<![CDATA[KT Mobile]]> http://www.khaleejtimes.com/ en-gb Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:54:38 +0200 <![CDATA[Sheikh Mohamed, Imran Khan reaffirm robust bilateral relations]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/government/sheikh-mohamed-pakistani-pm-imran-khan-reaffirm-robust-bilateral-relations 0E840C96-023A-482E-A54D-1D79EF470216 The two leaders discussed issues of common concern over a phone call.


His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, explored paths to further promote bilateral relations and cement friendly ties between the the two countries and its people.

In a telephone call, the two sides also discussed a number of issues of common concern. ]]> <![CDATA[UAE climbs up passport rankings, now 7th most powerful]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/uae-climbs-up-passport-rankings-now-7th-most-powerful 4DD2643C-8282-4775-951B-FF5982FB9CE4 Now with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 159 countries.


Nearly three weeks after making the leap to the 8th most powerful in the world, the UAE passport has risen yet again in the ranks to the 7th place.

Citizens of the UAE can now enter 159 countries worldwide without a visa or with visa on arrival.



The UAE's passport ranking score is 159 in the Passport Index, with UAE's citizens allowed to travel to 112 countries without a visa, and to 47 countries with visa on arrival.

39 countries still demand visa from UAE citizens.

Latest visa-agreement 



This comes on the heels of a diplomatic memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the UAE and Mexico on visa exemption. Citizens with regular passports of both countries have been allowed visa-free entry.

The agreement for visa-free entry between Mexico and UAE will come into effect on October 31.

Citizens can remain in either country for no longer than 180 consecutive days.  

Passport Index



The UAE is now tied for 7th place with Estonia, which also scored 159. 



As it stands, the UAE is only six spots away from making it to the first place. Singapore holds court at an index score of 165 countries: 127 visa-free countries, 38 countries with visa on arrival. Singaporean citizens still need a visa to enter 33 countries.  

Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had tweeted on September 13: "Good morning to all my followers. The UAE passport has just been ranked as the 9th most powerful passport with visa-free entry to 157 countries worldwide."

Meteoric rise to the top



No other country has seen such meteoric advancement in its rankings in such a short time frame. 

The UAE remains the most powerful passport in the region, beating out all other Arab or GCC countries in the race to the top.   

"The UAE's dedication and vision has given it a solid foundation upon which to build its future," according to a Passport Index report.   

"Its unparalleled advancement is due to progress in technological, educational, investment and infrastructure realms."

In 2017, the UAE had announced a daring goal of positioning the country's passport on the list of the five most important passports in the world by 2021. ]]> <![CDATA[Etihad, Saudia enter codeshare partnership]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/aviation/etihad-saudia-enter-codeshare-partnership 4EDA268D-2E43-4908-839D-1DAD8295E82C Alliance to cover more than 40 destinations on the two carriers' networks.


Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi national flag carrier, Saudia, have announced a new codeshare partnership, providing customers with access to more than 40 leisure and business destinations in the home markets and across the world.

In addition to the codeshare agreement, the two carriers also announced plans for greater commercial cooperation in other fields, including frequent flyer programme benefits, cargo, and engineering and maintenance.

The codeshare agreement was signed at Saudia headquarters in Jeddah by Saleh bin Naser Al Jasser, director general, Saudi Arabian Airlines, and Tony Douglas, group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group.

The codeshare agreement will see Etihad Airways place its 'EY' code on Saudia flights to Abha, Al-Baha, Alula, Arar, Bisha, Dammam, Dawadmi, Gassim, Gizan, Gurayat, Hail, Hofuf, Jeddah, Jouf, Madinah, Qaisumah, Rafha, Riyadh, Sharurah, Tabuk, Taif, Turaif, Wadi-Ad-Dawasir, Wedjh, Yanbo, and Abu Dhabi. Port Sudan, Tunis, Alexandria, Sharm el-Sheikh, Multan and Peshawar are subject to government approval.

At the same time, Saudia will place its 'SV' code on Etihad flights to Baku, Chengdu, Ahmedabad, Nagoya, Tokyo-Narita, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Belgrade, Seychelles, Chicago-O'Hare, and Abu Dhabi.

In addition to the codeshare, the teams at the Etihad Guest and Alfursan frequent flyer programmes are finalising discussions which would see members of each programme being offered reciprocal earn and burn opportunities.

In the cargo world, the teams in both airlines' divisions are in talks about greater cooperation, recognising the increased volumes of freighter traffic flowing into and out of the UAE and the Saudi Arabia. ]]> <![CDATA[Paid parking set to be introduced in Dubai's Barsha Heights]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/paid-parking-set-to-be-introduced-in-this-dubai-area-1 6795C7A2-3EE7-428E-A819-C44110746804 The area has been earmarked as an 'A' zone, meaning the parking fee is Dh4 per hour.


