On the coming Sunday, the UAE and the Arab region will witness a partial solar eclipse for around three hours while Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman will witness an annular eclipse.

Eng. Mohammed Shawkat Awda, Representative of the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomical Center, stressed that the partial solar eclipse can be seen in all Arab countries except the Kingdom of Morocco and most areas in Mauritania while an annular eclipse can be seen in parts of Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

He also pointed out that an annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, and its apparent diameter is slightly smaller than the apparent diameter of the Sun.

He then noted that in Arab countries, the areas that will witness an annular eclipse are located within a narrow strip starting from southern Sudan with a width of 65 kilometres, adding that the eclipse will travel east and continue decreasing in view while passing over Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman, with its width in the east of Oman becoming only 33 kilometres. Some areas of these countries will witness an annular eclipse while their remaining areas, as well as other Arab countries, will witness a partial eclipse, he further added.

Shawkat stated that the centre will conduct a live broadcast of the eclipse in Abu Dhabi from 8:00 to 11:00 UAE time, and can be followed on the centre’s social media channels.

The centre is warning people against looking directly into the sun during the eclipse without using special sunglasses with special filters.

Coronavirus patients on home quarantine in Abu Dhabi Emirate do not need to visit a test centre for subsequent tests until they get a negative result, as a medical team collects their samples from home, the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi, DoH, told Emirates News Agency, WAM.

The Home Isolation Programme initiated by the DoH and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre since early April also offers free food and basic services such as tele-consultations, laundry and waste management that make the patients’ home quarantine comfortable.

The patients have to wear a monitoring device (a smart watch), which helps the authorities to track and ensure that they are strictly confined to their home, it added, emphasising that all these services are free of cost.

The smart watches help identity and track the geographical location of the patient and ensure that he or she does not leave home and jeopardise the community health.

Eligibility for home quarantine Adults aged between 18 and 59, after tested positive for COVID-19, are given the option of home quarantine, if they are asymptomatic or having mild symptoms and no risk factors, the DoH explained.

Having a smart phone and a single room with good ventilation and a separate toilet at home are the other conditions to be eligible for home quarantine.

"The patient should be a responsible educated person who is committed to follow instructions on home isolation and treatment whenever necessary," the DoH said.

High-risk patients such as people above 60 years and others with chronic cardiac or respiratory diseases, and any other serious ailments affecting their immunity system, and others who require a direct healthcare support are not eligible for self-isolation at home, the DoH explained.

Basic services Explaining the basic services, the department said, all home-quarantined patients under the programme have an access to tele-consultation services by doctors.

A catering company is delivering three meals a day to the patients. A patient gets laundry services four times during the two weeks – the expected duration of the quarantine.

They also get waste collection services twice a week, the DoH said.

Penalty for violators Those who violate the rules on home isolation are imposed a fine as per the updated list of penalties and violations issued by the Attorney General.

As WAM reported on 19th May, quoting Salem Al Zaabi, Acting Chief of the Emergency and Crisis Prosecution, those who repeat the violation of disobeying hospital or home quarantine rules implemented through e-monitoring system, would be referred to the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, NCEMA, Prosecution for legal action.

The Prosecution may refer the violators to the court that may sentence them with an imprisonment of not more than six months and/or a fine of AED100,000, in addition to publishing photos of violators in the newspapers as per the Public Prosecutor's decision.

“They all do not just ‘go to sleep’ – sometimes, they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.  When it all ends, your pet’s corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back, with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage.

“What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? You’ll never know, and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal, and you can always buy another one, right?”

These are some of the lines written by Emma Smith, Shelter Manager at the Sharjah Cats and Dogs Shelter (Scads). @It is a bit harsh, but it is the truth,” she says.

Scads is a shelter for homeless cats and dogs in the emirate. Unfortunately, the number of homeless pets is unmanageable and increasing by the day. The reason: pet owners do not consider the responsibilities that come with owning a pet, and find reasons of all sorts to get rid of them.

There is no shortage of excuses, says Emma. The most common excuses: ‘we are moving and we can’t take our dog or cat’, ‘the dog got bigger than we thought it would’, ‘we don't have time for her’ or ‘she's tearing up our yard’.

“People always tell me: ‘We just do not want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she'll get adopted – she is a good dog/cat’.”

However, the chances that a pet does get adopted are reduced to a bare minimum. “There is about a 90% chance that the dog or cat will never walk out of the shelter, purebred or not,” Emma says.

Instead, the abandoned cat or dog has a high chance of being killed, as there is simply not enough space at the shelter. When the shelter is full and the pet is not adopted within 72 hours, it will be euthanized. If there is space for the animal, it is given 60 days to find a new home. If new owners are not found, it is sent to the ‘death room’ regardless.

“First, your pet will be taken from its kennel or room on a leash or carried if a cat. They always look like they think they are going for a walk – happy, wagging their tails. That is, until they get to ‘the Room’.”

“Every one of them freaks out and puts on the breaks when we get to the door. It must smell like death, or maybe they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It is strange, but it happens with every one of them.

“Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs (depending on their size and how freaked out they are). A euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the ‘pink stuff’. Hopefully your pet does not panic from being restrained and jerk its leg. I have seen the needles tear out of a leg, I have been covered with the resulting blood and deafened by the yelps and screams.”

Hopeless as the situation seems, staff at Scads are always on the outlook for new owners for the pets. As such, it annually visits the Canadian University of Dubai (CAD) to showcase some of the cats and dogs for a day.

Recently, eight previously unwanted pets were adopted as a result of the visit to the university and many students took to social media to highlight the problems facing abandoned animals in the country each year.

 “To have the best chance, the animals need to be in front of prospective owners, so it is great that the CAD lets us use their facility as that invariably leads to some of them being adopted,” said Emma.

"We also hold weekly adoption days, which will be taking place at Pet Oasis from now on. Further, we are open from 8am to 2pm Sunday to Thursday, and 9.30am to 12.30pm on Fridays. However, the Pet Show is cancelled this year, which is a great miss. We usually find quite a few new pet owners at the show."

However, an important message should be out to the public, which could prevent the saddening death of so many pets rather than cure it. Emma said: "We euthanize on average 10 dogs and 10 cats per day at the shelter. Only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes. My point to all of this is ‘do not breed or buy while shelter pets die’.

"I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and cannot get the pictures out of your head. That happens to me every day on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there unless people make some changes and realise that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter."

Qatar became the first side to book a spot at the 2019 Asian Cup and the next round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers on a busy Tuesday that showcased the politicking and problems the sport faces in its largest region.

Tuesday's 14-match schedule in Asia was kicked off by Iran beating U.S. territory Guam 6-0 away despite four of their players and two members of staff being refused visas to enter the tiny island.

East Timor were also shorthanded, with seven nationalised Brazilians absent after complaints from rivals about their eligibility. They were trounced 10-0 by Saudi Arabia in Dili as the West Asians stayed top of Group A.

United Arab Emirates remained on their tails in second place after they beat Malaysia 2-1 in an empty stadium in Kuala Lumpur as the hosts served out a punishment for crowd trouble in their previous home defeat by the Saudis.

