Break the are your kids gateway to growing up Security And SAfety for All addiction with a nanny? ISSUE 7 AUGUST 2012

RamadanOf Faith and Fasting

IN THIS ISSUE: SpEEd LImIT, AUTISm, pET prEdIcAmEnTS

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editor’s note Security And Safety For All

Ramadan Kareem! he month of Ramadan is upon us, the month in which the Holy was sent down and revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Muslims Taround the world undertake the rite of fasting from sunrise to sunset during this month. Fasting is a way for Muslims to realise and to be thankful for what they have. Ramadan is a spiritual month for Muslims to contemplate, and to try and better themselves in any way possible. The cover story of 999 this month is directed at our expatriate and tourist brothers and sisters, some of whom may not be fully aware of the significance and meaning of this magical time, and may not necessarily be conscious of how to conduct themselves during this period. For millions of Muslims in the UAE and billions around the world, the advent of the holy month of Ramadan signals the start of a period of reflection, humility and of fasting between sunrise and sunset. For all Muslims, it is a special month of fasting, repentance, increased prayer and increased charity. At the same time, Ramadan is a period of being considerate and compassionate for non-Muslims. Being in a Muslim country during Ramadan is a unique experience. This is a time for The article discusses simple things that non-Muslims need to keep in mind all of us – not during the 30-day period, like dressing modestly, not eating or drinking in just Muslims – to public during daytime as a mark of solidarity with their fasting colleagues, and renew our spiritual not listening to loud music. intentions, increase As guests, expats and tourists respect local customs, they shall have a very our knowledge, and enjoyable experience. This is a time for all of us – not just Muslims – to renew our spiritual intentions, increase our knowledge, and change ourselves for the change ourselves for better. the better While Ramadan is a time for self-control, often those who are fasting during the day end up eating the wrong kind of food during the night. This edition of 999 also focuses on the calorie-cutting way to weight-loss, and how new research is telling us that consuming calories in the form of protein and fibres may in fact be helpful in weight-loss and give you energy throughout the day. In our constant endeavour to raise awareness about notable causes, 999’s August issue also includes a touching feature on autism in kids, and highlights the need to educate society on how to deal with children with autism. Besides a whole host of informative and practical news, views and interviews, 999 brings you its regular features and nuggets of tips and trivia. We hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. Once again, Ramadan Kareem and a very Happy Eid-al Fitr to you.

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COVER STORY

80 100 Security And Safety For All 0 Ramadan 6 of faith and fasting 0 KM/HR 4 In order to gain a better insight into 0 the world’s second-largest religion, this 2 1 comprehensive article will help non- 2 Ministry of Interior 0 Muslims in the UAE understand what 0 Ramadan is all about Consultative Board Maj. Gen. Khalil Badran – Chairman Col. Thani Al Shamsi – Member

Editor-in-Chief Lt. Col. Awadh Al Kindi 26 WATCH OUT FOR THE LIMIT Managing Editor Speeding tops the UAE’s road safety notorious list Issam Al Sheikh 16

13 FACTS & FIGURES Contact Us Some of the numbers and quotations in the 62 CRIME & PUNISHMENT 86 BOOKS Tel: +971 2 4194488 media that have attracted attention More shocking real life criminal cases Choose a page-turner that will help you Fax: +971 2 4194499 manage your personal wealth better P.O. Box: 38999 4 68 HISTORY – UAE www.moi.gov.ae Two victories led by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yaribi saw all of Oman freed from Portuguese 90 MOVIES [email protected] 58 occupation Popcorn and hotdog at the ready for these top Toll Free: 800 9009 upcoming flicks 72 CRIME MYSTERIES 999 revisits some of the most infamous cases 92 TIPS AND TRIVIA of assassination Know everything you should about your body and feel your best during the month of fasting 75 HEALTH 4 NEWS You may dress to impress, but without clean 95 PUZZLES Subscriptions 38 A round-up of MoI and Abu Dhabi Police news white teeth and fresh breath, the battle is lost stories and important events Dh100 – Individuals quickly 96 HOROSCOPE Dh200 – Companies & government departments 80 ENVIRONMENT The latest issues and news that impact the 48 natural world Published on behalf of 54 Ministry of Interior by 84 GADGETS 34 SEEING THE WORLD 48 GROWING UP WITH A NANNY Feast your eyes on some of the hottest new DIFFERENTLY More and more UAE couples are handing over high-tech releases around The parents of autistic children often face an their children to nannies. It can be tricky if the uphill struggle for understanding yet they also parents stop parenting altogether know that kids are special in many diff erent ways 54 COOL IN THE POOL 38 GATEWAY TO ADDICTION Exercising in water has huge health benefi ts. PO Box 77910 Smoking and drinking are harmful enough by Learn about the new wave of aqua fi tness twofour54 themselves. 999 looks into the risks of these workout that is making a splash Abu Dhabi, UAE addictions Tel: 02-4012835 58 WHICH FOODS MAKE [email protected] YOU FATTER? www.newperspectivemedia.com 44 PET PREDICAMENTS For years, we’ve counted calories to control 999 examines the reality of pet ownership in weight. But the latest thinking suggests they Distributed by Tawzea the UAE can’t give us the whole picture 15 24 43 53 71 89 Tel. 02-6411440 Fax 02-6424842 Maj Gen Nasser Maysa Rashed Ali Obaid Tim Maycock Alan Macmillan John Allen Disclaimer: Lakhreibani Al Nuaimi Former Member of the Head of the News Centre at Director of int. consultancy Director of Security Services Professor of Mathematics at

Published articles express the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily represent the COLUMNISTS Sec Gen of the Office of HH Federal National Council Dubai Media Incorporated firm, Maycock Training at Transguard Group Temple University and the official views or policy of the UAE Ministry of Interior. Copyrights for all the articles, Stay connected. Follow us on: twitter.com/999english facebook.com/999english the Deputy Prime Minister (FNC), and UAE writer author of Innumeracy features, photos and topics published are reserved for 999. and Minister of Interior

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1-3 editorial & contents AUGUST2012.indd 2 7/26/12 6:01 PM 1-3 editorial & contents AUGUST2012.indd 3 7/26/12 6:01 PM Security And Safety For All news Security And Safety For All Khalifa orders release of 873 MohaMMed issues resolutions fund and green prisoners, pays off their liabilities regarding social responsibility dirhaM charge on new Emirati citizens with limited income in the Official investments and surplus from the Fund’s whose loans do not exceed Dh1 million. Gazette, the Fund previous budgets. The Fund’s revenues are iMported Mobile phones Emiratis who are in prison will be is responsible for considered public funds and should be released while the debt is being settled. fundraising and deposited in bank(s) to be defined by the The mechanism was implemented financing the Committee. The Minister may name and through the fund’s coordination with Ministry’s social assign the personnel delegated to operate banks. Indebted Emiratis also had to development the accounts. sign an undertaking stipulating that they projects, drafting The Fund’s fiscal year begins on the may not apply for another loan until the the internal 1st of January and ends on the 31st of current ones have been settled. fundraising December, and the first fiscal year begins In May, more than Dh500 million of regulations and from the date of resolution and ends on debt owed by 368 Emiratis was cleared concluding the 31st of December of the following year. in the second phase of a scheme to help partnerships The Fund is subject for auditing by debtors on low incomes. with charity the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Internal The debts are settled from a Dh10 and cooperative Auditor and in compliance with the billion fund set up on National Day associations to Financial and Accounting Rules and last year, on the recommendation of a provide financial Regulations. The Fund is exempted from committee headed by Ahmed Jumaa and corporeal all tax and fees and does not submit to the Al Zaabi, the deputy minister of services to State Audit Institution. presidential affairs. beneficiaries either This Resolution annuls cabinet Beneficiaries must be employed and pay temporary or resolution no. 20 of 2006, its amendments The PresidenT, His Highness Sheikh get that privilege in future,’’ the attorney up to 25 per cent of their monthly salary his highness Sheikh Mohammed bin permanent. and any other decrees or directives that Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered general stated. in interest-free, long-term repayments. Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, In addition, the Fund will organize contradict or violate it. the release of 873 prisoners serving terms The Attorney General of the emirate Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, vocational training programmes, in in various prisons on the occasion of the of Abu Dhabi Councilor Yusuf Saeed issued Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2012 coordination with concerned public and Mobile Phone Levy holy month of Ramadan. The President Al Ebry said that the Public Prosecution Khalifa gets invitation regarding the Social Responsibility Fund private entities, to develop beneficiaries’ Article One of Cabinet Resolution No. will also pay off the liabilities and debts Department, in coordination with the to attend ASPA and Cabinet Resolution No. 20 of 2012 skills and competencies, launch projects 20 of 2012 describes the levy imposed of the released prisoners, against whom Abu Dhabi Police, has already started President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa regarding imposing levy on imported and initiatives in the field of social on imported mobile phones. The levy, judgments have been issued in various the procedures to enforce the bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received mobile phones. development, attract sponsors for the called the “Green Dirham” with total financial cases. Presidential order. an invitation to attend the 3rd South Ministry’s events and draft the internal value of Dh10 is imposed on every American-Arab Countries Summit The noble gesture to release the Al Ebry expressed profound (ASPA) slated for Peru next October. Social Responsibility Fund regulations related to the Ministry mobile imported intended to be used prisoners, both citizens and residents gratitude to the President for this great The invitation was handed to According to Cabinet Resolution No. projects’ sponsorship. inside the UAE. This levy belongs to from various nationalities, comes out of humanitarian gesture, which has brought Assistant Foreign Minister for 19, the Social Responsibility Fund is the Public Treasury. The Minister of the President’s keenness to give them the happiness to many families. International Organisations, Dr Saeed attached to the Minister’s Office and The Fund’s revenues Finance will issue the required regulatory Al Shamsi, during an audience with chance to begin a new life and ease the Al Ebry also hailed the continuous Peru’s Deputy Minister of Foreign provides financial and moral support to The sources of Fund’s revenues are the procedures in coordination with the suffering of their families. follow-up of the judicial process by Affairs, Jose Beraun. the Ministry’s developmental and social conditional and unconditional donations Minister of Environment and Water and Commenting on the President’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of They discussed ways of enhancing welfare projects in addition to vocational from individuals or establishments, any other concerned government entity. generous gesture, UAE Attorney General Presidential Affairs and Chairman of bilateral relations and of tapping training programmes to enhance donations from charity organisations, The Resolution is effective within 60 available resources in areas of Saeed Kubaish said the Presidential the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department HH economy, investment promotion and beneficiaries’ chances in work market. Islamic banks’ Zakat, federal and days from the date of publication in the pardon offered the released prisoners Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. cultural, tourist and environmental Pursuant to the Resolution, published local subsidies, revenues of the Fund’s Official Gazette. a good opportunity to reintegrate into The move is part of a series of gestures exchange. the social fabric as good, law-abiding by Sheikh Khalifa to help offenders start The UAE official highlighted the strategic partnership between Arab citizens so as to contribute positively anew. Last year, more than 400 inmates of countries and Latin America for Prime Minister orders release of 554 prisoners to the process of nation building and different nationalities were pardoned. promoting joint dialogue, building development. Release is granted for humanitarian solid economic and political bonds, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin month of mercy and forgiveness. doing good to their families and the Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Attorney General of the Emirate of community at large. ‘’The pardon inculcates positive reasons, but other factors considered harnessing business and investment opportunities and unifying stances and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler Dubai Councilor Essam Al Humaidan “This generous gesture of clemency motives in the hearts and minds of the include the nature of the crime, the length towards international issues. of Dubai, has ordered the release of said that the amnesty reflects the will give them a golden opportunity pardoned prisoners, spurring them to of the sentence and jail term served, and As one of the world’s key food 554 prisoners, among whom 93 are keenness of Sheikh Mohammed to allow to start a decent life and will bring set their conduct right and follow the the behaviour of the prisoner. baskets and fastest growing nationals, from various penitentiaries the released prisoners an opportunity happiness to their families as we economies, Latin American countries in the . to engage in social life, to correct stand on the threshold of the holy right path. It is a recipe of optimism In January, Sheikh Khalifa ordered were maintaining increasing influence The benevolent gesture is given their path and start a new page in life month of Ramadan,” Humaidan about the future and a catalyst for those the settlement of debts of 6,830 Emiratis in the international scene. to mark the advent of Ramadan, the as righteous members of the society, added. still behind the bars to follow their suit to valued at Dh2 billion. The order covered

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his highness General Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister The meeting also reviewed Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al developments in the and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Nahyan. the situation in Syria and the need his highness Lt General Sheikh Saif Awards (UNPSA) is the most prestigious participation, decision-making through Supreme Commander of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed conveyed to resolve it in a way that will meet bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime international recognition of excellence innovative mechanisms and knowledge Armed Forces, has reaffirmed UAE’s to President Hollande greetings of aspirations of the Syrian people. Minister and Minister of Interior has in public service. It rewards the creative development in government. keenness to further ties of friendship President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Also discussed was the Iranian received the trophy of the United Nations achievements and contributions of In attendance at the meeting were and cooperation with France. bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his wishes of nuclear dossier and the Iranian Public Service Award for 2012, which was public service institutions that lead to senior police officers and Interior This came during his meeting with further progress and prosperity to the occupation of the UAE’s three islands. recently won by the Ministry of Interior, a more effective and responsive public Ministry officials. President Francois Hollande of France people of France. The meeting stressed the importance from Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan administration in countries worldwide. In February, HH Sheikh Saif received at the Elysee Palace during which, they Sheikh Mohammed congratulated of supporting peaceful international Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Through an annual competition, the UN a certificate of appreciation and a discussed ways to enhance bilateral President Hollande on winning the efforts to enhance regional security and Dubai Police. Public Service Awards promotes the role, commemorative shield from the United relations and cooperation in all fields. Presidential elections in France and stability. Sheikh Saif greeted Dubai Police who professionalism and visibility of public Nations, in recognition of his efforts in The meeting also touched on regional expressed the hope that under his Sheikh Mohammed conveyed to represented the Ministry of Interior service. supporting the work of the international and international developments, as well presidency, relations between the two President Hollande an invitation on winning the honour which was in The UAE participated in five categories organisation in the field of security and as issues of mutual interest. countries will witness further progress. extended by Sheikh Khalifa to pay an recognition of its efforts to eliminate of the award, namely combating safety, and enhance cooperation and Present during the meeting were He praised the great role France plays official visit to the UAE. The French gender discrimination in public service. corruption, improving services in public communication between the Ministry of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior in strengthening cooperation with the President accepted the invitation for the The United Nations Public Service service, encouraging policy-making Interior and the United Nations. Minister Lt General HH Sheikh Saif bin UAE in all domains. visit. Mohammed bin Zayed greets President, VP, Rulers, Crown Princes UAE embassy staff in Rabat honoured upon the directives of Saif bin Zayed Upon the directives of HH Lt General operations for the body of the deceased values. and Deputy Rulers on Ramadan Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, late Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan The honoured staff expressed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of (May Allah have mercy on him). their deep gratitude and thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan. of Emirates, Crown Princes and Interior, HE Al Asri Saeed Al Dhaheri, HE Al Dhaheri awarded medals to generous gesture of HH Lt General Deputy Supreme Commander of the The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince also Deputy Rulers, on advent of UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of the staff in appreciation of their efforts, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Armed Forces, His Highness congratulated Vice President and Ramadan. He wished all the best Morocco, honoured the staff of the and their support to the UAE, US, affirming their determination to General Sheikh Mohammed bin Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to the leadership, government and UAE Embassy and the Military attaché Spanish, Greek, French and Moroccan perfectly carry out their duties, and Zayed Al Nahyan, has congratulated His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin UAE people. in Rabat. rescue teams in the search and rescue prayed to Allah the Almighty to have President His Highness Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, Their Highnesses Sheikh Mohammed also greeted The honouring came in appreciation operations, with the spirit of love and mercy on late Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Members of Supreme Council, Rulers the Arab and Muslim communities. of their contribution to the search sincerity, embodying noble human Al Nahyan.

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4-12 news AUG2012.indd 6 7/26/12 5:26 PM 4-12 news AUG2012.indd 7 7/26/12 5:26 PM Security And Safety For All news Security And Safety For All Crown Prince of Umm al Quwian calls Al Menhali lauds efforts to book intruders for promoting policing and violators of residency law Khalifa hh sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Based on a tip-off received by the Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Umm Al Quwain, paid a visit last Crime Prevention Strategy Division Affairs, said these campaigns were month to the General Headquarters of of Abu Dhabi Police, the Residency part of the authorities’ efforts to curb Umm Al Quwain Police, where HH was Violators and Foreigners Follow-up intruders and violators of the Law of received by Brigadier Sheikh Rashid Department last month conducted a Residence. bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Commander- number of raids on different locations While praising the significant efforts in-Chief of Umm Al Quwain Police; where such violators usually gather in exerted by the Residency Violators and Colonel Ahmed Salem Al Mazrouei, the Al Musaffah region. Foreigners Follow-up Department to Deputy Commander-in-Chief; Colonel At the same time, a committee ensure the success of the clampdowns, Mohammed Ibrahim Albayrak, Director consisting of the Ajman Police Major General Al Menhali added that General of Police Operations, and a General Headquarters and the such campaigns will continue, and will number of other senior officers. General Directorate of Residency be intensified in different regions and HH undertook an inspection tour and Foreigners Affairs and the districts at the national level. of all departments and divisions at the Residency Violators and Foreigners He emphasised that violators will be General Headquarters to follow up on Follow-up Department in Ajman referred to competent authorities for the work-progress. responsibility and mission of achieving Nahyan, President of the UAE. carried out similar search campaigns legal action to be taken against them. HH stressed that innovation is the security and safety across the emirates Brigadier Rashid bin Ahmed Al in different parts of the emirate, Major General Al Menhali also most important factor for achieving and, accordingly, got most of the Mualla pointed out that this visit reflects based on information received by the called on all members of society – excellence, according to the vision of government excellence awards. HH the keenness of the rational leadership Committee. nationals and residents – to report HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, called for exerting more efforts to on communicating with all government Major General Nasser bin Al Awadi such violations, and to not cover accommodation to these violators, who Supreme Council Member and Ruler of promote policing, which is a core basis bodies, following up all achievements Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary up for offenders or those who bring pose a threat to the security and safety Umm Al Quwain. of security and stability in our country, and eliminating obstacles, if any. He of the Ministry of Interior for in, harbour and provide work and of the community. HH said that the Ministry of Interior under the rational, wise leadership conveyed thanks and expressed his best was perfectly carrying out its major of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al wishes to HH the Crown Prince. al Ketbi awards 25 officers the rank of Al Sha’far calls for offering excellent services to travellers standards in Colonel Salem Ali Al Mezaini, Director lieutenant Colonel order to keep of Resources and Support Services Al Ketbi reminded the officers that up with the Department; Colonel Abdul Aziz Al a promotion to higher ranks comes increasing Qutairi, Director of the Entry Permits with increased responsibilities. He number of and Residence Department; Colonel congratulated the promoted officers, passengers Abdul Rahman Saho, Director of Border urging them to double their efforts to entering or Points Passports Department; Colonel raise the standard of policing. travelling Ali Jum’a, Head of Khatm Al Malaha Al Ketbi commended the efforts of between the Passport Control Section; and a number promoted officers and wished them luck UAE and of officials from the General Directorate and success in achieving the aspirations Oman. of Residency and Foreigners Affairs of our country. The in Sharjah and Sharjah Police General The promotion ceremony was Undersecretary Headquarters. attended by Major General Khalil Daoud of the Ministry Lt General Al Sha’far was also briefed Badran, Director General of Finance and of Interior on the inspection and search procedures, Services at Abu Dhabi Police; Brigadier LasT monTh, Lt General Saif Abdullah was briefed on the procedures taken to and ways of addressing challenges. Faris Khalifa Al Faresi, Director Al Sha’far, Undersecretary of the Ministry process passenger movement through He also reviewed the new buildings of General of Guards and Special Tasks; of Interior, reviewed the equipment used the point. During his visit, Lt General the Khatm Al Malaha centre and the Brigadier Dr Seif Bou Dhfeera Al Ameri, to develop the infrastructure project Al Sha’far was accompanied by Major facilities attached to it. He stressed on Director General of Security and Ports at the Khatm Al Malaha border point, General Mohammed Ahmed Al benefitting from all possible capacities Affairs; Brigadier Salem Ali Al Shamsi, Kalba City, Sharjah. Marri, Director General of the Dubai and facilities in order to develop police major generaL Obaid Al Hairi from Abu Dhabi Police at the officers’ Deputy Director General of Finances The project aims to facilitate and Residency and Foreigners Affairs General work and enhance paperwork processing Salem Al Ketbi, Deputy Commander-in- lounge at the Abu Dhabi Police General and Services, as well as Brigadier Ali enhance the services provided by the Directorate. and facilitate procedures to deliver Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, awarded the Headquarters. Obeid Al Darmaki, General-Director of Ministry of Interior using the best The Undersecretary was received by distinguished services to travellers. rank of Lieutenant Colonel to 25 officers While announcing the promotions, Personnel at Abu Dhabi Police.