Paid parking signages have been put up in Barsha Height (formerly Tecom) but the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has yet to confirm when paid parking in the area will begin.

The area has been earmarked as an 'A' zone, meaning the parking fee is Dh4 per hour and charges are applicable from 8:00am  up to 10:00pm from Saturday to Thursday except on official holidays.

Barsha Heights, which features residential and commercial buildings, including serviced apartments and hotels, is the latest area in the emirate to implement the parking charges.

angel@khaleejtimes.com ]]> <![CDATA[UAE tourists can claim VAT refund from November 18]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/vat-in-uae/uae-tourists-can-claim-vat-refund-from-november-18 40641212-F7A9-47DA-B585-4D8D466A3EF8 More than 4,000 retail outlets across the UAE will be connected electronically to the system


The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced that the tax refund scheme for tourists will come into effect from November 18, allowing eligible tourists to request refunds of value added tax (VAT) incurred on their purchases.

The first phase will see the digital system of the Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme implemented at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah international airports. As of mid-December, the system will be fully operational to include all airports and land and sea ports in the UAE.

The authority explained that tax invoices issued starting from November 18, 2018 will qualify tourists who are eligible for a tax refund to reclaim taxes incurred on their purchases.



FTA director general Khalid Ali Al Bustani asserted that more than 4,000 retail outlets across the UAE will be connected electronically to the system, clarifying that only the invoices issued by retail outlets registered in the scheme and connected to the system are eligible for a refund. These eligible outlets can be identified with posters displayed on their storefronts and visible to visitors.

"The electronic Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme, which is implemented by the FTA in collaboration with Planet, the global operator of the system, is currently being finalised," Al Bustani added.

As reported by Khaleej Times earlier, the minimum spend amount for a tax refund is set at Dh250 and tourists can claim the refund within 90 days of their purchase.

The FTA explained that tourists will receive refunds through a special device at the departure point by submitting tax invoices for their purchases from the outlets registered in the scheme, along with copies of their passport and credit card. Tourists can either recover the VAT in cash in UAE dirhams or have it transferred to their credit card.

"Implementing the tax refund scheme for tourists helps attract a larger numbers of tourists and allows them to enjoy the UAE's unique tourism offering, especially in retail," said Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director-general, FTA.

Anurag Chaturvedi, managing partner, Chartered House, said if a tourist buys electronic goods worth Dh210 from a store and spends another Dh315 on buying souvenirs from another store, he can claim tax refund of Dh15 on the purchase of Dh315 and not against the electronics purchase of Dh210 as it's below the minimum spend limit set by the Authority.

He pointed out that tourists will receive 85 per cent of the total VAT amount paid, minus an administration fee of Dh4.8 per tax-free form.

"In the example of purchase of Dh315, the tourist will get a refund of Dh7.95," Chaturvedi said.

The FTA said that retailers fulfilling the requirements may register in the scheme. If tourists express their desire to these registered retailers to make purchases with tax refunds, the concerned retailers must submit the required documents to claim the tax refund through the Scheme as specified by the FTA, including tax invoices that meet all the legal requirements.

Tourists must then apply for a refund of the tax directly from the operator and provide sufficient and convincing evidence.

It is estimated that tourist spending in the UAE will increase from Dh154 billion in 2017 to Dh205.5 billion in 2022. The UAE levied five per cent VAT on a host of goods and services from January 1, 2018, as part of the GCC framework.

Mayank Sawhney, managing director, MaxGrowth Consulting, said the VAT refund scheme is similar to the scheme adopted by most European countries, wherein the tourist can collect the VAT refund from the departing airport, seaport or land port while leaving the country.

He noted that the scheme is relatively user-friendly for tourists, provided that they fulfil the required conditions. However, there may be some challenges to practically claim the benefit of this scheme for some tourists, such as long queues at VAT refund counters; tourists not carrying their passports or passport copies while going out for shopping as passport details would be uploaded in the FTA system in order to issue VAT refund tag; and identification of the eligible retail outlets which have registered under this scheme.

Sawhney said eligible retailers registered under this scheme would benefit more from increased buying by tourists from their outlets.

Thomas Vanhee, partner, Aurifer Middle East Tax, also believes that the system implemented by the FTA is in line with what is applied internationally and is likely to be easier and more user-friendly than in some European countries.

"Especially the electronic link between retailers and the operator of the system is relatively innovative and ensures the reclaim process will be easier for travellers. Tourists buying luxury goods or expensive electronics will be interested in the system," Vanhee added.