With the Asian Football Confederation reeling from Monday's news that one of its pillars, Nepal's Ganesh Thapa, had been banned for 10 years for taking money during Fifa elections, Asia's best tried to switch focus back to onfield events but other issues were evident.

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, were 3-0 winners over Bhutan at Changlimithang Stadium in the Thimphu mountains and they secured top spot in Group C when Hong Kong and China then played out a 0-0 draw in a politically tense clash.

Home fans booed during the playing of China's national anthem and held up defiant banners at the Mong Kok Stadium, where there was a heavy police presence with organisers wary of trouble following last year's pro-democracy rallies.

The draw left Hong Kong in position to grab second place in the group behind Qatar who have won all six matches.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up will qualify for the Asian Cup and the third round of World Cup qualifying in the continent and most of the fancied sides, bar China, look set to complete the straightforward task.

Cambodia, whose domestic champions Phnom Penh Crown FC have been hit by a match-fixing scandal which has led to seven players being suspended, were beaten 2-0 by Japan, who stayed clear in Group E.

Syria kept pace in second spot, one point back, after they struck in the 93rd minute to beat Singapore 2-1 at the citystate's National Stadium, where security was increased because of the attacks in Paris on Friday.

Syrian coach Fajr Ibrahim opted for a traditional national team tracksuit during the post-match news conference after donning a white T-shirt of a smiling President Bashar Al Assad on Monday.

Elsewhere, Asian champions Australia put aside security concerns in Dhaka to beat Bangladesh 4-0 in Group B, while South Korea crushed Laos 5-0 in Vientiane to make it six wins from six in Group G, which still contains Kuwait despite the country serving a Fifa ban.

The heavy defeat capped a bad week for Laos, whose football federation president Viphet Sihachakr was banned for two years on Monday and fined after accepting payments during the 2011 Fifa elections.

Indonesia, also serving a Fifa ban for political interference like Kuwait, have been kicked out of competing in Group F, where Iraq kept up their pursuit of leaders Thailand with a 2-0 win in Taiwan.

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who is standing for the Fifa Presidency in February elections, is the man currently charged with clearing up the problems in Asian football. His Bahrain team lost 2-0 in North Korea which all but ended their bid to reach Russia 2018.

Collated results from joint qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup on Tuesday:

Group A
East Timor 0 Saudi Arabia 10 (Al Sahlawi 29-pen, 42, 55-pen, 70, 89, Hawsawi 34, Al Shehri 35, Al Jassim 85, Hazazi 90, Al Muwallad 90+2)
Malaysia 1 (Baddrol 59) UAE 2 (Abdulrahman 22, Abdel Khalil 52)

Group B
Bangladesh 0 Australia 4 (Cahill 6, 32, 37, Jedinak 43)
Kyrgyzstan 1 (Zemlianukhin 48) Jordan 0

Group C
Hong Kong 0 China 0
Bhutan 0 Qatar 3 (Muntari 22, Al Haidos 36, 90)

Group D
Guam 0 Iran 6 (Taremi 12, 63, Kamyabinia 32, Rezaian 49, Shojaei 52-pen, Ansarifard 53)
Turkmenistan 2 (Gevorkyan 40, Muhadov 67) Oman 1 (Al Ghasany 70)

Group E
Singapore 1 (Safuwan 89-pen) Syria 2 (Khribin 20, 90+3)
Cambodia 0 Japan 2 (Khoun 51 OG, Honda 90)

Group F
Taiwan 0 Iraq 2 (Ismail 19, Mahmoud 85)

Group G
Laos 0 South Korea 5 (Ki Sung-Yueng 3-pen, 33, Son Heung-Min 35, 67, Suk Hyun-Jun 43)

Group H
North Korea 2 (Pak Kwang-Ryong 45+1-pen, Jong Il-Gwan 90+3) Bahrain 0
Yemen 1 (Al Sarori 90+2)  Uzbekistan 3 (Hayderov 7, Djeperov 31, Andreev 50)

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.

There are two sets at Mumbai’s Film City – the Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi and one unit of choreographer turned director Bosco Martis who is making a film. There are other shoots planned around the country as well now, while small units have already started shooting outside Mumbai. But then the big guns haven’t been able lock in on insurance and other details for the daily wage workers and other unit hands as yet.

Big films like Thalaivi, Maidaan, Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 are all pending completion among a host of around 15-20 top films in Bollywood including Brahmastra, Mumbai Saga, Prithviraj among others.                                                                                                                                             

The FWICE says that they cannot let workers shoot in such circumstances. “We have been saying some nice things, but it is time to face the hard reality. We have been talking to the producers and they need to provide insurance to the workers if they have to return to the shoot. Also the guidelines are still not clear. There needs to be someone to monitor is these things are being done and all safety precautions along with insurance etc have to be done. If the shoots have to start, the producers need to be ready to shell out all these things,” says BN Tiwari, President of the Federation Of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE).

As for the actors everyone is getting their COVID negative reports ready too. Amit Behl, the Senior Joint Secretary of the Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) says that he himself is getting his report done. “We have also been busy attending to many calls from people who have doubts on how they are going to be covered. They want their safety as well. I have to also go to my doctor to get my medical done so I can start working too,” says the actor.

TP Aggarwal, Former President, Film Federation of India and President, Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) however feels that normalcy in shoots may not return soon. "The Federation claims they have 5 lakh members. They don't even have 50000. According to Competition Commissioner of India, the Federation cannot stop or force producers to take their members. Even then, they force the producers and trouble them. This insurance is not the producer's job. How can any producer put a doctor and an ambulance on call on the sets when there is shortage of doctors and ambulances in the city! Then they want the shoot workers and technicians to be kept in a separate hotel where no one else is there, which is not possible. In case of Corona detection, they want treatment at private hospitals. At this point, no one will admit and if they do, the cost will be very high. I don't see us shooting under these non-co-operative conditions anytime soon. But if any producer wishes to shoot under these circumstances, he is more than welcome. We have no objection to the same."

Under the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Rashid and Latifa Schools Establishment announced a comprehensive plan for developing Rashid School for Boys and Latifa School for Girls. The development plans, which will be implemented starting from July 2021, aim to further enhance the facilities and capacity of the schools.

The institutions, which are two of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Dubai, count several Dubai leaders and public figures among its alumni. Many of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s children graduated from the schools. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, graduated from the Rashid School for Boys. Women leaders and public figures who graduated from Latifa School for Girls include Chairperson of Dubai Women's Establishment H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairperson of Dubai Culture H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

Dr. Ahmed bin Abdulla Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of the Board of the Rashid and Latifa Schools Establishment, affirmed that the leadership places the highest priority on education and considers the development of the sector a strategic objective. He said the development plans, aimed at enhancing the educational capacities of the schools, is part of the continuous enhancement of the educational system in Dubai.

The plans focus on providing the schools with all the facilities needed to enhance the educational experience. He said implementing the development plans requires a complete shutdown of both institutions to ensure the safety of students and faculty. Students from the two schools will be enrolled in other schools in coordination with Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority. Once the implementation of the development plan is completed, operations within the two schools will resume in September 2023.

