented by du, in recognition of its innovative and business-friendly proposition for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and its status as a preferred bank for UAE national entrepreneurs seeking Shari’a-compliant products and services for their businesses. Emirates Islamic currently supports the banking needs of more than 46,000 UAE-based SMEs, and its Business Banking segment saw double-digit growth in 2019.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, posted a video on his Instagram account expressing appreciation for the exceptional efforts of COVID-19 frontline workers.

The video, developed by Brand Dubai, in partnership with Done Events of Arab Media Group, AO Drones and several government entities, captures unique displays of messages thanking the frontline workers waging a relentless fight against COVID-19. Messages in the video also seek to reinforce awareness of shared responsibility in the community.

The video begins with Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s inspiring quote "There is no ‘impossible’ where there is faith and determination" depicted against a sweeping panoramic view of Dubai. ‘Stronger Together’, the words of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, is one of the other messages highlighted in the video.

Using a mix of motivational and awareness messages, the video reminds people of the role of collective efforts and compliance with precautionary measures in overcoming the pandemic. More than 120 drones and 100 vehicles were used to create the displays shown in the video. Drone lights sketch a portrait of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, in addition to images of His Highness’s hand salute, symbolising victory, triumph and love; and the earth, signifying the global fight against COVID-19. Scenes of the drone show lighting up the skies above Dubai with messages honouring COVID-19 heroes are featured in the video.

The video also shows messages of appreciation and support beamed on Dubai’s major landmarks such as the Burj Khailfa, the Burj Al Arab, Dubai Frame and Sheikh Zayed Road, among others. In a choreographed display, vehicles come together to form the messages ‘Thank You’, ‘To the UAE’, ‘To Our People’ and ‘To Our Heroes’ in both Arabic and English. The displays also highlight the importance of preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing a face mask and washing hands regularly.

The video was put together with the support of various government agencies, including Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Ambulance, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Film and TV Commission and partners from the entertainment and hospitality industry.

Dubai Sports Council has announced sports academies and coaching clinics based in Dubai’s private educational institutions can open for business, on the condition they strictly adhere to the COVID-19 safety guidelines issued by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management and other relevant authorities.

The Council has issued a detailed list of protocols, which were framed in collaboration with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority of Dubai, that the academies will need to comply with in order to reopen their doors for business.

The academies, among other things, will have to make sure they maintain the hygiene and sanitization requirements as mandated by authorities, which includes maintaining a regular cleaning regime, and ensure safe distancing is maintained at all times.

The age limitations, however, still remain. Children below the age of 12 and elders above the age of 60 are not allowed to take part in the activities at these academies.

Academies which meet the safety requirements and wish to resume their coaching and training activities, must obtain the approval of Dubai Sports Council by registering through the link: www.dubaisc.ae/sportspermitundercovid19.

Teams from Dubai Sports Council will be visiting the facilities that are allowed to resume their sports activities to ensure they comply with all the safety guidelines and protocols.

The list of sports facilities in private educational institutions, which the Council has allowed academies to use for their activities include cricket and football pitches; tennis, volleyball, basketball and volleyball courts; running tracks, indoor sports halls, fitness centres and swimming pools.

The decision to allow academies at educational institutions to resume business is part of a series of decisions taken by Dubai Sports Council to gradually reopen the sports sector following weeks of closure due to COVID-19, after getting approval from Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, reviewed the progress of work on the AED2 billion Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan also opened new flyovers at the intersection of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road.

Aligned with Dubai’s strategic transport plan, the project underscores Dubai’s keenness to pursue vital projects supporting the economy. The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, opened four bridges spanning 2,600 metres at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road of two lanes in each direction to further enhance smooth traffic movement in all directions. It also opened a two lane 220-metre bridge at the junction of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road along with two connecting roads facilitating U-Turns for motorists coming from Dubai.

Upon arrival at the intersection of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road, Sheikh Hamdan was received by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Al Tayer on the Dubai-Al Ain Project, aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing the link with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Emirates Road and the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.

The improvements serve existing and future projects on both sides of the Dubai-Al Ain Road and double the road’s capacity from 6,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour per direction. The project will also cut the journey time on Dubai-Al Ain Road, from Bu Kadra junction to Emirates Road junction, from 16 to 8 minutes. Benefiting 1.5 million people, the project will eliminate tailbacks that used to extend two kilometres.