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4-12 news AUG2012.indd 8 7/26/12 5:26 PM 4-12 news AUG2012.indd 9 7/26/12 5:26 PM Security And Safety For All news Security And Safety For All al NUaImI hEaDs thE FIFth mEEtINg OF thE Badran lauds the efforts of 999 magazine staff ExECUtIvE bOaRD at thE mINIstRy OF INtERIOR during his inspection of the 999 magazine premises, Major General major generaL Nasser Lakhreibani Khalil Dawood Badran, Director Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of General of Finance and Services in Abu the Office of HH Deputy Prime Dhabi Police, and Chairman of the 999 Minister, Minister of Interior, headed Magazine Development Committee, the fifth meeting of the Executive stressed that Lt General HH Sheikh Board at the Ministry of Interior and Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy the fifth meeting of the Permanent Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Higher Committee for Strategy and shows great interest in the magazine Performance Development for the year and its continued development in order 2012, at the meeting hall at the Abu to promote the message of safety and Dhabi Police General Headquarters. security among different segments of the During the meeting, a report society. on “Sheikh Khalifa Government During his visit, Major General Major General Khalil Dawood Badran and Brigadier Salem Ali Al Shamsi in a commemorative photo with the staff Excellence Program” was reviewed and Badran, met with the team of the of the 999 magazne teams from the Ministry participating magazine, and was briefed on editions of the 999 magazine, the Police Saleh Al Kindi, Editor-in-Chief of in the program were restructured. guide was also adopted. Musaid Al Neyadi, Director General the progress of work at different Community Supplement, and the other 999 magazine, stressed the team’s The meeting discussed two reports: The meeting was attended by Major of Electronic and Telecommunications departments. He praised the efforts national and awareness supplements. He commitment to the directives of Lt about His Highness the Minister of General Dr Abdul Quddus Abdul Services; Colonel Faisal Al Sheibi, exerted by the 999 magazine team, praised the magazine’s significant role in General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Interior’s Award for excellence and a Razak Al Obaidaly, Director of the Director of Strategy and Performance who are highly appreciated by HH the issuing several other police publications, Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and study about customer satisfaction with General Administration of Total Development at Abu Dhabi Police, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister such as ‘Security Research and Studies’ Minister of Interior, and that of Major the services of the Ministry of Interior. Quality Performance at Dubai Police; well a number of other high-ranking of Interior, as well as both the police quarterly, ‘Al Jawda’ quarterly, ‘Al General Khalil Dawood Badran, Director The Comprehensive Police Stations’ Major General Matar Salem bin officers. command and society, especially after Addilah Ajjina’ya’ magazine, and General of Finance and Services in Abu the specific leaps made by the magazine ‘Ashurtah Annisa’ya’ quarterly, calling Dhabi Police and Chairman of the 999 to cope with the march of excellence at on the magazine’s team to pursue their Magazine Development Committee, to Al Hadidi sponsors educational celebration in Al Dhaid the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi efforts and welcoming any suggestion or achieve the magazine’s slogan of building Council; Mohammed Diab Al Mousa, Police General Headquarters. proposals from their part in this area. and reinforcing a new concept of the Adviser at the Ruler’s Court; Rashid Al Badran stressed the importance On his part, and on behalf of the relationship between police and the Mahaan, Chairman of students’ Parents of issuing the English and children 999 magazine staff, Lt Colonel Awadh community. Council; Dr Ali Al Tunaiji, Deputy Chairman of students’ Parents Council; Mohammed Ali Saif Alkhassoni, Head RAK Police chief meets student delegation of Maliha Local Council; Sultan Matar bin Dalmouk, Chairman of Sharjah Development in Al Khaimah Police explained the Foundation for the Holy Quran and Ras Al Khaimah importance of adhering to regulations Sunnah, members of the Advisory Board last month. and law, taking advantage of all the and municipal councils in the Emirate He programmes and activities offered to of Sharjah, the elite of the central region, complimented the students by the society, developing directors of government departments the organisers their talents and honing their skills and schools, parents and the honoured of the summer to be useful for their scientific and students. camp, and practical lives. Al Hadidi, accompanied by Al appreciated At the end of the visit, the Summer Mahaan, Dr Al Sueji, Al Kaabi and Dr the students’ Centre students toured the departments Al Tunaiji delivered the certificates of keenness on of the General Headquarters of Ras Al major generaL Humaid Top students from different grades, merit and gifts to the winners of Rashid spending Khaimah Police and the Operations Mohammed Al Hadidi, Commander-in- from Grade 1 to 11, were also honoured Al Mahaan Scientific Excellence Award, their summer Room, where they got acquainted with Chief of Sharjah Police, sponsored the within the framework of the council and honoured the top students of each vacations in a the nature of work at the Operations celebrations organised by the students’ and the Rashid Al Mahaan Awards for grade in both boys and girls schools. major generaL Sheikh Talib bin way that is constructive, thus saving Room, its role in receiving complaints Parents Council in the central region academic excellence. Former and current chairpersons of Saqr Al Qasimi, Commander-in-Chief them from bad company and the and its direction of police patrols to the in Al Dhaid, held to honour council The celebration was attended by parents’ councils, Sharjah Education of Ras Al Khaimah Police, met with a various hazards they could have gotten incident’s location in the shortest time partners and other bodies cooperating Saeed Al Kaabi, Director of Sharjah Council, Sharjah Educational delegation comprising 30 students from exposed to due to their long leisure to take control of the situation and take to render its programmes and objectives Educational Zone; Abdullah Al Sueji, Directorate and Etisalat Foundation the first summer camp of The Reform time. the appropriate action according to the for the academic year 2011-2012. Chairman of Sharjah Education were also honoured. Society for Social, Cultural and Sport The Commander-in-Chief of Ras nature of the complaint.

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4-12 news AUG2012.indd 10 7/26/12 5:26 PM 4-12 news AUG2012.indd 11 7/26/12 5:26 PM Security And Safety For All news facts & figures Security And Safety For All Dhahi heads Police Commands Council meeting 2.5 The weight of trucks, in tonnes, that are prohibited by the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police to enter the city of Abu Dhabi during the peak hours of Ramadan from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to ensure a seamless flow of traffic in the city.

“We urge the community members to cooperate 1 with the police in its efforts to safeguard lives and UAE’s ranking in the Arab world in suppressing crimes property, and not to disrupt the spirituality of the related to software piracy, according to a report of Holy Month of Ramadan. The police, through its computer software producers for 2011. The country is The PoLice Security Media Department at the General Commands Council Tamim, the Dubai Police Commander- Department at the Ministry of Interior. among top 20 internationally. held a meeting at the Dubai Police in-Chief. During the meeting, Lt Gen The Council, a body launched by the Secretariat of the Office of His Highness, Deputy Headquarters to evaluate security work Dhahi reviewed the Ministry of Interior’s Minister of Interior to enhance work Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has prepared in the UAE. strategy to fight crime. between the different police departments an awareness initiative for Ramadan, in line with its The monthly board meeting of the The meeting was attended by in the country, meets at least once previously launched media campaign that includes Council of Police Commands was chaired Major General Khamis Saif Bin Swaif, every month, or at any other time at the security and traffic awareness initiatives under the by His Excellency Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Director General of Criminal Security invitation of its President. 19.5% theme ‘Your Safety.’” The drop in the number of casualties due to run- Major General, Muhammed bin Al Awadi Al Menhali, Director General of Police Alwan honours woman civil servant in Ajman Police over accidents in the during Operations in Abu Dhabi Police The magazine offered guidance on attracted children. the first half of this year compared to the same how people, especially children, can Brigadier Alwan awarded Fatima period in 2011. The statistics of the Traffic and adhere to traffic rules and regulations, Al Kamali an award and a certificate Patrols Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police indicate a the golden rule of riding a bus, and of appreciation, wishing her further decrease from 41 to 33 deaths. the interpretation of traffic signs in the progress in her career. streets. On her part, Al Kamali expressed The Traffic and Patrols Department of her gratitude to the Commander-in- the Ministry distributed the magazine Chief of Ajman Police, and the General to the public at shopping malls and to Directorate of Traffic Coordination in students in schools across the UAE. the Ministry of Interior for the honour, 12 It was well received by both children which she said contributes to raising The number of languages the Tourism guide is published Brigadier aLi Abdullah Alwan, and their parents for the valuable the morale of police staff and is a real in by Abu Dhabi Police explaining the guidelines of Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police, information it included in a format that incentive for boosting productivity. tourism ethics and morals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. honoured civil servant Fatima Ahmed The guide contributes to raise the level of culture and Al Kamali of Police Training Institute in Al Kaabi Stresses the Importance of “Our Properties … knowledge of the country’s traditions and customs in Ajman Police. Our Responsibility” order to develop the concepts of tourism and spread Al Kamali was commended for her The General Headquarters of Al Fujairah complements the General Headquarters’ awareness and culture of tourism. “Abu Dhabi Police is working to increase traffic cooperation with the traffic coordination Police participated in the ‘Our Properties objectives to spread awareness among awareness and change the bad habit of crossing the ... Our Responsibility’ campaign adopted the public, counsel them on the need to team of the Ministry of Interior by way by the Ministry of Interior through the keep their properties safe, and enhance road at non-designated locations. The culture of of editing, designing and directing the Federal Community Police Department. security. respecting the road users’ rights represents a ‘Entertain Yourself with Waei’ magazine, Brigadier Mohammed Ahmed bin Brigadier Al Kaabi addressed the mutual social responsibility between motorists and issued for Gulf Traffic Week-2012, under Ghanem Al Kaabi, Commander-in-Chief public, confirming the relentless efforts of of Fujairah Police, said this campaign Fujairah Police to help people protect and 52,703 pedestrians alike. Traffic laws and regulations aim to the motto of ‘Let’s Work Together to underscores the keenness of Fujairah preserve their properties. He called on maintain people’s lives and safety when using roads. Limit Traffic Accidents’. Police to ensure safety and security of them not to hesitate to call the police on The number of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Motorists should slow down near pedestrian lanes citizens and residents in the Emirate, ‘999’ in case they need help, urging the The magazine, distributed at all police certificates of good conduct so far given by each Dubai headquarters in the UAE, included and to protect them from anyone police staff to swiftly respond to any such in industrial and residential areas, and near malls, who attempts to encroach on others’ call and to be earnest in their efforts to police stations. Following the linkage of all residents’ and give pedestrians priority to cross.” tips and counsel in an entertaining and properties. ensure security for each and every citizen fingerprints to all police stations in Dubai, the certificate objective way, targeting children of all He added that this campaign and resident of Fujairah. has become easier to obtain. Lieutenant Colonel Jamal Salem Al Ameri, Head of Public Relations at the ages. Directorate of Traffic and Patrols

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ExcEllEncE HonourEd Major General Nasser Lakhreibani Al The UAE’s Ministry of Interior is continuously Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of HH the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior undertaking strategic initiatives for achieving excellence at all levels

ear after year, the Ministry of Interior receives The Ministry has also shown deep concern in prestigious awards for its success and developing the skill-levels of its staff, enabling them to excellence, derived from the directives of Lt effectively participate in the development process. YGeneral HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Besides, the Ministry has provided direct Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. communication channels between all administrative Sheikh Saif’s directive to the Ministry’s staff in levels, and shown appreciation to its staff’s efforts implementing innovative ideas in advancing policing through performance-recognition systems such as to the highest levels help develop the services offered honouring commitment and promoting top-performers. by the Ministry. This eventually helps achieve public Further, the Ministry has been focusing on forging satisfaction and boosts people’s confidence in the relationships with local, regional and international Ministry’s services. partners. The Ministry’s interest in upgrading IT has When building teams, we always seek our leadership’s played an important role in building a broad base of mandate and learn from their experience, skills and knowledge that has contributed to supporting decision- knowledge, thus helping such teams reach peak makers and exploiting information and data to promote performance. innovative thinking. The Emirati police force has The feedback received from the overcome great challenges and public and the Ministry’s partners proven that policing has become Achieving excellence has also formed the basis of the a science, an art and a criterion is not an easy task, changes incorporated into the for the progress of nations. We as we implement the Ministry’s operations. are proud of the excellence and Achieving excellence is not an accomplishments of our police. Ministry of Interior’s easy task, as we implement the The Ministry has undertaken strategy for promoting Ministry of Interior’s strategy for strategic initiatives for achieving security services to the promoting security services to the excellence and enhancing highest level highest level. There is no doubt performance of all its departments, that we will continue to face a lot which is reflected in the improvement of its services. of challenges in our march towards excellence. This has been achieved thanks to the police We have managed to overcome such challenges commands’ commitment to a clear and ambitious in the past, and will continue to do so in the future vision, and effective institutional values, in addition to its through patience and focus on spreading the culture of concerted efforts to develop work systems and provide a change through regular training courses, seminars and conducive environment for innovation and excellence. workshops. The Ministry’s comprehensive development strategy Upon the directives of Lt General HH Sheikh Saif bin takes into consideration the needs and obligations of Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of all the departments, a regular review of their objectives Interior, we pursue our efforts to boost policing, promote and policies, and clarity of those plans for the entire services offered to the public and achieve further workforce. excellence.

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RamadanOf faith and fasting By Nusrat Khalil

In order to gaIn a better InsIght Into the world’s second-largest relIgIon, thIs comprehensIve artIcle wIll help non-muslIms In the uae understand what ramadan Is all about

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and actions will be multiplied greater Ramadan should be all about respecting than usual and this encourages many to the local culture and traditions. increase their level of prayers. The month of Ramadan is a happy and While it is a period of piety and fasting magical occasion; it is the month that the for Muslims, it is a period of being Muslim holy book, the Holy Qur’an, was considerate and compassionate for revealed to Prophet (PBUH). non-Muslims. Being in a Muslim country RAMADAN ETIQUETTE: Muslims are called by their religion to during Ramadan is a unique experience. celebrate the month by coming together Remember that you are a guest and DOS AND DON’TS in worship and, from dawn until sunset, respect local customs, and you should nO eating Or drinking in public: All fasting for the 30-day period. have a very enjoyable experience. adult Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset While this may seem like a tremendous during Ramadan. While non-Muslims are not During the 30 days of Ramadan, all feat to non-Muslims, consider this: expected to fast, out of courtesy, avoid Muslim adults are expected to observe a eating or drinking around people that are Fasting while working is an even greater fasting period during daylight hours. For fasting. This also includes not chewing gum endeavour. And while it may seem non-Muslims in the UAE, across the region and not smoking. Some restaurants are impossible to survive even a few hours and around the world, the 30 days of open during Ramadan, but the area is without eating or drinking in this region’s usually cordoned off, away from public view. Consume the food within the confines of the restaurant or food court. Also remember WAYS YOU CAN MAKE THE WORKPLACE A HAPPIER PLACE that, in the UAE (as in other Gulf countries), FOR YOUR MUSLIM COLLEAGUES eating, drinking and smoking in public Ramadan provides a 5 during daylight hours is illegal. be patient: Do not get into arguments unique opportunity to greeting: The next time you find yourself in the with those who are fasting; be patient and the UAE’s non-Muslim elevator with your Muslim colleagues, feel free to show consideration for the long hours of wish them ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ or ‘Ramadan fasting. Avoid driving during sunset (iftar expats to experience Kareem.’ It is a nice gesture that says that you are time), as Muslims might be anxious to reach the traditional culture happy about the celebrations. their destination in order to break their pOsitive reinfOrcement: Never, even for a day-long fast, and sometimes may even be and Islamic rituals moment, think that Muslims fast reluctantly or are driving fast and/or rash. Give way on the which are normally unhappy about it. On the contrary, it is an road if you must drive around sunset. you’re new to the UAE or aren’t UAE’s local populace, but also of the extremely joyous occasion for them. In fact, they dress mOdestly: Dress and behave not found in their wait for this month the whole year, so you don’t If aware of its rich local culture and entire Muslim world. have to feel sorry for them. modestly, avoiding animated behaviour that cultures traditions, Ramadan is a golden period for For millions of Muslims in the UAE and lunch meetings: Avoid working lunches could cause offence. Avoid going to public Not having the places like shopping centres and parks in doing so. billions around the world, the advent of during Ramadan. Non-Muslims are not expected excruciating summer heat, this year the luxuries of life makes to fast, but when you do eat, don’t do it at your shorts, mini-skirts or sleeveless outfits. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic the holy month of Ramadan signals the desks, or in view of those who are fasting. The Dressing indecently in public or using fasting period will last for close to 15 hours calendar and the month to earn Almighty start of a period of reflection, humility and it easier to reflect on pantry is a good place to eat – that’s the last place abusive language is a crime punishable by per day. And every able and adult Muslim Allah’s greater blessings and acceptance of fasting between sunrise and sunset. a fasting Muslim will visit. Also, while at the law at all times, but during Ramadan, will spend these 15 or so hours without life and be grateful subject, avoid smelly foods, in some ways, that’s of prayers, is just around the corner. For all Muslims, it is a special month of sensitivities on these issues grow. a drop of water or a crumb of bread – for what we do have. even worse than eating around people that are turn it dOwn: As Muslims do not listen It is a time when Muslims introduce fasting, repentance, increased prayer and fasting, as the strong smell stays around for a long for each and every of the 30 days of to loud music during the Holy month, turn practices in their lives to reflect their increased charity. Muslims use this time. Ramadan. cOver yOur cOffee mug: While it may be not yours down. Muslims should also be religious identity. It is a good time to start The reason Muslims fast is to discipline month to start afresh be always possible to have your coffee in the abstaining from listening to gossip, having The word Ramadan is derived from and try to implement change in life and their body and mind. The absence of and give their life a pantry, especially if you drink more than a couple blameworthy thoughts (e.g. foul language, ‘arramda’ which means intense heat, spend more time in prayers. food, drinks and other pleasures provide of mugs of coffee or tea, please cover your mugs vain talk, hurtful behaviour) and being unfair dryness, scorched ground. This month, new direction while you place it on your table, and sip it to others, so non-Muslims should be aware Understanding different cultures and a perfect opportunity to concentrate called the ‘Month of Allah’, brings people discreetly. of this and not provoke them. values engenders tolerance and peace. on prayer and worship. Not having the recognise how the proverty-stricken and iftar dinner: Consider holding a Ramadan cOnnect culturally: Since cultural closer as they forgive each other, In an increasingly multi-cultural world, it is luxuries of life makes it easier to reflect on starving people in the world live their Iftar dinner. This will be a nice gesture for Muslim consciousness is high during the month, keep patience, forge new and positive co-workers and will give others the opportunity to imperative that we try and understand the life and be grateful for what we do have. lives. In this blessed month, ordained by learn about and partake in Ramadan festivities. Ramadan is a good time to connect with the relationships and treat each other with belief systems and values of others. Muslims use this month to start afresh and Allah, Satan and his minions are locked Although there is no specific type of meal local and Muslim cultural scene by attending greater respect. Fasting is meant to the various events, as well as trying local The holy month of Ramadan is give their life a new direction. to prevent them from misleading and designated for iftars, it is tradition to break the fast conquer anger and develop self-control. with a sweet and refreshing date before moving to and regional cuisine that is popular during the perfect time for non-Muslims to Ramadan is also a time to think deceiving believers. Allah has promised a full-on dinner. the month of fasting. When a Muslim observes fast, all his comprehend not just the values of the about the less fortunate and needy and Muslims that the reward for good deeds senses – eyes, ears, tongue, hands and