Latifa School for Girls, which opened in 1982, offers high-quality education based on the British curriculum and the Arabic and Islamic curriculum approved by the UAE Ministry of Education. Rashid School for Boys, which was established in 1986 as a secondary school, added an elementary section in 2003. The school provides an exceptional learning environment and some of the best educational resources in the region.

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Police and DOH, have announced that citizens and residents may leave Abu Dhabi emirate without a permit.

Entry to Abu Dhabi emirate is allowed with a permit issued by Abu Dhabi Police. Precautionary health measures will apply upon entry. Movement between Abu Dhabi’s regions (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra) is also allowed using the permit system.

Movement within each region is allowed in line with National Sterilisation Programme timings. Movement of workers remains restricted within Abu Dhabi’s regions of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Entry and exit of workers to Abu Dhabi emirate is still prohibited.

To apply for a permit, visit
https://es.adpolice.gov.ae/en/movepermit.

Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has announced that its Italian property, Capri Palace Jumeirah, will open its doors for the first time, starting the season on 25th June, 2020, until 30th September, 2020, as part of Jumeirah Group.

Enjoying an idyllic location in Anacapri island, the hotel stands high up on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It fully embodies the Italian Dolce Vita; with an authentic Capri style and far reaching sea views.

Designed in the style of an eighteenth-century Neapolitan palazzo, Capri Palace has attracted the great and the good since it first opened its doors in the 1960s, swiftly establishing itself as the island’s most iconic hotel.

The hotel will strictly follow the directives of the Italian Government and has extensive preventative measures in place for the safety of all. Health and safety are Jumeirah’s top priority for everyone who visits, stays, dines or works with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts.

Ermanno Zanini, General Manager of Capri Palace Jumeirah and Regional Vice President for Italy and Spain, said, "We are delighted to welcome our guests back to Capri Palace Jumeirah. Our team have eagerly awaited this moment and are ready to provide the excellent service and unrivalled culinary experiences the hotel is known for, synonymous with Jumeirah’s brand values."

Jumeirah Group announced at the end of last year that it was appointed to operate and manage the renowned Capri Palace in Italy.

The Community Development Authority, CDA, in Dubai announced the launch of a new initiative that seeks to ease the quarantine experience for children during and after their recovery from COVID-19.

The programme seeks to mitigate the psychological impact of the quarantine on both, families and children and create memorable moments for them during this period.

Aligned with Dubai’s vision to engender a strong community spirit and create a closely bonded and empowered society, the initiative aims to transform the mandatory quarantine period into a positive experience for families and children.

The initiative includes several family services designed to reduce practical challenges and boost mental health while also providing the highest standards of medical care. The family services include home screening, family-friendly quarantine facilities and recreational activities.

Ahmad Abdul Karim Julfar, Director-General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, said "The global pandemic has impacted people of all ages. However, children are the most vulnerable since they are unable to comprehend the reasons for their isolation. Changes in their lives can affect their mental health and cause them to develop anxieties. It is crucial to provide them with psychological care and keep them active and positive by involving them in fun activities."

"The initiative we launched helps defuse the anxiety and psychological stress children face, especially those who are infected with COVID-19. We believe psychological therapy is equally important during their treatment so that they can overcome any negative feelings," Julfar said.

"Our leadership places high importance on protecting children, ensuring they are raised in the best environment and finding solutions to challenges that hinder them from reaching their potential," he added.

As part of the home-screening services, medical personnel are sent to the homes of families to conduct testing, thereby reducing the need to visit clinics and healthcare facilities.

If a family test positive for the virus, arrangements are in place to ensure they have a comfortable stay during their isolation period and receive the best healthcare. For asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms, Dubai offers quarantine alternatives in hotels and buildings that provide a family-friendly atmosphere and services to ensure their comfort. These facilities help create a pleasant experience for families and enable children to access remote-learning during the 14-day quarantine period.

As part of CDA’s keenness to keep the children’s spirits high, the Authority organises activities to celebrate personal occasions and birthdays at the quarantine facilities and distributes toys and gifts to them.

Apart from providing the highest standard of medical services to patients with moderate to severe symptoms, hospitals also help affected families, especially mothers, stay close to their young children. Besides, they are also provided recreational opportunities to raise their spirits.

The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of India have, for centuries, enjoyed strong, sustained relationships ever since trade was established as the primary activity connecting the people of both nations, by virtue of the two countries’ strategic locations along global maritime trade routes.

Modern-era relations between the UAE and India began with the establishment of the UAE Embassy in New Delhi in 1972. In 1973, the Emirati consulate was established in Mumbai, along with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

Relations between the UAE and India have grown tremendously over the past few decades thanks to the understanding, political rapprochement, and economic interests that brought these two countries together and thanks to the UAE’s foreign policy established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, to emphasise the importance of relations with India. Sheikh Zayed's intent was reflected in his historic visit to India in January 1975, where he met with the then Indian prime minister, the late Indira Gandhi, and with the then president of India and other senior statesmen.

Due to the excellent relations sustained between the two countries over the past decade under the leadership of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, relations between the UAE and India bear great potential for further development and growth. This is due to the commitment of the leadership of the two countries to further improve relations in accordance with the significance that the two countries hold, politically and economically, at both regional and international levels.

It is important to note that the UAE now occupies an advanced position among all global economic and social indicators. It holds significant status in the world of energy through oil, gas, and renewable energy industries, and its financial strength allows it to invest in various countries. Its strategic location is another advantage. India is considered an important investor-friendly environment and has the second-largest population in the world. That, in addition to its economic strength, is why India enjoys an advanced rank on the global scale and is one of the 20 largest economies in the world.

The leaders of both countries have understood the many factors that brought the two countries together and have recognised the advantages that can be achieved with political and economic rapprochement. This is clearly reflected in the presence of a very large Indian community in the UAE, estimated at about 2.6 million people. This community constitutes one of the foundations of the country's business sector, and each member contributes in their own way to the overall developmental process that the country initiated several centuries ago and continues to vigorously pursue by taking advantage of the momentum of the UAE's major accomplishments over the past few years and developing strategic plans and policies to be implemented within the next few years.

The leaders of the UAE and India have reflected this common vision of the value and importance of relations between the two countries in a number of mutual visits.

The first visit to India by the late Sheikh Zayed was in 1975, followed by visits in 1983 and 1992, leading to the establishment of special relations between the UAE and India.

With Sheikh Zayed’s visit to India in April 1992, the two countries entered a new phase of relations, as reflected in the magnitude and quality of the reception he received upon his arrival in the capital, New Delhi.

In an interview he gave to the Indian media during that visit, the late Sheikh Zayed communicated his vision of relations with India and his vision of the future of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

He stressed that relations between the UAE and India were strong and solid due to the historical ties of cooperation between the two peoples. He said his visit was only intended to express his renewed support for existing relations between the two countries and for the development of friendship ties between the two peoples. He added that the people of the UAE looked forward to further strengthening and developing this cooperation into further areas of mutual interest.

He also expressed his optimism on the continuation of India's constructive role, with its benevolent efforts, in the security and stability of the Gulf region.