Vanhee said registered retailers will benefit from more tourists buying at their shops provided the shop is easily identifiable for participating in the scheme.

Nimish Goel, partner, WTS Dhruva Consultants, said the entire refund process would be undertaken electronically and seems simple and user-friendly.

He said the fact that tourists can recover the VAT amount either in cash or have it transferred to their credit card is unique.

"The registered retailers will benefit more in terms of tourist buying once the scheme is implemented. Once registered under the scheme, these retail outlets will market themselves as registered under the tourist refund scheme in order to attract more tourists and gain a competitive edge in the market," Goel added.

- waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com ]]> <![CDATA[Video: Rain hits parts of UAE, warning of 7-ft-high waves]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/weather/weather-temperature-dips-to-165c-in-uae--- C85F1F29-2CA5-4DE0-B253-421DE8BC62FA Pleasant weather shall continue in the UAE.


The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has called on sea vessels in the offshore Arabian Gulf to be cautious due to fresh winds and rough sea at times.

In a statement, the centre said that waves up to 7 feet high are likely until 9pm on Monday because of convective clouds.

Cool, pleasant weather shall continue in the UAE today with rainfall in parts of the country, an earlier forecast had said. The weather in general will remain fair and partly cloudy. The National Center of Meteorology said the maximum temperature recorded in the country stood at 39°C. The minimum temperature was 16.5°C.

Light to moderate winds will blow in general, the weather department said.

The sea will be moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman sea.

With inputs from Wam ]]> <![CDATA[UAE visa renewal for widows, divorced women within 48 hours]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/uae-visa-renewal-for-widows-divorced-women-within-48-hours 224A5339-EDA9-471C-839E-353B474862A9 The announcement comes following sweeping changes to visa regulations in the country.


Widows and divorced women can now extend their visa for one year at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) center in Dubai Festival City (DFC), officials said on Monday.

The announcement comes following sweeping changes to visa regulations, under new reforms enacted by the UAE cabinet, which allow widows and divorced women and their children to extend their visa for one year without a sponsor.

Under the new scheme, students sponsored by their parents will also get a two-year visa after Grade 12; and visit visa holders can apply for a 30-day extension for two times without having to leave the country.

New visa scheme implemented in UAE

Officials confirmed that visas for students and visitors can now be processed across Amer and Tasheel centers across Dubai.

Meanwhile, visa applications for widows and divorced women are processed at the GDRFA center of DFC to grant the female applicants the privacy they need.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jasem Ali Ahli, director of entry permits in GDRFA, told the media on Monday that 12 female employees will receive cases at the centre to grant applicants enough comfort to discuss their cases.

"These cases are sensitive. We understand such cases cannot be discussed at centers' counters, so we dedicated a private office in GDRFA center of DFC where female officials will specifically handle cases of widows and divorced women," Ahli said.

Visa renewal applications take up to 48 hours to be processed to grant widows and divorced women the chance to sponsor themselves - and their children- for one year if they did not have male sponsors in the country.

"If widows and divorced women didn't have a male sponsor in the country, they can sponsor themselves and their children for one year," said Ahli.

Applicants and their children, though, must be under the husband's visa at the time of the death or divorce, and the visas must not have expired.

To extend their visa, applicants must present an official divorce or death certificate, the old visa and proof that they can provide for the family. A Dh100 fee will apply for the one-year residence visa, and another Dh100 to cancel the old visa, Ahli said.

The children's residency period does not exceed that of the mother.

The center will be open for applications from 7:30am to 2:30pm.

Applicants can call 047074255 for further information. 

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

Conditions and requirements for one-year residency visa for widows and divorced women

>The mother and children must be under the husband's visa at the time of the death or divorce, and the visas must not have expired

>The woman should present proof of divorce or death of the husband

>Proof that the mother can provide for the family

>Medical fitness certificate for the mother and children over the age of 18, in addition to the Emirates identity card

>No need to pay extra money upon leaving the country after the one-year visa has expired

>Dh100 fee for the one-year residence visa

>Dh100 cancellation fee for the old visa of the mother and children

>A tenancy contract, which should be in the name of woman ]]> <![CDATA[New rental regulations assure fair justice for landlords, tenants ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:10:28 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/abu-dhabi/new-rental-regulations-assure-fair-justice-for-both-landlords-and-tenants A3474F00-9090-42A1-AABD-54A31E703CBD Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has started the implementation of the new decision on Rental Dispute Settlement Committees.


The new Abu Dhabi rental regulations that provides for settling of disputes within a short period of time aim at achieving quick and fair justice for all parties, according to judicial authorities.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) on Monday said it has started the implementation of the new decision on Rental Dispute Settlement Committees that allows landlords to directly approach the Enforcement Department. Landlords can claim the unpaid rents or evacuate the tenants if they fail to pay within in a maximum of 30 days after the issuance of a ruling by the rental dispute committees.