Al Tayer explained that the total capacity of bridges at the junction of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road will increase to 36,000 vehicles per hour per direction, which will streamline traffic movement from Al Qusais on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in the direction of Al Ain.

RTA has opened four flyovers of two lanes in each direction extending 2,600 metres at the junction of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road to ensure free traffic flow in all directions at the junction. It also previously developed a bridge on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to enable the widening of Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction and constructed service roads on both sides of the Road. It also completed the construction of a 220-metre bridge of two lanes on the junction of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Dubai-Al Ain Road to create a U-Turn for motorists coming from Dubai.

The improvement of the Dubai-Al Ain Road Project extends 17 km from the intersection of Dubai-Al Ain Road with Emirates Road to the intersection of Bu Kadra with Ras Al Khor Street. It covers the construction of service roads on both sides to boost traffic safety. Overall, the project includes six junctions to improve the traffic flow and serve communities on both sides of the road such as the Silicon Oasis, Dubailand, Liwan, Meydan and Dubai Design District. Flyovers extend 6,600 metres and ramps extend 4,900 metres in total.

Work is currently underway at the intersection of the Dubai-Al Ain Road with Emirates Road, the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, Nad Al Sheba Road, Al Meydan Road, Ras Al Khor Street and the intersection between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road.

The project works include the construction of other junctions including the intersection with Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. It also includes linking the existing Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and its extension, which was opened in March 2018 with a flyover of four lanes in each direction crossing Dubai-Al Ain Road that can be widened to five lanes in future. The existing flyover will be upgraded to serve the traffic from Dubailand Westwards to Dubai-Al Ain in the direction of Dubai. A flyover will be constructed to serve the traffic from Dubai heading northwards to the Academic City and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The project also includes the development of service roads on both sides of the road and U-Turns to serve other movements and development projects.

The project supports the development of Nad Al Sheba to serve traffic on the Dubai-Al Ain Road from and to Nad Al Sheba area, in addition to improvements to inward and outward surface roads in the area. Also included in the project is the Al Meydan Street’s junction with Dubai-Al Ain Road and the work to link it with Al Manama Street. A flyover of four lanes in each direction will be constructed to link Al Meydan Street and Al Manama Street. The existing bridge on Al Meydan Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road will be upgraded to serve Meydan development projects.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has emphasized that he is proud of the UAE community, including citizens and residents, who supported the government and showed great societal awareness in adhering to the precautionary instructions and procedures, which contributes to the ultimate goal and guarantees that the UAE will achieve the best recovery once the COVID 19 crisis is over.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also stressed that the UAE government has proven with the return of business and economic activities in various sectors that it is a future government, which, thanks to its talents, can keep pace with all developments, and is able, thanks to its systems and infrastructure, to adapt to various challenges.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid remarks came while chairing the remote Cabinet meeting, held today, where he confirmed that each individual in the UAE without exception has today a supporting role for national efforts in various sectors, "In the UAE, our aspirations are high ... Our motivations are high ... More importantly, our government is flexible and proactive ... and our team of talented professionals is responsible and dedicated to our goal."

His Highness added: "The UAE government team is at the forefront... working closely to serve both Emiratis and residents... we continuously improve the services, develop innovative decisions ... our goal is to build a bright future for our young generations."

His Highness said: "Work in the UAE Government will continue from the field and remotely. We embrace the evolution of work practices to maintain leadership and we will adopt innovative systems and tools."

During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has approved a number of initiatives and programs that benefit various groups in society, and support many sectors, "We launched the Governance System for the Federal Government Boards to renew the tools of the Federal Government and enhance the workflow within its entities in a transparent manner. We also approved the establishment of "Al Etihad Digital Payments Company," a national platform for processing digital payments".

His Highness also stressed that "People of Determination hold a prominent place in UAE's priorities, "We established an integrated system in cooperation with non-government organizations to ensure that the People of Determination will receive the best care and rehabilitation services".

Latest government measures to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID 19 During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was briefed on the latest government procedures and decisions that are implemented to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID 19, and their outcomes in various sectors.

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said that the UAE government has implemented a series of proactive measures and decisions to support suppliers and companies.

