His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has reviewed the final preparations of the Hope Probe, scheduled to launch to Mars on 15th July.

The meeting was chaired by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, MBRSC, as the countdown begins for the UAE’s much-anticipated historic launch to the Red Planet in the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission.

The Emirates Mars Mission seeks to establish the UAE’s entry to the space industry, advance the country’s capabilities in space science and engineering and develop young Emirati and Arab talents capable of contributing to global efforts in space exploration.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, "The Hope Probe embodies the culture of possibilities deeply rooted in the UAE’s approach, philosophy and journey of accelerating development since the foundation."

He added, "Our journey to space represents a message of hope to every Arab citizen that we have the innovation, resilience and efforts to compete with the greatest of nations in the race for knowledge."

"Hope Probe is an accomplishment for every Arab, a source of pride for every Emirati, and a path-breaking achievement for our engineers."

Sheikh Mohammed concluded, "The UAE will continue deploying its efforts and resources and collaborating with nations to build a better future for humanity."

Sheikh Mohammed met the Emirates Mars Mission team as the country prepares for the probe’s launch from Tanegashima island in Japan, set according to schedule despite challenges posed by the novel coronavirus global outbreak.

During the meeting, he was briefed on the final pre-launch preparations by Omran Sharaf, Project Director of the Emirates Mars Mission, who also explained the different tasks assigned to the team leading testing operations. The Dubai-based space mission’s control team are coordinating efforts from the MBRSC with the launch team in Japan who will soon be joined by Emirati engineers and experts to manage and oversee the launch.

The meeting was also attended by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, Dr. Ahmed Belhoul, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MBRSC and Saeed Al Eter, Director General of the Ruler of Dubai’s Executive Office.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, "Hope Probe highlights our national treasure of hundreds of young Emirati engineers and experts working on the mission. These young people are part of drafting a beautiful chapter in the UAE’s future."

He added, "Despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, we remained committed to our plans to meet the launch schedule of the historic space mission, in efforts have truly reflected the UAE’s slogan that the impossible is possible." He noted, "The Hope Probe represents a message of hope and optimism to mankind. Our space mission is aimed at serving humanity."

The Hope Probe’s scheduled launch date on 15th July, 2020 was set based on careful scientific review of the earth and Mars orbits, with the launch window extending to 13th August, 2020.

The journey of transferring the Hope Probe from Dubai to the launch site in Tanegashima Island in Japan, which remained on track despite COVID-19 complications, spanned more than 83 hours and underwent three major stages.

The lift-off is scheduled on Wednesday July 15, 2020 at 00:51:27 UAE timing from Tanegashima Space Centre. The unmanned probe is expected to enter Mars’ orbit on February 2021, marking the UAE’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

The Hope Probe is currently undergoing extensive testing operations at the launch station in Japan. A team of specialised young Emirati engineers are currently supervising the probe’s pre-launch preparations.

The Emirates Mars Mission’s Hope Probe is considered the biggest strategic and scientific national initiative announced by UAE’s President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in 2014. The space mission aims to build a space industry in the UAE as part of the country’s vision to invest in future knowledge-based economies. The UAE Space Agency is funding and supervising necessary details for implementation, while the MBRSC is responsible for the execution and supervision of all stages of the design, development, and the launch of the Hope Probe.

The probe will provide the first truly global picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers. It will gather scientific data on the Martian atmosphere and share it freely with scientific and academic partners around the world. The data will give deeper insights into the past and future of our own planet and the potential of life for humans on Mars and on other distant planets. Three advanced science instruments mounted on the probe will capture complete data from Mars.

The Emirates Mars Mission will study why Mars is losing its upper atmosphere and explore the connection between lower and upper layers of the atmosphere. It will also be the first probe to study climate throughout daily and seasonal cycles, observing weather phenomena such as dust storms, changes in temperature, and changes in the Martian atmosphere patterns depending on topography. The probe will reveal the causes of Martian surface corrosion.

The historic mission will coordinate with the global Mars science community to answer key questions that no other mission has previously addressed around the Red Planet.

Bella Hadid is the star of Calvin Klein's new swimwear campaign.

The 23-year-old model - who is a brand ambassador for the company - will front the American brand's CK Spring 2020 Swim collection in a campaign shot by British fashion photographer Charlotte Wales.

Bella - the younger sister of 25-year-old model Gigi Hadid - can be seen posing in several pieces from the range including a hot pink swimsuit and in an black one piece in which she is seen posing underwater.