This Article 11, Clause 4 of the Decisions No.25 of 2018 on rental disputes committees and procedures was issued earlier this month by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). It stipulates that rental contracts registered with Abu Dhabi Municipality shall have the status of "executory instruments" through which the Rental Dispute Committees will allow landlords to directly involve enforcement agents and take action against tenants that have failed to pay rent.

The eviction notice will be issued after the rental dispute committees have heard from all parties.

According to authorities, the rental dispute committees will issue a decision within a minimum of two days and a maximum of three weeks.

The tenant shall be notified to pay the rent arrears within a period not exceeding 21 days from the date of notification for residential rents, and 30 days for commercial and industrial rents.

The new decision applies only to properties with lease contracts registered with the Department of Municipalities in Abu Dhabi.

"The aim of the rental dispute committees is to quickly resolve disputes between the landlord and a tenant, save their time and money and also shorten proceedings in first instance and appeal courts," Counsellor Dr. Adel El Achabi, Manager of Enforcement Administration at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and Appeals said during a press conference on Monday.

"This is the simplest process and it is aimed at reducing the time that has been spent in courts. It is intended to protect everyone including landlords and tenants."

Eviction only possible in case of non-payment of rent

According to El Achabi, all rental disputes between the lessor (landlord) and the lessee (tenant) are settled by the committees to resolve the rental disputes.

"Only in the case of non-payment of wages due in the leases registered with the Abu Dhabi municipality, the decision gives the landlord the possibility of resorting to eviction through quick procedures that preserve the rights of both parties," he said.

El Achabi explained that the landlord shall first submit to the dispute settlement committees an application to obtain the executive stamp, which he shall receive after verifying the fulfilment of the conditions.

The application shall be submitted in accordance with the contract signed in the executive form, according to the official.

"The tenant shall be notified to pay the rent arrears within a period not exceeding 21 days from the date of notification- for residential rents, and 30 days from the date of notification for commercial and industrial properties," he said.

"If the tenant fails to pay the rent arrears during the said period, the execution proceedings (eviction ruling) shall be initiated against him."

El Achabi noted that the tenant that has failed to pay within the given grace period will be issued another notice that will be handed to them physically, and ordering them to leave the house or property within a period of three days.

"If the tenant pays arrears within the period specified, or before that, the execution shall be permanently withheld," he said adding that the execution judgment and orders in this respect can be contested in the court of appeal and cassation.

The official noted that the new regulation will contribute to reducing the waste of judicial time by limiting the extent of the flow of cases to the committees of settling rental disputes in cases where the real dispute is present.

"This initiative, the first of its kind in the country, will have a positive impact on the investment and the business sector, as well as in real estate sector in particular," said El Achabi.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com ]]> <![CDATA[Duo accused of stealing passports from company in UAE]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:01:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/crime-and-courts/duo-accused-of-stealing-passports-from-company-in-uae 2294FE00-A7C2-4723-ACE2-2BA94C2AF7B2 The company's owner lodged the complaint against the duo.


The Sharjah Criminal Court has charged two brothers with stealing money and passports of a number of workers of a company which they worked for.

The company's owner lodged the complaint against the duo.

He claimed that the documents and cash were stolen from a safe of the contracting company in which the two Arab brothers had been working for years.

During the court hearing, the first accused pleaded not guilty.

The defendant said the complainant used to bring workers on visit visas and then did not modify the status to residency to save money.

After the expiration of the visit date, the owner used to send the workers back home and hired fresh workers, he added.

The accused said the complaint of theft from the safe had been concocted by the owner to blackmail the duo.

The owner himself hid the passports in the safe so he could abuse workers until they finished work in one of company's construction sites, the accused said.

The second brother said the company had 16 surveillance cameras installed on the premises.

When the police asked the owner to show them the footage, he claimed that all records get automatically deleted within a week, the accused claimed.

The cops, therefore, couldn't check the CCTV cameras installed in the room where the safe was kept, he pointed out.

The court has adjourned the case and will announce its verdict at a later date. ]]> <![CDATA[Dh500 fine for drawing graffiti at Jebel Jais ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:00:58 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/ras-al-khaimah/dh500-fine-for-doing-this-in-uaes-public-areas D4936CC1-F2DE-4F0F-83DD-2592B2D29EE5 This is especially common during national holidays and weekly offs.


A love poem written in Urdu on the rocks at Jebel Jais has prompted a stern warning and a Dh500 fine.

