Al Ain Zoo is providing veterinary care to more than 4,000 animals, and it is distributed among 172 species of birds and wild animals, thanks to its animal health centre that includes a veterinary clinic and other related support services, all of which constitute an advanced diagnostic and treatment system.

The veterinary team follows a different approach to rescue endangered animals as it is monitored regularly to prevent health complications instead of treating them only in the event when occur.

"The integrated veterinary system owned by the zoo saved a lot of time and effort by facilitating the steps of examining and treating animals according to the best practices over the world in wild animal’s field," said Dr. Arshad Haroon Toosy, Manager Veterinary Services at Al Ain Zoo.

He added that with the presence of an integrated veterinary team of veterinary doctors and technicians specialising in the fields of wildlife care as well as comprehensive services, they have created greater guarantees for the accuracy of treatment, facilitating monitoring and matching results to the presence of the laboratory and the sick animal in one place."

The veterinary clinic in the Zoo includes a mobile x-ray, imaging machine, hand base machine for the teeth, an ultrasound endoscopy, a pharmacy and drug stores, and special equipment for inhalation anesthetic, including weapons that differ in animal and bird type, and predators such as black and light in motion such as deer need special equipment for anesthesia.

It also includes a centre for veterinary examinations and specialised research, which is the only one of its kind specialising in wildlife in the UAE, and conducts periodic examinations of all the different animals in the zoo in terms of biochemistry and, microbiology post-mortem, molecular biology.

There is another section in the clinic called Animal Health centre which provide a proper health supportive, medical care for a serious cases which needs more observation for a while. There are also a number of nurseries to care for newborn animals that are born prematurely or their condition calls for placing them under observation.

It provides a high stander nutrition programme for sick animals with specific veterinary standards. Veterinarians take a responsibility not only in health care of animals living in a Zoo, but also with arrangement for exchanging of animals between Zoos.

The physiology, sizes, and nature of wild animals different from one species to another, as the zoo made sure to provide 15 different species of accommodation for treatment within the permanent animal housing to ensure complete comfort to the animal during the treatment period, where the veterinary team is present throughout the week and in emergency cases to ensure the provision of the necessary care For the health of wild animals.

Al Ain Zoo provides services for wild animals by providing varied food, a suitable place in addition to the comprehensive health care provided by competent doctors and specialists in the field of animal care. It also works in partnerships with some of the world's leading environmental conservation groups, with the aim of conserving endangered wild species and resettling them in their natural habitats.

Over the last couple of weeks, residents in Dubai have been handed out their Makani number.

If you are living in a standalone structure, you were most likely given your own Makani number. Residents of multi-storey buildings can probably find the unique code of their building in the lobby.

What is this number, and how can it be used?

Residents of multi-storey buildings can probably find the unique code of their building in the lobby [Supplied]

The Makani number is a unique 10 digit code locating a building. Be it a villa, high-rise, hospital, tower or office, every structure in Dubai has been numbered, and every number is unique.

With this number, a person can locate himself or others within a squared-meter precision.

Makani is an application developed by the Dubai Municipality, aimed at improving location finding in the emirate. Emergency vehicles, delivery people, or individuals should never get lost in their attempt to finding a certain address.

As Dubai does not have a traditional addressing system, location finding can be problematic. Although streets are currently named in an effort to make locations more recognisable, the unique number will leave one in no doubt about the place to be found.

“A 10-digit number has been given to each building and every location, including government organisations, hospitals, parks, commercial buildings, houses, factories, warehouses, etc,” explained Abdul Hakim, Director of  GIS Department at Dubai Municipality earlier.

“When a location has several entrances, each entrance is given a different coordinate. For example, when you search for Dubai Mall, the application will give you the boundaries of the mall and all the entrances. Each entrance has a different coordinate.”

How and when to use it?

The Makani system is part of the official addressing system in Dubai and will be used by all government organisations, police, ambulance and companies. This means that an ambulance on its way might ask for your Makani coordinates.

In order to be found, a person only needs to provide the ten-digit code. Therefore, it is important to have the code at hand. If you have a sticker with the code, place it somewhere easy to be seen. When the code is for a building you live in, take a picture of the code, or write it down on a piece of paper.

The code of your location can also be found through the Makani application. “To find out the coordinates of a destination, the user can type the name of the building or location in the search bar, and click on the desired result. A second option is to zoom in on the map, clicking on the building or location once visible. With the satellite option, it is easy to recognise the location,” explained Abdul Hakim.

For someone on the road, the application is available in the form of a GPS navigator, launched in partnership with Garmin. But directions are also provided by the smart application, offering routes by car, public transport and on foot.

The app can be found in the Appstore  and GooglePlay under the name Makani Dubai. The application is also available as a website.

 
 

Effective January 2016, there will be no six months ban if services are terminated in mutual agreement between the employer and employee, Arabic daily Al Bayan reported.

ALSO READ: Employment contract must be in native language

UAE Ministry of Labour has confirmed that the ban of six months will be cancelled beginning January if the work permit and employment are terminated in mutual agreement.

According to the Ministry, employees will be allowed new work permits to join another facility immediately, even if the employee has not completed two years at the first facility.

However, the Ministry confirmed that workers under level IV and V who have not completed six months with the first establishment will be excluded from this rule.

The new rule is part of the new resolutions issued by Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash in September and which will be effective in January.

The ministry has completed procedures for implementation of the resolutions beginning next year, the report added.

Humaid Rashid bin Dimas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary at Ministry of Labour, told Al Bayan that under the new resolution, employees who end their service in agreement with the establishments and cancel their work permits will be allowed to move to other establishments, even if they have not completed two years at the workplace.

However, workers in levels IV and V who have not completed six months with the first facility are exempted from this rule, he added.

Al Suwaidi said that currently workers who terminate their service through consensus and have completed two years are also not allowed to move to another facility immediately. They are allowed to join another job only after a period of six months from the date of cancellation of the work permit, he added.

As per the new resolution No. 766 of 2015 workers will be granted new work permits immediately beginning January, explained Al Suwaidi and added that this is so as long as both the parties fulfill the conditions agreed upon in the labour contract signed between them.