The collection is inspired by 90s fashion and come emblazoned with the classic Calvin Klein logo across all swimsuits, whilst the bikinis have the company's retro logo.

The new campaign is not the first time that Bella has fronted an advertising push for Calvin Klein swimwear.

Last year, Bella was chosen as one of the faces of the company's Summer 2019 collection alongside models Abby Champion and Matthew Noszka.

The catwalk star also was one of the models that appeared in the #MyCalvins IRL underwear ad campaign along with Naomi Campbell, Diplo, Cara Taylor and Beth Ditto.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Bella starred in a Jacquemus campaign which was shot over FaceTime due to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory illness.

The campaign - which is called Jacquemus At Home - was photographed by Pierre-Ange Carlotti and creative-directed by the label's designer Simon Porte Jacquemus, with Bella responsible for doing her own hair and make-up.

Anushka Sharma and her brother Karnesh Ssharma’s love for cutting edge visual effects (VFX) in their production ventures Phillauri, Pari and now Bulbbul is clearly visible. Much to their credit, they have been pushing the envelope in creating unique visual experiences for audiences. Incidentally, all three films are supernatural-feminist films.

But what got everyone’s attention was the red moon in Bulbbul.

 “The red moon in Bulbbul has been highly talked about because it’s something unique and we wanted to use this symbolism. It adds to the aesthetic and it plays up the symbolism that revolution against oppression is the call of the hour. It worked wonderfully in our storytelling and we are glad that audiences loved this device and gave us two thumbs up for sticking our necks out,” explains Karnesh.

Karnesh is delighted that Bulbbul’s VFX has been hailed unanimously. The use of symbolism like the red moon to evoke elements of rebellion, passion and revolution has been lapped up by audiences and critics alike and also made Bulbbul a fascinating and gripping watch.

“Our focus towards visual effects to enhance storytelling is one of the reasons why these films have stood out and won the hearts of audiences. The strong visual effects in our projects have added to the surreal-ness of the stories that we intended to tell and heightened its impact,” he says.

Anushka says, “For us, how uniquely we tell a story is extremely important and we have always tried to tell our stories as differently as possible. I have always felt that a visual trigger to storytelling is key to hold the attention of audiences today and it also allows us an unexpectedly new route to present an idea that has never been seen before by audiences.”

She adds, “Karnesh and I have always wanted to break-away from traditional ways of telling a story because we feel people have seen enough of the formula and are done with it. They are always looking to immerse themselves into something new. That’s been our biggest strength. From Phillauri, Pari and now Bulbbul, while we have accidentally created a sub-genre of supernatural feminism films, we have consciously told the story through the lens of clutter-breaking visual effects.”

Kanye West is reportedly aiming to produce a million pairs of Yeezys in Wyoming by the start of 2021.

A rep for the 'Wash Us in the Blood' rapper also told Business of Fashion that his apparel production is to commence in the US "shortly after".

The hip-hop legend has a huge presence in Wyoming already - having purchased a 4,000-acre property in Cody, Wyoming last autumn - and is hoping to create "design and prototyping jobs, with assembly line positions to follow."

The news of Kanye's plans for his popular footwear brand come after he signed a 10-year deal for a new clothing line with Gap.

The 43-year-old rapper will launch Yeezy Gap, a new apparel line for men, women and children, with the American retailer next year.

Kanye tweeted: "YEEZY AND GAP FORM PARTNERSHIP #WESTDAYEVER."

Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian West, wrote on Twitter: "If anyone knows Kanye they know how much the Gap and Yeezy means to him so this partnership is his dream come true! I am so proud of him. You guys are going to love what they have in store for everyone! #WestDayEver (sic)."

As a teen, Kanye worked in a Gap store in Chicago and Mark Breitbard, Global Head of Gap Brand, commented: "We are excited to welcome Kanye back to the Gap family as a creative visionary, building on the aesthetic and success of his Yeezy brand and together defining a next-level retail partnership."

As per The New York Times newspaper, the deal is for 10 years with an option to renew after five.

The brand reportedly hopes that Yeezy Gap will be bringing in $1 billion in sales within five years and the company will pay royalties and potential equity to Yeezy based on sales performance.

Kanye previously spoke of his desire to be the "Steve Jobs of Gap" and admitted he couldn't afford the clothes when he worked there.

He said: "It's funny that I worked at the Gap in high school, because in my past 15 years it seems like that's the place I stood in my creative path -- to be the gap, the bridge.

"When I was working at the Gap at 15, I don't think I had any desire to actually make clothes, but I always felt like that's what I wanted to be around. I loved the fabrics, I loved the colours, I loved the proportions.