The measures include acceleration of the payments owed to government suppliers, where payments were made within five days, as well as reducing the registration fees, and exemption from renewal fees.

Governance System for the Federal Government Boards In detail, the cabinet has approved during its meeting a series of decisions and initiatives to advance the government work system, and to ensure business continuity and sustainability in various sectors.

The Cabinet has approved the Governance System for the Federal Government Boards, which aims to organize the work of the boards of directors in federal entities, and set up its system.

The system also seeks to set the frameworks, rules and provisions that control the work in the boards in a way that ensures proper performance and transparency. The manual is developed according to the best international practices; however, it is customized to suite the conditions of the UAE.

The system outlines multiple mechanisms that covers the formation of the board of directors, holding meetings, selecting members, determining the responsibilities, defining roles and defining the main committees.

The Cabinet approved the establishment "Al Etihad Digital Payments Company", a national platform for processing digital payments. The company aims to manage and develop the national digital payments system. It also seeks to achieve healthy competition among digital payment providers and reduce financial burdens on the public, business sectors and government expenses.

The company will contribute to the integration of applications and implementation of federal and local government services to the public and the business sector with unified standards and easy procedures, while maintaining confidentiality of data and customer identities without relying on non-national systems and platforms.

An integrated system for non-government organizations responsible for People of Determination rehabilitation services The Council has approved a decision on the system of non-government organizations to ensure that the People of Determination will receive the best care and rehabilitation services.

The system ensures that People of Determination enjoy their right to high-quality rehabilitation, education and training services through an integrated system.

The system allows NGOs to adopt their own methods and keep their own structure.

Remuneration Criteria to workers in vital jobs during emergency conditions The Cabinet has approved the remuneration criteria for those working in vital jobs, as stated in the Cabinet decision number 19 of 2020 regarding the organization of government work during emergency conditions.

The remuneration will be limited to those in vital jobs in the Ministry of Health and Prevention, this includes medical staff only, in appreciation of the pivotal role they play in countering the COVID 19.

Among the criteria that the work period under the emergency condition must exceed two months.

Formation of the management committee for the "Education Support Fund"

The Cabinet has approved the formation of the management committee for the "Education Support Fund" to support community development programs by providing additional financial resources.

The management committee is chaired by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and includes in its membership the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Supervision and Support Services, a representative of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, and a representative of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future.

Approving the statute of Emirates Post The Cabinet has approved the statute of Emirates Post to enhance its performance. The statute includes all the provisions regulating the company, its head office and branches, whether inside or outside the UAE, the issuance of shares and the increase or decrease of the company's capital, and the issuance of bonds.

Joining the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification The Cabinet has agreed to join the Strasbourg Agreement concerning the International Patent Classification (IPC), the Strasbourg Agreement lies under WIPO, the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation.

Abu Dhabi Police, ADP, issued a fresh warning today to remind drivers of the dangers of leaving flammable materials, such as hand sanitisers and cigarette lighters, inside vehicles, in summer.

The police said these dangerous materials also include perfume bottles, gas cylinders, mobile phone chargers and phone batteries.

ADP warned that all these objects have a potential to catch fire or explode, especially if exposed to heat or sunlight.

"If left inside a vehicle, especially during the daytime, these dangerous materials can explode and cause a disaster, even if not placed under direct sunlight," the police added.

World Security - the security solutions provider of DP World, UAE Region - has unveiled a new Smart Helmet that is designed to make contactless detection of people potentially infected with COVID-19.

The new Smart Helmet will help ease the movement of traffic in areas where it operates, while ensuring the highest levels of safety and security.

The KC N901 Smart Helmet’s top five powerful functions are: Efficient contactless temperature recording, rapid screening for both indoors and outdoors, rapid screening of vehicles and passengers, and rapid face recognition and identity verification, using thermal imaging that enables the invisible visible.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said, "With the reopening of the economy, we have now entered a new phase where monitoring public places for potential infection has become imperative. By introducing this technology at a time when the fight against the pandemic is in full swing, World Security has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the community secure."

"As the frontline economic growth engine, DP World, UAE Region and its businesses are strictly adhering to the COVID-19 containment programme requirements, and we’re constantly working towards introducing such new and effective measures to ensure business continuity," he added.