Attracting talents

Al Suwaidi confirmed that the new Ministry rule aims to attract and retain talent, and is in line with the strategic goal of the government to being a knowledge-based economy attracting global talent.

He said the ministry aims to promote workers from within the country rather than bringing them from abroad, especially people with expertise.

Al Suwaidi said last year 340,000 workers who ended their service at one job could not get new work permits because they had not completed two years and the labour market thus could not benefit from experiences and skills.
 

ALSO READ:

New Labour Rules: How employee services can be terminated in UAE

Work is on in a very meticulous manner for the Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham Singh – director Shoojit Sircar’s next film after Gulabo Sitabo. Even as the film had a mixed response after streaming on a digital platform, Shoojit like every other filmmaker has been working in a phased manner locking the edit of the film first using the editor and an assistant working within a time frame and adhering to safety norms.

Vicky is slated to start dubbing for the film once the edit is locked by August. “Once the edit is locked the dubbing for the film will start. The work on the visual effects of the film is also pending which will happen simultaneously with the dubbing and from multiple locations as all of them cannot be present in the same place. Vicky and the other actors meanwhile will finish their share of dubbing for the film and then the sound mix of the film will take place. The VFX will need to be done by a large team of over 12 dozen people and work will be distributed accordingly – for some to work from the studios and others from home,” says a source.

Vicky ‘s building was also under containment and he has not been able to step out earlier. He will be expected to come to dub after six weeks from now. While the makers had earlier shifted the release date to January 2021, the current speed of the work considering the magnitude may not necessarily permit the film to release on time. “It was earlier slated to release in October 2020 and then moved to January 2021. But now it does not seem that the film will be able to make it unless the work is completed on time,” adds the source. 

Muslims from India will not go to the Holy Land to perform Haj this year, the Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, announced here today.

This follows a phone conversation between Naqvi and the Minister for Haj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten yesterday.

The Saudi Minister briefed Naqvi in detail about the Kingdom’s efforts to fight COVID-19 infections. He suggested to India not to send pilgrims for Haj this year.

Two hundred thousand Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019. Half of them were women. About 213,000 persons had already registered to travel for Haj this year, Naqvi told a press conference here today.

He said the government will immediately refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction following the Kingdom’s preventive and precautionary measures during the 1441 H/ 2020 AD Haj season.

Drew Barrymore "works her butt off" during training.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travis Scott has splashed $23.5 million on a new home.

The 'Astroworld' rapper has dropped the hefty amount on the seven bedroom property in Brentwood, TMZ reports.

The house was listed last summer for $42 million but has since seen a massive decrease in the asking price, despite it being a 16,700-square-foot mansion with no less than 11 bathrooms, a gym, a bar, a sauna, its own movie theatre and a swimming pool. Its position on a hill means it has panoramic views over the whole of Los Angeles below.

Meanwhile, Travis - who has daughter Stormi with his ex-partner Kylie Jenner - previously confessed that fatherhood is "the most impactful thing" in his life.

He said: "I've gotten so much energy from her.m he has shown me so many things that I never understood. I only got it once she was here. Fatherhood is the most impactful thing in my life. To see your daughter getting a little older every day is the most magical experience in the world. I've also developed so much passion. I feel things I never felt before."

Kylie and Travis have split but are "great" co-parents.

A source said previously: "They have split for now and are living apart. Travis moved out a couple of weeks ago and lives at his own house. Stormi will continue to live with Kylie. They are both great parents and will co-parent. They don't want their split to affect Stormi too much. As soon as they felt they couldn't figure out their issues, they decided to separate so their disagreements won't affect Stormi."

Lack of awareness on early symptoms of some neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, MS, prevent some youngsters in the UAE from taking medical help in the beginning, which even lead them to permanent disability, a senior neurologist told Emirates News Agency, WAM.

"The concern on MS is not the number of people afflicted by the disease but it is the most common cause of permanent disability in youngsters. These are the people who are just out of the college...or just started doing a job...or just got married...and this disease can make them disabled," said Dr. Ahmed Shatila, Consultant Neurologist at Sheikh Shakbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi, which is under Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

"It is not about huge number of patients. Even it is one person, he or she should not be left permanently disabled, especially since the UAE has a robust medical infrastructure to treat this disease; patients have to just utilise it properly," he pointed out.

In medical terms, multiple sclerosis is a progressive, immune-mediated disorder. That means the system designed to keep your body healthy mistakenly attacks parts of your body that are vital to everyday function. The protective coverings of nerve cells are damaged, which leads to diminished function in the brain and spinal cord, which may cause paralysis, vision loss, and diminished brain function.

Like any other chronic disease, the doctor said, early diagnosis and treatment are the key in controlling MS.

"If you have any new symptoms such as numbness, vision problems, pains and spasms, and weakness or fatigue, balance problems or dizziness etc., you should consult a physician who can identify its seriousness and refer you to a neurologist for further treatment," Dr. Shatila advised.

Mostly patients are in their 20s and 30s (in some cases up to 45). As young females are more vulnerable to this disease, they constitute 60 percent of the patients and 40 percent are men, he said.

MS is a chronic disease like diabetes and hypertension that are hard to be cured completely. Although it is not fatal, MS may reduce the patients’ life expectancy by 8 to 15 years, Dr. Shatila said.

However, early diagnosis and treatment help to control the disease without worsening the patient’s condition to permanent disability, the doctor explained.

Globally, on an average 100 people in 100,000 population are afflicted by MS but the number of cases in the UAE is fewer – on an average 66 in 100,000, he said.

Although the disease was detected in 1868, the research to find the exact reasons is still going on. Apart from genetic factors, possible viral infection and vitamin-D deficiency are the suspected causes, the doctor explained.

Properly following the treatment regimen is very important for a patient. Many patients with worsened conditions have admitted that they have not been taking medicines properly, Dr. Shatila revealed.

He has seen many success stories of patients who have overcome the MS with their determination and discipline. "A 16-year-old boy was diagnosed with MS. After three years’ treatment, now he can walk up to 15 kilometres," the doctor said.