"Abercrombie was too expensive for me and the Gap was too expensive for me. Even though I worked at the Gap, I didn't get enough hours to get a discount because I was a part-time employee, because I went to high school."

Cases of building landlords switching off air-conditioning to the common areas have escalated during peak summer, with residents complaining it’s an unbearably, sticky situation.

“It’s shocking how landlords are switching off air-conditioning to the corridors, escalators and reception hall,” said a resident of a building in Dubai’s Al Nahda.

“We thought it was due to a faulty a/c but when we checked with the watchman, he told us that he had been instructed by the landlord to switch off the a/c.”

According to Dubai Police, the tenants can file a complaint against the landlord.

Residents must dial 991, and register their complaint, after which a police official will visit the building and check the property.

Once he has inspected the area, he will issue a paper, which the resident may take to the nearby police station to lodge an official complaint.

Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) also tips tenants to file a lawsuit to report discontinuation of building services.

Read: Dubai tenants can file lawsuits if services discontinued, says Rera

“Any tenant affected by the cutting of building services is entitled to open a lawsuit against the party responsible at the Rental Dispute Settlement (the judicial arm of Dubai Land Department) as these practices are not permitted under Law 27 of 2007,” Rera said in an emailed statement sent to Emirates 24|7.

With inputs from Parag Deulgaonkar

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General HQ announced that the ban on the movement of trucks with a tare weight more than 2.5 tons would revert to the normal status, starting on Saturday 4 July.

The ban applies to Al Ittihad and the Sheikh Zayed Roads and the sector connecting them from the Sheikh Rashid Street as well as Downtown Deira/Bur Dubai from 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

A partial ban also applies to the rest of Dubai roads at three peak times i.e. from 06:30 AM to 08:30 AM, from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM, and from 05:30 PM to 08:00 pm. A permanent ban applies to the Airport and Shindagha Tunnels, Al Maktoum and Floating Bridges as well as the Business Bay Crossing.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has transported humanitarian aid from the government of the United Arab Emirates to 54 destinations.

To date, Etihad Airways operated 106 UAE humanitarian aid charters to 54 destinations and played a key role in transporting medical and food aid to help fight coronavirus around the world.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Senior Vice President Government, International and Communications, Etihad Aviation Group, said: "It is a moment of pride for the Etihad family to stand alongside the government of the United Arab Emirates to support humanitarian medical missions in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. It is an honour to have played our part in this achievement and a testimony to the wise values of tolerance and giving taught to us by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

"Etihad Airways has operated more than half of the UAE’s humanitarian flights, and we would like to thank all entities that have supported and facilitated this special project."

Etihad Airways continues to transfer aid from the UAE, and is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain relevant aviation permits using Etihad’s extensive experience and vast network of connections with relevant authorities across the world.

Pink Caravan, PC, the breast cancer awareness initiative of the UAE-based non-profit Friends of Cancer Patients, FOCP, has taken its medical mini-van to the Mushairef Health Centre in Ajman, to boost their daily operations.

Medical professionals operating the van will assist with providing key health services including vaccinations for children and adults as well as check-ups to increase the health centre’s existing capacities to handle patients, particularly during the ongoing Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.

The mobile medical facility, which operates under the Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, was brought to the health centre in May and will stay there as long as it is needed to serve the community.

The move is an extension of PC’s social responsibility practices.

Ohoud Muhammad bin Ahmad, Technical Director, Mushairef Health Centre, said, "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Pink Caravan and FOCP for extending their valuable support to our centre. Their medical mini-van has enabled us to continue offering consistent, high-quality services to our community, especially child vaccinations."

"Their cooperation is reflective of the UAE’s unique solidarity model, which has resulted in timely and successful efforts to defend the nation against COVID-19. Moreover, MoHAP has set an example, continuing to deliver all scheduled vaccinations to children while ensuring the highest safety standards to avoid any risk for children, parents, patients and medical staff," he added.

Ahmad lauded the selfless efforts of the UAE’s first responders, saying their role in protecting their community by limiting the spread of COVID-19 has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Caravan has been actively engaged in highlighting the importance of early detection of breast cancer and the repercussions of the disease on society and the economy through workshops and discussions. Its continuous efforts have played a crucial role in dispelling misconceptions about breast cancer and offered support to patients and their families in need.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, DFF, said that Dubai 10X has achieved massive leaps in disruptive government services, empowering government employees with the skills to accelerate progress.

In the first phase of the initiative, Dubai has developed a futuristic system to position itself as a leading city in introducing innovative projects and solutions that can positively transform society.