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THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

shahadah: Declaration of faith siyam: Fasting during Ramadan is 1 4 obligatory for all adult Muslims except 2 salah: Daily (five) prayers those who are exempt Zakat: Purification of wealth (2.5 per cent 5 hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah – 3 of annual savings go to the poor). Zakah is obligatory once in a lifetime for those an word, root “zaka” means to grow, who are physically and financially able to increase, or to be pure in heart

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES OF Hotel chains have also been asked to issue etiquette guidelines to guests, RAMADAN especially non-Muslims, visiting the sahOOr: Light meal before dawn and country from other parts of the world. the first prayer of the day Even though authorities in the country undertake awareness campaigns before iftar: Breaking of the fast at sunset and during the Holy month of Ramadan for (coincides with Maghrib, the fourth daily prayer) residents and tourists on how to conduct themselves during this period, it is also the feet carry out the same exercise. The most The sleep of a fasting person is worship, to fast, they are expected to respect the Ziarat: Social gatherings (e.g.: visiting responsibility of non-Muslim to make an important consideration in undertaking a his prayers are answered and his good fact that many others are not eating and relatives, sharing food with neighbours, effort to understand the dos and don’ts. fast, as in any act of devotion, is to seek deeds are multiplied. The prayer of a drinking; so they should avoid eating or friends and the poor) Simple things like dressing modestly, nearness to Allah, and seek His grace and fasting person at the time of Iftar is never drinking around people that are fasting. tarawih: Optional prayers in the not involving your Muslim friends in gossip forgiveness. This in itself generates a spirit rejected. No eating and drinking also means no evening, immediately after fifth prayer and not listening to loud music during iftar of piety in the human being. Fasting leaves a positive impact on smoking in public places. time (the time to break the day-long fast) It is obligatory for the entire for the the economy of the individual, as he is In the UAE (as in the rest of the Muslim Qira’at: Reading of the Qur’an during should be followed, as they go a long way entire Muslim Ummah around the world less wasteful on food and meals. On the world), public sector firms and government free time in making it slightly easy for them. to fast during this month. The obligation physical side, fasting cleanses the human departments reduce their operating hours Qiam: Optional late night prayers in the Non-Muslims should be aware of of fast is directed to all Muslims at its system of the accumulated impurities of during the day while employees in the last 10 days meetings that may run late and, where prescribed time, during the month of uninterrupted eating throughout the rest private sector see their working hours possible, reschedule to allow Muslim Ramadan, under any circumstances. of the year. It prepares the body to face decreased from eight to six hours with no colleagues to break their fast. However, those who have legal and diseases or conditions of scarcity. impact on salary. tourism and entertainment, etc., where and the Departments of Economic Ramadan is a time for community and genuine excuse like serious illness, It is expected of Non-Muslims to respect Like previous years, government observance of timings tops the priority list. Development (DED) are assigned to visit charity. Throughout it all, Muslims maintain unconsciousness, ritually impure (in the the changes fellow Muslims have to make bodies have implemented their measures Government departments and official markets across the country on a daily an ambiance of joy and gratitude for all case of women such as menstruating to their everyday lives over the 30-day to facilitate Muslims and non-Muslims entities would ensure to keep food prices basis during Ramadan to ensure retailers that God has blessed us with, and reflect ladies and those having post-natal period, and several broad guidelines accordingly across the UAE by issuing under control during this month. There and traders are not raising prices. on those in this world who have been bleeding) may observe it at a later time are offered to non-Muslims about how instructions to all sectors dealing, directly are some measures to bring the prices of Restaurants, fast food outlets and given much less. This is a time for all of us when they are in sound health. to conduct themselves during the Holy or indirectly, with the daily affairs of a number of food items down to facilitate beverage shops have been directed to – not just Muslims – to renew our spiritual In the month of Ramadan, every act month. general public. These sectors include residents. remain shut during the fasting time (from intentions, increase our knowledge, and of Muslims observing fast is counted. While non-Muslims are not expected transport, retail outlets, hospitality, Inspectors from the Ministry of Economy dawn to sunset). change ourselves for the better.

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Make the most RAMADAn RECiPES The usual tendency is to fi ll up supermarket carts with processed food and wolf them down after sunset. But rather than eat food fi lled with chemical preservatives – defeats the point of detox, does it not? – try making some yum dishes at home. Why are these good for Ramadan? Because they are easy to make, with healthy of Ramadan ingredients, and very tasty, making iftar or later meals doubly welcome. SouRCE: www.ALLRECiPES.CoM The hOLY mOnTh Of fasTing has sTarTed. BuT dO COOKIES onto the prepared broiling pan. Broil for 5 minutes, YOu knOw everYThing YOu shOuLd aBOuT YOur Ingredients then turn the skewers over, and continue broiling until BOdY? here is whaT YOu need TO feeL aT YOur BesT 1 cup butter no longer pink in the centre, about 5 minutes more. 1 cup shortening (hydrogenated What vegetable oil) ALMOND SHERBET y now, you are well into Ramadan 1 cup shredded Ingredients What about people with high or low Are regular medication allowed for coconut 2 cups milk happens to and fasting daily. This ritual, which blood pressure? fasting? 4 cups rolled oats 2 tbsp heavy cream is a form of physical and spiritual Those with controlled high blood pressure If the medication is part of a temporary 2 cups white (or 1 cup fi nely ground almonds detoxification, should leave you brown) sugar ½ cup confectioners’ sugar can fast, again with a possible change in the treatment, skip the fast now and compen- 4 cups 2 tbsp rosewater your body Bfeeling fitter and lighter if you do it right. dosage of medicine. Someone who has low sate later when you recover. If you are on all-purpose Directions: Combine the milk, cream, ground almonds, But could it be that despite correctly blood pressure but is generally fit can also long-term medication, consult the doctor fl our confectioners’ sugar and rosewater in a blender, and following all the Ramadan dietary advice 2 tsp baking powder blend until thoroughly mixed and smooth, about 1 when you fast. However, they must ensure that they about changing the time of taking the 1 tsp baking soda minute. Serve over ice. (eating the permitted meals at regular take in enough salt along with a generous medicine to allow for the fasting. 1 tsp salt intervals, eating fluid-filled fruits, avoiding amount of fluids. 1 cup boiling water fast? fries, etc.), you are left feeling unwell? What if someone is close to fainting from Directions: Set aside boiled water and cool until CUCUMBER & TOMATO SALAD dehydration? lukewarm. Mix butter, shortening, coconut, oats, Ingredients Fasting on a certain day of the week has long been Possibly, you have a condition that you have Does a pregnant woman have to fast? sugar, fl our, baking powder, baking soda and salt 1 tomato, chopped acknowledged as an effective way to detox. This is a not factored in – this could mean anything If the woman feels strong and healthy, Islam does not require you to harm yourself with fi ngers until dough reaches the consistency of 1 cucumber, seeded and chopped day of rest for the body, and it can use the time to from diabetes and high/low blood pressure especially during the early part of pregnancy, by trying to observe roza. If the fast is pie crust. Add lukewarm water and work into dough. ¼ cup thinly sliced red to pregnancy. If you have not taken care of broken, it will need to be compensated for Make dough into one inch balls. Flatten with a fork onion purge toxins without being forced to constantly she may do so. If she begins feeling unwell, or fancy-bottomed glass for imprint. Place on ¼ cup canned kidney handle more food coming in. this already, do so immediately, with almost at a later date. If you feel disoriented and greased cookie sheets and bake at 400O Fahrenheit Islamic law permits her to not fast, and to beans, drained In the initial days of your Ramadan fast, you might three more weeks to go before Eid. Here is confused, or faint due to dehydration, have (205O Celsius) for 10 minutes. ¼ cup diced fi rm tofu make up for it by fasting later. If she is fi nd that around the time of sunset, your tongue feels some advice put together by medical a drink of water or other fluid. 2 tbsp chopped fresh unable to do this, she must perform fidyah basil coated and your mind a bit foggy. This disappears as experts and Islamic scholars and research- (an act of compensation). ¼ cup balsamic you establish a routine and the body learns to expect ers. vinaigrette salad food at a certain time (iftar). The fi rst few days of dressing And a breastfeeding woman? fasting have different effects on different people – How does fasting affect diabetes? salt and pepper to taste Islamic law says a breastfeeding mother Directions: In a large those who have high metabolism fi nd it diffi cult Fasting is okay if your diabetes is under DiD you does not have to fast. She can fast later or bowl, combine the before the body makes the necessary adjustments; control. But the dose of the medication may tomato, cucumber, red perform fidyahonce breastfeeding has those with slow metabolism cope quite well. For both have to be changed during non-fasting onion, kidney beans, tofu and basil. Just before stopped. know? serving, toss with balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, groups, the digestive system gets a chance to hours, as per the doctor’s advice. Taking an Nowadays Ramadan falls in late summer. But and season with salt and pepper. function more effi ciently during controlled fasting. insulin injection does not break the fast, Is an asthma inhaler permitted during over time it will go back to occurring in winters. According to a post on www.mysticmedicine.com: but those who need to take insulin tablets Ramadan? This is because Ramadan is the ninth month of BEAN PIE “What happens during a fast is quite predictable. are advised against fasting. Though some Islamic experts differ on this. Some believe the lunar Hijri calendar and it is shorter than the KEBAB MASSALAM Ingredients Some people worry that they fi nd their blood scholars disagree, in general, injections, that using an asthma inhaler is not the Gregorian calendar. Each year, Ramadan falls 11 Ingredients 2 deep-dish prepared pie crusts (optional) cholesterol levels and uric acid levels rise during the patches, eardrops and eyedrops do not days earlier than the previous year. In 2003, ½ kg ground lamb 500 gm navy beans (haricot), rinsed and drained fast, but this temporary rise returns back to normal, same as eating or drinking, and is therefore 2 cloves garlic, minced break the fast as they are not considered to Ramadan began on October 28. Nine years on, in 400 ml evaporated milk or lower, shortly after the completion of the fast. ESR permitted during fasting anytime the 2 green Thai chilli peppers, fi nely chopped ½ cup butter, melted 2012, Ramadan has begun on July 21. So, after be food and drink. person needs it. Others say that the inhaler 1 onion, chopped 1 tsp ground cinnamon levels, a marker for infl ammation in the body, tends about a decade from now, you could look forward 2 tbsp coriander seeds, crushed to decrease during the course of a fast.” pushes small amounts of liquid medicine 1 tsp grated nutmeg to spending several Ramadan months in the 2 tbsp plain yogurt 2 tbsp all-purpose fl our The worst thing to do during Ramadan is to into the lungs, so it breaks the fast. This ½ tsp ground turmeric cooler season. 2½ cups white (or brown) sugar pounce on a huge iftar meal and then promptly go to latter group suggests that people should 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp vanilla extract sleep without any physical activity. Keep iftar small start fasting only when they achieve good 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 2 inch 2 eggs pieces 2 egg yolks and then follow it up with one or two more small control of their asthma. Consult a doctor if 1 tsp salt Directions: Preheat oven to 450O Fahrenheit (230O meals to let the body know that it is okay to spend 5 (6 inch) bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 20 you are fasting and not feeling well. Celsius). Place pie crusts into 9-inch pie dishes. In a the calories, both to burn fat and provide energy. In Longer-acting inhalers and some lifestyle minutes food processor, place the beans, evaporated milk, Directions: Preheat the oven’s broiler (heat source) melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, fl our, sugar, vanilla the Ramadan meals, take in omega-3 fatty acids – precautions can reduce difficulties. and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the extract, eggs and egg yolks. Pulse the mixture a few found in fi sh and some other foods (fl ax seeds, source. Lightly grease a broiling pan. Mix together times, then process until smooth, about 1 minute. walnuts) – to replace the bad fat being melted the lamb, garlic, chilli peppers, onion, coriander, Is it okay to swim during fasting? Pour the fi lling into the prepared pie crusts. Bake for during the fast. Avoid refi ned foods such as soda, yogurt, turmeric, lemon juice and salt with your 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350O Fahrenheit Yes, but do not drink the water. A swim is hands until well mixed. Roll the mixture into 15 (175O Celsius) and bake until the fi lling is set and the sweets, white bread, potato chips etc. After every like a bath or a shower, and is permitted meatballs. Thread 3 meatballs onto each skewer, crust is golden brown, an additional 35 minutes. Cool meal, exercise a little bit; not a gym workout, but a during fasting as long as no water is separating with chunks of red bell pepper. Place before slicing. Eat warm or cold. short walk, or some household work. swallowed.

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Ramadan, the month of Piety and PRayeR Maysa Rashed is a prominent UAE writer Authorities granting permits for Ramadan tents should take interested in local affairs and a former member of the Federal National Council (FNC) steps to ensure such tents don’t turn into licensed nightclubs

e would like to congratulate the readers request for a drink or food, and other things that may exist of 999 on the advent of the holy month of throughout the year in the country, but under the cover Ramadan. May God help us all in fasting and in specific places. Wits day and preserving its night prayer, and Such tents make us wonder about the role of accept our good deeds. government bodies in their supervision after granting them As our souls yearn for doing more good deeds, we licences. Are they allowed to do anything they wish to until eagerly await this month every year. This is especially the wee hours of the morning? In other words, are they true in the UAE, a country known for its distinct Ramadan allowed to violate the sanctity of this holy month for money events and activities that attract the faithful from not only and nothing else? And is it sensible for us to keep silent within the country, but also from overseas. about this? How can we justify our silence on this matter? The Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award, religious As the youth visit such Ramadan tents in huge and scientific lectures hosted by the Rulers and Crown numbers year after year, we fear that they may abandon Princes in their councils, the charitable Ramadan tables the Ramadan councils and assemblies. The Ramadan spread across the country to feed the needy, and the congregations, which we follow through media coverage, congregation of citizens that become cultural forums for raise issues that are of interest to citizens and residents, the people of the neighbourhoods, these are all activities and such gatherings often turn into more of intellectual that we love and which do no conflict with our duties and social forums where different generations of people during this holy month. meet and exchange ideas. Ramadan is a month of What is happening in some piousness and worship, as well as Ramadan tents may not only surprise of kinship and communication. Certain practices taking the conservative Emirati families, However, what is happening place inside some but also non-Muslim foreigners, who nowadays makes us feel that Ramadan tents are not believe that people avoid taboo and some of us may be crossing our trivial pastime during this month. limits during this holy month. up to the sanctity of The reality they see in such tents is We see Ramadan tents sprung this holy month or the contrary to their expectations. all over the UAE, in hotels and customs, traditions and Putting an end to the public places. Some of these have constants of this country transgressions in those tents is the become places of corruption as responsibility of the government certain practices taking place bodies that grant them permits. inside such tents are not up to the sanctity of this holy They must prevent such abuses and bring the month or the customs, traditions and constants of this organisers of those tents back to their righteousness. country. We are not against the meeting and gathering of Such places feature noisy songs, repulsive bilateral families in Ramadan tents, cafés and restaurants, but this and group gatherings, and with smoke overwhelming should be done without violating the dignity and sanctity the place. The organisers of such events also indulge in of the holy month of Ramadan. A Ramadan tent should not profiteering through the high entry fees that precede any look like a nightclub!

The views expressed by 999 columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ministry of Interior (MoI)

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Speeding topS the liSt of the main cauSeS of road accidentS in the uae. traffic authoritieS acroSS the country are cracking down hard on Speeding vehicleS to Stem the flow of blood on the StreetS

es, you’ve read it this issue, with 97 per cent of respondents of “We need to educate people, especially right. Speeding is all ages confirming their knowledge of traffic younger generations, about the dangers of the single biggest penalties. Still, reigning in speeding drivers speeding,” he added. traffic safety seems to be elusive. To help end this problem, respondents concern for the In June this year, two people died and 23 believe the increased use of unmarked UAE’s travelling were injured in nine accidents on Dubai’s vehicles to detect road offenders would public, according roads, all in the matter of just one week. be a good idea. While two in three (66 to 999 Magazine’s It was no less than the Commander-in- per cent) said such measures were fair, a national driving Chief of Dubai Police, Lt General Dhahi majority (56 per cent) favour an increase in survey. Khalfan Tamim, who brought up the necessity the use of the same. The study, which polled 1,350 respondents of eradicating this menace. across the country, found that even as 68 “Speeding is the most dangerous Brake point per cent of respondents consider road travel behaviour on the road and is the biggest Most city roads in the UAE are a pleasure in the UAE relatively safe, they welcome the challenge for achieving our objective,” he to drive on, during off-peak hours. Some idea of increased use of unmarked police said, while launching a Dubai Police initiative motorists – who, let us say, are less vehicles to curb down instances of breaking to bring the number of fatalities on Dubai’s responsible individuals – find pleasure the speed limits on UAE roads. roads down to zero by the year 2020. stepping on the accelerator as hard as General carelessness remains the watch No. 2 concern, followed by drink-driving, Uae roads getting safer rubbernecking (insufficient distance between Overall, around the country, police efforts have been paying off. Data vehicles), and jumping of red signals. from the General Directorate of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of Inconsiderate turning is at No. 6 on Interior show a decline in road fatalities in 2011 by 12.8 per cent the list, followed by loss of control due to compared to the year before. In 2010, there were 826 fatalities, while tyre blowouts, and not using proper child in 2011 the figure was 720. During this period, collision and crash accidents declined by 11.6 restraints or seatbelts. per cent; the number of cases of overturned vehicles decreased more out for the The consequences of speeding are than 20 per cent; and car accidents involving pedestrians fell by 8.6 fatal, so much so that the UAE continuously per cent. increases the number of fixed and mobile Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director General of Traffic Coordination, Ministry of Interior, attributed this to the implementation speed-traps or cameras on the roads in an of the strategy to improve road safety. attempt to reduce accidents. The strategy encompasses aspects such as raising awareness, traffic and road engineering, Speed limits on some of the more vehicle safety, monitoring and legislation, enforcing laws, ambulance services, enhancing partnership with the government institutions related to traffic safety, applying the traffic points dangerous highways in the country were system, and impounding vehicles in case of serious violations. also reduced, in addition to the aggressive “Traffic offences and accidents, and the consequent injuries and fatalities, are the natural fallout nationwide marketing campaign against of the increasing density of vehicles on the road,” Al Zaabi said. “The increase in the number of speeding. accidents is closely related to the increase in population and urban expansion in the country.” Putting checks on speeding, therefore, is not just a technological and logistical challenge, but also As well, the poll found the problem is not By Karen a human development challenge for the authorities. remo-Listana a lack of awareness of the laws governing and aniL Kumar limit26 999 Security and Safety for all AUGUST 2012 AUGUST 2012 999 Security and Safety for all 27