Versatile Ayushmann Khurrana does it again - plays father, son, and his son’s wife in an ad going viral! The Dum Laga Ke Haisha is now seen playing the role of a girl yet again after his superhit movie Dream Girl in which he pretended to be a girl while talking to men on the phone. Ayushmann Khurrana is known for his versatility and he never fails to impress us either with his clutter-breaking film subjects or his remarkable on-screen characters! He always pushes the benchmark even in his advertisements as clearly evident in the three different looks that he pulled off for this.

Ayushmann plays three different roles in the ad! He plays the role of a father, the son and even his wife in the advertisement! Ayushmann will be seen as a girl after Dream Girl directed by Raaj Shandilya, his blockbuster film and he is unrecognizable in the video! He wears white salwar-kameez, lipstick and also flirts with the husband, played by Ayushmann himself!  

As a father, Ayushmann sports spectacles and salt-pepper hair and wears kurta-pyjama. He is smeared in mud and his looks are extremely unique! His third look sees him play his age and it seems like he is trying his hand in cooking and impressing his wife, which is also played by him! His shirt is smeared with food and he is looking to impress his wife. No wonder the ad and the images of his looks are going viral!

It's a proud moment for Sri Lankans all over the world as bassist Hussain Jiffry takes home a Grammy gong.

Several Lankan media outlets trumpeted the news and social media was alight with Lankans basking in the glow of music's biggest gong for one of their own.

The honour was bestowed upon Jiffry, who is a part of bass legend Herb Alpert and wife Lani Hall’s quintet, when the group won the Best Pop Instrumental Album Award for their album Steppin’ Out at this year’s Grammy Awards, reports newsfirst.lk.

Hussain Jiffry is known for his work with well-known names in the international music scene such as Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Yanni.

Jiffry has also been with Brazilian samba jazz legend Sergio Mendes for many years as well as, performing with “The Earth Wind and Fire Experience” when they played live in Colombo, and at the Java jazz festival.

He graduated from the Musician’s Institute in California in 1989, and while playing random ensembles, it was his sheer talent that brought many worthwhile offers to this dedicated bassist.

Many international beauty and cosmetic brands have come up with a new type of nail polish, which they claim to be “halal” or “breathable” .

These brands claim that Muslim women can pray while wearing these nail polishes, as it does not prevent water and air from reaching the nails during ablutions before prayer.

Many beauty salons in Dubai are promoting this type of nail polish, with the word ‘halal’ widely advertised.

Most salons are also reporting high demand for the same.

Emirates 24|7 spoke to Dr Ali Ahmed Mashael, Grand Mufti at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, who explained that women must be very careful and not believe claims from companies and saloons, unless a fatwa comes from the right party.

“If this is claimed to be a breathable nail polish which does not make a coat on the nail, a woman must try to peal it away. If it does not peal, then yes it might be ‘halal’.

“However, if the woman tries to peal it and finds a pealed part coming out, then it is not ‘halal’, as it covers the nail and creates a shield on it. Thus, women cannot put it and pray.”

The Grand Mufti further explained that henna, for example, does not prevent women from praying as it does not peal, and it does not create a coat.

Dr Mashael requested Emirates 24|7 to supply the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai with samples of these halal nail polishes for study and experiments to find out if they really are halal or not.

Women in UAE confused

Women in the UAE are confused over whether to use these nail polishes or not.

Najla Al Shamsi, an Emarati mother of four said that she has been hearing about this type of nail polish for the past one year.

“A friend of mine from Canada told me about it and said that a famous makeup brand is selling them.

“However, it was difficult for me to find it as it was always out of stock. Then during Eid, I found a famous beauty salon in Dubai selling these halal nail polishes for Dh50 per bottle.

“This made me try it and I liked the idea of keeping it on for as long as I want as it does not prevent water and air from reaching the nails, and thus, I can pray with it.”

Maryam Ahmed, another Emirati woman said that she was using this halal nail polish and by mistake, while she was putting henna for Eid, a small piece of henna got stuck on her nail.

“When I reached home and washed my hands and removed the nail polish, I had henna stains on my nail. This I believe makes it really breathable nail polish as the other nail polishes do not allow henna to reach the nail.”

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, said a strong foundation of scientific and academic research is essential to realise our aspirations for the future.

To create a solid research base, it is critical to continue efforts to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading international destination for the academic and research community in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

"His Highness’s vision inspires us to develop our national human capital which is critical to accelerating our sustainable development journey in every sector. Investing in scientific and medical research and the healthcare sector represents one of the nation’s key strategic priorities," Sheikh Hamdan said.

"Our strategy is focused on developing initiatives to foster innovation and enhance the quality of education. We believe this is vital to finding unique solutions to the challenges we face and opening new paths to accelerate our journey to the future. The progress achieved by our scientific establishments reassure us about our ability to establish leadership in this domain. The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) is one of the prime examples of establishments in our country that provide a high quality of education. Such institutions are critical to enhance the healthcare sector and the quality of healthcare services, which are integral elements of Dubai’s plan to achieve sustainable development," His Highness said.

Sheikh Hamdan’s remarks came as he visited MBRU, accompanied by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chancellor of Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, MBRU, and Chairperson of its Board of Trustees; HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management; HE Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai and Secretary General of MBRU and Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine. Sheikh Hamdan was welcomed by Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif, Vice Chancellor of MBRU and Head of Dubai's COVID-19 Command and Control Centre.

During the visit, His Highness toured the main building of MBRU and was briefed about its plans, initiatives, programmes, accomplishments and private sector partnerships. Sheikh Hamdan also toured the Al Maktoum Medical Library and met virtually with a number of patients who have benefited from the University’s programmes.

Sheikh Hamdan also visited the Medical Simulation Centre, a fully accredited medical education and training facility equipped with hospital-grade equipment. The Centre is the largest such facility in Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed about the MBRU Community Immunity Program, which seeks to break the chain of COVID-19 infection by raising awareness of how infectious diseases are transmitted and proposing solutions and concrete preventive actions to combat the virus.