The Public Services Department's "Raqeb" division in Ras Al Khaimah stated that this graffiti was accompanied by other markings, including two hearts, intertwined and pierced by an arrow, as well as a sketch of a woman's face. 

According to Ahmad Hamad Al Shehhi, an official at the PSD, anyone caught distorting the area by marking or coloring the concrete support walls or mountain rocks will be fined according to the list of violations regarding the destruction of public property issued by the PSD.

Raqeb supervisor, Wael Ali Abdel Bari, said that people of Pakistani or Indian descent seem to prevail in making such statements of love, professing their affection to their wives and lovers living outside the UAE.

The beauty of the sentiments aside, the words and paint mar the natural beauty of the landscape and are an affront to public property. 

European tourists also write their names and dates on the walls and rocks as a token of their visit, he added. 

Usually such violations take place during national holidays and weekly off days. 

Diesel is used to scrub the paint off the walls of the rocks.  

Jebel Jais rises 1,900 metres over sea level and has the honour of being the highest mountain in the UAE.
 
 
 
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]]> <![CDATA[Two sisters sold off to recover dowry, 12 booked ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 18:25:47 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/india/two-sisters-sold-off-to-recover-dowry-12-booked 01E4B36F-60EB-4E09-8019-944600299B6A The sisters were subjected to physical torture and mental trauma by their husbands


A shocking incident of two Rajasthani women having been allegedly "sold off to recover dowry" has come to light on Monday in Virar town here, officials said. 

Following sustained efforts by social activists, Virar Police on October 9 booked a dozen persons including a chartered accountant and a businessman, besides their family members and other associates, in the case, Investigating Officer Lakshmi Borkar told IANS. 

According to the complaint, the two women -- both sisters in their 20s, hailing from Rajasthan -- were married on March 10, 2015 with two brothers, businessman Sanjay Raval and Varun Rawal, a CA -- both based in Virar, around 60 km from Mumbai. 

Six months after their wedding, the Ravals and their family members started harassing the sisters for dowry as the Sanjay and Varun wanted to buy a shop to launch a new business. 

Somehow the victims' family managed to raise Rs 5,00,000 and handed it over to the Ravals, but later they demanded another Rs 4,00,000. 

The two daughters-in-law said it was not possible for their middle-class parents to raise such a huge amount again, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. 

The sisters were subjected to physical torture and mental trauma by their husbands and members of the Raval family. 

On August 30, the Raval family took the two women to a village in Rajasthan's Pindwara town of Sirohi distict and kept them in captivity. 

For 10 days, several men including some relatives came and physically abused the two sisters and then ordered them to go back to the Raval family in Virar. 

They sent an unknown person to accompany the two sisters to Virar, but when the train stopped at Vasai, their escort seized their bags and barred them from getting off. 

This led to an altercation in full view of the co-passengers inside the train and the escort said they could not get off at Vasai but at Mira Road, in adjoining Thane district. 

The escort was also heard shouting that he had "paid Rs 1,50,000 for the two women and now he would recover that amount fully before freeing them". 

Fortunately for the distraught sisters, some co-passengers intervened and allowed them to deboard at Vasai before the train departed. 

The sisters went back to their home in Suman Complex and narrated their sad plight to the neighbours. 

A few neighbours accompanied the sisters to the police to lodge a complaint against the Raval family, but for nearly a month, the police reportedly dodged the issue. 

It was only after the neighbours and some local social activists approached the higher police authorities that the complaint was finally registered on October 9 naming 12 accused in the case. 

They include: the victims' husbands, Sanjay and Varun Raval, their father-in-law Mohanlal Raval, mother-in-law Leeladevi Raval, some uncles, aunts, a few relatives and other outsiders. 

Borkar said an investigation was underway and no arrests have been made. 

Independent sources revealed that the two prime accused Raval brothers -- Sanjay and Varun -- have reportedly gone underground. 

The police have slapped serious charges against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to dowry demand, mental and physical torture, kidnapping, Borkar added. ]]> <![CDATA[Massive fire breaks out in Sharjah industrial area ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:27:26 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/emergencies/massive-fire-breaks-out-in-sharjah-industrial-area DD8CA19B-7D10-4777-8522-EC42F4073CCB Several warehouses were affected by the blaze.


A massive fire broke out in Sharjah's Industrial Area No 5 on Monday afternoon.

Reports indicate that 12 warehouses were affected by the blaze.

Sharjah's Civil Defence teams were dispatched after receiving a notification at 1.43pm.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze after 40 minutes of cooling operations.

Cleaning operations are underway. 

More details are awaited.      ]]> <![CDATA[What caused traffic chaos, 3-hour delay towards Dubai?]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:33:13 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/transport/what-caused-traffic-congestion-three-hour-delay-towards-dubai 8F85A101-1580-45E5-946B-59C274CF7066 The police issued traffic updates on social media.