World Security is the first security services provider in the UAE to adopt and use the revolutionary headgear, which is a product of decades of innovation and research and is positioned to be the first choice for epidemic prevention activities. Made of advanced tough, yet lightweight materials, it is packed with high-precision sensors, processors and transmission systems.

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA, announced the launch of the UAE’s first Computerised Tomography, CT, scan for diagnosing pneumonia caused by COVID-19.

In a statement by SEHA on Monday, the specialised CT scanner is available in Al Ain Hospital, a SEHA healthcare facility, where 3,000 patients have benefited from the latest innovation.

The 16-slice mobile CT scanner is instrumental in the quick and safe evaluation of patients who have contracted COVID-19 to assess the possibility of pneumonia, a common side effect of the viral infection. This latest innovation supports SEHA’s efforts in early-detection and improved management of COVID-19 cases.

CT scanners with 16-slice include 16 rows of CT detectors, allowing for better-quality imaging and a larger area to be tested during a single scan of a patient’s body.

The specialised CT scanner captures images of COVID-19 patients’ lungs with a higher level of accuracy and has been in use at Al Ain Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility, since the beginning of April 2020.

"As part of the UAE’s largest health care provider, we are committed to utilising the latest cutting-edge technological diagnostics to deliver the best healthcare services aligned with global standards. Our mandate has always been to deliver excellent care with an integrated approach – combining world-class medical experience from our doctors with technological innovation and advancements to deliver the most efficient and effective treatment methods for the safety and comfort of our patients," Hamid Amhi Al-Mansouri, CEO of Al Ain Hospital, said.

In turn, Dr. Jamal Al-Din Al-Qutaish, Consultant and Head of Radiology and Intervention at Al Ain Hospital, said, "The new CT scanner delivers high quality images of our patients and enables us to tailor our treatment plans accordingly within very short timelines. We can evaluate eight patients per hour on average, with no human to human contact, minimising secondary infection rates without disrupting care delivery or quality. Specialist radiologists receive the results of the scan shortly after and deliver their diagnosis, allowing us to detect the earliest signs of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients in our quest to improve recoveries and mitigate the potential for cases to progress to more critical conditions."

The CT scanner is a key proponent in Al Ain Hospitals’ mission, delivering integrated and innovative medical care as one of the most prominent healthcare facilities in the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the New Media Academy to prepare a future workforce capable of leading the rapidly growing field of digital marketing.

Also present were H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, along with a number of senior officials.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has published via his Twitter account a video that contains an introduction to the New Media Academy, its goals and innovative educational programmes.

His Highness said, "Today, we launched the New Media Academy to nurture a new generation of digital experts. New Media is a new science, it has its tools and its secrets, and we want our talents to be at the forefront of this. Our goal is to equip youth to lead the rapidly growing social media landscape."

Sheikh Mohammed added, "The academy will train media professionals in the public and private sector and develop social media content creators. The new media provides job opportunities and supports the development process."

Through digital masterclasses, the New Media Academy will provide a broad range of career-oriented educational programmes to nurture social media content creators and develop them into innovative resources in digital marketing and social media.

The academy aims to improve the youth’s career prospects and enable them to lead as digital citizens in the new economy.

The custom-designed curriculum, developed by renowned experts in social media and digital marketing, will be delivered by a handful of internationally acclaimed specialists including Duke University’s Matt Bailey, among the world’s most sought-after internet marketing experts; Juan Pablo Sanchez, Masterclass Educator at top 10 digital programmes; and Caleb Gardner, the former US President Barack Obama’s lead digital strategist.

Instructors also include representatives of the four new media giants Facebook, Twitter, Google and LinkedIn.

The New Media Academy will commence on July 7, 2020 with interactive online masterclasses in digital marketing, social media and content creation open to full-time employees and international students.

The academy will offer the Impact Digital Creator Programme aims to train 20 social media content creators per cohort and develop them into a life of full-time content creation. The 2-month programme, spread over a wider 3-year Talent Development strategy, will provide customized curriculum for students to carefully follow up their progress, develop life-long digital skills and enable them to create innovative and meaningful online content.

The Social Media Management Development programme, to be launched on August 2, 2020, aims to upgrade digital skills of 100 full-time media professionals in both the public and private sector, per cohort, to enable them to thrive in the new digital media landscape.