His Highness also met with the team of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, which includes 1,800 employees from the public and private sector who work on ensuring coordination and aligning the efforts of healthcare establishments and frontline organisations to counter COVID-19. His Highness was briefed by team leaders of the Centre on its operations, plans and research efforts.

The Dubai Crown Prince also visited Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, where he was briefed by Dr. Khawla Humaid Belhoul, Director of Dubai Dental Clinic, about the College’s plans and objectives. His Highness also toured the University’s children’s dental clinic, VIP dental clinic and dental laboratories. MBRU is the only university in the UAE where all postgraduate dental students are recognised as specialists in the UAE.

Sheikh Hamdan praised the efforts of the University to promote the healthcare sector in the country by developing scientific research and medical education. MBRU is on the right path to accomplish its objective of becoming a global hub dedicated to research and innovative healthcare education to serve humanity, His Highness said.

MBRU is home to 259 students from 32 countries. UAE nationals represent 34% of total students.

Instagram: Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone and Hollywood actor Vin Diesel sent fans in a tizzy soon after the actress shared a photo of them on social media in December.

Now 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' director DJ Caruso confirmed the news in a tweet during a chat session with his fans.

In December, the filmmaker had tweeted a picture and wrote: "Xander will travel this road #xandercagereturnsxxx #VinDiesel #Dominicanfiliming #DeepikaPadukone."

Vin Diesel/Instagram

He tweeted when a fan asked him about Deepika's shooting schedule: "@CyrineZanaib @6eyf__ we start in january. She (Deepika) starts sometime in February."

Jet Li, Deepika Padukone and Tony Jaa are joining the cast of Vin Diesel's xXx sequel. They'll join a cast that already includes UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Samuel L. Jackson.

Karisma Kapoor's divorce gets murky

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

Adding to their long drawn divorce, actress Karisma Kapoor's husband Sunjay Kapur has filed an application at the family court for the custody of their children.

Just last month, the estranged couple's petition of divorce on the grounds of mutual consent was disposed, after both of them withdrew their consent.

The two children, daughter Samiera and son Kiaan Raj who are currently staying with Karisma.

File

Sunjay had filed the same application in the past, but later withdrew it as both the parties filed for divorce on mutual consent, which included the terms and conditions regarding the custody of the children.

But the same divorce petition on the grounds of mutual consent was disposed of last month after Karisma and Sunjay withdrew their consent to the petition.

The couple got married in 2003.

Karan Johar to launch Shah Rukh Khan's son?

Looks like filmmaker Karan Johar has set his eyes on Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan.

Karan, who has launched talents like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, is keen on mentoring Aryan.

The director and Shah Rukh have worked extensively together and share great equations for over two decades now.

And Shah Rukh's 17-year-old son, who has off-late been in the party circuit surely has got all the makings of a Bollywood super star.

According to an interview with a leading daily, Karan stated that Aryan shall venture into the massive B-town only though his movie. While elaborating on his equation with SRK, the director said, "Working with SRK was and is something that I always cherish. I feel whenever there are two people who are strong and close to each other, there is a section of people who are never happy with their closeness."

He further said, "Shah Rukh is beyond family to me. In fact, my equation with him has moved from him to his kids now. I always tell him, "I am going to maintain my youth quotient only because I want to launch Aryan. No one else can launch Aryan but me."

Aryan is currently pursuing his studies in London and is often spotted partying.

Katrina trying to work things out with Ranbir

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

There have been rumours doing the rounds about Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's relationship being on rocky ground.

Her recent tell-all interview about not being happy with Ranbir working with Deepika, about not being close to his parents didn't help dwindle these rumours.

But a source close to the couple has actually told a website in India that there isn't really an issue between the two.

It seems all the issues hasn't affected Ranbir and Katrina's relationship. The reports of their break-up apparently didn't affect them since they don't pay too much attention to stories written about them.

While the rumours of their break-up may have worked for 'Tamasha's' publicity, it hasn’t damaged Ranbir and Katrina's relationship.

The actress is willing to iron out any possible friction. Katrina will be taking off to London for Christmas and New Year and she is taking Ranbir with her.

The couple sure need this vacation!

Katrina Kaif's 'Fitoor' intimate scenes

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

'Fitoor', starring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Katrina Kaif has been embroiled in controversies since its inception.

Director Abhishek Kapoor is not entirely happy with the way things are going.

Twitter: @LOrealParisIn

He is disappointed with the way the film is shaping up and called for a re-shoot of a lovemaking scene between the film's lead pair Aditya and Katrina, which he believed wasn't good enough.

The passionate scene is just one of the scenes that will be redone, as per the report. 

Abhishek didn't like what he saw in the edit and has now decided to take out more time to do-over a few scenes which is normal.

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

But all this has left Katrina miffed.

Katrina is angry with the director and strongly disagreed on the point of re-shooting the entire sequence.

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

In fact, till the last moment, the crew had no clue if the shoot was happening at all. Eventually, the producers calmed the actress down and got her to agree to the scene again. But not before she threw a major fit.

'Fitoor' has already been delayed by months after Rekha decided to walk out of the project midway after shooting a few scenes. Tabu was then brought in and Abhishek resumed shooting.

When Ranveer Singh fell for Deepika Padukone

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone may never have confirmed the many rumours of the two being in a relationship with each other, but the two never hesitate when it comes to supporting or praising each other.

Ranveer has finally revealed when he fell for his ladylove for the first time and also said that he can not forget that first sight.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

In an recent interview, Ranveer and Deepika were asked what they thought about each other when they saw each other for the first time.

Ranveer revealed that he saw Deepika during the Zee Cine Awards which were held in Macau. He also said, "The first time I saw her, I almost went flat!"

File

The actor recalls that Deepika was wearing a silver dress at the event which happened in 2012 and when a fan asked him about how does he remember it so well. Here's what Ranveer tweeted: "how can one possibly forget that sight!?"

Genelia Deshmukh pregnant again?

Twitter

Riteish Deshmukh and wife Genelia Deshmukh are enjoying their parenthood with adorable little baby Riaan Deshmukh.