Traffic came to a standstill for three hours on all streets, exits leading to Dubai on Monday morning. A traffic accident caused the massive congestion.  

The operation room received information about an accident on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road at 6.30 am. The accident occurred during the peak hours and paralysed the traffic movement in most of the internal roads in Sharjah, Lt Colonel Khalid Al Kay, Deputy Director of the Traffic and Patrol Department at Sharjah Police said. It led to the disruption of traffic, especially in Muwailih and industrial areas.  

The police intensified inspections in congested streets to organise the traffic. Motorists assumed the accident occurred in Sharjah and many calls were received on 901 to inquire about the situation.

The police notified the motorists through their social media platforms and radio channels about the accident. Alternative routes were suggested to avoid more vehicles being stuck in the delay.   ]]> <![CDATA[Bus supervisor forgets 6-year-old girl in UAE]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:28:29 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/sharjah/bus-supervisor-forgets-6-year-old-girl-in-uae BE832548-BB90-42BC-B3AA-9368BA7B3EEE She was in a state of total collapse.


A 6-year-old child was abandoned after her bus supervisor failed to wait for her at a school in Sharjah. 

The Emirati student had requested permission from her bus supervisor to disembark and use the bathroom before leaving the school on Thursday.

She went to a bathroom that was close to her Grade 1 classroom, not knowing there was a facility close to the bus stop. She went to her class to pick up a book that she had forgotten, then went back to the bus stop area. 

The child returned to an empty bus stop. 

She went back to the vacant classrooms and cried until an administrator heard her wails and called the bus supervisor.

Her mother was alarmed when the bus was over half an hour late in dropping her off. She was even more alarmed to learn that her daughter, who was in a state of total collapse, had been abandoned and badly frightened due to her being forgotten at the school.

Upon learning of the incident, the mother called the bus supervisor, who only answered after five attempts at contacting her. She answered that the child was lying, prompting the mother to complain to the school.

The school administration had the bus supervisor sign an undertaking to never repeat the incident. A camera was installed in the bus, and the supervisor reassigned.        
 
 
 
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]]> <![CDATA[Video: How the Expo 2020 stunts were shot in Dubai ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:14:24 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/video-how-the-expo-2020-stunts-were-shot-in-dubai CD040FD1-0C8C-44F7-A9D6-612B3734A466 Some of the stunts were so tricky, they had to get it right in the first attempt.


If you haven't yet seen the Expo 2020 stunt video, you'll be amazed at the adrenaline-packed pursuits they managed to cram into a minute-long clip. The video, which marks two years to go before the Dubai Expo 2020, sees trained daredevils flying through the Dubai Frame and racing around the Expo site.

The teams behind these gravity-defying stunts comprised Dubai Film, XDubai, and the Expo 2020 team. Just a day after the video was released on YouTube, a behind-the-scenes video of the stunts was also released to show the stunts take flight from conception to execution.

In the video, Dubai Film shows how the minute-long stunt video was made. Morgan Carlson, XDubai Coordinator, explained that some of the stunts shown in video were 'one-hit wonders'. He said that with factors such as limited timeframes, the XDubai team had to make sure that they get the stunt right in a single attempt.



For the jetsuit stunt through the Dubai Frame, the team had a meticulous plan involving precision timing, transponders and a helicopter! After that, specialised vehicles such as dirt bikes and a racing truck were brought inside the Expo 2020 construction site.

Tony Matthews, Vice President Construction and Logistics, Real Estate and Delivery said that they were 'a little bit nervous' bringing in the stunt team and their vehicles. He also added that a lot of planning and risk assessment was involved in order to ensure the safety of teams in the construction site.



In this segment of the stunt XDubai athletes can be seen jumping from one building to another, dangling from a crane and jumping off one of the buildings in the site - on to a safety cushion. One of the labourers present during the shooting said that he enjoyed seeing the stunts in action - he was among the many workers on the site who were given front row seats to the stunts.

Commenting on the efforts of the team, Gerry Blaksley, the director said that he was proud of how the teams synergised to come up with solutions when the need arose. ]]> <![CDATA[Man poses as Dubai cop, pulls woman inside his car]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:46:31 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/crime-and-courts/man-poses-as-dubai-cop-forcefully-pulls-woman-inside-his-car 2F237A2B-2BBD-4215-BDA3-85C0C4D69731 She was left with scratches in her hand during the encounter.


A 30-year-old man has gone on trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance after he allegedly tried to kidnap a Filipina while posing as a policeman.