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them aware of the tragic consequences of a hoW fair or unfair WoulD it Be for a Driver to have his or her reckless joyride. very Safe – 28% These numbers show how the rate of traffic offenDinG DetecteD By an unmarkeD police car? road mishaps fell between 2010 and 2011, fairly Safe – 40% roaD travel in the uae is as a result of increased police vigilance and awareness campaigns. (See box) fairly unSafe – 24% With the exception of certain roads, the very fair – 20% speed limits in the UAE are generally as very unSafe – 8% follows: for small suburban streets, it is radar “sniper” on highways between Abu fair – 46% 40kph; on main roads (not highways) 60- Dhabi and Dubai, and Tarif. With such a 80kph; and on highways, 100-120kph. large number of offenders in just one month, unfair – 31% Other emirates are cracking down, too. In the question is: are all of them violating the Dubai, key junctions are monitored by 235 rules deliberately, or is it that they only have a very unfair – 3% cameras and the camera feed shows up on hazy notion about speed limits? 27 screens at the Bani Yas Traffi c Control In a recent incident, a sophisticated new Centre, said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the speed radar in Abu Dhabi caught two cars board and Executive Director of the Dubai zooming at over 200kph, with one of them Undercover and ordinary Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in crossing 240kph, a traffic offence that is patrol cars are provided March 2012. punishable with a whopping Dh2,000 fine, 12 with radars to spot In Sharjah, police statistics for the fi rst black points and confiscation of the vehicle violators. These radars quarter of 2012 showed an almost 14 per for a month. survey the surrounding cent drop year-on-year in traffi c accident Authorities are studying the move to lower area in a 360-degree deaths, thanks to the expansion of the fi xed possible. So, it is quite common to see of all road users. He also warned motorists the ‘buffer,’ which allows drivers to exceed sweep, detecting any and mobile radar network, and the police’s cars rushing past each other on major that the new ‘hunter’ radars were capable of speed limit by a small margin. As of now, speeding off enders fi eld campaign to educate motorists. thoroughfares as if there is a Formula One spotting all kinds of offences. going in either direction. The Haseb Safety Campaign of the RTA, the title waiting at the other end. fi rst phase of which was launched three years Brigadier engineer Hussain al Harthi Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi The number of deaths and injuries being did yoU know? ago, aims to educate the public in general and caused by speeding-related accidents has Speed limit signs are usually posted just after Do you favor the motorists are able to exceed the limit by reaCHing oUt road users in particular on the importance of already come under the official scanner. a speed camera. Cameras in Dubai take increaseD use of 20kph without penalty; the new rules would Perhaps not everyone is aware of the reach complying with safety regulations. Excessive In line with this, Abu Dhabi is adopting a photos as you drive towards them, but in penalise speeding above 10 per cent of the of the police equipment and, therefore, feel speed is associated with serious traffi c reaching out policy. Abu Dhabi, they click after you have driven unmarkeD police cars? limit. bold enough to go as fast as they want. To off ences such as leaving less than a safe Brigadier Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al past them. In Dubai, steps against traffi c rule violators deal with this, the police forces across the distance between vehicles, lane changing Harthi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Traffic Notwithstanding the efforts being made have become more stringent, resulting in country are reaching out. without indicating and jumping the red light. and Patrols Directorate, says stopping and the results they are showing, there is fewer fatalities – 27 in the fi rst quarter of On one hand, offi cials have warned of yeS – 56% tHeSe nuMBerS SHoW HoW tHe rate of unnecessary accidents on the country’s still the matter of basic awareness to be 2012, compared to 33 in the same period in strict action against drivers who endanger the road MiSHaPS fell BetWeen 2010 and 2011, roads is a shared responsibility of the police addressed. 2011 – said the Police Traffi c Department of lives of other road users, besides their own; aS a reSult of increaSed Police ViGilance and the public. In June last year, 3,389 no – 44% the emirate. on the other hand, the police are carrying and aWareneSS caMPaiGnS. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, spokesperson speeding violations were With the police authorities investing in out awareness campaigns and encouraging CRASH/COLLISION OVERTURNED VEHICLE for the Road Safety Campaign of Health recorded on the highly advanced equipment, no merry family members of road accident victims Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and BP Ford mobile motorist can escape the long arm of the law. to speak to young vehicle users, making Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver, agreed with the need to curb the wild streak in so many UAE motorists. aWareness that police authorities use unmarkeD vehicles “As a rally driver, I like going fast. But the to Detect offenDinG on the roaDs right place for that is the track, not the street,” 4,521 949 he said. 5,116 758 Among new measures, the Traffic and aware - 66% not aware – 34% Patrols Directorate has imposed a speed PEDESTRIAN-RELATED limit of 140kph on the Al -Dubai road, and from Sas Al Nakheel Bridge to Seh 2010 Shuaib. Al Harthi emphasised that such 2011

Source: General Directorate of Traffi c measures were in the Coordination at the Ministry of Interior interests 1,453 1,328

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It all seems a blur afterwards, but a car crash happens In stages. experts break It down to explaIn why speed thrIlls, but kIlls

only see a car crash in slow You motion when you are at the movies. But if you try to imagine yourself in a skidding vehicle, then time slows down, and every reaction is exaggerated – in short, you experience what a person goes through when hard metal is about to turn into something resembling a crumpled paper. There are several stages to it – four, according to an expert 999 spoke with – Dr Luqman Najeeb Dr Samir Guaiba Dr Mahmoud Abdul Qadir that later seem to merge into one blurry picture. This is the anatomy of an accident. motorist. accidents and increases the risk of death, as Dr Luqman Talaat Najeeb, a traffic expert In the second scenario, the driver sees it gives a person less time to react. “There and lecturer at the Police College in Abu the accident coming and accelerates further is a time-frame for reaction, from sensing Dhabi, dissects it: “The first phase is the to avoid it, losing control even more. In this the danger to the actual occurrence of an anticipation that an accident might occur; case, the driver reacts almost with hysteria accident, during which the driver tries to the second phase is the reaction (a natural and turns the steering wheel arbitrarily, avoid the crash. This time is between one- reaction of a person not suffering from any overturning the car. fourth and three-fourths of a second. It is a physical or psychological conditions, or a The third scenario is when the driver very short time for the driver’s skills to be manic reaction like when a driver accelerates applies the brakes hard, hoping this is the applied successfully. to race past before the signal turns red); the solution. But in a very hot climate, applying “That’s why reducing speed and driving third phase is when the driver cannot avoid the brakes so abruptly could cause the tyres responsibly are very important factors,” he to explode, also overturning the car. Vehicles emphasises. using advanced braking systems could avert Dr Mahmoud Mohammed Abdul Qadir, this problem, the expert adds. traffic researcher at the Studies and The time-frame for Research Institute of Abu Dhabi Police, reacting to an accident WHO IS MOST AT RISK? squarely puts the onus on drivers for most about to happen is Dr Samir Guaiba, a family physician, says that traffic accidents. about three-fourths of 66 per cent of fatalities include the driver; 20 “A driver contributes to a traffic accident a second, too little for per cent are front-row passengers; and 14 by 90 per cent, whether by his or her own the driver to apply his per cent are rear occupants. mistake or by the failure to avoid mishaps skills “Most common injuries are in the upper resulting from other motorists’ mistakes,” he The anatomy of half of the body,” he says. If a motorist is says. Besides always abiding by rules and the accident; and the fourth phase is when driving at more than 120kph at the time of regulations, drivers should also ensure that the accident is the real thing.” the crash, the most likely injuries would their vehicles are roadworthy, adds Dr Qadir. There are a number of scenarios in traffic be in the head and the face, by hitting the crashes, said Dr Najeeb. In the first scenario, windscreen. A cAll TO be ReSpOnSIble the driver, often an inexperienced motorist, There is also a chance that he would get Accidents in cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai or gives up control over the vehicle. tossed out of the vehicle – a driver failing to Sharjah are entirely avoidable. The entire ByByan LaraLara aLaL DharasiDharasi withwith inputinput fromfromaccident aniLaniL K Kumar umar It is hard to predict how serious the buckle up is at six times more risk of dying infrastructure is in place for preventing consequences of such a crash would be, in an accident than the one who uses the mishaps, but the one thing that technology depending on what else is happening on seatbelt. cannot control is the human mind. the road and the current speed of the said Speeding aggravates the magnitude of Studies have shown that the major reasons

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Speed limitS and ruleS around the uae abu DhabI DubaI top road safety10

private cars problems in the Uae Dh400 For are given a grace of 1. Speeding each subsequent 20 kph 10 kph 2. General carelessness increase

TAXI 3. Alcohol (Drink-driving) 4. Insufficient distance between moving vehicles 5. Drivers jumping red lights trucks, buses and light 6. Not wearing seatbelt vehicles such as pick-up Dh900 if vehicle’s trucks, minibuses and taxis speed is 50 kph more have a grace of 7. Turning corners without for traffic accidents in 2011 were insufficient Screen” method has proven to be a than the enforced limit 10 kph considering incoming traffic distance between moving vehicles, drivers successful way of delivering messages to an accident jumping red signals, turning corners without different segments of society. 6 8. Loss of control due to tyre considering oncoming traffic, speeding, One of the most significant initiatives is victim’s story BLAcK blowouts general carelessness, and loss of control called “We Miss Them”, because this goes PoINTS of a vehicle due to tyre blowouts. New straight to the heart of the tragedy of a traffic Mohammed, a young motorist who confessed to driving recklessly, realised 9. Not using proper child regulations and procedures are being put in accident: the absolutely meaningless loss his error after a major road accident seatbelts place to eliminate these factors in 2012. of life. Under this initiative, families of traffic almost crippled him. In his own words: “I In tandem with these efforts, the Gulf accident victims talk about their experiences was driving at 160 kph, overtaking other Traffic Week in March 2012 launched many of losing a son, daughter, relative or friend. motorists, and believing it was not likely 10. Lack of focus dedicated initiatives to limit road accidents. Another initiative, “My Violation”, is a that I’d be a traffic accident victim. I was These initiatives, led by the slogan “We hypothetical incident of violation handled wrong. Racing on public roads attracts a Are All Responsible”, focus on empowering by society members so that they can take “One day, as I was driving home to Al fine society by making people more responsible. lessons from it and avoid a real situation. Ain after attending classes at the Dh2,000 university in Abu Dhabi and avoiding The second initiative, “No More Violations”, The most important initiative for this year Dh1,000 For another 10 kph aims to encourage drivers to avoid black is called “Our Future Depends on Your speed traps on the highway, a large increase, (over 60 kmph) points. Driving”, which spreads traffic safety vehicle hit my car following a separate collision that occurred in front of my car. The “Family is the Best on Road” initiative education among the younger generation, 12 I tried to apply the brakes, but could not BLAcK PoINTS aims at spreading traffic safety education making them a positive influence on driving avoid hitting other vehicles. As a result, 12 among families, and the “Through My habits in the country. my car overturned and I jumped out of BLAcK coNFIScATIoN safety PoINTS my car.” oF The Life-saving tips vehIcLe FoR All he could remember before passing With the exception of certain roads, the speed Dr Samir Guaiba has some advice that can save people injured in road accidents out on the road was the face of his limits in the UAE are generally as follows: for fIRst 40-day-old daughter. When he regained small suburban streets, it is 40 kmph; on main DAyS • Wait for rescuers and do not move a person with serious injury roads (not highways) 60-80 kmph; and on 30 consciousness in a hospital bed, doctors highways, 100-120 kmph. • Blurred vision, vomiting and fainting are signs of haemorrhage in the head, and told a shocked Mohammed that he had hospital treatment is urgently needed 80 per cent disability in his legs. “I did • An injured person who has survived an accident and managed to get out of the not cry or have an outburst of anger. I damaged car should not eat, as he or she could undergo surgery soon remembered the face of my daughter…”

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The parenTs of auTisTic children ofTen face an uphill sTruggle for undersTanding yeT They also know ThaT kids are special in many differenT ways

did this happen?” “I just kept on racking my brain for an “Howis a question that answer. We went from doctor to doctor but Meena Noronha has asked herself regularly no one could give us a concrete answer,” about her 14-year-old son Calvin who has she said. autism and attends Manzil Special Needs “Some blame it on the vaccines that school. he got as a baby, some cited lifestyle and “We discovered that he was autistic when environmental causes, but no one was able he was three-years-old. We realised that to give us a definitive reason.” something was wrong when he lost his Meena and Neelam are not alone. power of speech and became withdrawn,” Millions of parents around the world are she recalled. asking the same questions according to “We were in Saudi Arabia at that time, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the no one could discover what was going on prevalence of autism globally is estimated at with him. The doctors kept on telling us that six per 1000 children. he was a late bloomer, but when things did Autism is a brain disorder which causes not improve for a long time we took him to a person to have difficulty in communicating doctor in India and he told us that our child with others, have unusual patterns of was suffering from autism,” said the former language development, severe learning lawyer who gave up her career so that disabilities, and narrow interests. They she could stay at home and give personal engage in repetitive and sometimes attention to her son. challenging behaviour and also find it Remembering the early days, the Indian tougher to form relationships with people. seeing mother of two said: “When we first learnt Scientists and doctors around the world that he had autism, we were devastated. have not been able to clearly identify why Acceptance was so hard. Even today the brain develops differently in people with we ask ourselves ‘Why? What did we do autism. wrong? How did it happen?’” In fact, finding the causes of autism, which Neelam Bhatia, mother of a 12-year-old experts say is on the rise globally, is one of the world Dhiren faced the same situation when she the biggest challenges that medical science discovered that her son had autism. is facing today. Isphana Al Khatib, Director, Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs in Dubai said: “According to the US Finding the causes of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention autism, which experts (CDC), one in 110 US children has autism By Reena amos dyes diFFerentlY say is on the rise and there are three million affected in the globally, is one of the US alone. It is one of the fastest growing biggest challenges disabilities in the world and also in the UAE. Even though there is no official data that medical science is for the UAE, it is reportedly increasing. facing today

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Security And Safety For All Real life Security And Safety For All

patient’s socialisation skills; the Form E-2 special school and parent training. needed. It may it be in a mall or even a which is an autism diagnostic checklist; and A wide range of therapies for autistic neighbour. You can run errands for them or the ADI-R which is an autism diagnostic people are used around the world and in baby sit for them. You can also be part of interview. the UAE. awareness campaigns, offer to volunteer However, most children with autism “Special schools use a combination of at these events and teach your children display early symptoms like seeming methods and techniques like ABA , TEACCH about those who have autism. Each small distant or oblivious to surroundings, Programme, sensory integration, and floor gesture goes a long way in making the life poor interaction with others, time,” explains Bari. of a special child and his family easier. So do uncommunicativeness, problems in “There are different kinds of therapies your bit.” speaking or understanding the speech of offered like speech therapy, sensory others, uncontrollable temper tantrums, integration, occupational therapy, play insistence on sameness and routine, therapy, music therapy, and also behaviour and engaging in repetitive or compulsive analysis. It’s all very customised as the actions. needs of each child is different so the The But experts say that parents should not try schools try different techniques and sara Baker (Dac) and “detect” it on their own as each child is therapies and see what works best for an posiTive autism affects all races and is more prevalent in boys than in girls different and their child might just be a late individual.” Paediatric Therapy Centre for the last five side of The increased number of children seeking demonstrate significantly challenging bloomer. Experts and parents are all for early years, agreed: “Send your child for therapy therapy indicates a marked increase in the behaviour, Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of Al Khatib said: “If parents suspect that intervention as it helps the child and the at the earliest as it really helps them and autism number of children with autism in the UAE.” autism in which speech development and IQ something is amiss they must always seek family deal with the situation better. makes them happy and independent. Give Sara Ahmad Baker, Community Service are normal, but in which social disability can diagnoses from a paediatrician first. “We work on four different levels. your child a chance.” Autism is an often a Unit Head, Dubai Autism Centre agreed: be compounded by depression and mental Behaviour management therapy helps to However, parents feel that despite the “If it is established that the child has misunderstood and “The number of children with autism in the health problems. Most people with autism autism, then there are various government reinforce wanted behaviour and reduce increasing awareness there is a major need stigmatised condition. UAE is rising. It can be attributed to two need special support and care. and private centres that offer intervention. unwanted behaviour. It is often based on to educate society on how to deal with Yet remarkably, there are factors: one is the rising awareness that According to Dr Ayesha Saeed Husaini, While nationals can approach government Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA),” said Dr children with autism. makes more people come out and seek Director, Manzil Special Needs: “Autism is a centres for help, there are also many private Husaini. “I have a tough time outside the house plenty benefits for these help, and two is the fact that autism is on the spectrum disorder varying in severity and centres for expatriates.” “Speech-language therapists help because I can’t let my son go to the men’s special children. rise here and globally. For instance, in 2007 impact from individual to individual, ranging Safia Bari, founder, Special Needs Future improve your child’s ability to communicate toilet alone and I can’t take him to the the DAC diagnosed 60 children with autism. from those with no speech and severe Development Centre added: “Parents and interact with others. Occupational women’s toilet as the women create a fuss,” Children with autism are happier But from September 2011 until now we have learning disabilities to people with IQs in the should learn about the condition and the therapists can help your child find ways to said Noronha. with less and don’t require the frivolous diagnosed 130 kids. So it’s really increasing average range.” latest developments in the field of autism to adjust the tasks to match their needs and “I wish that people were more needs of other people. Materialism and that’s for sure.” Autism affects all races and is more make things easier. abilities. Physical therapists design activities understanding and that there were separate obsession with money is virtually non- Although the cause is not known, there is prevalent in boys than in girls. It is usually “They can reach out to support groups and exercise to build motor control and toilets for people with special needs. Also, existent growing evidence that Autism is a genetic not detected before the age of three. There and step out of isolation in order to work improve posture I wish there were separate play areas for Living in the moment is a tendency condition, and that there may be several are no medical or genetic tests that can together with other families to face the and balance. such kids as they often get into trouble children with autism have. Instead different genes involved. However, it is not detect autism. challenges together.” These therapies with mainstream children and their parents. of being easily hurt like their typical clear why a genetic predisposition affects And as there is also no single behavioural Until doctors know what causes autism, it are a must as they People are not very tolerant.” developing peers, if something upsets some family members and not others. or communication test that can detect is impossible to find a cure for it or prevent improve the quality Bari concluded: “Society should respect them they feel it, and then tend to move Research is also taking place to establish autism, several screening instruments have it. of life of both the children with autism and their families as on quickly the part played, if any, by environmental been developed like: the Autism Diagnostic The only consistently effective treatment child and parent.” they face numerous challenges on a daily Class distinctions don’t enter the world factors either prenatally or after a child is Observation Scale that evaluates the is a structured training programme at a Bhatia, whose basis. You can make the life of the parent of autism. Autism is unique in that children born. son has been of an autistic child easier by understanding truly love those who are good to them. “Autism is increasingly believed to have Dr ayesha saeed Husaini going to the Rashid the condition and helping the family when Simply put, children with autism don’t a genetic cause and research is ongoing. Donate to a gooD cause judge others harshly There are no specific facts that have been Key signs of autism One of the impressive traits of children identified to cause autism in UAE and On World Autism Awareness Day, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) unveiled an with autism is the sheer amount of around the world. Popular belief emphasises initiative to raise funds for the construction of an annex for the Dubai Autism Centre. The Consult a doctor if you have not seen the following developments with your child: intelligence they possess. They have environmental elements like toxins and the initiative that will run for the next four months will include special donation boxes being set astounding recollections and make keen up across all ENOC service stations and a number of digital activities highlighting Dubai • Not cooed or babbled by age 1 year presence of heavy metals and chemicals in Autism Centre’s family support programmes, seminars and trainings, interventions, service observations the environment, as some of the causes for units and various therapies will also be held. • Not waved, gestured or pointed by age 1 year Children with autism don’t lie. In fact, autism,” said Al Khatib. they can be too honest! They don’t “The new building is really needed. We have 46 kids at the DAC right now, but we have a • Not spoken a single word by age of 16 months The absence of a clear understanding concoct head games or try to deceive waiting list of 235 children. We hope that the new building we will make will accommodate • Not spoken a two-word phrase by age of two years about what causes autism makes finding 150 to 180 kids,” said Sara Ahmad Baker, Community Service Unit Head, Dubai Autism people effective therapies very difficult. Centre. • Experiences a sudden inexplicable loss of language or social skills at any age

While most people with autism National Institute of Child Health Source: USA and Human Development,