Riaan turned one this November when his parents threw a sailor-themed birthday party for him.

Twitter

However, buzz is that little Riaan will soon have a sweet little sibling to play with.

Bollywood circuits are abuzz that Genelia is pregnant with her second baby.

Twitter

The actress, who was planning to take on work after a long break, has put a stop to these new projects now that she is in the family way again.

Salman, Iulia Vantur caught in one frame

File

Salman Khan is one of the most good looking men in Bollywood and fans are aware of his string of affairs which never culminated into marriage.

The latest in the list is Romanian model Iulia Vantur. Rumours have been rife for a long time now that Salman and Iulia are going strong.

There have been buzzes of an engagement and a wedding too. However, Salman has never admitted to the relationship and has always laughed it off.

Recently, a source close to Salman mentioned that Iulia is busy with her work assignments abroad and therefore there is no question of them getting engaged or married.

Now few pictures have surfaced which shows Salman and Iulia driving away. While Salman is seated in the front, Iulia is seen sitting at the back.

Both Salman and Iulia are clicked in one frame and the two seemed aware of camera presence.

While it might still be some time before Salman Khan's relationship status is revealed to the world at large, these photos have added an all new dimension to the Salman-Iulia saga.

Katrina unhappy with Ranbir, Deepika

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone during a promotion of upcoming movie 'Tamasha' at Hotel Holiday, Punchkula. (Getty Images)

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone make a perfect couple on-screen. They have been the talk of the town and their chemistry on and off screen is way too palpable.

The two hottest co-stars of Bollywood were in the news during their aggressive promotional events and their movie 'Tamasha'.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

The movie itself was an intense, romantic and pathfinding story that even involved a passionate lip-lock between the two ex-lovers.

So what does Ranbir's current girlfriend Katrina Kaif think about all this?

Ranbir and Deepika Padukone dance during a promotion of their film 'Tamasha'. (AP)

Katrina said that 'Tamasha' is an outstanding movie and that Ranbir was superb in it. However, in a recent interview with GQ, Katrina put forward her actual thoughts on her handsome boyfriend working with his ex-girlfriend, Deepika.

Katrina said when asked about Ranbir working with Deepika, "I can't enforce my will on the people in my life. Their choices are their own. I may not be happy with them but I hope that as they mature or as they evolve, their choices will change!"

Well, that says it all, doesn't it?

Kareena Kapoor says no to Hrithik?

AFP

Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan make a good Bollywood on-screen couple, despite that they have never worked together after Subhash Ghai's film 'Yaadein' in 2003.

It was their rumoured affair during the movie that saw the two actors walk away in different directions.

Reports suggested that Kareena and Hrithik might come together for Sanjay Gupta's next.

Sanskriti Media

The makers had approached Kareena but Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan clearly said that Kareena is not in the film.

A popular entertainment tabloid recently reported that Hrithik will be working with his director father Rakesh Roshan once again and the film is set to kick start in February. It doesn’t have a title yet but the daily reports that it will be love story cum revenge drama directed by Sanjay Gupta.

AFP

Sanjay Gupta tweeted: "Ok guys its true that I am working on my next with Hrithik and Rakeshji. But we have not confirmed the lead actress as yet. We will soon :-)."

He continued, "It would be any director's dream come true to get Hrithik and Kareena together for a film. But we have not finalised our heroine yet."

Karisma Kapoor's divorce getting messy?

Actress Karisma Kapoor and estranged husband Sunjay Kapur had filed a mutual consent divorce petition in Mumbai's Family Court and were to end their 12 year old marriage before the end of 2014.

And since, they are unable to reach a consensus, both the parties decided to withdraw the joint petition for divorce.

The court will decide after speaking to Sunjay. Karisma, who was present in the court went through a long counselling session behind closed doors.

Mid Day reports that Karisma and Sunjay have been arguing about is the terms of a Trust being set up for the welfare of their two children, Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapoor.

Sunjay doesn't want to handover the control of the Trust to Karisma. As a result, Karisma is not giving Sunjay access to their children.

Karisma and Sunjay tied the knot in September 2003.

Preity Zinta getting married... soon?

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

In the latest wedding buzz, Bollywood's dimpled girl Preity Zinta is all set to marry, according to the reports.

Though the actress herself has denied the news, Times Of India has reported that sources close enough to the actress have confirmed that she's about to fly to USA in January 2016.

AFP

There, she'll be getting married to her American boyfriend, Gene Goodenough at a small and intimate ceremony.

The two have been going steady for a while now and it was Gene who stood by Preity throughout her problems with her ex-boyfriend Ness Wadia.

Katrina doesn't like talking about Salman

Salman and Katrina promote 'Ek Tha Tiger'. (Supplied)

Katrina Kaif, who is Ranbir Kapoor's girlfriend, feels that it would be disrespecting her 'existing relationship' if she talks in public about her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan.

During an appearance on Niranjan Iyengar's talk show 'Look Who's Talking with Niranjan', Katrina was asked about her relationship with the 'Dabangg' actor.

AFP

Katrina replied: "He is an amazing person and everyone in and out of the industry knows that. His parents and family treated me like a daughter always. But it does not seem respectful to my existing relationship if I talk about Salman or his family in the media; hence I choose not to mostly."

On being asked about her 'existing relationship' and her marriage plans with Ranbir, she said: 'Ranbir is my all-time friend'.

Shah Rukh to bring Parineeti, Alia together?

According to rumours Shah Rukh Khan is going to produce a female oriented flick starring Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra in the lead.

The film is said to be directed by Farah Khan, who has been holed out in Goa for some time now working on her script.

 Farah is considering Parineeti and Alia to star in her two heroine drama flick.

Farah has also revealed that Shah Rukh will be producing her next project.

Parineeti had a rough 2014 with back to back flops like 'Daawat-e-Ishq' and 'Kill Dil' while Alia has been giving one hit after another until 'Shaandaar'.

The two girls have been often pitted against each other and it will be interesting to see how things work out in this chick-flick.

Salman talks about rumoured girlfriend Iulia

AFP

The grapevine has always been abuzz with talks of Salman Khan and Romanian TV personality Iulia Vantur being in a relationship.