The academy’s cutting-edge curriculum is designed to foster the development of both hard and soft skills to enable students to lead a successful career in digital marketing.

Upon completion, graduates will be capable of delivering social media communication strategies, creating content for distribution across various digital media platforms, designing engaging interactive products for contemporary devices, and evaluating performance of digital marketing campaigns.

They will receive an internationally accredited certificate issued in the UAE upon completion of the programme.

Further innovative and modern programmes will be added to the academy in the future, to empower media professionals in government agencies and private institutions, who are interested in developing their expertise in digital content creation.

Interested participants can pre-register for both programmes on www.newmediaacademy.ae.

The New Media Academy aims to nurture a generation of professional and responsible social media content creators capable of producing meaningful content and promoting positive humanitarian and social initiatives that benefit the world.

The academy’s programmes seek to improve digital skills of online influencers and content creators, empowering them to create innovative content that maximize presence in the global digital landscape. The academy also aims to train media professionals in public and private institutions to excel in their careers and drive the new economy.

The launch of the New Media Academy follows the increasing reliance on digital platforms amid the COVID-19 crisis that saw a growth of time spent online. Acknowledging the importance of creating credible content in the rapidly growing digital landscape and social media platforms, the academy prepares students to meet the requirements of digital fields that will create millions of job opportunities around the world and introduce a new economic sector. It aims to empower young people with essential skills for the new labor market and the future digital economy.

The launch also coincides with the UAE’s post COVID-19 strategies through nurturing a new generation of digital experts and implementing economic diversification strategies for the post-oil era.

The programmes offer students a customized curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and project-based assignments.

Interactive classes, presented in online masterclasses format, promote "open learning" techniques that will empower students to combine theoretical study with practical application. With the support of the world’s top digital marketing specialists, students will create, post and analyze online content in real-time after each course.

Graduates will be equipped with up-to-date skills and expertise by the end of the programme that will improve their career prospects in the challenging post COVID-19 era.

Programmes were created by internationally acclaimed digital experts to provide the most recent digital media practices. Courses will be developed and developed by world renowned Educators including Duke University’s Matt Bailey, among the world’s most sought-after internet marketing experts; Juan Pablo Sanchez, a masterclass educator at one of the top 10 ranked digital programmes; and Greg Jarboe, award-winning educator and YouTube Guru.

The New Media Academy is also working with experts including Caleb Gardner, lead digital strategist of former US President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign; Neil Patel, named among the top 10 online marketing experts by Forbes and a top web influencer by the Wall Street Journal; and Tim Ash, one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under 35 by the United Nations.

Creators of the New Media Academy’s curriculum include Justin Odisho, a major YouTuber and podcaster with some of the top video editing instructions online; Jacob Riglin, a popular global photographer and Peter Mckinnon, YouTube star and online instructor of photography, cinematography and editing.

Participants must complete 190 hours of learning to graduate from the programmes that will cover the five modules of digital media strategy, content creation to maximize digital presence, content distribution to strengthen engagement, audience engagement, and analytics.

The student journey will consist of 110 hours of classroom instruction, 30 hours of e-learning, 15 hours of expert talks and 35 hours of projects.

The New Media Academy programmes are designed to cover three courses on digital media strategy, three courses on development of skills to maximize digital presence, one course on achieving maximum impact and engagement, three courses on optimizing digital content and campaigns and one course on analytics to drive business decisions.

The New Media Academy has been established to address three key needs of talent development, capacity building and future readiness in the region.

The academy aims to respond to an increasingly digital market environment by developing talents to take on roles with a digital focus and also reskilling traditional media roles, to have a digital orientation.

To tackle capacity building, the academy’s programmes aim to meet the accelerating pace at which consumers are moving online due to the COVID-19 crisis. In the coming phase, companies are expected to move even larger portions of their media budgets into digital advertising, with many of them in need of digital marketing experts to help them navigate the unique demands of marketing and advertising online. Should the job growth trajectory be accurate, there could be as many as 150,000+ new jobs in Digital Marketing by the year 2024 worldwide.