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Smoking and drinking are harmful enough by themSelveS. they can puSh a perSon into rarely gatherings, which have turned into fertile Addictsknow ground for ‘networking’. even greater peril when their addiction starts. Usually, for For the youth, drinks and party drugs The big problem most people who cannot go an hour have an additional lure: they are seen without a smoke or spend a single evening with the excessive as ‘cool’. Popular culture often portrays without a drink, it started while they were consumption of teenagers in peer group settings smoking, socialising. A combination of desire and tobacco and alcohol drinking and sometimes doing drugs. compulsion – partly curiosity, partly peer is that it serves as These groups are shown as full of life, Gateway to pressure – has prompted many to light the entry point to experiencing a freedom unknown to the their first cigarette or pick up the first drink. still more dangerous rest of us. Such images lend a sort of social Then one more. And yet another one. addictions legitimacy to these activities and make While not in the league of hardcore them seem fun, rather than the harmful narcotics, addiction to tobacco and spirits discussions over Cuban cigars and habits they really are, especially when they can be just as hard to shake off. Besides, expensive scotch or brandy. Anyone who hook people too young to understand the there is also the consideration that they are insisted on remaining a teetotaller would implications. social lubricants – avoiding them altogether be looked upon with a slight suspicion and A 2005 survey in the UK showed that can be unhelpful in some societies. From might find himself excluded from a golden 22 per cent of the respondents in the BY LucY Vicente Ancient Greece up to the rule of the Roman circle of influential acquaintances. Now, it age group of 11-15 years had consumed Addiction Empire, liquor was a must during banquets. is a common sight to see both men and alcohol in the month before the survey. A In the later ages, gentlemen would have women smoking and drinking at social 2010 study in India, published by the social

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the law bans serving and selling liquor to people under the age of 21 years. NEW MAN While in Abu Dhabi, the cut-off is 18 years. CAMPAIGN The whole country has a zero-tolerance approach to drink driving, and it is also Dubai Police’s New Man Campaign raises illegal to get drunk in a public place. awareness of Article No. 43 to educate parents All of the addictions we looked at are their right to protect their addicted children by reporting them to the authorities and giving a disease, both for the addict himself and them a chance to start a new life. The the people around him. Like any disease, campaign also informs young people about the it has to be treated. That is why Dubai dangers that drugs can bring to their lives. Police have created a programme to which Article number 43 of the Federal Act on drug users can submit themselves and be Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic treated as patients. This programme aims Substances states that anyone who goes to give addicts their life back so that they under the treatment, voluntarily, is exempt can start anew. from punishment. In line with this campaign, Dubai Police tied Mousa Joleed, Psychological Consultant for Dubai Police, lectures students about the dangers of up with the British Embassy to increase using drugs students’ awareness on the harmful effects of AlCohol MAkES drugs abuse. A conference was held in Le development foundation of the Associated products, despite government restrictions Meridien Dubai, focusing on rules of the UAE Dubai Police shows how their drug-sniffing dog help them catch criminals. A SlIPPEry SloPE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in every country on the sale of such regarding these “gateway drugs”. Drinking in moderation relaxes the body and revealed that nearly 45 per cent of Class products. Representatives from Dubai Police gave a amnesia. Rohypnol can incapacitate users such as cocaine and heroin, the addict’s makes the drinker mildly happy. But when one XII students in metropolitan cities drank The big problem with the excessive lecture to Year 9 to Year 12 students on the and cause amnesia, and especially when entire life becomes focused on finding drinks too fast, not giving the body time to alcohol at least five to six times a month. It consumption of tobacco and alcohol is that gravity of using prohibited drugs. A re- mixed with alcohol, can be lethal.” money for the next fix, even if he has to kill process the alcohol, it leads to inebriation. An may be noted that most of the teens in the it serves as the gateway to other, still more enactment was done to show the efficient for it. inebriated person cannot control his physical sample population confessed that they had dangerous addictions. The youth who have methods of the authorities in catching drug thrEat to sociEty In a talk he gave to British students in functions – symptoms are slurred speech, poor turned to drinking for fun or under peer stopped getting their ‘high’ from cigarettes users. While smoking increases the risk of Dubai, Nasif Kayed, General Manager of hand-eye co-ordination, and either aggression Samples of illegal drugs were shown while pressure. or spirits will turn first to common party other substance abuse (see box), alcohol the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural or euphoria. Excessive drinking over time can their detrimental effects were discussed in Also in 2010, the international research drugs such as Rohypnol and ketamine, and addiction can turn an ordinary citizen into Understanding, said that rules were made cause alcohol poisoning, liver diseases, detail. A reformed addict also shared his story pancreatic diseases and heart diseases. And, firm Euromonitor said that per capita then perhaps to cocaine, which again has a a killer on the roads, an abusive parent “to protect us from each other”, a reference on how drug addiction ruined his life, and how of course, drink driving is a major cause of consumption of alcoholic drinks in the tremendous ‘cool appeal’ among a certain and/or husband at home, and – when the to the restrictions on selling alcohol in the authorities and his family helped him get road accidents. UAE had spiked 30 per cent in the past class of young adults. back to the right path. addict runs out of money – even a thief. If Dubai. five years, despite tight restrictions on Even if he or she does not develop “The lecture was very effective because the the addiction extends to expensive drugs In Dubai and the Northern Emirates, sales and an almost complete ban on a cocaine addiction, a user could be information is factual, in depth, and the way advertising. However, the good news is, killed by the ‘club drugs’ that have a it’s done is very visual,” Harry, a Year 9 student according to a World Health Organization relatively innocent image. The website from Jumeirah English Speaking School told SMokING kIllS, IN MANy WAyS survey, 92 per cent of the alcoholic drinks of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 999. “The issues were presented in an Health risks of smoking cigarettes include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It is consumed in the UAE is beer, which does an organisation based in Maryland, US, interesting way and they gave direct answers also one of the biggest factors in developing lung, mouth and throat cancer. Little do to our questions.” not come under ‘hard liquor’. spells out the effects of various club people know that smoking increases the likelihood of using illegal drugs such as Olivia, a Year 10 student from English drugs: “Ketamine distorts perception and marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins College Dubai, added: “They got us really Entry into darknEss produces feelings of detachment from the School of Public Health, those who have smoked or are smokers are seven times more focused because instead of mentioning likely to smoke marijuana, and are 16 times more likely to have tried heroin. The study Underage youth, who are the most environment and self, while GHB (a.k.a. examples, they brought someone who did live vulnerable group in terms of the risk soap) and Rohypnol are sedating. GHB also found that the correlation between smoking and using illegal drugs is stronger for as an addict to tell us how badly drugs young people, and it is more likely to happen to teens who started smoking at the age of a full-on addiction, somehow always abuse can cause coma and seizures. High affected him.” of 15. manage to get hold of alcohol and tobacco doses of ketamine can cause delirium and New Man Campaign Hotline: 800400400 Nasif Kayed

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Loud and uncLear Ali Obaid is a veteran Emirati commentator It seems another bastion of hope for the Arabic language is and writer on local issues; he currently heads the News Centre at Dubai Media Incorporated falling in the form of BBC Arabic service radio

t saddens me to see a young student errs while addressing their listeners. speaking in Arabic. For, I believe that the initial Nowadays, however, when I listen to BBC Arabic phase of study is the establishment phase, and service radio, I feel that a major fortress of the Arabic Iunless a student is well established in his or her language has fallen. mother tongue during this phase, it becomes difficult to The performance has deteriorated to the extent rectify it later on. that it taints the prestige and history of this reputable It saddens me even more when I see a person of radio, which once used to be a school in which the high political or social standing make a mistake while Arab world’s presenters and broadcasters learnt, and delivering a speech in Arabic. That’s because I realise listeners loved it. that he wasn’t founded well at a young age, which Even if one disagrees about the radio’s thoughts means that there is something wrong with the Arabic and ideas, we can’t disagree about its professionalism, educational curricula. especially in the selection of Further, it saddens me no end broadcasters, and in its programmes to see an orator on the tribune that have obsessed generations of in a make grammatical Nowadays, when I Arab listeners. mistakes. For, I assume that this listen to BBC Arabic The BBC Arabic service’s orator was established at the service radio, I feel that programmes like ‘Politics: Qs & As’ School of the Qur’an, the greatest a major fortress of the and ‘An Answer for Each Question,’ school in Arabic, the strongest among others, were a reliable fortress to preserve it, and the Arabic language has source of political, historical and leading guarantee of its continuity. fallen literary culture, because we listened Recently, another source to the error-free language of the added to my grief – the performance of BBC Radio’s broadcasters of ‘This is London.’ broadcasters of the ‘This is London’ Arabic programme. Today, nothing is left from ‘This is London’ but the The BBC Arabic radio is one of the oldest Arabic sound beats of the famous ‘Big Ben’ clock, while the broadcast services, launched by the BBC on January speech its broadcasters has become full of grammatical 3, 1938, to be the first non-English-speaking service mistakes, difficult for one’s ears to endure. launched by the BBC’s World Service. The phrase ‘This is London’ is no longer received by Since its establishment, the BBC Arabic service radio listeners as it once used to be, because its programmes has not only set new standards in broadcast media, but have become ordinary, which cannot be differentiated also produced a number of top-quality broadcasters, from any other local radio broadcasted from a remote whose commitment to preserving classical Arabic village in any country, whose broadcasters are still language was second to none. learning the ABC of presentation. They were not only keen on maintaining the integrity While my sorrow for ‘This is London’ is deep, my grief of the language in terms of pronunciation, formation and for the Arabic language, which has lost one of its major phonetics, but also showed great culture in the style of bulwarks, is deeper.

The views expressed by 999 columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI)

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SIT-STAY-FETCH

peT 999 examines the reality of pet ownership in the Uae; for pets, owners, and the general pUblic

predicaMenTSBY NORA ELIAS a toy poodle was many owners still do not do this,” he says. many as 5,035 stray cats and dogs were When brutally attacked Exact pet ownership figures for the neutered in the city between January and and killed by an un-muzzled American country’s other major urban centre, Abu September that year, up from 2,285 in Staffordshire Bull Terrier at the Dubai Pet Dhabi, don’t exist yet. This is due to 2010. Show in February this year, it was only the the fact that, as Khalifa Mohammed Al Established in April 2010 and operated most recent and shocking examples of Rumaithi, Director of Public Health at the under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi the potentially negative side-effects of pet Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, explains, Falcon Hospital, the Abu Dhabi Animal ownership in the UAE. “the pet registration law in Abu Dhabi is Shelter offers a range of service designed The incident highlighted the indifference currently under process.” to improve the lives of stray and feral of some pet owners in the UAE – for, The Municipality – which in January this cats and dogs – from sterilisation and the Terrier is included in the Dubai year introduced regulations banning dogs vaccination under the so-called Trap- Municipality’s list of breeds prohibited in Neuter-Return (TNR) system to adoption public without a muzzle. programmes. As the country’s population has grown Dubai Municipality already requires all over the decades, so has its animal Abandoned animals, pets in the city to be vaccinated and fitted equivalent, with the Dubai Municipality primarily cats and with a microchip and a municipality tag, registering around 3,000 dogs and 2,000 dogs, is one of the allowing lost animals to be identified and cats in the emirate alone. biggest problems returned to their owners. The actual figure, claims the associated with pet With such rules in force in Dubai, which Municipality, is likely to be much higher as also stipulates that dogs be kept on a many owners fail to register their pets with ownership in the UAE leash at all times while in public places, it’s the authorities, despite legislation stating important for UAE residents to be aware that this must be done. from many public places in Abu Dhabi, of the do’s and don’ts of pet ownership in Unconfirmed reports suggest that as including parks, beaches, shopping the country. many as two million stray cats roam the centres, restaurants and swimming pools In Dubai, the consequences of failing to streets of Dubai. – is shortly due to introduce the type of comply with regulations range from fines “The number of registered pets in compulsory registration and vaccination starting at Dh200 for not registering and Dubai increased by 10 per cent between legislature already in effect in Dubai. vaccinating your pet or letting your dog off 2010 and 2011, but official figures do not Al Rumaithi says that once this has the leash in public to Dh500 for registered quite reflect the actual numbers,” explains been done, “we will have data for the pets found astray. “People should be Dr Hisham Ahmed Fahmi Al Salim, a number of pets in Abu Dhabi.” aware of the rules here,” says Dr Fahmi. veterinary expert with the Public Health Meanwhile, figures released at the Stray “Every country has its own customs and Services Department at Dubai Municipality. Animal Welfare Conference, organised habits, and people should know what “The law stipulates that all pets should by the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter and those are in the UAE.” be registered with the Municipality, but held in October 2011, showed that as Dr Max Spicer, Managing Partner at The

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Veterinary Hospital in Dubai, adds that organisation K9 Friends, which rescues, Bringing your peT To The uae as well as being mindful of the rules for shelters and rehomes lost and abandoned Taking your peT STray caTS and dogS: the registration, vaccination and micro- dogs in the city. Whether you chose to handle your pet’s luggage is not allowed chipping of pets, people bringing animals “We try to explain to people that certain along when you move on your own or decide to use one of • An import permit must be issued by the how you can help the many pet relocation services available, Ministry of Environment & Water before an As mentioned in this article, there are a number of into the country should also ensure that dog breeds are not suited to this climate, leave organisations in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi that their living arrangements will in fact allow but you get trends of ‘must-have’ dog there are a number of key important animal can be brought to the UAE. care for stray cats and dogs. Take a closer look at Naturally, there are also a number of regulations to be aware of, including: Obtaining the permit is dependent on them to keep pets. breeds. At the moment, that’s the husky, factors to take into account when how you can make a difference to the welfare of • The UAE does not allow the import of fulfilling the requirements listed below as the UAE’s street animal community: “Many landlords, especially in apartment which has given us a huge problem in relocating from the UAE with a pet. We animals younger than four months well as other stipulations blocks, have a pet ban in place; so that’s Dubai,” she explains. “They’re bred as point you in the direction of a few… /en/hOme.ASpx Make a donation: Organisations like Feline Friends TAL • Import of certain dog breeds is banned • Cats and dogs must be micro-chipped something you should be conscious of trophy dogs and then often abandoned; Each country has its own import and K9 Friends in Dubai, as well as Feline Friends of Ae/pOr or restricted, including but not limited to: before arriving in the UAE Abu Dhabi, are non-profit and therefore greatly and look into in advance of moving over,” we’ve had 25 huskies come to our shelter regulations. Make sure you know what GO v. the country you’re relocating to require all Pitt Bull Terriers, the Brazilian and • A health certificate from the country of reliant on donations. Consider making a donation to he says. since last September itself.” with regards to vaccination, paperwork, Argentinian Mastiff (or ‘fighting dog’), the origin (issued no more than 10 days one or several of these groups, enabling them to Another factor that pet owners Abandoned animals, primarily cats and microchips and permits Japanese Tosa Inu and all wolf/dog before travel) and valid vaccination continue providing much needed animal care, relocating to the UAE often don’t take dogs, is one of the biggest problems Exporting your pet can be a costly hybrids documentation, including a rabies shot including vaccination, micro-chipping, adoption and fostering services. into account, Dr Spicer continues, is the associated with pet ownership in the UAE. • All animals must be imported as that is at least 30 days old, is required for process. Ensure you make allowance for Volunteer: Just like donations, the help of country’s sometimes extreme weather It is an issue largely created by the social this at an early stage, setting money manifest cargo, travelling with pets as entry volunteers is what keeps non-profit organisations n, hTTp://mO ew. See: FOr mOre InFOrmATIO conditions. composition of the country. aside for this purpose as soon as you afloat and allows them to do their work. Lend a hand “We see an extraordinary range of With Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular start planning your move to Feline Friends, K9 Friends or Feline Friends of Abu The need for quarantine has now Dhabi by doing everything from answering phones or animal breeds brought into the country, being highly transient cities with large been waived in most countries. There helping to locate foster families to working in the K9 some of whom really shouldn’t be in a hot expat communities, many residents only are exceptions however, including kennel and helping out at fundraising events. climate,” he says. “The UAE is for example spend a few years in the country, often Australia and New Zealand; so read up adopt a pet: Give a homeless cat or dog a new and a very difficult environment for heavy not taking their pets with them when they on this before travelling better life by adopting them. The ultimate aim of the Find out well in advance what the non-profit organisations mentioned here is to find coated breeds of dogs, such as huskies; move. new homes for the animals they care for, meaning they’re not at all well-suited to Middle “Some people just leave their pets necessary veterinary procedures are they are always on the lookout for people interested East temperatures, and we frequently and go; we find many cats and dogs and allow plenty of time to complete in adopting. them before your relocation date; a see cases of heat stress in these types of abandoned in empty houses, without food Become a fosterer: If you’re not certain about process that can take several months taking on the long-term commitment of adoption or dogs, particularly in the summer.” and without water,” Dr Fahmi confirms. Decide whether to handle the move just don’t feel it’s right for you, consider fostering. By This is also the experience of Jackie “People might not want to or be able to on your own or enlist the services of a taking care of a cat or dog for a shorter period of Ratcliffe from Dubai-based non-profit take their animals with them; so they just dedicated pet relocation company time you’ll help fill an urgent need for immediate pet Khalifa Mohammed al rumaithi dr Hisham ahmed fahmi al Salim dr Max Spicer housing. Instead of simply helping one pet, you also get the chance to come to the aid of many.

leave and let someone else deal with the it’s not okay to open your gate so your Contact individual organisations for more detailed problem,” he says. dog can go for a walk on his own, it’s not information on what you can do: www.k9friends.com | www.felinefriendsuae.com | www. Lesley Muncey, chair of non-profit okay to just get rid of your old dog when a organisation Feline Friends – which shiny new puppy comes along, and so on,” rescues homeless cats in Dubai and Ratcliffe says. walk. A requirement in both Dubai and places them in new homes through While these are important issues, they Abu Dhabi, with a potential fine attached, fostering and adoption programmes are not, she points out, much different this is nevertheless a regulation many dog – says that many owners simply don’t from the challenges faced by countries owners fail to observe. prioritise their pets when relocating. and organisations elsewhere. “There “We receive many complaints about “Our experience is that many people is a lot of ignorance all over the world people who leave their dogs’ waste will ship their furniture but consider their when it comes to dog ownership and the behind, even though the rules state that pets an item not worth spending money problems we encounter in Dubai are the the owners are obliged to clean up after on and will therefore just abandon them,” same problems that exist everywhere,” their dogs and although we provide she says. “Sometimes, they might contact she says. special dog waste bins in most public Feline Friends, but often just a day or two The education and training of owners areas,” Al Rumaithi says of the situation in before leaving the country.” is, she continues, the key to a happy Abu Dhabi. Both Muncey and Ratcliffe emphasise coexistence between people and animals Just like any other country, the UAE the importance of educating the general as the answer typically lies with the undeniably faces challenges related public on how to care for animals properly, person, rather than the pet. You are, for to animal ownership, and the solution to avoid abandonment and prevent example, “more likely to meet a dangerous appears to lie in continuing on the already mistreatment. owner than a dangerous dog,” she adds. forged path of collaborative efforts by “At our shelter, we try to push the correct Educating the public also includes such authorities, volunteer organisations, and care and show people that it’s not okay to basic pet-owner etiquette as cleaning the general public, working together to leave your dog outside in 45-degree heat, up your dog’s waste when taking it for a address any issues that might arise.