In a statement to the press before leaving India, the late Sheikh Zayed expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of his visit and his discussions with then President Ramaswamy Venkataraman.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum paid a prominent visit to India in March 2007. This visit attracted significant interest, among both the Indian government and the people, and His Highness enjoyed great hospitality at the presidential residence in New Delhi, where he and his accompanying delegation were received by the then Indian president, the late Abubakar Zainal Abidin Abdul Kalam.

His Highness also held official discussions with then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Hyderabad Palace in New Delhi, where they addressed the overall bilateral relations between the UAE and India and the level of trade and investment exchange between the two countries, particularly at the private sector level.

The Indian prime minister praised the laws and regulations governing general labour rights in the UAE, describing the country as hospitable and safe not just for the Indian labour force but for all communities that reside in the UAE, noting the health rights, human rights, and civil rights that are enjoyed by labourers under fair and applicable laws.

During this visit, several agreements were signed between the two countries, including one related to developing real estate projects and constructing residential and tourist-friendly cities in India, a joint venture between Emirati company Nakheel and Indian company Dubai LF Group. Another agreement was signed between DP World and India, under which DP World would operate and manage six ports in eastern and western India.

This agreement was an extension of the existing cooperation between the two parties and a confirmation of the governmental and private orientation towards building a strategic economic and investment partnership between the UAE and the Republic of India.

Other agreements signed by the two countries included one that prevents double taxation between the two parties and agreements that aim to strengthen UAE-India bilateral relations in various fields.

During his visit to New Delhi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed received Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, then India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, they discussed a number of regional and international political issues, as well as the need to redouble international efforts to peacefully resolve disputes between states in conflict zones by supporting the United Nations and the UN Security Council's role in their efforts to bring peace and stability to the respective areas and achieve freedom and independence for all peoples in lands occupied by foreign forces.

The Indian minister praised the positions adopted by the UAE's leadership and its balanced foreign policy, which plays an important role in regional and international policies and serves the need for peace, security, and economic and human development.

Pratibha Patil, then President of the Republic of India, made an official visit to the UAE in November, 2010, where she met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to discuss bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in the trade, economic, investment, and cultural sectors, in light of the steady growth in trade exchange between the two countries and the historical friendship between the two peoples.

During a speech at the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Indian President emphasised the contribution of the Indian labour force to the UAE economy.

In 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the UAE gained great importance, as it was part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations between the two countries in the economic, political, trade and cultural fields. It was the first visit made by an Indian Prime Minister to the UAE since Indira Gandhi’s visit 34 years prior, in 1981.

Prime Minister Modi met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Intensive discussions were held between the two sides, mainly addressing UAE-India collaboration in the fields of energy, trade, and security. They also discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations in all fields between the two brotherly countries.

When Prime Minister Modi met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on August 16-17, 2015, they discussed the facilitation of the exchange of regular visits between religious scholars and intellectuals, in addition to the facilitation of the organisation of conferences and seminars that aim to promote peace, tolerance, participation and well-being, values that are inherent in all religions.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen their collaboration on counter-terrorism operations, the exchange of intelligence information, and the building of capacity and to work together to adopt the comprehensive treaty on International Terrorism, proposed by India at the UN. They further agreed to organise, exchange, and control information on the flow of money that may be used to finance extremist activities, to cooperate in the prevention and criminalisation of illegal financial flows, and to take strict measures against individuals and organisations that stand behind such activities.

An agreement was struck to enhance collaboration in the areas of law enforcement, combating of money laundering, drug trafficking and cross-border crimes, criminal extradition agreements, and police force training, as well as in the field of cyberspace, including prohibiting the use of the Internet to promote terrorism, extremism, and threats to social peace. The agreement aimed to strengthen cooperation in ensuring maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean to protect the safety and well-being of the two countries.

The agreement also included the promotion of collaboration in the field of humanitarian aid and evacuations during natural disasters and conflicts and the strengthening of relations in the defence sector through military exercises and the periodic training of land, sea, and air forces.

The two sides also agreed to establish a strategic security dialogue between the two governments and to recognise the emergence of India as a new destination for investment opportunities, especially in light of the new governmental initiatives to facilitate trade and investment, encouraging the UAE's institutional investors to increase their investments in India by setting up the Indian UAE fund, worth US$75 billion, to support investment plans in India and to expand to the next generation of infrastructure projects in railways, ports, roads, airports, and industrial zones.

Both sides agreed to take advantage of Indian expertise in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector to create a vital industrial base in the UAE, which would also benefit the Indian companies. An agreement was also reached to strengthen the collaboration between advanced educational institutions in the UAE and Indian universities and scientific research institutions in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable development, agriculture in arid lands and desert environments, urban development, and advanced health care systems. Furthermore, the two parties agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation in the field of space science, including the development and launch of satellites, ground installations, and applications of space science.

The years 2012 and 2013 witnessed a number of reciprocal visits by officials from the two countries. During this period, economic relations between the two countries were just as strong as political relations, where non-oil trade between the two countries amounted to some $44.5 billion in the first nine months of 2012.

35 Emirati investment firms operate in India, most notably Emaar, DP World, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to India in May 2012, marked a new phase in bilateral relations. In an article published by The Asian Age newspaper in New Delhi, Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the importance of strengthening UAE-India relations to serve mutual economic, trade, and investment interests, saying that the depth of relations between the UAE and India was deeply rooted in history, and the two countries should continue in their joint efforts to strengthen these relations to serve their mutual interests.

Both the UAE and India have expressed their support for efforts made to ensure the smooth flow of trade in the two regions. The UAE is looking forward to raising the level of mutual collaboration with India in order to serve their common interests such as promoting co-operation in maritime security and the eradication of maritime piracy.

Sheikh Abdullah also noted that the UAE and India share more common interests than ever before, specifically with regard to continuing multilateral and effective collaboration that supports shared values and works as a driving force for development on a global level, as well as strengthening the pillars of stability in our regions.

He said, "On this occasion of our visit to India, we reiterate the UAE’s commitment to support efforts to strengthen our relations and look forward to working together to achieve our shared objectives and to deepen the bonds of friendship and co-operation between our two peoples and our two countries in order to create new opportunities for a better future."

Sheikh Abdullah also stressed that the UAE is keen to enhance co-operation with India in the energy sector, emphasising the UAE’s willingness to raise the volume of its oil exports to India and increase its investment in the private energy sectors, specifically the petrochemical energy sector.

During a joint press conference in 2012 with his then Indian counterpart, S.M. Krishna, after their meeting in the Indian capital city, Sheikh Abdullah said, "We discussed ways to strengthen the excellent relations between the two countries in all fields, especially in the fields of trade, economy, investment and energy."

His Highness also said that the meeting discussed ways to strengthen co-operation to eradicate the phenomenon of piracy, emphasising that capacity building in Somalia would effectively contribute to addressing this phenomenon.

On his part, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the strong ties between the UAE and India, and the keenness shown by both leaderships to increase co-operation between the two countries in all fields.

Regarding collaborations in the field of energy, S.M. Krishna reiterated India’s efforts to increase its oil imports from the UAE as a reliable source of bio-energy, and he spoke about the two countries’ determination to form a team dedicated to all aspects of investment between the two countries under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, ADIA.