And some time back, there was a rumour doing the rounds that Salman is secretly engaged to Iulia.

AFP

But later the actor rubbished all the rumours by saying, "There is a lot of buzz about a lot of things about me, which is never true. Yes, I read what is written, hear what is said, and my right answer to your question would be that I am indifferent to all of it. The small things don't bother me at all, but they bother my parents. And that really bothers me."

Salman has always been linked to leading ladies such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.

But the actor is still unmarried and always laughs it off when he is asked about his marriage.

Yuvraj Singh, Hazel ready for marriage?

(AFP)

Before the dust could settle around the big fat Indian wedding of cricketer Harbhajan Singh and actress Geeta Basra, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech's marriage rumours is creating a buzz in the gossip columns.

It is an open secret that Yuvraj and Hazel are a couple and the two attended Harbhajan's wedding together.

Indian media also reported that the couple will be formally engaged by the end of November and wedding will be held in February 2016.

Facebook

The cricketer's tongue-in-cheek reply to these rumours has put all speculations to an end.

The all-rounder took to Twitter to deny reports about his 'impending wedding'. He wrote, "So now my dear media has decided the venue and month of my marriage can u also tell me the dates so I can get ready well in time!"

Yuvraj had previously dated Bollywood actress Kim Sharma and was also linked with Deepika Padukone.

Shah Rukh Khan shows his 'love bite'

Twitter

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is back on the sets of Rohit Shetty's 'Dilwale' after his birthday celebrations and apparently the actor got into a bit of trouble.

The actor got in a 'pub brawl' which resulted in a bruise on his arm.

Shah Rukh posted a picture of his 'pretty and pink love-bite' explaining that since he is the 'romantic hero' and all that, even his injuries reflect the same.

Looks like the actor shot for a bar fight scene for 'Dilwale' and got this bruise.

He tweeted, "My love bite from a bar fight. Being a romantic hero even my injuries look…well…pretty & pink! From sets of #Dilwale."

Are Hrithik, Kangana avoiding each other?

Sanskriti

Rumours of a fling between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut was the talk of the town till they decided to part ways.

The 'Queen' actress was rumoured to have ended the relationship as Hrithik was not ready to take it forward.

It was also speculated that perhaps they had a bitter break-up.

Sanskriti

The two actors, who worked together in 'Krrish 3', are till conscious of prying eyes. During the opening ceremony of ongoing MAMI film festival they avoided each other like the plague.

Though they had a common group of friends at the event, the two stars never mingled with them together.

Sanskriti

They did pose for a group picture and maintained a distance between them - much to their relief.

While Hrithik was seen chatting up with Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kangana was seated far away. However, as soon as Hrithik left the gang, Kangana joined the others and chatted away.

Deepika trying to follow Priyanka Chopra?

In this file photograph taken on April 28, 2015, Indian Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone poses during a promotional event ahead of the forthcoming Hindi film ‘Piku’ in Mumbai. AFP

Deepika Padukone is keen on doing Hollywood films and wants to explore to work in the West.

During the ongoing Jio MAMI festival the actress said that she is interested in doing Hollywood films and is ready to explore work opportunities.

Deepika was earlier offered a role in 'Furious 7' which she had to decline due to her commitment to 'Ram Leela' promotions.

Priyanka Chopra poses for a photograph during the 'Star Guild Awards 2015'. (AFP)

As she gears up for two back-to-back releases, Deepika said if something interesting comes her way she will definitely take it up.

Actors like Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have made appearances in Hollywood projects.

Priyanka is the first female actor from India to play lead in a US TV series. The actor is playing the role of Alex Parrish, a rookie FBI recruit with a mysterious past in 'Quantico'.

Anushka not ready to marry Virat

Last weekend, Anushka Sharma was spotted out with boyfriend Virat Kohli and her father on what was rumoured to be a house-hunting spree.

A report in mid-day quotes a source as saying, "Anushka and Virat have been open about their relationship because they are sure about taking it to the marriage altar. Their families will meet soon and decide the wedding date. In all likelihood, they will get hitched early next year."

But the actress isn't getting married any time soon, insists a statement on behalf of the 'Dil Dhadakne Do' star, seemingly impelled by reports in the press of a possible 2016 wedding to cricketer Virat Kohli.

The statement reads: "There is no truth to the stories/rumours about Anushka Sharma's impending wedding. Currently she is busy and happy with her work commitments. She has always been open about her life and would appreciate it and request everyone to wait for her to make announcements about her life instead of speculating."

Deepika, Ranbir's chemistry made Katrina insecure?

Actress Katrina Kaif has not asked filmmaker Anurag Basu to 'fire up' her chemistry with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in their upcoming comedy-drama film 'Jagga Jasoos', said her spokesperson.

(AFP)

Katrina is reportedly worried about Ranbir's chemistry with his former girlfriend, actress Deepika Padukone's in upcoming film 'Tamasha'.

"These rumours are clearly someone's imagination running wild. Though this makes fodder for gossip, it is categorically and entirely untrue. These stories are misleading to the audience and fans in general. Such idle gossip is really avoidable and childish," Katrina's spokesperson said in a statement.

Deepika and Ranbir are returning on the silver screen together after two years in filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha', which is slated to release on November 26 in UAE.

Meanwhile, 'Jagga Jasoos', which is slated to release in June next year, will feature the couple after 2010's 'Raajneeti'.

Despite the decline in greenfield foreign direct investment, FDI, globally at the beginning of 2020 due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai has maintained its leading position among the top three global FDI destinations during the first five months of the year, according to Financial Times fDi Markets data.