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with a nanny By Paul Kumar

More and More Uae coUples are handing over their infants to aU pairs. it can be tricky if the parents stop parenting altogether

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tot is rarely of foreign housekeepers,” said Sheikh A tinythought to be Abdullah Mousa, an adviser and expert in the nanny file capable of absorbing and conveying Islamic family science at the Dubai-based A few tips from Dr Natasha D’Cruz, a any important information other than Centre for Women’s Renaissance, which clinical psychologist, on making the most the usual: nappy needs changing, baby offers family services, including counselling of your maid looking after your child. wants food, and so on. In fact, however, and courses for married couples. “The Let your maid know what is permissible and what is not. Explain to her what you an infant watches, hears and learns about housekeeper has no idea about our culture would like, and ask for her inputs as well everything in his immediate surroundings. and traditions and values. Her environment If she is an experienced and efficient Imagine the upshot if the primary is totally different from ours, whether by nanny, she will have helpful insights source of ‘everything’ is not a parent, but religion or tradition.” Establish family rules and regulations a professional au pair (nanny). That, too, a Najibah Al Rifaee, an author and along with your nanny and stick to it Work with her, not against her nanny from a completely different culture, educator on social issues, was quoted Do not expect her to take on ALL the speaking another language. Even with a saying that the first five years of a child’s responsibility great nanny, things are bound to be askew life were crucial to development and Do not make it a competition between if the parents take their hands off parenting behaviour. “From the minute a child is born, you and the nanny in front of the kids altogether. the first three to five years are essential. Keep communication open with your children and let them know that the nanny is Across the UAE, nearly every well-to-do The trouble is that some parents think there to help and while the parents are family – whether local or expatriate – has this stage is not important because they away, she takes charge a nanny handling the baby from a very think the child only needs food, sleep and Don’t overcompensate or permit young age, looking after him well into cleaning, so they give their child to the misbehaviour as a result of guilt adolescence. The child practically grows nanny. But this age is extremely important, up with the nanny, spending more than the child is absorbing everybody’s move eight hours a day with her. In some cases, it and every word,” she said. Some parents want certainty beyond is a compulsion, as both the parents work; “Parenting needs to be done by parents,” credentials – it is not just theft that is a in others, the parents simply want more added Dr Natasha D’Cruz, a clinical worry, but how the maid treats the child free time, as long as they are assured the psychologist and Director of Red Corner and, in the worst-case scenario, whether baby is in good hands. Consultants, a company that handles she hurts or abuses their ward. For them, A nanny has traditionally been a valuable corporate consulting, behavioural training, the answer is a security camera. The resource in every country, and when she employee assistant programmes, and camera could literally be a life-saver if shares the same culture as her employer’s supervision for practitioners. “The nanny parents are unfortunate enough to end up family, the mother’s absence is that much isn’t a parent and shouldn’t be made to act with a horror nanny like Louise Woodward, more acceptable. But in the UAE, where a like one. The nanny provides a service to the English girl who battered her charge, vast number of cultures and communities ease the load of the parents. But in no way an eight-month-old boy born to a US- live together, leaving an infant entirely in is she the sole person responsible for the based couple. Baby Matthew died of his the care of a nanny from a different country said Lisa-Anne. “However, we soon noticed well-being of the child.” coma from a fractured skull and subdural can have unsettling consequences. that Kyle was beginning to pronounce For some parents, there is a strong guilt hematoma. Most nannies in the UAE come from certain words differently. It was not wrong, We soon noticed factor when they hire a nanny, and to make Such atrocity is rare, but no one wants countries like the Philippines, India, Nepal, but just in an accent that was alien to us.” up for it, they go overboard indulging the The nanny provides a to take the slightest risk with their baby, so Bangladesh, Indonesia and Ethiopia. And David, the bemused father, added, “At that [our son] Kyle child, setting the stage for future problems. service to ease the load with all this technology now available, a as the main caregiver of the child in the first, it was funny and entertaining, but later was beginning to “I do feel bad that we are missing out of the parents. But in security camera seems a sensible choice first formative stage of his life – the first five it began to worry us as he would refuse to pronounce certain on the best years of our child and that no way is she the sole even to parents who have the best-case years – they wield a huge influence. change the way he spoke.” It was a small words differently. It our maid enjoys him more than we do,” scenario. Wazni and Chandramala are David and Lisa-Anne, an Asian couple but significant barrier in a difficult process. said Aniika Srensberg, an expat living in person responsible for Asians who employ another Asian maid. from India, got a taste of this recently. The couple then chose a maid from India. was not wrong, but Abu Dhabi. “Often, this means we try to the well-being of the “Our maid is perfect and we have no When their son Kyle was born, Lisa-Anne Joyce Arthur, a British expat who needs just in an accent that overcompensate when we are with Dirk, child complaints,” said Wazni. Then why do they gave up her job to be with the baby for a maid to help her handle her three was alien to us our son.” have a video camera set-up in the house the first three years. However, growing children, knows that a nanny, no matter Dr D’Cruz pointed out that as long as injuries. Woodward was convicted in 1997 that records the entire day’s interactions expenses and unwillingness to put her how competent, cannot and should not Joyce may be on the right track, but parents are aware of their responsibility, of involuntary manslaughter but got off very between the maid and their three-year old career permanently on hold meant that she substitute the parent. “The maid is a help, several others are not. The issue has there is no reason for guilt. “If you are lightly. She had told the police that she had daughter? “I am just more at peace,” said wanted to return to full-time work, and what not the parent, and we make sure that been of concern in Emirati families as well, required to be away through the day to dropped him on the floor at one point, and Chandramala, whose idea it was to install she needed was the right nanny. primary parenting is done by us,” she said some of whom who may be overly relying be able to provide better for your child, that she had been “a little rough” with him. the camera. The maid does not know the “We finally chose a nanny from another of her lifestyle with her husband Mathew, on nannies with children growing up there is no harm in seeking the services of Going by his injuries when he was admitted camera is there, which raises an ethical Asian country, and she was excellent. Kyle and daughters Eva, May, and Carol, all speaking muddled Arabic. “Some mothers someone with good credentials to watch to hospital, Louise had been more than a issue, but Wazni added, “It’s a necessary loved her and everything was just perfect,” between the ages of four and 12. have thrown their children into the laps your children.” little rough with Matthew – he fell into a compromise for our peace of mind.”

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Know Your nannY follow these pointers from babycenter.com to tell a good nanny from bad Of tweets and tremOrs You have snagged MarY PoPPins if: Tim Maycock is Director of Maycock Training Sometimes, scientific equipment fails to record certain seismic Your child lights up at the first sight of her. keep you informed of daily activities by Ltd, an international consultancy firm Kids look forward to the time they spend setting aside some time for the two of activities, such as a minor earthquake, but when the earth with their nanny if she is warm, caring, you to catch up. moves, we’ll know and patient. Your child volunteers new songs and Your kids talk about all the wonderful words and shows off his many projects. n previous issues, I wrote about social networking, feeling a series of vibrations from their doors and things she says and does. If a caregiver The best nannies are aware of and particularly the dangers of indiscriminately sharing windows. truly enjoys being in the company of cherish children’s curiosity. They’ll try to personal or intimate issues with the rest of the Oddly, in the face of many spontaneous and children, your kids will know it. Her love answer questions, elicit imaginative Iworld. It is perhaps time to move on to other topics. individual reports spread over a significant part of the will shine through. responses, and think up creative ways However, allow me just one last example which city, the scientists and experts recorded no seismic She comes up with creative solutions to teach new skills. demonstrates the ‘other side of the coin’ suggesting activity whatsoever. to problems. If your child has run out of Your child’s room is clean, and so is that contemporary communications methods are not all Records show that Dubai has suffered tremors in paint, for example, she will find some your child. Excellent care includes doom and gloom. the past, as recently as 2008 when aftershocks from a household supplies that your child can cleanliness and good health. Your nanny It was recently reported that a Saudi national who major earthquake in Iran were felt in the city. use to fashion an object of art. will practise good hygiene around your wished to visit the UAE could not because of technical Many years ago, I experienced an earth tremor at first She arrives on time. Other signs that child if she truly has his welfare in mind. reasons – it so happened that his name was exactly the hand, so I am able to speak with some authority on the she is reliable: she gives you ample Accidents are infrequent. Of course, warning when she is unable to care for tumbles will happen, but a good nanny same as that of a person who has been banned from subject. I was working at the time in Kabul, Afghanistan, your child because of an emergency, and makes safety a priority both at home entering the UAE. and was fairly accustomed to disturbing scenarios. even helps you find a substitute caregiver. and when she and your child are out The Internet savvy Saudi was aware that local police Nothing prepared me however for the night I was She makes an effort to stay connected. and about. chiefs are keeping up with these changing times and awoken by the sensation of my bed, the floor, the A nanny who takes her job seriously will communicating with the public walls, in fact the whole building, on Twitter, Facebook etc., so doing a passable impression of the he duly ‘tweeted’ the top man. Viennese Waltz! You MaY have trouble on Your hands if: I imagine he was somewhat Many people were I quickly realised I was Your baby is not happy to see the nanny You notice that your requests are not surprised when the chief not troubled one evening experiencing my very first and becomes anxious and withdrawn. A followed. You and your nanny are only responded, but invited earthquake, and the worst of it baby needs to trust and love his nanny. working together to care for your child, him to tea as well. when they experienced was, in spite of all my pre-mission Perhaps your child and caregiver have so she should not act as if she knows This welcome change what they perceived as survival training, I didn’t have a clue not bonded, or the nanny is just not more about him and childrearing than enabled by the wonder of the an earth tremor what I should do. Run outside? Get providing the kind of warmth and comfort you do. World Wide Web provides on the floor? Climb the curtains? your child needs. If you suspect Your nanny often shows up late. An a booMing industrY balance to the debate over the pros and cons of social Hide under the bedcovers? something more serious, educate unreliable caregiver will leave you in the networking. Suffice to say it was a sobering experience, and that With women joining the skilled workforce yourself about the signs of child abuse. lurch time and again. Tardiness and in droves, the demand for nannies is going Your nanny seems secretive about how unexplained absences may mean that Very well, enough of that for now, let us take our was only a two-minute tremor in a two-storey building. up around the world and agencies are they spent the day. How your baby and she is unreliable in other ways as well. (slightly alternative) look at something else of interest And again, oddly enough, that seismic activity was not springing up everywhere. The method of occurring in Dubai. officially confirmed either. caregiving varies from country to country his caregiver spend their time should not Your baby often looks unkempt and – in India, the ayah (nurse) lives almost as be a secret. When you come home, if dirty. If your little one’s caregiver cannot Many people were troubled one recent evening So, I fully sympathise with those of you who believe a family member, while in the US and your nanny is not forthcoming, either she take care of the basics, it may be a sign when they experienced what they perceived as an they experienced something similar a few nights ago. Europe, a nanny is paid per hour of is not good at communicating with you or that she is not on the ball when it comes earth tremor. Whether it’s officially recorded or not, if the earth service. Officially, according to the she has something to hide. to meeting your child’s needs. Residents of Jebel Ali, Jumeirah and Al Safa reported moves you’ll know it. International Nanny Association, as many Your baby has been in one too many Her stories do not add up. Never as one million nannies work in the United easily avoidable accidents. A nanny must tolerate someone who lies or deceives States alone. Unofficial figures worldwide keep an eye on your child and know what you in any way. You have to be able to could be in tens of millions, indicating that he is doing at all times to prevent injury. trust your caregiver completely for the this is a burgeoning industry and that nannies’ rights as employees as well as She may be leaving your child relationship to work. their accountability to their employers unattended as he sleeps or plays. need to be better regulated.

The views expressed by 999 columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ministry of Interior (MoI)

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is popular, no doubt Swimming about that. In the blazing summer heat, it is the most inviting way to keep cool. For many people, however, it has a reputation as a family leisure activity than a serious way to get fit. Efforts to counteract this with water workout classes such as aqua aerobics could not garner a widespread fan following. The sight of people lifting their arms up and down through the water does not look like a reliable route to bathing suit biceps. Even if you swim with purpose and are training for an event, or recording your times, repetitive lengths can become boring. Yet, there are huge benefits of exercising in water for people of any size, shape, weight, fitness and experience. Some new types of water workouts are emerging to capitalise on this. Swimming itself, even at a gentle pace, will burn about 200 calories in 30 minutes. Other exercises in the water, which can be grouped loosely under the banner of ‘aqua fitness’ can be a much more effective workout than doing the same on dry land. Water is 800 times denser than air, so we have to make more effort and, therefore, expend more energy, to move about in a pool. Jogging through water, for example, will burn up to 11.5 calories per minute compared to the eight calories you might get rid of on land. When you consider this, the aqua aerobics classes begin to make sense. But while it is still struggling to attract new (and younger) recruits, so-called ‘aqua fitness’ is on the up.

Why the neW name? AquA fitness: One wonders if it is really necessary to rebrand water workouts to get the most out of them. Is it not enough just to get into the pool and have a bit of fun splashing around? “Aqua fitness is a better phrase than aqua aerobics,” says four-time Olympian Karen Pickering. “It is mixing up swimming and exercising to get fit and Cool in the pool has a broader appeal than just jumping up and down in the water By Sophie MorriS to music.” Pickering is promoting a new range of kit for working out in the ExErcising in watEr has hugE hEalth bEnEfits – but water from Speedo, which has created the products because aqua swimming lEngths can bE rEpEtitivE. now a nEw wavE fitness is growing in popularity. “When I sat poolside, I noticed the fitness swimmers know how to swim, but they don’t know how of aqua fitnEss workout is making a splash to use the equipment, and they are afraid to ask,” said Pickering. “They don’t want to look silly, and they think that because they’re not an elite athlete, they shouldn’t use it.” The embarrassment factor is certainly the first hurdle in

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it heals your brain: Research has shown that and muscle tone. As a general rule, for every 10 swimming can actually change the brain for the minutes of swimming: the breaststroke will burn 60 3better through a process known as hippocampal calories; the backstroke torches 80; the freestyle neurogenesis, in which the brain replaces cells lost lights up 100; and the butterfly stroke incinerates an through stress. impressive 150.

lowers the risk of diabetes: With just 30 minutes Keeps the ticker in top shape: In addition to of breaststroke swimming three times a week, toning visible muscles like pectorals, triceps 4you could burn 900 calories, thereby reducing 8 and quads, swimming strengthens the most your risk of contracting type 2 diabetes by over 10 important muscle in our body: the heart. As an per cent. aerobic exercise, it makes the heart more efficient in pumping, which leads to better blood flow Balances cholesterol: Being healthy is more throughout your body. about having the right ratio of cholesterol good reasons to 5 than just having low amounts of the stuff Gives you a good stretch: Unlike gym machines in your blood. You should have higher levels of that isolate one body part at a time, swimming start swimming ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and lower levels of ‘bad’ 9puts the body through a broad range of motion cholesterol (LDL). Swimming can get these levels in that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and Helps you live longer: Researchers at the University the right balance. flexible. Plus, with every stroke, you are lengthening of South Carolina, US, followed 40,547 men, the body, which gives you a good stretch from head 1 aged 20 to 90, for 32 years and discovered that allows you to breathe easier: Unlike exercising in to toe. those who swam had a 50 per cent lower death rate the often dry air of the gym, or contending with than runners, walkers or men who got no exercise. 6 seasonal allergies when outdoors, swimming lets you do more with less: When the human provides the chance to work out in moist air, which body is submerged in water, it automatically Makes you feel happier: The most pleasant can curb exercise-induced asthma symptoms. Some 10becomes lighter. This considerably reduces side-effect of swimming is the feeling of deep studies have shown that swimming can actually the harsh impact of a workout on your skeletal 2 relaxation – any exercise causes the release improve the health of asthmatics. system. Immersed to the waist, your body bears just of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins, but 50 per cent of its weight; to the chest, 25 to 35 per swimming has the additional advantage of calming Melts fat and builds muscle: Swimming is one cent; to the neck, only 10 per cent. The other 90 per the mind, somewhat like yoga. of the biggest calorie-burners around. It is also cent is handled by the pool. 7a great way to increase muscular strength

Her next argument is even more one, as well as for less fit folk keen to start The Amateur Swimming Association convincing. Swimming is not always easy exercising. (ASA) of Britain is trying to educate water A water workout can for women to squeeze into a lunch hour Zumba dance classes were popular with babies on the best ways to work out in ramp up your fitness because of the time it takes to wash their this crowd from the beginning, and now the water with their Swimfit programme hair afterwards, but Pickering says that Aqua Zumba classes are making a similar (www.swimming.org/swimfit), an online and muscle tone; it you could just get into the pool with a splash. The class launched late last year in resource that outlines structured pool is also a good option friend and exercise while you are chatting, 24 Virgin Active health clubs in the UK and workout sessions. The 10-week programme for anyone recovering without getting your hair wet - much more combines salsa, merengue, reggaeton and includes advice on measuring and tracking from an injury appealing than dripping water all over the other Latin beats for a dance session that your swims, and videos on technique. If you keyboard. makes the most of the water’s resistance. go to the pool with a purpose other than improving your water workout. It is one In a one-hour class, participants might burn your standard 20 lengths of breaststroke at thing attending a dedicated aqua fitness GettinG more out of Water 500 calories. tortoise speed, you are more likely to put class, but pausing in the shallow end to The best water exercises are the simple “Pushing against the resistance of the some effort in and return for more. pump out a few shoulder raises with Aqua ones and you will probably recognise them water while performing signature Zumba There is another way to get the most out Dumbbells (£16 / Dh95) is something else, from the gym or other exercise classes. moves, participants can expect a whole of a water workout. It is more glamorous and that is before you strap on the Aqua Use the dumbbells or small disc weights to body workout,” says instructor Maria and requires sequins and eye makeup. It Belt (£18 / Dh107) and start working your raise your arms up in front of you, out to the Browning. “It’s about stretching, twisting is synchronised swimming, which is sure core in deep water. side in lateral raises, or to punch through and laughing.” to be a hit event in the upcoming London Pickering points out that gym rookies the water. Use the resistance to get good Browning believes that this new Olympics. It is a very demanding full body are usually afraid of looking foolish, too, arm definition, which walking or cycling will approach to aqua aerobics is revamping its workout and requires grace, poise and and soon get over their initial fears. It not help with. image. It is also a good choice for pregnant rhythm, but where swimming lengths should be the same in a pool. If you are Exercising in water can ramp up your women. Getting into a pool can reduce the might get boring, synchro and these other not sure what to do with the equipment, fitness and muscle tone; it is also a good risk of illnesses, including cardiovascular water workout classes should keep you then the lifeguards, usually keen swimmers option for anyone recovering from an disease and diabetes, as well as being an guessing. themselves, will direct you. injury, or who is nervous about sustaining effective stress reliever. The Independent

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makeBy Sophie MorriS you fatter? New research suggests the couNt-your-calories way to weight-loss may be flawed. what theN is the best way to shed uNwaNted weight?