Recognising the need for future readiness, the academy seeks to encourage youth to invest time and money to develop direct/digital skills, data skills, management skills and strategy or planning. It aims to apply ad hoc methods such as massive open online courses, MOOCs, boot camps, and specialized blended learning academies that have attracted rising public interest and contributed to sharply reducing time needed to acquire some skills that previously required classic, degree-oriented programmes. Part-time education programmes or nondegree certificate courses also allow for broader access than classic fulltime programmes, especially for the education of adults.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, announced that the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, technologies, such as computer vision and machine learning algorithms, proved very effective in detecting and reporting violations of the coronavirus, COVID-19 preventive measures.

Such monitoring covers physical distancing and wearing of face masks onboard taxis, whether for passengers or drivers.

"AI technologies have been employed to monitor and verify the compliance with the preventive measures undertaken to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The technology can also report offences such as the failure to observe physical distancing, and the improper wearing of face masks, thanks to video analysis feature," said Ahmed Mahboub, Executive Director of Smart Services, Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, RTA.

"The use of AI technologies achieved a success rate of 100 percent. The introduction of this technology was on a trial base, and according to the deliverables, the technology will be generalised to all fleet vehicles," Mahboub said.

"The experiment highlighted the capability of AI technology in processing video files spanning 200,000 hours a day. Thus, it reduces the need for human intervention and saves much time and effort that would have otherwise been necessary to analyse these videos," he noted.

Explaining the functionality of onboard devices, Mahboub said, "AI devices were programmed to scan human faces and verify if the mask is worn correctly. The technology has a mathematical feature that calculates the distance between passengers and the driver as well."

"The RTA is continuing its efforts to play a leading role in implementing the 4th Industrial Revolution technologies in line with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The overall objective is to harness technologies to serve the community and realise the RTA’s vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for All," Mahboub said in conclusion.

An Emirates flight landed earlier today at Bahrain International Airport - marking the airline's resumption of flights carrying passengers to the kingdom.
 
The airline is set to operate seven weekly flights from Bahrain to Dubai utilising its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to carry cargo as well as passengers travelling home or for essential purposes.
 
Customers can also connect safely and efficiently through Dubai to onward Emirates' destinations, including select cities in Asia Pacific and Europe or the Americas.
 
Travel restrictions remain in place in most countries, customers are reminded to check entry and exit requirements before their journeys, Emirates said.
 
Emirates flight EK839 will depart Dubai at 16:10 pm and arrive in Bahrain at 16:30 pm local time. EK840 will depart Bahrain at 17:50 pm local time and arrive in Dubai at 20:00 pm local time.
 
Flights to and from Bahrain will be available for booking on emirates.com or via travel agents.
 
Health and safety first: Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers, said the airline.

Braving the rains and the fear of the coronavirus, few of Sushant Singh Rajput’s friends from the film industry came to see the actor. Many of them were unable to come, and they were too overcome with shock. Actor Anupam Kher for instance did not know how to react, what to speak and what not to. “I played Sushant’s father in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. My relationship off screen too was like that of a father and son. Sometimes the pain starts later, sometimes it hits you much earlier and it has,” says Anupam Kher.

The 34-year-old actor ended his life at his apartment in the upmarket Bandra in Mumbai on Sunday. Most of his family was away at his home city at Patna in Bihar in North India.

The family was shocked on Sunday and did not react. But then they managed to reach Mumbai on Monday evening and went directly to the Cooper Hospital where the actor’s body was kept after an autopsy and a post-mortem was performed to confirm whether he had indeed died because he had died by suicide. Actress Rhea Chakraborty who was said to have been dating Sushant was also there at the Cooper Hospital to have a glimpse of the actor in the afternoon and so was film producer Sandip Singh who had wanted to cast Sushant in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela.

Many of Sushant’s friends and colleagues from the film industry took to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to grieve for the actor who had given up on life at such an early age. Karan Johar was one of them who even blamed himself for not taking note of Sushant’s depression.

As the actor went on his final journey, there were a few faces from Bollywood including his co stars Ranvir Shorey, Rajkummar Rao, Viveik Oberoi, Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, producer Dinesh Vijan, director Abhishek Kapoor and wife Pragya, director Mukesh Chhabra and producer Jackky Bhagnani were all present to big a final adieu to the actor. Yes, Sushant we will miss you!