According to the public prosecution records, the jobless man with a Comoros Islands passport impersonated as a police officer and tried to pull her by force into his car. But his attempt was foiled as the woman did not believe his claims.

The case dates back to January 9. The victim, a 24-year-old working as a supervisor, said that around half past midnight, she was waiting for a friend in Al Rashidiya when the defendant approached her. "He wanted me to ride in his car. He grabbed my right hand and tried to pull me inside by force." 

The imposter pretended to be a cop and tried to convince her for 10 minutes, she told the court. "He accused me of trying to open the parked cars but I insisted I would only get inside an official police patrol car." 

He followed her when she walked into an alley. He even showed her a driving license claiming it was his official ID, she claims.  "As I was about to click a picture of his number plate, he tried to snatch my mobile phone. He pushed me, causing scratches on my body," she said. 

The imposter fled when a resident arrived at the scene hearing the commotion, she told the investigator. The complainant presented a medical certificate in the court stating that she was left with scratches on her hand. 

The defendant confessed during interrogation that he had met the woman on the night of the incident. The court will pronounce the ruling on November 15. 

mary@khaleejtimes.com ]]> <![CDATA[US lottery jackpots climb to $2.2 billion combined after no winners ]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:37:00 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/americas/buy-dh7-ticket-get-chance-to-win-dh58-billion-jackpot-tomorrow C23F0BE2-C4D3-42BA-90EF-C34CF5403D80 The odds are 1 in 303 million.


Who wants to be a billionaire?

For $2 (Dh7 approx) a ticket, you have chance to be among the richest people in the world if you beat the longshot odds of 1 in 303 million to win the Mega Millions lottery jackpot of $1.6 billion (Dh5.8 billion approx) Tuesday night.

The sum reached a world record for lottery jackpots after there were no winners claimed a $1 billion prize on Friday.

It is so much money that if you took the instant cash payout in $100 bills, you could make a stack over 3,200 feet (975 meters) taller than any building in the world, according to Reuters calculations.

"Mega Millions has already entered historic territory, but it's truly astounding to think that now the jackpot has reached an all-time world record," Gordon Medenica, lead director of the Mega Millions Group, said in a statement.

But you are more likely to get killed by a shark than win, with odds of a shark attack at 1 in 3.7 million, according the Tucson, Arizona-based International Wildlife Museum.

After taxes, the cash value of the Mega Millions prize will be an estimated $904 million, which is greater than the gross domestic product of countries including South Africa, Columbia and Switzerland, according to 2017 figures from the World Bank.

Wednesday's Powerball lottery prize stands at an estimated $620 million, making it the fifth largest jackpot in US history, officals said, after no one got all six numbers in Saturday's drawing.

The lump sum cash payout is estimated at $354.3 million.

The current Mega Millions jackpot beats the previous record, a $1.586 billion jackpot for a Powerball drawing in 2016, said Seth Elkin, a spokesman for Mega Millions.

If there is more than one winner, the jackpot would be shared, as happened when the previous Mega Millions record of $656 million was drawn in March 2012 and was divided between winners in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland, a lottery official said. ]]> <![CDATA[We migrated from India for our love for Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:39:22 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/pakistan/my-family-migrated-from-india-for-its-love-for-pakistan-nawaz-sharif-tells-court 8B6930E9-A98F-460D-8DBC-3C2642AB62A1 Sharif dismissed allegations that he had committed any treason.


Deposed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday told a court here that he is not a traitor as his family migrated from India for its love for Pakistan.

The Lahore High Court on Monday held the hearing on a petition seeking action against 67-year-old Sharif under treason charges for claiming that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack belonged to Pakistan.

Another former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Dawn's journalist Cyril Almeida, who are the other respondents in the case, also filed their reply in the court.

Some 166 people were killed in the attack carried out by 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught and hanged after handed down death sentence.

In his reply filed in the court, Sharif said: "How come a man who has made this country's an atomic power can be a traitor. A person's party that is given more votes than any other party in this month's by-polls can be a traitor. I represent millions of Pakistanis. can they be traitors."

He further said his family had migrated from India for its love for Pakistan.

"Me and my family love every inch of this land (Pakistan)," Sharif said and dismissed allegations that he had committed any treason.

Sharif's father Mian Muhammad Sharif had lived in Jati Umra in Punjab's Tarn Taran district before migrating to Lahore in 1947. 

In his reply, Abbasi denied that he had shared the minutes of the National Security Council meeting about the participants on his (Sharif) statement on the Mumbai terror attack.

Journalist Almeida said he committed no treason as he conducted interview of Sharif and wrote what he said.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority filed its reply saying the matter had been referred to the Press Council of Pakistan.

A full-bench of court headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi adjourned the hearing till November 12.