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out the calorie content of different foods. Atwater’s findings were not completely the 1950s and is a more accurate unit to Counting As well as the egg test, Atwater locked wrong. What he did not account for was measure energy with. calories has settled into a default mental students in a chamber and measured What we know from how much energy our bodies use up to The problem with all this, say detractors, habit for generations of women, and some the energy fluctuation while they ate and the new science is that digest and process different foods. We is that it is confusing. It is too late for the men. Knowing by rote the calorific content carried out various tasks. He also burnt have to work much harder to digest dense, average non-scientist – you and I – to of every chocolate bar in a typical corner foods and measured the heat they gave it takes calories to fibrous foods and those high in protein, switch from calories to kilojoules. If you shop is no simple feat, but it is a necessary off to determine how much energy – how digest calories. Foods right from the initial process of chewing, look at any label in a supermarket, you will one, we’ve been told, for anyone who many calories – they contained. This that are rich in protein through to the reactions that go on in the see that calories are still very much on the wants to keep tabs on the flab. formed the backbone of the calorie system, and fibre actually stomach and colon. agenda, along with the fat, protein, and A pound of flesh contains 3,500 calories, which has been recognised and accepted take more calories to The true calorie content – the bit that carb content. There are plenty of diets so in order to lose one pound a week, you internationally as the most straightforward digest than fat and remains stuck to our hips or is available that recommend good food choices should cut back by about 500 calories per way to assess the energy in food ever carbohydrates for that bike ride – is the energy left in the and portion control over calorie day. Yes, some people do seem to lose or since. body once we’ve digested the food. counting, but unless you have a gain weight more easily than others, but More often than not, we talk about The dieting club WeightWatchers grasp on what the right foods it is widely accepted that in order to lose calories in the context of weight loss, and dieting industry. overhauled its 40-year-old system and sensible helping sizes are, weight one must expend more calories we are advised to eat fewer calories to We’ve known since the 1920s that late last year to take this theory you’re stuck. Calorie counts than one consumes. Now, at this extremely tackle obesity. In the early days, calories some calories are worth more than others into account. “What we know still act as shorthand for late stage in the 2,000-year history of the had the opposite use, as big employers nutritionally, because of the vitamins and from the new science,” says dieters. If they didn’t, dieting industry, the whole concept of and the army wanted to discover the minerals they present the body with. A Zoe Hellman, WeightWatchers’ Cadbury’s would never calorie-counting is being questioned. cheapest foodstuff that would provide their banana beats a chocolate digestive hands UK dietician, “is that it takes have created its slim The calorie itself is not 2,000 years old. men with sufficient energy to do a job, be down, hence the phrase “empty calories”, calories to digest calories. 99-calorie bar of Dairy Milk Nor was it invented to help us pursue our that on an assembly line or at the frontline. which is sometimes applied to sugary Foods that are rich in protein for dieting snackers. dreams of waif-like figures and wardrobes The answer was carbohydrates, which is foods. But in recent years and following and fibre actually take more “It is important to keep it full of size zero clothes. On the contrary, why bread, pasta, rice, and any starchy new scientific developments, the whole calories to digest than fat and simple,” according to Dr Ian the calorie system was developed to help vegetables are the bugbear of today’s calorie system and its accuracy has come carbohydrates.” Campbell from the National us eat enough. Do you know how far can under examination. One nutritionist has Marks & Spencer’s Simply Obesity Forum, who thinks that you cycle on an egg, for example? said that the calorie content of typical items Fuller Longer range follows a befuddling struggling dieters with Working out how far a man could may be as much as 25 per cent out. similar structure, promising “high new rules is not helpful. “Paying cycle on one egg was one The idea that we must eat fewer protein and balanced carbs” attention to the general context of of the tests carried out in calories than what we burn to from ready meals. The line your food is more important than the late 19th century by lose weight still holds, but the was developed with nutritional going into the deep science, which the American chemist calorie content of individual scientists from the University of the general public doesn’t want to Wilbur Atwater, who foods does not provide the Aberdeen, and based on research embrace,” he says. painstakingly worked full picture. showing high-protein diets result in Our tempestuous love affair better weight loss results. with the calorie is far from over. The Atkins and the Dukan diets are WeightWatchers produced successful famously effective for the same reasons, dieters when it relied on calories, and but now we understand more about why anyone restricting their calorie intake today protein is such a good diet food – because should continue to lose weight, but we now it fills us up, and because we have to work know that the process will be easier with a hard to digest it. diet high in protein and fibre. In addition, the measurement kilojoule However, a better understanding of is gaining credence over the kilocalorie. Paying attention to the how our bodies process different types The number of kilojoules appears more general context of your of foods could well, in the long term, be threatening than calories on a food food is more important helpful rather than confusing. Stepping wrapper because there are about four than going into the away from punishing numbers and towards times as many in any product. But the deep science, which the a fuller understanding of food is a welcome kilojoule is preferred to the calorie by general public doesn’t development that might end our tiresome scientists, because it was devised in want to embrace and stressful reliance on calorie-counting.

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House Help lands in jail for robbinG a wealtHy business family of Valuables wortH more tHan dH250,000

parents repeatedly warned us that Farrah student, claimed in her police statement: “On An AsiAn had been stealing our belongings. the day of her travel, my dad phoned me and housemaid landed behind bars after she “When my younger sisters found the asked me to search Farrah’s luggage before chose the wrong way to becoming rich and belongings, they took pictures of the stolen she left for the airport. Farrah had already put stole valuables and jewellery worth more items and sent them over to my mobile her bag in the car, but I asked our driver to than Dh250,000 from an Arab business phone. My other sister was present with me bring her bag back. Then I called Farrah but family in Dubai. and she also saw the photos of the stolen she didn’t answer. I called her a second time The Criminal Court recently jailed the items and identified her belongings. We and when she replied, I asked her to come 31-year-old Farrah to six months after the rushed back home and found the accused to the main hall. I was shocked to find our judge pronounced her guilty of stealing from seated in the back seat of a police car and belongings hidden in her bag. her Arab employer in Dubai, for whom she she seemed embarrassed and mortified,” the “We then called the police. After they took worked nearly four years. 28-year-old businesswoman claimed during her for questioning, we found some earrings Prosecutors charged the defendant with questioning. and a necklace wrapped in a napkin and stealing jewellery, diamonds, accessories, According to records, the sisters walked hidden under one of the carpets. Farrah had digital camera, mobile phones, designer also hidden some diamonds and jewellery in clothes and sunglasses worth more than a a flower pot in the kitchen. When I asked her quarter of a million dirhams. why she did so, she apologised repeatedly “She worked for four years with the and confessed, and then asked me to allow wealthy business family that comprised of We found some her to go to the airport.” the father, mother and four sisters – two earrings and a necklace According to records, some of the businesswomen and two college students wrapped in a napkin recovered jewellery had been missing since – at their villa in Jumeirah. During her stay and hidden under 2007. During preliminary investigations, the with the family, the accused got tempted one of the carpets. accused admitted that she planned to steal by the brightness of the valuables lying Farrah had also hidden from her sponsors and take the items with around in the house – jewellery, diamonds, some diamonds and her to her home country. She confessed designer clothes and posh accessories like jewellery in a flower that she stole from the sisters’ rooms on stylish handbags. On the day she was going different occasions and that she hid the items on leave to her home country, the family pot in the kitchen in her bedroom. On the day when she was discovered many items belonging to the supposed to travel, she packed the stolen daughters that Farrah had stolen on different into the main hall and found the stolen items valuables in her luggage. occasions, and had hidden them in different in the housemaid’s luggage. Police detained “Shortly before going to the airport, one places. She planned to run away with the Farrah and took her to the police station. of the sisters came and asked to search my stolen valuables. Meanwhile the sisters started searching luggage. She found the stolen items and she “The four sisters were often missing their the house for the rest of the stolen items. To reported it to the police and they accused items and cash, but never doubted their their surprise, they found their digital camera me of theft,” the housemaid claimed in her housemaid and treated her based on trust. hidden in the laundry room. statement. Although their parents repeatedly warned One of the sisters, a 25-year-old Police recovered all the stolen items and HELPS HERSELF TO A them that the housemaids could have been businesswoman, testified that they found handed them back to the Arab family. MAID stealing their belongings. On the day Farrah some of the stolen jewellery and diamonds When Farrah stood trial, she was heard was heading to the airport, two of the sisters hidden beneath one of the carpets. telling the bench of judges: “Yes I am guilty. QUARTER OF A MILLION decided to search her bags, and to their According to records, Farrah took I was in desperate need of money to send By AHMAD AL MUALLA shock, they found their missing belongings in jewellery, perfumes, makeup, handbags, back to my family. I took the valuables and her luggage,” according to a police officer. wallets, sunglasses, ladies’ shoes and hid them in my luggage. I am sorry. I need a “Around 7:30pm, my two youngest sisters designer clothes as well as a video camera, lenient judgement and to be sent back to my searched her bags before she left for the two BlackBerry and two Nokia mobile home country.” Dubai airport. Surprisingly, they found all phones. Farrah was sentenced to six months in jail of our missing belongings hidden in her During investigations, the family estimated followed by deportation. luggage. My mother was also surprised and the worth of the stolen items at Dh250,000, The primary judgment was confirmed by questioned how the belongings ended up in not including the cash that Farrah stole from the Courts of Appeal and Cassation. Farrah’s bag. During the period when Farrah their wallets, records show. The Asian maid was deported as soon as worked for us, we missed many things. My One of the sisters, a 20-year-old college she completed her imprisonment.

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MUGGinG TO PAY FOR KIDS’ EDUCATION By AHMAD AL MUALLA

a desperate fatHer cHooses iGnoble means to pay for a noble cause, but finds out tHat crime neVer pays

underground parking lot of a building The public prosecution accused the A FATHER in Dubai’s Satwa area. According to his defendant with intentionally trying to kill of asian decent has been sentenced to confession, the man said he did not plan to the student and stealing her money, mobile three years in jail followed by deportation stab his victim but only scare her into giving phone and personal papers. Justin was for stabbing a 23-year-old college student him the money. referred to the Criminal Court, and when he in Dubai and stealing money from her. The victim, a 26-year-old Middle Eastern appeared before a jury of three judges, he Unable to earn enough money through college student, almost died when the pleaded not guilty and denied the charges. lawful means to pay for his children’s attacker stabbed her twice in her shoulder Police interrogations revealed that the school fees back home, Justin chose the and back. student, who lived in Satwa, went down quick but unlawful path to pay for his kids’ Police said the defendant attacked the to the basement parking lot to take her education. student in the underground parking of the car and go see a friend. “She took out Working as an assistant in a Dubai firm, building where the victim resided. He used her keys and was unlocking the car when Justin earned enough to meet the basic a small kitchen knife to stab the student the suspect approached her from behind. needs of his family, but not enough to pay twice in her shoulder and back before for his children’s education expenses in his snatching her purse and running away from home country. the scene of crime. Worried that his children will be expelled However, the police identified and The lawbreaker sought from their school for non-payment of fees, arrested the culprit within one week, and Justin decided to steal the money required, upon interrogation, he admitted to stabbing to speak to me shortly but instead ended up in jail while his kids the student and stealing her money before I opened my car remain without education. because he was in desperate need to pay door. He held a knife On the fateful day, Justin hid a knife for his children’s schooling. He said he in my face and ordered under his clothes and chose to attack feared that his children would be expelled me to give up my the first victim he came across in the from school if he did not pay up. belongings

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He asked if he could speak to her and that he had spent it. During questioning, she agreed to listen to him. Suddenly he the defendant claimed that he was in looked around, and upon ensuring that desperate need for the money and that he there was no one else around, took out Worried that his committed the crime because he wanted to the knife and posed it in her face. He children will be send the money for his children’s schooling ordered her to give him what she had, and expelled from their fees in his home country. He also claimed immediately she threw her purse down school for non- that he used the knife from his kitchen.” on the ground. Then he pushed her on payment of fees, Justin When Justin was questioned by the floor. When she tried to stand up, he decided to steal the prosecutors, he stated the he bought the stabbed her twice in the back, and stole money required, but knife for Dh9 a week before the incident. what he could from her purse before instead ended up in “I went down to the parking lot and I running away,” said a policeman. jail while his kids are decided to steal money from any person. According to police records, the student without education She happened to be the first person who was rushed to a hospital for treatment of passed in front of me. When I stopped her stabbing injuries. Swift medical intervention told me that an Asian man stabbed her and ordered her to give me her purse, she helped save her life. with a knife and that she was going to die. refused and pushed me. So I took out the “The lawbreaker sought to speak to me I immediately called the police and rushed knife wanting to frighten her and forced her shortly before I opened my car door. He to check on her. When I arrived there, the to throw the purse on the floor, but then I held a knife in my face and ordered me police had already arrived and her body stabbed her in her shoulder, took the purse to give up my belongings. Afraid, I threw and clothes were soaked in blood. I tried to and ran away.” my purse on the ground. He pushed me calm her down. She told the police that the Prosecutors charged Justin with to the floor, and when I tried to stand up, attacker stole her wallet and my wallet as premeditated attempt to murder the he stabbed me in the back and escaped. I well, which was with her. She stayed in the student and stealing from her Dh5,000 picked my other phone and contacted my hospital for one week and then she stayed and €3,000, plus her credit and ATM friend who I was going to visit,” the student at my place until she left the country,” the cards along with her personal documents. said in her statement. friend told the police. Prosecutors asked the jury to implement The victim’s 42-year-old friend then An Emirati policeman said the police the toughest punishment against the reported the stabbing incident to the identified the defendant within a week. defendant. police. After the defendant was detained, “We raided his workplace in Al Quoz and “I am innocent. I did not stab her with a the victim identified him from his pictures arrested him. The victim identified him knife and I didn’t try to kill her,” said Justin and confirmed to the police that he was the when we showed her his pictures,” said the in a bid to defend himself before the one who attacked her. policeman. Criminal Court. “She was supposed to visit me sometime The Emirati police lieutenant who The Criminal Court sentenced the close to midnight. She was late by around detained the convict testified: “When we accused to three years in jail followed by 25 minutes although she lives nearby. raided his place, we found the victim’s deportation. When the defendant appealed When I called her to check on her, I heard mobile phone in his possession. When we his primary judgment, the appellate court her crying and shouting hysterically. She asked him about the money, he admitted upheld the verdict.

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A liberAtion

mam Sultan bin Saif Al Yaribi was the second Imam of the Yaribi state in Oman. He became the ruler in 1649 after the death of Imam Nasir bin By Dr Faleh hanzal Murshid Al Yaribi, the founder of the dream stateI who fought Portuguese colonialists and broke the barrier of fear in Arabs when he liberated several Omani cities. However, Imam Nasir could not see the last Portuguese soldier leave his homeland, far from the Gulf of Oman. The forces were Imam Sultan formed his army with tribal as Muscat and Matrah were still under the led by the Portuguese commander Roy men and gathered them in an area called invaders’ rule when he died. After his death, Ferreira. Tawa Al Rola, from Matrah to Sad Rawa. fulfilled Imam Sultan, his cousin, was selected ruler When the time for a showdown drew Tawa Al Rola was his base and from the Two dramaTic vicTories led by Imam Sultan by a council of wise Oman men. near, the Portuguese units took defensive area of Seih Al Hermel, he gave his orders bIn SaIf al YarIbI saw all of oman freed from Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yaribi started his positions outside the city of Muscat. The to attack. His men occupied Ber Al Rawya, almosT 150 years of PorTuguese occuPaTion reign by preparing a strategy to confront two famous castles of Muscat housed the but had to retreat soon afterwards because the Portuguese in Muscat and evict them headquarters: food reserves and the coast of heavy Portuguese fire. The second attack from all of Oman. The Portuguese had by artillery. Soldiers were spread out on the met the same fate. The Imam altered his this time colonised a part of India, the main mountains of Al Saali and Makla, and one of plan: he told his men to cease the assault centre of influence being in Goa, on the their best-defended towers was Al Muraba and lay siege to Portuguese bases. west coast. Oman historians say that the (square) Tower overlooking the main route The Portuguese withdrew to their bases, colonial power brought its forces into the to the city. The Portuguese blocked it with and used artillery fire on advancing units, Arab world from this convenient base, not an iron chain. but the Arabs defied them and dared the

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Safe aS houSeS? Alan Macmillan is Director of Security When a property is being constructed, many security Services at Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company concerns remain unaddressed and unidentified due to lack of knowledge and communication

invaders to come out and fi ght duels. The Portuguese did not rise to the challenge. Experience proves that property owners and developers and security consultants can help the owner understand the The siege ended with Imam’s triumph rarely understand the importance of providing effective trade-offs in those demands, it is for the owner to set the when he reached an agreement with the security solutions and, often, the security concept fails to final priorities for the security concept of the project. Indian offi cer in charge of the Portuguese meet operational needs. The key is to creatively blend security with the other ammunition warehouses. This had This is mainly due to lack of knowledge, limited liaison project requirements in a balanced manner. Time and time something with the adage ‘all is fair in love Portuguese historical documents with the client or the end-user, and poor understanding of again I see electronic security systems installed at a facility and war’ – the Indian offi cer deserted the mentioned what happened in Muscat on the actual requirements by the security installer. In addition, which do not serve any operational purpose whatsoever. Portuguese side because the Portuguese January 18, 1650. They said the Viceroy Portuguese out of his own country; he many companies fail to address security manning levels and Once the operational requirement has been identified commander had wanted to marry the Indian in India received a letter that a vessel had sent help to fi ght them elsewhere, too. He standard operational procedures, ultimately leading to and defined, the security design and specifications are then offi cer’s daughter but was rejected. This led arrived from Muscat with 700 soldiers who became furious when a group of African greater expenditure on security technology that receives put together. The specifications, along with a bill of to some hostility between the two men. The managed to escape from the city after Muslims from Mombasa, on the eastern poor ‘human’ response. quantities (BOQ), should ultimately drive the tender process. Indian then contacted Imam Sultan secretly their garrison was attacked. Arab forces coast of Africa, told him about the practices In order to define the levels of protection required There may be certain trade-offs to be made in terms of and told him he was ready to help him take had destroyed the garrison in the castles of the Portuguese and asked for his help. through the effective identification of ‘true risk’ and make price against requirement in order to meet budgetary the garrison. Imam then told the offi cer to completely, the letter said, adding that the Imam sent ships to attack a city north of recommendations for appropriate counter-measures, a constraints. The part of this process which is all too often destroy the ammunition in the warehouses ruler of Muscat fortifi ed his defences but Mombasa and seized it. The ruler of the city, security threat and risk assessment should be conducted. overlooked is what the operational impact of any trade-off on the night of a holiday, when most soldiers was forced to withdraw after being attacked a woman, surrendered and agreed to pay This will fulfil a number of will be. would be intoxicated. In the morning, on July by Omani forces and took refuge in the ‘jizya’ (a tax) to the Omani force. functions and will: Once this impact is known and 20, 1649, Imam off ered the dawn prayers castles; however, he was surprised to see The Omani assault on the colonisers • Provide contextual quantified then a decision needs to be and then asked his men to attack the that Omanis had entered the castles to fi ght continued. In 1656, Omani ships reached perspective to the facility and While architects and made as to whether to accept the garrison. the Portuguese. The garrison commander the city of Diu in India near Bombay and surrounding environment consultants can help risks, transfer the risks to another party According to an Oman historian, the also knew that the Portuguese fl eet in approached the Portuguese base there at • Provide an audit trail for or put other counter-measures Portuguese defences fell like a pack of Muscat had escaped to India and the fl eet night. In the morning, a group of Omanis decisions, designs and plans the project owner (physical, procedural) in place to cards. Arab soldiers reached the walls of commander was in Cochin, South India. The entered the city, hiding their weapons in • Inform and provide a understand security mitigate the impact and probability of the famous Muscat castles, and the most garrison commander asked for help from their clothes. However, a second group was structure for the design and/or trade-offs, it is for the these threats occurring. diffi cult part of the battle was the fi ght with the ruler of the Persian island of Hormuz, discovered by the Portuguese, and a battle security audit of the premises owner to set the final Once a security integrator has been a Portuguese unit in the eastern castle, but received none and thus was forced to ensued. Portuguese soldiers and civilians • Inform and provide a selected, it is important that the led by a Portuguese commander called surrender. escaped to the castle. Facing heavy artillery structure for mitigation measures priorities for the security installation of the equipment is ‘Kabreteih’. He withdrew to the city but was With the fall of Muscat, Oman was fi re from the castle, and having lost many and operational procedures concept project-managed correctly, ensuring later killed with his men. The Portuguese liberated from the Portuguese, who had men, the Omani troops returned to Muscat. • Inform and provide a that the equipment is factory garrison was totally destroyed, and only a entered the country in 1507 and left in 1650. They had much to celebrate, though. platform for the development of contingency plans acceptance tested (FAT), conducting periodic site visits to few soldiers managed to escape and board The Portuguese admitted that the defeat The spoils of war that Imam Sultan got from • Identify potential regional and site-specific threats review and monitor site progress and installation of systems two warships, fl eeing to Matrah. in this battle led to the collapse of their the exit of the Portuguese is said to have • Evaluate the consequences of threats, including loss of to ensure integrity of approved intent, participate in the final Imam Sultan now entered the city and presence in the Arabian Gulf. They were left helped him build the castle of Nazwa, which life and property, economic impact, as well as damage to testing and commissioning of entire systems to ensure offi cially liberated the two famous castles, with one small base in the coastal area in he called Al Shahba. symbolic value, reputation and confidence compliance with approved design documents. Admiral and San Goa, and renamed them Khasb and Kamzar on the Musandam coast. Generally speaking, these victories Physical security is only one of many functions of building Having a risk-led approach and following a simple ‘Al Mirani’ and ‘Al Jalali’. He appointed a Wali After the victory, the people of Oman gave made Omani ships sail in safe waters, reach design and usage. While any project has some element of process will ensure that key stakeholders actually get what (viceroy) for the city, named Saif Balarab Al the name ‘Saheb Al Kaf’ (Owner of camels several Portuguese bases and engage in security in its programme, security must take its place they need and not what they think they need. Yaribi. The Imam then moved fast with his and horses) to Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yaribi, battles with them. among numerous competing demands. While architects men to Matrah to fi ght the Portuguese. The who then turned his attention to the aff airs of Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yaribi died on a Portuguese leader had heard about the the kingdom. Particular attention was given Friday, December 19, 1680, satisfi ed that he battle in Muscat and preferred to surrender. to creating sovereignty in the sea of Oman had liberated his homeland. He was buried So it came to be that all of Oman was rid of and the Indian Ocean. in the mosque of Al Abbad in Nazwa, and The views expressed by 999 columnists are their own and do not invaders. Imam Sultan did not stop at driving the was succeeded by his son, Yaaroub. necessarily reflect those of Ministry of Interior (MoI)