His Highness said that by adapting innovative services and strategies to address rapid changes, Dubai 10X has disrupted the status quo and enabled government entities to embrace technology and future foresight. Agility, risk taking and the ability to embrace change have made Dubai one of the top cities in the world, he added.

His Highness’ comments came during his visit to DFF’s headquarters in Emirates Towers.

He was also accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of DFF; and several government officials, directors and senior corporate leaders from across the UAE.

Sheikh Hamdan announced the conclusion of the first phase of the Dubai 10X initiative that featured disruptive projects launched by several government entities in Dubai.

He stressed the importance of following up on the efforts made through the projects and the wider initiative to build on the quality of government work. This initiative realises the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to establish Dubai as a pioneer among global cities in deploying emerging technologies to create advanced government services and a new model for government excellence.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised Dubai 10X’s role in promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and best practices to accelerate disruptive projects and solutions. In doing so, they aim to enhance competitiveness across various vital strategic sectors and rely on ambitious teams to review challenges and develop projects to meet future needs.

He was briefed on the progress of projects approved for the second phase of Dubai 10X. He also viewed the updated version of an online platform dedicated to monitor the progress of diverse projects in the second phase.

His Highness said: "We are proud of the efforts of all those who contributed to the Dubai 10X initiative that was launched to harness the drive and will power of our local talents and to instill a culture of innovation in government work. We have great confidence in continuing to work as one team to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for Dubai to become a leader among the world’s cities."

During the meeting, Lieutenant-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police presented an update on the Oyoon project, launched by Dubai Police with the support and participation of the governmental, semi-governmental and private sectors. By deploying modern technology, the project is working to develop an integrated security system that helps prevent crime, reduces traffic accident related deaths, prevents negative incidents in residential, commercial and vital areas and facilitates a prompt response to incidents even before they get reported to the command unit.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority presented an overview of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA. The project served to showcase DEWA as the world’s first digital public utility to leverage autonomous systems for renewable energy and its storage, expansion in AI adoption, and the provision of digital services.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed had approved the first phase of Dubai 10X projects at an event held during the 6th World Government Summit in February 2018 in Dubai and directed its completion within 24 months.

His Highness said: "We commend the efforts of all employees and government entities who have successfully achieved this milestone in the Dubai 10X initiative. The race continues and the challenge is big, but we have immense faith in our teams. We will work together to achieve society’s happiness Dubai."

On this occasion, Sheikh Hamdan launched a comprehensive report by the Dubai Competitiveness Office, DCO within Dubai’s Department of Economic Development, DED, on the competitiveness of all the projects approved in the first phase of the Dubai 10X initiative.

The report aims to measure the projects across 98 associated competitiveness indicators and examine their impact on enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness across 11 major domains. These domains include government regulations, development and use of information and communications technology, business and trade ecosystem, education and innovation, environment and sustainability, technology and development, security and safety, and community welfare and culture.

DCO’s technical team held extensive meetings with Dubai 10X teams to develop a comprehensive vision and define a methodology to verify the competitiveness of these projects and measure their impact based on global competitiveness indicators.

The report’s authors applied the methodology and simulated the impact of each project to highlight the project’s role in promoting Dubai on a global level.

DMCC – the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – Wednesday announced that 805 new member companies joined the business district in the first half of 2020, highlighting the Free Zone’s continued appeal for ease of doing business.

In June, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited the DMCC Coffee and Tea Centres. During his tour of the two facilities, His Highness stressed that the UAE’s world-class infrastructure, robust economy, and resilience in the face of challenges give it the ability to rapidly achieve its strategic goals and aspirations for progress and prosperity.

Despite a softer business climate, the months of May and June saw a noticeable uptick in new company registrations on par with previous years. Specifically, DMCC noted a strong uptake of company registrations from China, ahead of plan.

To support businesses navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19, DMCC rolled out its largest ever commercial campaign, the Business Support Package, in March. The campaign, aimed at supporting new and existing businesses showcases that DMCC continues to be the chosen hub for businesses. In light of the strong appetite and positive reactions from the market, DMCC will extend and expand the package until the end of September.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: “The decisive, prompt and effective action taken by the UAE Leadership during this unprecedented period has paved the way for the nation's economic recovery. In the first half of 2020, DMCC continued to serve its member base of 17,000 and launch a range of initiatives to support enterprise across the board. Looking ahead, DMCC will accelerate its strategy to connect markets and attract the type of companies that boost the next wave of economic growth in the city. Despite the obvious challenges in 2020, the emirate has maintained its reputation as a resilient global business hub, and we have good cause to be optimistic for the remainder of the year.”