The Press Trust of India reported that investments made by the ADIA in India amounted to $500 million and were concentrated in real estate development and investment funds.

On June 27th, 2013, Sheikh Abdullah met India’s Vice President, Dr. Hamid Ansari, India's then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and then national security adviser, Shiv Shankar Menon, in India’s capital, New Delhi.

In these meetings, they discussed a number of issues of mutual interest between the two countries, specifically ways to strengthen trade and economic exchange, as well as energy and security matters.

The UAE-India Joint Commission last convened in 2015, when Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, led a delegation of senior officials and captains of leading UAE business houses to India for the 11th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Technical and Economical Cooperation, held in September in New Delhi. Sheikh Abdullah was accompanied by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State.

During his visit, Sheikh Abdullah called on the Prime Minister of India and had meetings with the External Affairs Minister, the Minister of Defence, the Minister for Railways, and India's National Security Adviser.

All the meetings between officials of the UAE and India were centered on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, which was reflected in the depth of relations in various fields. It was thus agreed to set up a joint task force on mutual investments in the UAE and India.

The UAE-India Joint Task Force on Investments was established in April 2012, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, and India’s then Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma, as a platform to discuss shared issues associated with investments between the two countries and to encourage and facilitate cross-border investments.

The first UAE-India Joint Task Force meeting was held in February 2013, and resulted in a broad discussion about matters of mutual interest, including the identification of sectors that have priority in possible investments in the two countries.

Since then, the task force has consistently worked to strengthen and develop bilateral relations in the field of investment, and in December 2013, it signed a bilateral agreement for the protection and promotion of investments, which serves as a platform to strengthen the legal protection of investments in both countries.

And as a result of the decisions taken during the first UAE-India Joint Task Force on investment, several joint task groups were established to address issues of common interest in infrastructure, investment, trade, energy, manufacturing, technology, aviation, information technology, and telecommunications, among other sectors.

During the meeting, the task force agreed on a plan of action to accelerate the progress of all joint task groups, and made significant progress on a number of issues on the agenda.

This progress was reflected in the establishment of a strategic partnership between the UAE and India by the signing of an agreement to encourage and protect mutual investments on 12th December, 2013.

The signing of the agreement came as a result of the meeting held in the Indian capital in May, 2013, between Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid. The agreement was signed by UAE’s Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, and his Indian counterpart, Namwon Warren Mina. According to an Indian official, this agreement was a major achievement that would effectively contribute to the growth of mutual investments between the two countries.

The official also pointed out that both countries were the largest trade partners to one another, as the value of bilateral trade had reached $75 billion.

He also predicted that the signing of this agreement would open doors for more investment opportunities, as the UAE-India Joint Task Force was expected to continue to meet to discuss further mutual investment opportunities.

On 3rd March, 2012, The UAE-India Joint Task Force held its second meeting in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and then Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma, and with the participation of more than 30 representatives from governmental and private sectors in both countries.

During the meeting, a number of issues of common interest were discussed, most notably the matter of supporting the establishment of a strategic petroleum reserve in India, so as to serve the common strategic interests of both countries.

In his speech during the meeting, Sheikh Hamed stressed the importance of the existing bilateral relations between the UAE and India in all fields, saying, "We have developed the work of the Joint Task Force on Investments and laid the foundation for investments and issues of common interest, and we look forward to the ratification of the bilateral agreement for the protection and promotion of investments and to the settlement of pending issues that have been identified at the first meeting."

On his part, Anand Sharma affirmed India’s position as a major destination for foreign investment, pointing out opportunities for the UAE, specifically in infrastructure domains, such as highways, energy, public facilities, civil aviation, ports, renewable energy, and urban infrastructure, in addition to participation through infrastructure debt funds.

A number of Emirati and Indian ministers have exchanged visits, as per the principles of the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries, and their mutual co-operation, and established a joint task force to make progress in various fields.

In this context, UAE’s Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, paid a visit to India in September 2013, where he met with then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, at the Cabinet’s headquarters in Hyderabad. The meeting was attended by Minister of Labour, Danm Najendr, and in it they addressed the collaborative and friendly relationship between the UAE and the Republic of India in various fields, especially employment and work force.

The Chief Minister praised the mechanisms with which the UAE operates to develop the performance of its human resources in various sectors, especially the laws and regulations laid by the Ministry of Labour, and its initiatives which are implemented according to the most modern and advanced standards of management of labour relations, enjoying widespread international acclaim, especially by the International Labour Organisation.

In February 2012, the UAE's then Minister of Foreign Trade, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, visited India and met with the President of India, Pratibha Patil. During their meeting, Sheikha Lubna and Mrs. Patil discussed the special relationship between the two countries and ways to enhance them in the trade, economic and investment sectors.

During her visit, Sheikha Lubna also met with her counterpart, Anand Sharma, and discussed ways of enhancing commercial cooperation and raising the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries, as well as investment opportunities in the technology, energy, petrochemicals and infrastructure sectors.

On February 11, 2012, Sheikha Lubna and Anand Sharma, participated in the opening of the 19th session of the International Engineering and Technology Exhibition in New Delhi, where the UAE was a key participant. In a speech during the opening, Sheikha Lubna said that the participation of the UAE as an observing partner comes within the context of its keenness to strengthen its partnership and friendly relations with India, and its desire to develop its base there to include new sectors, including technology, manufacturing and engineering.

Sheikha Lubna called upon Indian companies to explore investment opportunities in the UAE in these sectors to strengthen partnership relations between the two countries, noting that despite the focus of investment collaboration between the two countries in recent years in the energy, services, metallurgical manufacturing and construction sectors, the United Arab Emirates would like to expand the focus to also include emerging sectors, such as technology and alternative energy.

India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry praised the level of trade and investment between the UAE and India, noting that there are other prospects for collaboration that can be invested in through various companies and factories participating in such exhibitions.

On January 13th, 2014, UAE Minister of Energy, Suhail Al Mazroui, visited India and discussed with officials the UAE-India relationship in the oil and gas sectors, saying that the past ten years have seen significant changes that have affected global energy resources, starting from the oil and shale gas revolution to the remarkable growth in renewable energy, where these changes posed many challenges and presented opportunities for countries to restructure their plans to achieve balanced and sustainable resources of energy that enable them to withstand future changes.

In a speech at Petrotech 2014 in the Indian capital New Delhi, Al Mazroui said, "We are witnessing a remarkable growth of Asian markets as they gain the most important role in the demand for energy sources."

The Minister noted that the relationship between the UAE and India is a long-standing resilient relationship that dates back to 1975 when the first agreement to supply oil to the Indian Oil Corporation was signed, and ever since, the UAE-India relationship in the field of energy has continued to grow and develop, resulting today in India being the second largest importer of oil from the United Arab Emirates.

He also demonstrated the UAE’s experience in shaping plans to diversify the field of energy. He noted that diversity in the sources of power generation is considered a priority for the UAE, in order to achieve balanced and sustainable resources of energy, in which natural gas will constitute the largest component of the energy equation by 2020, accounting for 65%-70% of the nation’s power supply, while nuclear power will account for 25%, with a capacity of 5,600 megawatt-hours, and renewable energy is expected to account for 5% of the UAE’s power supply.