The court is conducting hearing on the petitioner of Amina Malik.

She said Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case in July 2017 and subsequently jailed for 10 years in last July in Avenfield corruption case, in an interview to Dawn May last made the remarks that those involved in the Mumbai attack case actually belonged to Pakistan thus committed treason.

The petitioner said the "anti-state" statement of Sharif - a three-time prime minister - could be used against Pakistan by its enemies.

She said a meeting of the National Security Council was held to discuss the 'misleading' statement of the disqualified premier and later the then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Sharif and conveyed to him the concerns of the military leadership on his statement. 

"The act of Abbasi was also a clear violation of his oath as he was bound not to allow his personal interest to influence his official conduct," she said.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar were released last month following the suspension of their sentences by the Islamabad High Court in the Avenfield properties corruption case. ]]> <![CDATA[Doctors remove 122 nails from Ethiopian's stomach]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:41:13 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/africa/doctors-remove-122-nails-sharp-objects-from-mans-stomach BD92EC51-CAE9-46AA-BC31-757172627FA2 The 33-year-old patient suffers from mental illness and had apparently consumed the items.


Ethiopian doctors extracted over a hundred iron nails and other sharp objects from the stomach of a patient in the capital Addis Ababa at the weekend.

Dawit Teare, a surgeon at St. Peter's Specialised Hospital, said the 33-year-old patient suffers from mental illness and had apparently consumed the items, including 122 four inch (10 centimetre) nails, four pins, a toothpick and pieces of broken glass.

"The patient has been suffering from mental illness for the last 10 years and had stopped taking his medication two years ago, one probable reason he started consuming inanimate objects," Dawit told AFP after the two-and-a-half hour operation.

"I'm guessing he consumed the objects with the help of water, however he is a lucky person that those sharp objects didn't cut his stomach. That could have led to serious infections and even death," he said.

The surgeon said that while he had dealt with other cases in which people with mental illness had swallowed multiple sharp objects, he had never encountered a case on this scale.

Dawit added that the patient was recovering well. ]]> <![CDATA[Man attempts to extort Dh1.2 million from Dubai corporation, jailed]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:35:19 +0200 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/crime-and-courts/man-attempts-to-extort-dh12-million-from-dubai-corporation-jailed CE6DB7AF-CEF1-4703-9F1E-070359094289 He unlawfully copied contracts and draft contracts which he then sent to his personal e-mail.


A legal consultant, accused of blackmailing a corporation he worked for in extortion bid of Dh1.2 million via e-mails, was sentenced to eight months in jail by a Dubai court on Monday.

Public prosecution records show the 41-year-old French legal consultant sent the complainant, a Greek legal advisor, e-mails in which he gave the corporation, he worked for, and which he called a fraud, an ultimatum until 10am the next day to drop their complaint and settle his status and pay up his gratuity. Otherwise, he threatened to send his letter to many parties and make sure their business would get hit.

He also logged into the e-system of his workplace - a renewable energy services corporation - and unlawfully copied contracts and draft contracts which he then sent to his personal e-mail.

The Court of First Instance convicted him in absentia of charges of online blackmail, gaining unlawful access into an e-system and copying data and information without authorisation. It ordered his deportation.

The court also ruled that the defendant pay Dh21,000 in temporary civil damages to the plaintiff.

The defendant's threats lasted from April 23 to August 24 and the complaint was filed at Bur Dubai police station.

The Greek legal advisor, 36, said during prosecution investigation, the defendant called for a meeting on April 22 to discuss administrative corruption at work. "During the meeting, he claimed the plaintiff was paying bribes to other businesses to land project contracts and win tender bids. When asked whether he had proof to his claims, he got angry and destroyed a laptop."

The meeting was then ended. The police were informed and a complaint was filed against the defendant.

"On April 23, we asked the IT section to access the defendant's work mail. We then found he had sent confidential documents (draft contracts) to his personal e-mail. On April 24, I received an e-mail from him, in which he was asking for large amounts of money, and for the company to drop a property damage complaint and to recover his passport," the advisor recounted.

He added that the defendant threatened them that if his demands were not met, he would then contact their business partners and clients telling them that the said corporation was corrupt and into bribes.

"On April 25, we were informed by our clients that they received such mails from the accused," the advisor told the prosecutor, pointing out that the accused wanted them, in another e-mail, to pay him a Dh1.2 million gratuity and another Dh150,000, or he would present documents to the police and the public prosecution stating that the corporation was paying bribes to obtain business contracts.

A German executive manager corroborated the advisor's testimony about the defendant's threats and blackmail as well as attempted extortion of Dh1.2 million.

mary@khaleejtimes.com ]]>