Strengthening ties with China and global tech

The first half of 2020 saw DMCC accelerate its China focus, and continue to forge ties with Chinese trade, industry and government bodies.

In June, DMCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Innoway. Established by the Beijing and Haidian government, Innoway is one of China’s most successful global incubators and science, tech and education ecosystems. To date, it has incubated over 3,400 start-ups and raised a total of USD 1.28 billion.

Earlier in the year, DMCC signed a similar agreement with Swiss Government-supported Crypto Valley in Davos, which will bring the world’s leading blockchain and cryptographic technologies’ ecosystem to Dubai.

With both Innoway and Crypto Valley set to open offices and work spaces in DMCC, the Free Zone will serve as a foothold in the Middle East, supporting start-ups, companies, incubators, accelerators, governments and university, while  attracting Chinese and European business to Dubai.

“China and tech are both critically important to Dubai, and the impact of DMCC’s latest agreement with Beijing Government-backed Innoway marks a significant moment for UAE-China ties. Encouraging innovation and digital transformation is part of Dubai’s DNA, and DMCC is confident that its unique, additional partnership with Euro-based Crypto Valley will serve to expand the emirate’s blockchain potential and welcome and spawn the type of companies that will transform the future,” said Feryal Ahmadi, Chief Operating Officer, DMCC.

“What the last six months have shown us, is the resilience of Dubai’s economy, and we all play a part in ensuring that the UAE’s economic diversification strategy continues to move forward at pace. DMCC, with its unparalleled ecosystem, is perfectly positioned to contribute to the next wave of economic growth in Dubai, and we plan to do just that,” she added.

On the commodities front, also China, DMCC recently signed a collaboration agreement with the Guangzhou Diamond Exchange (GZDE), establishing a strategic partnership with one of China’s leading international diamond trading platforms and communities. The agreement is set to strengthen bilateral ties between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, and enhance cooperation in a bid to create new diamond trading opportunities for both parties.

Promoting Trade

As a result of global travel restrictions, DMCC took its flagship Made for Trade Live roadshow online, highlighting the ease of doing business in Dubai and the range of services and product the Free Zone offers. 14 webinar roadshows hosted attracted over 650 participants. Markets covered included the US, the UK, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Switzerland, Ukraine, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Africa. Another 5,000 business owners joined DMCC webinars.

DMCC’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer also hosted a series of virtual briefings with UAE Ambassadors and representatives across key markets, including China, India, the UK, Germany, Canada and Colombia. During the calls, ways to enhance bilateral trade ties with the respective countries were discussed, in a bid to boost commercial activity in Dubai.

Supporting the community

In line with DMCC’s ongoing commitment to providing a first-class working environment, a new Employee Protection Insurance programme for all DMCC and member company employees was rolled out. The scheme offers increased protection for member company employees in case their employer defaults on their salaries, end of service benefit or repatriation cost.

DMCC also brought an array of educational webinars to their 17,000 member companies. Delivered in collaboration with industry experts, the sessions covered a variety of topics to help businesses with day-to-day operations as well as overall business strategy.

A series of initiatives were also launched to specifically support the F&B sector across the district. DMCC partnered with Careem Now and Talabat to offer discounts on orders from 188 different restaurants within the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) community. The result was a 118 % increase in the number of orders and 119% increase in the number of customer acquisitions for the restaurants.

Committed to sustainability

DMCC also updated its sustainability strategy based on a new materiality assessment conducted with stakeholders that engage with DMCC. The new 5C sustainability framework is underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is based on three pillars: Sustainability City, Responsible Business Ecosystem and Operational Excellence. DMCC’s annual sustainability report outlines the progress against its commitments and is available on DMCC website.

Ensuring safety first

As the world grappled with the impact of COVID-19, DMCC was ahead of the curve in addressing the various challenges posed by the pandemic and protecting the safety and wellbeing of its employees and the community at large. DMCC immediately launched a remote working policy for employees while operations continued with no interruption.

At Almas Tower, thermal screening equipment was promptly made available across all entry points of the building. Teams were and continue to be deployed twice a day to deep clean and sanitise offices and common areas. With restrictions easing and commercial activities resuming, all DMCC customer facing employees are now being provided with masks and gloves and sanitisers are made available across office floors and service centres.