During his visit to attend Petrotech, Al Mazroui, along with the UAE Ambassador to India, Mohammed Sultan Al Owais, met with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Varoba Molly, and a number of Indian oil and gas companies, in the context of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and boosting cooperation in various fields of energy, including exchanging expertise and discussing ways the two countries can collaborate in the oil and gas industry.

Economic reports show steady growth in trade exchange between the UAE and India, rising from $180 million in 1971 when the Union was established, to $43.5 billion in 2009, and growing later to about $67.6 billion by 2010. Trade continued to rise in 2011 and 2012 to record $72.7 billion and $75.5 billion, respectively, while trade reached some $60 billion last year.

The UAE and India have always gone to great lengths to renew and consolidate bilateral economic and trade relations. This has been reflected on overall bilateral relations between the two countries, turning them into a major partnership in the economic and commercial spheres, as the UAE became India’s third largest trade partner, after China and the USA, in 2013-2014.

The Indian work force in the UAE currently includes about 2.6 million workers, reflecting the significance of UAE-India relations and common interests that are growing day after day, while there are about 50,000 Indian companies operating in the UAE today in the industrial, technological and health fields, among others. Annual money transfers by the large Indian community in the UAE are estimated at over $8 billion, according to 2012 statistics.

The two countries have signed a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding since 1975 that include agreements in various sectors, such as the cultural cooperation agreement, the civil aviation agreement, the double taxation avoidance agreement and the agreement to combat trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances. Also signed was an extradition treaty and a treaty of mutual legal assistance in criminal and civil matters, in addition to legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters agreements and many others, including a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of renewable energy, which was signed in 2014.

Total UAE investments in India have amounted to some AED8 billion dirhams, according to statistics from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, including AED3 billion dirhams in direct investments. UAE investments in India are generally concentrated in five sectors: the real estate sector (accounting for 15.5% of investments), the energy industry (accounting for 13% of investments), the metallurgical industry (accounting for 9% of investments), the services sector (accounting for 9.6% of investments) and the computer software and hardware industry (accounting for 5% of investments).

After more than four centuries, UAE-India relations continue to grow, and the achievements made as a result have helped the two nations gain advanced cooperation status, in terms of regional and international relationships, especially as the UAE's policy, is based upon strong foundations, such as respect for international laws and cooperation at the global level.

By adding India to it’s most important international relations, the UAE will have expanded the scope of its relations with major countries, especially in Asia, where India and China are key players by virtue of their very large populations, accounting for around one-third of the earth's population, especially bearing in mind the political and economic importance of these two countries. In addition, the UAE is held in very high esteem at both regional and global levels, thanks to the wise policies and leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has set a mechanism for students still enrolled in universities overseas, to obtain exceptions to attendance policies at their respective academic institutions, in light of the ongoing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MoE in a statement said that the move stems from its keenness to ensure the continuity of the education process for those students and maintaining effective channels of communication with them.

According to this mechanism, the students' applications for exceptions to academic attendance at those universities due to the COVID-19 should be submitted following the end of the academic year, not after the academic semester, via the following email: ifada@moe.gov.ae.

They have to support the request with a message elaborating on the reasons for the required exceptions, in addition to another message from the university where the type of study they've followed during the coronavirus crisis should be mentioned. The approval issued by the MoE for studying abroad should be attached as well.

The student's score reports for the academic years spent in the host countries and the duration of each academic year should also be attached with the exception request in addition to an entry and exit report of the student from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

A couple of weeks ago social media had catapulted 17-year-old volleyball player Sabina Altynbekova of Kazakhstan as a celebrity, now online enthusiast fancy a new sportswoman who they consider as the most beautiful chess player.

For many, chess players cannot have the benefit of svelte physical beauty, often brooding in nature and hiding behind spectacles.

This summary may be a bit exaggerated, but honestly, it is rare to spot a supermodel playing chess at professional level.

But this young Canadian student, Alexandra Botez, who has conquered social media, is a perfect concoction of beauty and intelligence.

The question now being asked is, is she the most beautiful sportswoman in the world? So what about basketball player Sabina Altynbekova?

Alexandra's strategy on the board to move the bishop, horse, Lady and the tower has earned her an academic distinction that enabled her to get a scholarship to study at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Recently, she participated in the "Second Chess Festival UNAM", after winning a scholarship of $40,000 in the Texas Tech University.

From the age of six Alexandra started playing chess.

It was her father who taught her the best strategies of the game, achieving a score of 1800 points when she was 12.

The young Canadian currently peak at 879 places in international rankings.

Third ranked player in her country, this young woman has the gift to achieve more.

Alexandra's beauty is definitely an add-on to her celebrity status.

All Photos: Facebook Alexandra Botez

ALSO READ: Is she the world's most beautiful volleyball player?

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.

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There are two sets at Mumbai’s Film City – the Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi and one unit of choreographer turned director Bosco Martis who is making a film. There are other shoots planned around the country as well now, while small units have already started shooting outside Mumbai. But then the big guns haven’t been able lock in on insurance and other details for the daily wage workers and other unit hands as yet.

Big films like Thalaivi, Maidaan, Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 are all pending completion among a host of around 15-20 top films in Bollywood including Brahmastra, Mumbai Saga, Prithviraj among others.                                                                                                                                             

The FWICE says that they cannot let workers shoot in such circumstances. “We have been saying some nice things, but it is time to face the hard reality. We have been talking to the producers and they need to provide insurance to the workers if they have to return to the shoot. Also the guidelines are still not clear. There needs to be someone to monitor is these things are being done and all safety precautions along with insurance etc have to be done. If the shoots have to start, the producers need to be ready to shell out all these things,” says BN Tiwari, President of the Federation Of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE).

As for the actors everyone is getting their COVID negative reports ready too. Amit Behl, the Senior Joint Secretary of the Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) says that he himself is getting his report done. “We have also been busy attending to many calls from people who have doubts on how they are going to be covered. They want their safety as well. I have to also go to my doctor to get my medical done so I can start working too,” says the actor.

TP Aggarwal, Former President, Film Federation of India and President, Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) however feels that normalcy in shoots may not return soon. "The Federation claims they have 5 lakh members. They don't even have 50000. According to Competition Commissioner of India, the Federation cannot stop or force producers to take their members. Even then, they force the producers and trouble them. This insurance is not the producer's job. How can any producer put a doctor and an ambulance on call on the sets when there is shortage of doctors and ambulances in the city! Then they want the shoot workers and technicians to be kept in a separate hotel where no one else is there, which is not possible. In case of Corona detection, they want treatment at private hospitals. At this point, no one will admit and if they do, the cost will be very high. I don't see us shooting under these non-co-operative conditions anytime soon. But if any producer wishes to shoot under these circumstances, he is more than welcome. We have no objection to the same."

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai,, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management headed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the resumption of a new set of economic activities and services in the emirate effective Thursday 18 June, 2020.