"Dubai ranked second globally in greenfield FDI capital flows and third globally in the number of FDI projects. The Dubai FDI Monitor preliminary data for this period recorded 155 newly announced FDI projects with more than AED10 billion of expected capital," said Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Investment Development Agency, and President of the World Association for Investment Promotion Agencies, WAIPA, during an interview with CNBC on Dubai’s performance in attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today, Dubai is at the forefront of global FDI destinations that are ready and resilient thanks to the wise policy measures adopted by the UAE leadership to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Dubai’s strategic advantages that enhance opportunities for growth, partnership and innovation for leading global businesses and startups" said Al Gergawi. "One of the key positive indicators which represent a global vote of confidence from investors is the sustained FDI flows into Dubai-based startups, which exceeded AED700 million during the same period. Dubai is the only city in the MENA region featured among the top 20 most popular destinations for venture capital investments according to fDi Markets’ Global Venture Capital FDI Ranking 2020 report," he added.

Commenting on the state of FDI during the COVID-19 pandemic, Al Gergawi highlighted the importance of extending support to current investors as part of Aftercare programmes. "At Dubai FDI, we have maintained ongoing communication with Dubai investors, and provided the latest updates, data and analysis along with our support services to help investors overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis," said Al Gergawi. "We are working closely with investors to support the realisation of announced FDI projects, which witnessed delays due to the pandemic. Some of the FDI projects already in the pipeline will be realised this year depending on both the sector and public health measures," he added.

Speaking about the efforts to attract FDI in the current circumstances, Al Gergawi revealed that Dubai FDI has launched a series of Virtual Investment Promotion Missions in cooperation with investment promotion partners around the world, relevant Dubai Government departments and Free Zones in Dubai, to support the growth and expansion of FDI into Healthcare, Logistics, e-Commerce, Digital Economy and new sectors such as food and AgriTech which are seeing increasing interest from global investors.

Al Gergawi pointed out that Dubai ranked seventh globally in the ‘fDi Aerospace Cities of the Future 2020/2021’ report issued recently by the Financial Times’ fDi Markets, and ranked second in FDI performance in the sector, which is a testimony to the diverse and attractive investment opportunities offered by Dubai.

Commenting on the long-term impact of the pandemic on FDI, Al Gergawi stated that the shift in global business expansion decisions will be manifested through the investor’s strategic choices. "Global investors are facing a new nexus of efficiency, resilience and economic impact," said Al Gergawi. "As President of the World Association for Investment Promotion Agencies, WAIPA, we are working closely with all stakeholders including leading global investors, international organisations and FDI experts to enhance the ‘Impact FDI’ ecosystem and facilitate the contribution of FDI projects to sustainable development," he further said.

Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace and the incredible and unique cultural and architectural landmark in Abu Dhabi, has been nominated by the World Travel Awards as the Middle East's Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction 2020.

Qasr Al Watan is majestic palace brimming with knowledge, offering the world a first-of-its-kind insight into the Arab heritage and the governing principles that shaped the history of the UAE and its vision to the future. Qasr Al Watan is more than just a palace, it is an enriching journey in a contemporary setting that reveals and reflects on governance, knowledge and craftsmanship.

Qasr Al Watan’s nomination for such an award is an important accolade from the global travel and tourism industry and an acknowledgement of the Palace’s success and rising regional and international profile since opening its doors to the public in March of 2019.

Voting is now open to the public; to vote for Qasr Al Watan visit: www.worldtravelawards.com/vote.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a message of congratulations to Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique, on the occasion of his country's Independence Day, observed on June 25th.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, sent two similar messages of congratulations to President Nyusi and Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, the Prime Minister of Mozambique, on the occasion.

Emirates has introduced additional cargo capacity by using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with seats removed from the Economy Class cabin. The measure has been introduced in response to the strong air cargo market demand for the rapid, reliable and efficient transportation of essential commodities such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, food, machinery and other supplies around the world.

Watch a video of how Emirates Engineering modified the aircraft here.

Emirates SkyCargo will be operating 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with Economy Class seats removed allowing for up to 17 tonnes or 132 cubic metres of additional cargo capacity per flight on top of the 40-50 tonne cargo capacity in the belly hold of the widebody passenger aircraft. The modified Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are being deployed on routes to key production and consumer markets where Emirates SkyCargo sees maximum demand for movement of urgently required goods.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo said: "Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has taken very seriously its responsibility of connecting people and businesses across the world with the commodities that they urgently require. To this end, we have been working flat out, first to re-connect a global network of more than 85 destinations and then to introduce capacity options that fit what our customers demand from us including passenger aircraft flying only with belly hold cargo and loading cargo in the overhead bins and on passenger seats. Now, with the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with modified Economy Class cabins, we will be able to transport even more cargo per flight, allowing for more cargo to reach their destination faster and for more efficient cargo operations."

The modification of the Economy Class cabins of the 10 Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is being executed at the state of the art Emirates Engineering facilities in Dubai with each aircraft requiring close to 640 man-hours of work for the modification. Engineers remove 305 Economy Seats from one aircraft, fixing safety equipment and implementing regular load bearing tests during the process. Seven aircraft have already been modified by the Emirates Engineering team, with three more aircraft due to be ready by mid-July 2020.

Ahmed Safa, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Engineering said: "Converting our passenger aircraft to these mini freighters is certainly a sign of the times. Our teams have shown resilience, an innovative spirit, and adapted quickly to the needs of the changing business environment. We have risen to the twin challenges of new procedures and safety protocols within set timelines, and we are extremely proud of what we have achieved."

By the end of the project, the Emirates Engineering team would have removed 3,050 seats, which will be safely and hygienically stored away till the time the aircraft are required for passenger services. The seats will be fitted back into the aircraft and tested for passenger safety and comfort.

With its focus on safety of operations, Emirates SkyCargo has implemented strict rules on the type of cargo that can be loaded inside the modified Economy Class cabins. Some of the cargo commodities that can be loaded include general cargo such as PPE and garments, pharmaceuticals that can be maintained within a temperature range of 15 and 25 degrees Celsius and perishables such as cut flowers, and select dry and non-smelling fruits and vegetables. Cargo loaded in the passenger cabins would need to be packaged inside a suitable external container such as a plastic or cardboard box in accordance with the latest regulations outlined by IATA.

Emirates SkyCargo is the freight division of Emirates. The air cargo carrier operates a combination of scheduled and chartered flights to more than 85 global destinations every week. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has been acting as a global conveyor belt connecting markets across the world to supplies of essential commodities including PPE, pharmaceuticals, food and other perishables, e-commerce goods as well as machinery and other equipment.