To curb the spread of the virus, a public communication campaign was launched across JLT providing guidance and advice to residents and businesses. Daily circulars were sent out to member companies with updates on the latest UAE Government announcements and directives. All JLT tower owners/building management operators received guidance on hygiene protocols to be followed as per the health authorities’ directives.

flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, announced a partnership with its passengers as the airline prepares to return to the skies following the lifting of the flight restrictions in the UAE.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: "the effectiveness of the response to the pandemic led by the UAE Government has enabled the flight restrictions to be lifted. We appreciate that no effort has been spared as we see the precautionary measures eased."

The airline has redesigned its entire passenger journey and built upon the existing high standards of its operations to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19. For everyone to realise the benefit of travel, passengers need to have confidence that the airline is taking the correct measures and they also need to understand the role they must play to protect themselves and other passengers. This relationship between the airline and the passenger defines the flydubai partnership. It is recognition that the way in which passengers travel has changed and that these protocols set out the new way of travelling.

Commenting on flydubai’s redesigned passenger journey, Ghaith A Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: "in these unprecedented times, we are very conscious of the role that we play as part of the global community in response to COVID-19. We have carefully reviewed the guidance and best practice published by a number of international organisations together with those of our regulator and our industry partners. We have further built on these which has resulted in a layering of measures by the authorities, the airport and flydubai. To realise the benefits of air travel is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise the importance of the role of the passenger in making these measures work. Together we have redefined a new way to travel which creates a partnership. It’s what we do together that will make this work."

The partnership is a set of simple steps that start before a passenger makes a booking until they arrive at their destination. It also recognises that passengers’ plans may need to change and flydubai will offer passengers flexibility in their travel arrangements.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, commented on the airline’s commitment to its passengers: "our passengers have long enjoyed the benefits and convenience of air travel. As we move into this next phase, we recognise that it is our role to enable travel in a safe environment and the role of the passenger is to be prepared and ready to travel. Only by working together can the passenger make informed decisions to book their travel. They can be confident in knowing that they can amend their travel plans should travel restrictions or personal circumstances change. This is our commitment."

Producer Jackky Bhagnani has got Yash Raj Films’ Vaani Kapoor onboard for his high-end espionage thriller Bellbottom. For Vaani this is the first film outside the Yash Raj camp after having done films like Befikre Opposite Ranveer Singh, WAR opposite Hrithik Roshan and the upcoming Shamshera opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Vaani will be sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar for the first time in her career.

Sharing her excitement for the film, Vaani says, "I am excited to share the screen space with Akshay Sir. It is definitely a script I instantly clicked with and knew I wanted to be part of. I am also thrilled to partner with Pooja Entertainment who have already made me feel at home at this initial stage of our film. I’m eagerly waiting to start shooting Bellbottom."

The actress will be playing a key role in the ‘80s set film, inspired by true events. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the story is about one of India’s forgotten heroes and is scheduled to go on floors this year. It is written by Aseem Arrora & Parveez Shaikh. Producer Jackky Bhagnani says that the script made him choose a fresh pairing. “Vaani is an intelligent and an effective actor and I have loved all her performances. The female lead in Bellbottom has to be in sync with Akshay Sir's screen persona. The role is meaty and I am confident that Vaani will ace this one.”

Director Ranjit says, “Vaani’s character in the film is extremely intriguing. She has a certain flair and we’re all very excited to have her on board!” Bellbottom is produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikhil Advani and will release on April 2, 2021. 

In the month of Ramadan the consumption of gas is probably at its highest, so there is no better time to emphasise the safety measures that should be taken when keeping a gas cylinder in the house, argued Emirates Gas, a gas supplier in the UAE.

Accidents do happen, and not everybody is aware of the different factors that should be taken in consideration when keeping a gas cylinder in the home, said Ravindran Samaya Muthu, EHS and Business Excellence Manager at the company.

“One of the most common mistakes is that people use a lighter to inspect a leak. If there is indeed a leak and it is big enough, this can result in a fire.”

Along with ENOC and EPPCO the gas supplier this month launched the ‘Safe Cylinder, Safe Family’ campaign to strengthen awareness on the proper procedures in handling, storing and usage of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cylinders at home.

Emirates 24/7 sums up some of the tips for a safe keeping of a gas cylinder at home.

Where to keep your cylinder?

Proper storage of the cylinder in your home is paramount. Whether it concerns the cylinder connected or stored cylinders, there are some actors to be taken in consideration.

The cylinder should be placed in a well-ventilated location and not exposed directly to the sun or other heat sources. It should not be placed near an electrical socket or flammable substance, points out the company.