The announcement is part of the gradual reopening of economic activities and return to normalcy in the emirate. Stringent precautionary measures will continue to be enforced in public areas and facilities across Dubai based on guidelines issued by local and federal authorities.

Activities permitted within sectors that resumed their operations in the last few weeks will continue observing specific precautionary measures aimed at safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public. Services and activities that will be resumed include public libraries; private museums and art galleries; home services such as those providing healthcare services to elderly people and people of determination; home beauty services, and elective surgical procedures lasting more than two and a half hours.

Other activities and facilities that have been permitted to resume under the condition that strict precautionary measures will be followed include: outdoor tourism and fitness activities such as camping; swimming pools; fitness centres; water sports; water parks; interactive water activities, 3D and 4D cinema halls; and children’s sports and play areas at public parks and beaches.

People over the age of 60 and children under the age of 12 will be allowed to visit malls and other public places while strictly following precautionary measures, such as wearing face masks, maintaining a distance of two metres from others and avoiding crowded areas.

The Committee stressed the need for everyone to remain vigilant and observe preventive measures in order to ensure highest levels of safety in the community. The decision to resume the new set of economic activities is aimed at meeting the needs of the community and easing earlier restrictions enforced to combat COVID-19. All precautionary measures implemented in the emirate seek to ensure the safety and well-being of the community and reduce the spread of the virus, the Committee said.

The Committee further said the speed at which Dubai and the UAE tackled the crisis enabled it to avoid the worst scenario, especially with the large scale of COVID-19 testing that are conducted daily to minimize the rate of infections and isolating confirmed and suspected cases to limit the spread of the virus. The ability of the health sector to raise its capacity particularly in Dubai hospitals in close cooperation with the private sector boosts the emirate’s ability to effectively deal with all potential scenarios, the Committee added.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the shared responsibility of the community encapsulated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s words "We Are All Responsible" is a crucial element in overcoming the pandemic. The community’s commitment to precautionary measures outlined by health authorities remains vital to Dubai’s ability to fight the pandemic. Each member of the public is responsible for maintaining a minimum distance of two metres from others in outdoor and indoor public areas, wearing face masks, regularly washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and using hand sanitisers throughout the day, the Committee stressed.

Lack of compliance with precautionary measures will undermine the efforts of local and federal authorities, the Committee further said. Inspections will continue to be implemented across various facilities, offices, shopping malls and various outlets to ensure full adherence to precautionary measures. Those found violating these measures will be fined.

The Committee paid tribute to frontline workers and federal and local entities working relentlessly to combat the outbreak, including the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of Interior, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the Dubai Health Authority, the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, Dubai Police, Dubai State Security and all departments and organisations that have contributed to countering the pandemic and mitigating its impact.

The Ministry of Finance, MoF, has announced the successful implementation of Procure-to-Pay, P2P, which facilitates the procurement process and e-approval of purchase orders and requests at various federal entities in the country.

"Entities can now approve the purchase requests and direct the purchase order to the supplier within minutes - if all the required documents are available," MoF said in a statement.

Mariam Mohammad Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Management of Financial Resources said, "The Ministry of Finance continues to enhance its services and implement best practices in digital transformation. This is in line with the ministry’s strategic vision to be the leading government entity when it comes to using best practices in government financial work."

MoF said the application helps to issue practices and tenders according to procedures and regulations, and conducts technical and financial evaluation as well as final awarding operations. It also enables suppliers to deliver invoices automatically through the suppliers’ portal, where the entities can approve them and complete the payment procedures without any manual action. The average invoice approval period is (5 days) - starting from the date the invoice submission by the supplier until the payment.

The ministry has also added features to the application that allow monitoring of the completion of the supplier's invoices by the competent financial department of each federal entity within a specific timeframe. In case of any delay, escalation is made against the late person to ensure the supplier's entitlement arrives on time.

Upon completion of auditing and approval of invoices, the amount of the invoice are directly transferred through the TMS system to the Central Bank of the UAE, then directly to the supplier’s bank account – suppliers are then notified via an email. If suppliers face problems, they can directly communicate with the Technical Support specialists at MoF.

The application enables federal authorities’ officials to electronically and remotely approve all financial procedures for procurements and payments, based on the powers of accreditation granted to them as stated in the consolidated financial procedures manual. This can be done through mobile phone or tablets and at any time and place inside or outside the country.

MoF issued a segregation of duties manual that included the Procure-to-Pay application, which clarifies the rules governing the principles of segregation of duties (ensuring that the same employee is not granted duties that conflict with one another). This ensures duties are distributed to more than one employee to ensure that no employee or group of employees can commit or conceal errors or defraud while processing transactions.

The segregation of duties manual is mandatory for all federal entities that use the federal financial system. It covers more than 200 rules and clearly identifies all potential conflicts of duties. The risks (Low / Medium / High) are categorised based on the degree of conflict. MoF said it supported this by creating an electronic system to segregate duties, to enable the federal government to enhance integrity, accuracy, transparency, accountability and internal control.

Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said: "The UAE, five months after the detection of the first Covid-19 case, has become an inspirational model to be followed for proactive measures and effective crisis management."

The minister’s remarks came at the UAE government’s regular media briefing where he, along with Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Government, Dr Saif Dhaheri, the Spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), and Dr. Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE health sector, provided an update on Covid19 related developments and the measures taken to reduce its impact.

The minister added: "The UAE has proved its ability to address this challenge in a highly effective manner, by relying on its front-line workers and on the compliance of its people with the preventive and precautionary measures."

He continued: "Thanks to the directives of our wise leadership, the UAE now ranks first in the world in terms of screening per capita, hitting the 3 million test mark in a record time."

Since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has been determined to examine the largest possible number of citizens and residents with the average daily tests in the UAE increasing from 25,000 to 40,000.

Addressing the briefing, Al Shamsi commented that more than 39,000 additional Covid19 tests were conducted among UAE citizens and residents, resulting in the detection of 382 new cases and taking the total number of infections in the country to 43,364.

She noted an additional 672 individuals have fully recovered from Covid19, bringing the total number of recoveries to more than 29,537, adding that a total of 13,532 individuals are still being treated, most of whom are in stable condition.

She also announced the death of two individuals as a result of Covid19 complications, taking the total number of fatalities in the country to 295.

Dr. Al Shamsi expressed her sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished current Covid19 patients a speedy and full recovery.

Al Shamsi referred to the recent update of guidelines which regulate the operation of shopping malls and retail outlets, highlighting that effective from June 18, only people over 70 years old, instead of 60 years old, are not allowed inside shopping malls, cooperative societies, restaurants, and sports facilities, adding that children aged less than 12 years old will continue to be denied access into these destinations.

Dr Saif Dhaheri, the Spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced a series of conditions and measures regulating the travel of citizens and residents effective June 23rd.

"Travel will be allowed to certain destinations according to a strategy that has classified all countries of the world into three categories: the first is classified as low risk nations to which all citizens and residents are allowed to travel. The second is medium-risk nations to which only a limited category of citizens are allowed to travel to in case of emergency, namely for necessary medical reasons, visiting first-degree family members, or for military, diplomatic and official missions. The third are high-risk countries to which travel is categorically banned," he explained.