Emirates Engineering ensures that Emirates’ wide-body fleet of more than 260 aircraft are maintained in peak condition. The team is conducting regular parking checks on the grounded aircraft and scheduled A-checks, C-checks and operational maintenance on the flying fleet serving a mix of cargo and an increasing number of passenger destinations.

The United Arab Emirates announced the completion of the National Disinfection Programme, effective Wednesday.

This came at the UAE government’s regular media briefing wherein Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Government, Dr Saif Dhaheri, the Spokesperson of 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 COVID-19 related developments and the measures taken to reduce its impact.

Addressing the briefing, Al Shamsi commented that more than 44,291additional Covid-19 tests were conducted among UAE citizens and residents, resulting in the detection of 450 new cases and taking the total number of infections in the country to 46,133.

She noted an additional 702 individuals have fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to more than 34,405, adding that a total of 11,421 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 307.

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 attributed the progress of the COVID-19 countermeasures to the collaborative efforts of various state departments and the compliance of UAE citizens and residents." It is the responsibility of all of us to work together to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus."

Addressing the briefing, Al Hosani said the UAE health sector has started phase III of the clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine, as part of a global collaborative efforts to curb the virus.

She attributed the achievement to the integrated scientific research system followed in the country's medical sector, which she said is operating according to three priorities.

"Medical research in the UAE focuses on three pillars: studies of pandemics, diagnostic studies and clinical trials, which include developing vacancies."

Al Hosani added that the participation in the First Phase III Clinical Trial of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine comes in through cooperation between the Chinese Sinopharm China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and Group 42 (G42). G42 will lead the clinical trial operations in the UAE.

"Clinical trials are led by the Department of Health to accelerate the process of developing an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine. We hope to make it available by end of 2020 or earlier 2021."

The UAE, she continued, welcomes all contributions by countries of the world, as well as close partnerships between governments and private sectors to create new initiatives and opportunities for joint collaboration towards confronting the threat of COVID-19 and defeating this global pandemic.

She elaborated on the details of the clinical trials, saying: The clinical trial process is usually divided into three phases. The first phase mainly looks into the safety of the vaccine. Phase II evaluates immunogenicity and explores the immunization process in a limited number of individuals. Phase III considers the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in a larger population sample. If a vaccine is confirmed safe and effective throughout the entire clinical trial process, the test is considered successful, and the vaccine enters into the large-scale manufacturing phase.

"The vaccine succeeded in passing the first and second stages of the clinical trials without causing any harmful effects," she said, adding that the percentage of volunteers who managed to generate antibodies two days after taking the vaccine reached 100%.

She reiterated that the vaccine is still in the clinical trial and all updates will be announced in the due time.

Concluding, Al Hosani said people who have chronic diseases, include heart diseases, hypertension and respiratory illnesses face an increased risk of developing complications. "The higher risk groups also include people who smoke, are obese or have a weak immune system."

She stressed the necessity of continuing to comply with all precautionary and preventive measures.

For his part. Al Dhaheri said the directives of the UAE wise leadership have resulted in taking the right direction toward containing the health crisis and helping the country steadily continue its future oriented drive.

He announced the completion of the National Disinfection Programme nationwide. "Children below 12 in age are now allowed to enter commercial centres and restaurants across the emirates," he said.

"The National Disinfection Programe has completed the sterilization of all utilities nationwide, including means of public transport," he said, adding that sterilisation of public and private establishments will continue to ensure public safety.

However, public gatherings will remain prohibited, he said, calling for avoiding family visits, maintaining social distancing norms, and wearing masks and gloves when leaving home.

"It is compulsory to follow the three-passenger limit per vehicle if not from the same family. However, members of the same family are allowed to travel in the same vehicle," he continued.

He warned against violating the preventive and precautionary measures affirming that legal action will be taken against any violators in order to ensure public safety.

He urged all media outlets to continue their constructive role in nation-building and to shed light on the importance of complying with all COVID-19 countermeasures in support for the efforts made to survive the crisis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The 'I Like It' hitmaker has revealed her secret to smooth and shiny locks, which involves creating an at-home hair mask consisting of cupboard staples such as mayonnaise and olive oil.

In a video on her Instagram Story, Cardi could be seen applying the homemade mask to her 23-month-old daughter Kulture's curls, as she revealed she also uses the mixture to keep her own hair "really hydrated".

She said: "This is a hair mask that I am doing for Kulture. I just finished putting argan oil, and I'm gonna put mayonnaise, castor oil, and olive oil. I know it's a lot of oil, but my baby's hair needs to be really hydrated like mine."

The 27-year-old rapper then added bananas and eggs to the mask, which are common in DIY hair masks as they contain nourishing properties.

She added: "This treatment is really good for curl patterns. It's just a good hair mask to help your hair grow. All the good things you put in your body, you put in your hair."

And Cardi later showed off the "end results" of the homemade mixture, as she praised the concoction for helping aid hair growth.

She wrote: "The end results of all that s**t I put on my hair earlier. Treat your hair ladies. It helps with hair growth A LOT. (sic)"

Meanwhile, Cardi's decision to use kitchen cupboard essentials for her hair mask comes as she previously bemoaned the rising costs of her beauty regime.

Speaking in 2018, she said: "Let me tell you mother*****s something, it's getting more and more expensive - well, nah for real, it's getting more expensive to maintain us women.

"You know this is not the early 2000s and s**t where you give a b***h $100 to get her mother******g hair done, nails done, her eyebrows done. Whatever.

"B****es want the gel set and some hos, like me - you know what I'm saying - want Swarovski crystals. So that about there is about $200 - the end nail. You know what I'm saying.

"And then the hair? We are not in the era where b*****s do the blow outs, you know what I'm saying, or the sew-ins and s**t. Nah, b*****s want the full lace wig. The wig is about $800, $500, it really depend where you get it from.

"This dye about, I say about $300-$200. $300. So, just on that at it's $1,000! So ... what's good?"