Further, the cylinder should be placed vertically on a firm and level surface, where good access to cylinder, valve and regulator is ensured.

When keeping the cylinder outside, place it in a cabinet which has wire mesh provided at the bottom to allow LP gas to escape into the air in case of a leak.

When you suspect a leak

When you observe the smell of gas, there might be a leak in the LPG equipment. This is dangerous as it can lead to fire or explosion.

It is important not to use a match a lighter to detect the leak, because this may induce a fire. Instead, use a soap water solution instead.

When using this solution, a leak can easily be detected by the appearance of a bubbly substance, whereas a good connection will see the soap leak away in fluid form, explains Ravindran.

Further, it is important not to operate any electrical appliances either by switching the button on or off. If the cylinder is safe to approach from upwind, the regulator or valve should be closed.

Windows and doors should be opened for the dispersion of the leak. If the leak persists, remove the cylinder to a safe and open/ventilated place.

Where to get your cylinder?

Every emirate has a list of approved providers and only these providers should be contacted for the distribution of a gas cylinder, explained Ravindran.

When you first order a gas cylinder, be sure to check whether your provider has the approval to provide gas in your emirate. When the cylinder is empty, call the same distributor to replace the old cylinder with a new one, and take the old cylinder away.

“It happens that people refill their cylinder in another emirate, although the refilled gas may not be of the same origin as the previous filling. It is very important to know the origin of the gas you are using,” stressed Ravindran.

A new cylinder should always be sealed, he tips.

Maintenance

If there is something wrong with a part of the LPG equipment, you could not find out soon enough. “Accidents occur due to compromised cylinder integrity,” says Ravindran. Regular check-ups are therefore recommended.

Check if your cylinder s not damaged, dented or rusted. Check for cylinder validity based on manufacturing and retest dates inscribed on the cylinder stay plate.

When maintenance work is required, a duly authorised company should be contacted. This company should be authorised by Civil Defense.

Any accesoires that need to be purchased must be obtained from authorised gas distributors.

Other tips

A common mistake made is the way of transporting the cylinder, explains Ravindran. “Some people tend to roll the cylinder from one place to another. A cylinder should never be rolled or dropped flat on the ground. Instead, the valve should always face upwards.”

Easy to neglect is also the recommendation to turn of the regulator or valve when leaving the house. However, this is an important safety measure to avoid unexpected accidents.

Further, do not connect more than one cylinder to one cooking appliance.

When using a regulator, use an approved low pressure domestic regulator that suits the stove and never tamper with it.s-vip-service-2014-07-30-1.557948

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.”

Anushka Sharma and her brother Karnesh Ssharma’s love for cutting edge visual effects (VFX) in their production ventures Phillauri, Pari and now Bulbbul is clearly visible. Much to their credit, they have been pushing the envelope in creating unique visual experiences for audiences. Incidentally, all three films are supernatural-feminist films.

But what got everyone’s attention was the red moon in Bulbbul.

 “The red moon in Bulbbul has been highly talked about because it’s something unique and we wanted to use this symbolism. It adds to the aesthetic and it plays up the symbolism that revolution against oppression is the call of the hour. It worked wonderfully in our storytelling and we are glad that audiences loved this device and gave us two thumbs up for sticking our necks out,” explains Karnesh.

Karnesh is delighted that Bulbbul’s VFX has been hailed unanimously. The use of symbolism like the red moon to evoke elements of rebellion, passion and revolution has been lapped up by audiences and critics alike and also made Bulbbul a fascinating and gripping watch.

“Our focus towards visual effects to enhance storytelling is one of the reasons why these films have stood out and won the hearts of audiences. The strong visual effects in our projects have added to the surreal-ness of the stories that we intended to tell and heightened its impact,” he says.

Anushka says, “For us, how uniquely we tell a story is extremely important and we have always tried to tell our stories as differently as possible. I have always felt that a visual trigger to storytelling is key to hold the attention of audiences today and it also allows us an unexpectedly new route to present an idea that has never been seen before by audiences.”

She adds, “Karnesh and I have always wanted to break-away from traditional ways of telling a story because we feel people have seen enough of the formula and are done with it. They are always looking to immerse themselves into something new. That’s been our biggest strength. From Phillauri, Pari and now Bulbbul, while we have accidentally created a sub-genre of supernatural feminism films, we have consciously told the story through the lens of clutter-breaking visual effects.”