Dr Saif added that a travel protocol will be enforced under the current circumstances which will rely on a number of tenets, namely public health, medical tests, prior travel registration, quarantine, self-follow-up of traveler’s health status and awareness of the precautionary measures.

He elaborated on a number of mandatory prerequisites that any traveler has to abide by before departure, and upon return to the UAE. These run as follows: 1. All citizens and residents have to apply for a travel request through the Federal Authority for Citizenship and Identity’s website and register in the Twajudi service prior to travel.

2. All travelers to undergo a Covid19 test before travel as the health regulations in the country of destination may require a test result which dates back to no more than 48 hours before the travel date. The test result has to be displayed at the country’s airports via the Alhosn app. Only travelers who tested negative for the virus will be allowed to travel.

3. People aged over 70 years old will not be allowed to travel. People with chronic diseases are also advised not to travel for their safety.

4. An international medical insurance covering the country of destination is a must have for all travelers.

5. Everyone must comply with preventive measures at the airports, including wearing face masks, gloves, constant sanitization of hands and maintaining safe physical distance.

6. People with more than 37.8 C or higher temperature or those with respiratory disease symptoms will be isolated. Any persons suspected to have contracted Covid19 won’t be allowed to travel to ensure his and other’s safety.

7. Emirati and resident travelers must fill the required individual health accountability form, which includes an agreement to undergo quarantine upon return and not to go to destinations other than the ones applied to.

Dr. Saif also highlighted the mandatory provisions to be adhered to upon arriving at the country of destination and before returning to the UAE: 1. If the traveler feels unwell, they should go to the nearest health center and use their health insurance.

2. If travelers have a test for Covid19 in the country of destination and the result is positive, they should notify the UAE embassy at that destination, either through Tawajudi Service or by contacting the embassy. The UAE mission will ensure that Covid19 patients are taken care of and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention is notified.

Dr. Saif spoke about the mandatory provisions to be adhered to upon return to the country: 1. Everyone must adhere to wearing face masks at all times upon entry.

2. All travelers must show a special form of their itinerary, in addition to the health status form, along with their identification documents.

3. Travelers must ensure they download and activate MoHAP's ALHOSN app on their mobile phones.

4. After return, the traveler must undergo a home quarantine for 14 days after the Covid19 test, which could decrease to seven days for travelers arriving from countries with lower risk or for professionals in critical sectors.

5. Travelers with any symptoms must commit to undergo Covid19 tests in an accredited medical facility within 48 hours of entering the country.

6. If it is not possible to undergo home quarantine, the traveler must commit to self-quarantine in a facility or a hotel and pay all expenses.

Dr. Saif also outlined additional provisions for those on study scholarships, those on medical treatment trips, members of the diplomatic missions and those on business trips, whether from public or private sectors. They should coordinate with the respective authorities.

He added that the procedures will be updated regularly, based on new developments and the health situation on the ground.

Dr. Farida Al Hosani addressed the new developments arising from easing precautionary measures and re-opening businesses and activities in most of the sectors.

She added that under these developments, people are required to adopt a new lifestyle, based on four pillars: 1. Continue the prevention of contracting Covid19 and ensure that all precautionary measures are taken.

2. Boost the body and immune system by eating healthy food and exercising regularly.

3. Raise health awareness and continuously follow the preventive measures and advice by various health authorities.

4. Ensure that people with underlying chronic disease, like diabetes, or cardiovascular and respiratory diseases go for regular medical checks.

Answering media questions, Dr. Al Hosani said a cloth mask can be re-used if the surgical mask is not available.

"It is preferred that the cloth mask is made of cotton and has several layers. It must be washed after every single use."

When asked about the possibility of contracting Covid19 from home delivery of goods and food, she said, it is a universal fact Covid19 is transmitted mainly through direct person-to-person contact while the risk of catching the virus by touching a surface is very minimal.

Therefore, she continued, it is possible to get the infection through bags or packed cans during delivery. "That's why we must follow preventive measures like avoiding direct contact when receiving delivered items and making sure to wash hands and to dispose of all bags, cans, etc."

On transmission via shoes, she said it is unlikely, but as a precautionary measure when in the house with infants or children who can crawl on the floors or play on the ground, surfaces must be disinfected regularly and the occupants must take their shoes off and leave them at entrance of the house.

The first evidence of Olive Ridley turtles breeding in the UAE has been announced today, World Sea Turtle Day, by Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority, EPAA.

Classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN, the Olive Ridley turtle is the second-smallest and most abundant of the world’s six marine turtle species.

A turtle hatchling was recently observed and photographed crawling towards the sea from the beach of the Kalba Kingfisher Retreat, in Sharjah’s East Coast enclave of Khor Kalba, an EPAA announcement said. The Kingfisher Retreat is situated in the Alqurm Protected Area, which covers 500 hectares, including a tidal lagoon, a forest of mangrove (Qurm) trees and a beach facing the Gulf of Oman.

The Alqurm Protected Area, declared as a Nature Reserve by Emiri Decree No. 27 of 2012 issued by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, is also home to one of the world’s rarest birds, the local sub-species of the Collared Kingfisher.

After receiving a photograph of the turtle hatchling, EPAA Chairperson Hana Saif Al Suwaidi said, the Authority sent an inspection team to search for evidence of nesting.

"The team located several tracks on the middle and upper part of the beach, leading them to conclude that multiple turtles did successfully hatch and made it to the sea." Al Suwaidi said.

Previously, only Green and Hawksbill turtles were known to breed in the Emirates.

Welcoming the discovery, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, developers of the Kingfisher Retreat, commented that: " thanks to the relentless efforts of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, (it) reflects on Sharjah’s global status in restoring, preserving and protecting its rich natural habitat and infrastructure, further contributing to the global protection of endangered wildlife and promoting responsible environmental change."

Shurooq, he pointed out, has been partnering with EPAA since 2009 in the development of eco-tourism projects like the Kingfisher Retreat. Such projects, he said, are "part of Shurooq’s mission and vision to harness and promote Sharjah’s rich heritage and natural histories, as well as responsible tourism experiences, allowing visitors and tourists to engage and learn about the importance of preserving and sustaining wildlife for a better environmental future."

Growing to a length of around 61 cm (2 feet) in carapace length, the Olive Ridley turtle is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but also in the Atlantic. Studies in Mexico have shown that the species has a normal weight range of between 25 kg to 46 kg, rarely reaching over 50 kg.

Historically, the Olive Ridley turtle was subjected to heavy commercial exploitation, with one million being harvested off the coast of Mexico in 1968 alone. While conservation efforts have largely ended commercial exploitation, the total global population of annual nesting females is estimated to have fallen to around 2 million by 2004 and to around 850,000 by 2008.

Continued threats include the collection of eggs, killing of adults on nesting beaches, incidental capture in fishing gear, vessel strikes and ingestion of marine debris.

The species is best-known for its behaviour of synchronised nesting in large numbers, known as ‘arribadas’. The majority of the Indian Ocean population nests on beaches in the Odisha (Orissa) area of India.