Anil Kapoor has been quietly dubbing away back to back for many days. The actor was shooting just before the lockdown for the Vikramaditya Motwane directorial AK Vs AK which is about a film director who kidnaps the daughter of a movie star and then without his knowledge films how he searches his daughter. The film was being shot extensively in Dharavi. “The shoot of the film is more or less complete. The dubbing has been on as the film is slated to get onto a premiere on a digital platform soon. The genre of the film is quite like how the Steve Martin and Edddie Murphy film Bowfinger was. Bowfinger was about a filmmaker Bob Bowfinger who gets Kit Ramsey to unknowingly work in his film. AK Vs AK also has Anurag Kashyap as the filmmaker while Anil Kapoor plays the role of the film star in the movie,” says our source.

One can recall how Kapoor has been practicing his running as well in recent times. “There are a lot of running and chase sequences in the film which requires Anil to be in top shape and that is one reason that apart from his gym routines, he has also been running hard on the race track for many months,” explains the source.

AK Vs AK is being made for a digital platform and not for a theatrical release.  Kapoor has been dubbing for the past six days for the film and getting his detailing of the voices right. Kapoor also voiced Baloo in the Hindi version of the Netflix film Jungle Book. AK Vs AK is also slated to go on the same platform.

Demi Lovato's new documentary will "address exactly what happened" during her near-fatal overdose in 2018.

The 'Anyone' hitmaker was rushed to hospital almost two years ago when she relapsed after six years of sobriety, and it has now been confirmed that her upcoming YouTube documentary - which is yet to have a title - will tackle the "horrific" experience.

A source said: "Demi's experience in 2018 was horrific and will continue to affect her for years to come, so she hasn't felt able to speak about it properly yet.

"But she has written much of her upcoming album about the situation and wants to address exactly what happened to her in the hope she can prevent anyone else suffering a similar experience."

Demi, 27, is said to be "nervous" about detailing her ordeal, but wants to speak about it in her own documentary so that fans can hear about it in her own words.

The insider added to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "She has been nervous about speaking about what happened because she doesn't want anything to be misconstrued, so decided her own series would be the best way as she will have the power to control exactly what is spoken about."

According to the source, most of the documentary series has "already been done", with plans in place to release the series "this summer".

Demi's documentary was first announced last week, and it was said at the time that the four-part series will explore her life over the last three years, including her overdose and her journey back to full health and sobriety, as well as key events including her landmark performance of the National Anthem at this year's Super Bowl.

For Demi, the series comes three years after she teamed up with YouTube to release 'Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated', which tackled her struggle with addiction and her initial journey to sobriety before her 2018 relapse.

Bella Hadid is the star of Calvin Klein's new swimwear campaign.

The 23-year-old model - who is a brand ambassador for the company - will front the American brand's CK Spring 2020 Swim collection in a campaign shot by British fashion photographer Charlotte Wales.

Bella - the younger sister of 25-year-old model Gigi Hadid - can be seen posing in several pieces from the range including a hot pink swimsuit and in an black one piece in which she is seen posing underwater.

The collection is inspired by 90s fashion and come emblazoned with the classic Calvin Klein logo across all swimsuits, whilst the bikinis have the company's retro logo.

The new campaign is not the first time that Bella has fronted an advertising push for Calvin Klein swimwear.

Last year, Bella was chosen as one of the faces of the company's Summer 2019 collection alongside models Abby Champion and Matthew Noszka.

The catwalk star also was one of the models that appeared in the #MyCalvins IRL underwear ad campaign along with Naomi Campbell, Diplo, Cara Taylor and Beth Ditto.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Bella starred in a Jacquemus campaign which was shot over FaceTime due to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory illness.

The campaign - which is called Jacquemus At Home - was photographed by Pierre-Ange Carlotti and creative-directed by the label's designer Simon Porte Jacquemus, with Bella responsible for doing her own hair and make-up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has transported humanitarian aid from the government of the United Arab Emirates to 54 destinations.

To date, Etihad Airways operated 106 UAE humanitarian aid charters to 54 destinations and played a key role in transporting medical and food aid to help fight coronavirus around the world.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Senior Vice President Government, International and Communications, Etihad Aviation Group, said: "It is a moment of pride for the Etihad family to stand alongside the government of the United Arab Emirates to support humanitarian medical missions in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. It is an honour to have played our part in this achievement and a testimony to the wise values of tolerance and giving taught to us by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

"Etihad Airways has operated more than half of the UAE’s humanitarian flights, and we would like to thank all entities that have supported and facilitated this special project."

Etihad Airways continues to transfer aid from the UAE, and is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain relevant aviation permits using Etihad’s extensive experience and vast network of connections with relevant authorities across the world.