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Who: John F. Kennedy Who: BeniGno ‘ninoy’ aquino The Where: texas, us Where: manila, PhiliPPines When: novemBer 22, 1963 When: auGust 21, 1983

The assassination of Before his flight landed JFK is one of the most in Manila, Benigno dagger spectacular killings in Aquino reportedly told the in the cloak modern history – the accompanying journalists that President and the he knew what a risk he was An AssAssinAtion, the term for the killing of A politicAl leAder or heAd of First Lady Jacqueline taking. “I suppose there’s a stAte, cAn be the work of A solitAry mind or of A mAjor conspirAcy. in Almost Kennedy smiling from physical danger because you All cAses, it mArks A seismic shift in the centre of power. 999 revisits some of their car, excited people know assassination’s [a] part the most infAmous cAses thronging both sides of public service,” he said. “My of their motorcade, the feeling is, we all have to die sudden burst of gunfire, sometime and if it’s my fate to the bodyguard leaping die by an assassin’s bullet, so be Who: Julius Caesar Who: Franz Ferdinand to shield Kennedy, it.” He could not have known Where: rome Where: saraJevo, Bosnia the President already that he would not be able to cross even the runway tarmac to When: marCh 15, 44 B.C. When: June 28, 1914 slumped over. He formally enter his country. A long-time opponent of President was visiting Texas ahead of a likely bid for re-election, but Ferdinand Marcos, Aquino was returning from the United States Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee of the Texas School Book after three years of political exile. As soon as the flight landed, ‘Et tu, Brute?’ These famous last It seldom happens that one man’s Depository, in front of which Kennedy was killed, put paid to he was taken into custody by soldiers and escorted off the plane. words, spoken – according to history killing sparks a world war, but that that. Conspiracy theories later claimed that Oswald – himself Shortly afterwards, witnesses said, gunshots rang out and they – by Roman dictator Julius Caesar is what followed the assassination of shot at point blank range by a nightclub owner during a jail saw Aquino in a pool of blood on the tarmac. Marcos tried to moments before his death have Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a group transfer – was not the assassin at all, and that darker forces had put the blame on a “professional killer”, but no one was buying echoed around the world for over two millennia. The question of Bosnian Serbs. The archduke was been at play. America’s military engagement in Vietnam had that – it was the beginning of the end of the Marcos regime. connotes the ultimate treachery: one friend stabbing another in the heir presumptive to the throne started during JFK’s time, but it was only after his death that Aquino’s widow Corazon was thrust into the limelight and ran the back. The date of the assassination by a group of dissidents, of Austria-Hungary, one of the great the full-scale war erupted. Many believe this could have been for the snap polls in 1986. Marcos officially ‘won’ but had to flee including Caesar’s friend Marcus Brutus, to whom the question world powers of that time, its territory covering a vast swathe prevented had he been alive. in the face of public anger, and Corazon took over the reins of (“You, too, Brutus?”) was addressed, has also come to signify of Europe. The assassins’ objective was to break off the empire’s the government. ominous happenings: the Ides of March was the day Rome’s south Slav provinces, so they could be combined into a Greater greatest statesman fell inside the Theatre of Pompey. It was Serbia. In retaliation, Austro-Hungarian forces invaded Serbia a the perfect setting for Caesar’s protégé Mark Antony to seize month later, and then countries began to be sucked into the war Who: raFiC hariri Who: Benazir Bhutto leadership, turning the sentiment of the populace against the one after the other, marking a four-year-long carnage, the impact conspirators. This was when he delivered his famous speech, of which was felt even in India, a British colony at the time. Where: Beirut, leBanon Where: raWalPindi, PaKistan as dramatised by William Shakespeare: “Friends, Romans, India was ravaged by a famine as the British diverted most food When: FeBruary 14, 2005 When: deCemBer 27, 2007 countrymen, lend me your ears...” resources to the war effort. The former Prime Her achievements as head of state Minister, a man had not been significant, but even Who: mahatma Gandhi credited with so, Benazir Bhutto’s assassination reconstructing shocked the world as she was Where: mumBai, india Beirut after 15 about to make a strong political When: January 30, 1948 years of civil comeback after eight years in war, died when a exile. She had fled Pakistan in massive explosion 1999, facing charges of rampant The 20th century saw three major political leaders assassinated in India, and the one death the nation tore through his corruption. After return, she hoped still mourns the most is of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a.k.a. Mahatma. Less than a year after motorcade in the to lead her party to power again, India booted out the British amid the massive bloodshed of Partition, one Nathuram Godse put three Lebanese capital. The killing led to big political changes in the but was killed by a bullet in the neck at an election rally. Bhutto’s bullets in Gandhi’s chest as he was on his way to a prayer meeting. Godse bowed before Gandhi, then country, triggering the Cedar Revolution, also known as the claim to fame had been her lineage, her stature as the first woman pulled out his pistol and fired. Riots erupted in the aftermath, with thousands of members of Godse’s Independence Intifada, a movement that finally forced Syria to Prime Minister of her country, and her sophisticated upbringing, community – Marathi Brahmins – being set on fire. Even bigger riots followed the assassination of withdraw its troops from Lebanon. By April 2005, three decades which made her the modern face of Pakistan to the world. After Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (no relation to the Mahatma) in 1984 by her own Sikh bodyguard. Her son, Rajiv, a reluctant politician, of Syrian presence in Lebanon came to an end and the way was her death, the sympathy wave carried her husband Asif Ali came into power with a landslide election victory, only to be killed himself in 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber. paved for more free and fair elections. Zardari to power in the 2008 elections.

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here is a saying in an Asian language that roughly translates to: “Value your teeth while you still have them.” As an adage, it refers to the things we take for granted, not Trealising how important they are to us. But even if you look at only the literal meaning, the words are is spot-on. It is only when we are sitting at the dentist’s chamber, waiting to be led to the ‘chair of horror’, that we wish we had paid attention to our oral hygiene. Here is a comprehensive guide to one of the most important, and yet most ignored, aspects of health care. Explain to mE thE tooth anatomy. The different parts of the tooth are the crown (the top part, and the only part you can normally see); the gum line (where the tooth and the gums meet); the root (the part that is embedded in the bone, making up about two-thirds of the tooth and holding the tooth in place); the enamel (the outermost layer of the tooth, it is also the hardest, most mineralised tissue in the body, but can fall prey to decay); the dentin (the layer under the enamel that has tiny tubes leading to the dental pulp); and the pulp (the soft tissue in the centre of each tooth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are). Bullet-proof The shape of the crown indicates the function of the tooth – the sharp-edged incisors are for cutting, the piercing canines are for tearing, and the flat, corrugated pre-molars and molars are for your oral grinding. What nasty things can happEn insidE my mouth? Without proper cleaning, plaque and tartar build-up in the gum hygiene line can lead to gingivitis (bleeding gums) and other diseases. If decay sets into the enamel and moves deeper into the dentin, you are just one step away from debilitating pain, which starts as soon Being careless with as the cavity hits the nerves in the pulp. Dental caries, or tooth decay, is the most common cause of tooth loss among children. dental care can Periodontal diseases, those that attack the gums and the bone structure, are the most common cause among adults. Rotting cause anything from food in the mouth can also lead to an embarrassing condition tooth loss called halitosis, which we all know as ‘bad breath’. What is plaquE and Why is it so Evil? to cardiac trouBle. Plaque is a thin, colourless, sticky film containing bacteria that forms on the teeth. These bacteria feed on carbohydrates, such as Prevention is easy sugars and starches, to produce an acid that attacks the enamel. Which means, teeth left unclean, especially after a sugary snack, and simPly needs becomes a hotbed of such bacteria. Repeated acid attacks break down the enamel and a cavity appears. If the cavity is not filled disciPline and oral hygiene remains bad, the acid attacks continue, letting

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the cavity go deeper into the dentin, and flossing, as recommended by the ADA. where decay spreads through the dental Know your dental health tools structure. To brush: Place your toothbrush at a These acid attacks begin immediately 45-degree angle against the gums. Move after every meal or snack and last about the brush back and forth gently in short 20 to 30 minutes. This is why it is important (tooth-wide) strokes. Brush the outer tooth to rinse your mouth after you eat, or at surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the least swill a bit of water around your chewing surfaces of the teeth. Use the ‘toe’ mouth, washing away as much of the of the brush to clean the inside surfaces food particles as possible. Bits of cake, of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and- doughnut, etc are harder to dislodge as down stroke. Brush your tongue to remove they are sticky, so brush the teeth as soon bacteria and freshen your breath. as possible after eating them. To floss: Break off about 18 inches of floss What can plaquE do to thE gums? and wind most of it around one of your Plaque build-up leads to a hard deposit middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss called tartar. Over time, this irritates the around the same finger of the opposite gums, causing gingivitis, and can also hand. This finger will take up the floss create a gap between the teeth and gums as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly where food gets trapped, accelerating between your thumbs and forefingers. the rate of decay and loosening the teeth. Guide the floss between your teeth using Ultimately, this destroys the gums and a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the There are so many products in the market use water as the cleansing fluid, instead bone supporting the teeth. floss into the gums. When the floss reaches these days. How to know which one of a chemical agent. the gum line, curve it into a ‘C’ shape works best for you? We give you an idea. doEs fluoridE toothpastE hElp? against one tooth. Gently slide it into the Mouthwashes and fluoride mouth Fluoride has long been considered a space between the gum and the tooth. Power toothbrushes: They are less rinses potent weapon in fighting plaque. The Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. work for a user and children can find A mouthwash is a breath freshner, but American Dental Association (ADA) Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the them fun, but they are not more effective it does not clean teeth, so it is certainly floss away from the gum with up-and-down than manual toothbrushes when it comes not a substitute for brushing at night, endorses fluoride toothpastes and so check with your dentist if a toothpaste motions. Repeat this method on the rest of to getting food debris out. However, they as some people believe it is. Most recommends community water fluoridation. without fluoride can do the same job as a your teeth. Do not forget the back of your may be better at getting rid of tooth stain, mouthwashes contain compounds that Fluoride compounds are present naturally fluoridated one. last tooth. as their scrubbing effect is superior to are not suitable for children below six, in water, soil and some foods. ADA says: manual toothbrushes. If you have an arm as such small children can swallow the “Fluoridation of community water supplies hoW should i Brush? and What is or shoulder problem, this is a good aid. fluid. A mouthwash is not the solution for is simply the adjustment of the existing, flossing? a child’s chronic bad breath. Halitosis can naturally occurring fluoride levels in We all know we should brush twice a day. Oral irrigation devices be a symptom of a bigger problem, so drinking water to an optimal fluoride level But we are often lazy about replacing the Some dental health experts now say see a doctor. recommended by the US Public Health toothbrush even when the bristles are that oral irrigation devices, also known A fluoride mouth rinse coats the teeth Service (0.7 to 1.2 parts per million) for worn and frayed. Such a toothbrush is as ‘water picks’, should become a with fluoride, which reduces the risk of the prevention of tooth decay. Water not so effective at cleaning, so replacing regular part of dental care. Studies have cavities. But this should be used only on that has been fortified with fluoride is the brush every two to three months is shown that such a device can bring a dentist’s recommendation. If a child is similar to fortifying milk with Vitamin D, recommended by dentists. down gum inflammation. It is also useful cavity-prone, the doctor may prescribe its table salt with iodine, and bread and Flossing is meant to get rid of food for children with braces or other type of use once or twice a day. The child should cereals with folic acid.” However, recent bits that remain even after brushing. It is orthodontics who might find brushing be given it only if he or she is old enough research has suggests that fluoride in large ‘interdental’ care, meant to clean the parts difficult. These devices do not remove to understand that the liquid must be spat quantities can be toxic. Ingested fluoride between teeth that a brush cannot reach. plaque, but researchers claim that they out. Ingested fluoride can be dangerous, is considered dangerous, though topical But this has to be done carefully to avoid can reduce the thickness of plaque. so never allow the child to use the rinse fluoride (as in toothpaste) can prevent hurting the gums. When using an oral irrigation device, without supervision. decay. There is no clear consensus yet, There is a technique to both brushing

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Dr Gary Gomez, Dental Surgeon at Al Jorf Medical Centre talks to 999 about maximising your dental care Q&A protect your pearlies

you may dress to impress, but without Renowned as a safe and inexpensive way to get rid of stains, sodium bicarbonate may also make your teeth whiter through its gentle clean white teeth and fresh breath, the abrasive action. Sprinkle baking soda on top of toothpaste, or add directly to your toothbrush. Do not use it daily, as it may harm the battle is as good as lost. so upgrade your enamel. dental care regimen today and let your Hydrogen peroxide mouth rinse: Approved by the FDA as a mouth rinse, 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide may be your ticket to whiter teeth. mouth speak for itself If you remember the joke about ‘peroxide blondes’, you will not be suprised to learn that hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. In A great smile gets you noticed anywhere. It can get you romance, a this case, it attacks stubborn dental stains by degrading their new job, or friends. On the flipside, rotten teeth and halitosis are molecules. Dentists use hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth, although deal-breakers. After all, a person who will not even take care of their at a stronger concentration. Use the same amount as a normal own 32 teeth cannot be expected to be good at anything else, right? mouthwash, swirling it around your mouth for at least 30 seconds So it is a mystery why most of us are so listless about dental care. We before spitting it out. Be careful not to swallow hydrogen peroxide. are careless even when we start getting cavities and – after a brief period of panic and vigilance – quickly forget the lessons. But a few How many times sHould a person see a dentist in a minutes a day are all your teeth need to serve you for a lifetime. 4year, even witHout any specific problems? You might be taking excellent care of your teeth and gums, but you still How long sHould one brusH one’s teetH to really need to visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist can check for 1clean it? problems that you may not see or feel. Many dental problems do not You should brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, in a circular motion. become visible or cause pain until they are in more advanced stages. Placing the bristles at the back of your lower teeth, turn your brush to Examples include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. Regular visits a 45-degree angle and use upward strokes to loosen the plaque. Do allow your dentist to find early signs of disease, so the problems can be the same for your upper row of teeth, but use a downward stroke.You treated at a manageable stage. should brush your teeth at least twice a day. And if you cannot brush On an average, seeing a dentist twice a year works well for most after every meal, drink water or chew a piece of sugar-free gum to people. A few people with very healthy teeth and gums can get away keep your teeth clean and healthy. Also, make sure that you floss at with one visit. Those with a high risk of dental disease might need to least once a day. visit every three or four months, or more frequently. This high-risk group includes: smokers; diabetics; people with current gum disease; does flossing daily reduce tHe risk of gum problems? people with weak immune response to bacterial infection; people who 2Flossing daily removes plaque and other debris that brushing alone tend to get cavities or build up plaque. cannot get rid of. By flossing daily, you increase the chances of keeping In times of stress or illness, you may need to see the dentist more your teeth for a lifetime and cut the risk of developing gum problems. It often than usual. The dentist may help you fight off a temporary can even help you cure bad breath. infection or treat changes in your mouth. Ask your family dentist the best schedule for your routine visits. wHat is a quick remedy to wHiten one’s teetH? 3There are several natural alternatives that produce quick results wHy are tHe last molars called wisdom teetH? without using harsh agents. However, even these home remedies 5They are so called because they appear so late – usually at the age must not be overused, or the dental enamel will be damaged. of 17-25 years – much later than the other teeth, at an age where Baking soda brushing: This method is for quickly brightening teeth. people are supposedly wiser than they were as a child.

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JUmeirah man tUrns to the sUn neCessity Caden’s home is powered by 38 solar reALLy is panels installed discreetly out of view from The cacTus the mother the street. “I’ve totally gone off district of invention cooling from last month (April),” said Caden, and the neem tree – or of a Westerner who has lived in Dubai for innovation. 15 years. “This (solar power) is invaluable Drought-tolerant plants suited to the UAE climate Fed up with because it gives me control over the quality survive, while exotic imports wither quickly fi ghts with his of my life.” Caden estimates that he would developer over cooling costs, a resident of recover his Dh176,500 investment in energy eco-clUb Jumeirah Islands has installed solar units to savings over the next fi ve years. He also keep his home cool, using the same source wanted to reduce his carbon footprint: “That drive against A neem (mArgosA) tree in An of energy that makes outside temperatures was one of my aims. It’s not just to keep the abandoned housing complex in Jebel Ali soar. cost down. It’s nice to know that you can FiZZy drinKs Village, Dubai, provides a clue to which The 20-ton chiller unit that cools Tony increase the use of alternative energy.” plants the UAE should focus on if it wants AerAteD DrinKs give you a sugar rush, to create green areas in this desert country. but in the long run, they are very damaging Not far from this neem tree is another plant for one’s health, and the containers are even that has the reputation of ruling the desert a trUly green ride more damaging for the environment. but apparently could not survive the loss of Eco-Clubs in schools have been formed irrigation when residents moved away. insteAD oF letting all the litter pile up as part of the Sustainable Schools Initiative The housing complex lost its residents into a waste mountain, Etihad Railway launched by the Environment Agency – Abu after the global slowdown of 2008. It is has decided to use 750,000 tonnes of Dhabi in 2009. The initiative targets students, located near the Ibn Battuta Mall and was recycled material to lay the tracks in its parents, teachers, administrative and due for redevelopment, but that never fi rst phase connecting Shah and . non-teaching staff , urging them to promote happened. The people left, the irrigation to Thiess Services Middle East, under a sustainability. the garden plants was cut off and most of 15-year deal with Abu Dhabi’s Centre Student members of the Eco-Club at them withered and died. One of the of Waste Management, is operating a Islamia English School, Abu Dhabi, have casualties is a cactus, a plant that is thought recycling plant that will supply aggregate not only been collecting soft drinks cans to be able to live in the most arid generated from construction waste in for recycling, but also curbed their own conditions. Seems it cannot. But within just Al Dhafra to the railway builder Al Jaber consumption of fi zzy drinks, too, after yards of this dead cactus stands the neem Group. The Centre of Waste Management quality of the material. “Our requirements watching a video on the health hazards. tree, its leaves green, its trunk as tall as the said that the Thiess Recycling Plant was for recycled aggregates are as stringent Mohammad Bilal, 15, the president of villa. It is doing fine without any irrigation. It the fi rst of its kind in the Middle East and as those for any other sources of the Eco-Club, said that after watching the is one of the several plants that have used modern and eco-friendly technology. material,” he said. “We are looking for video, pupils had cut down on their favourite survived despite no artificial water supply. Najib Arnous, Contracting Director of Al very high quality materials, technical soft drinks. Bilal himself has slashed his The neem tree is famous in India for its combination of desalinated water and manual describes the neem as an Jaber’s transport and general contracting performance and environmental consumption from two-three cans or bottles a tremendous medicinal value – extracts are treated wastewater. Acknowledging this, “excellent urban tree for streets, public arm, said there had been no slip in the benefi ts.” week to just one or two a month. used in everything from soap and the urban planning council has issued new plazas and parks. Which are very toothpaste to herbal medication, and twigs planting rules for the emirate’s future public successful in Al Ain.” The Indian banyan from its branches (miswaak) are considered areas. The UAE may now look closer at tree is also recommended as a “good very good tooth cleaners. In the UAE, India, a country with large parts of blistering street and park tree, providing dense satellites FolloW dUgong movements experts ranging from horticulturalists to hot, dry regions, where the local flora have shade in a climate where shade is critical”. those in the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning adapted to this climate. Among the survivor Besides species selection, the UAE is sCientists At the Environment Agency Council are saying that the neem and plants of Jebel Ali Village is an Indian focusing on more efficient irrigation. Abu – Abu Dhabi are tracking the movement Arabian Gulf and to gain information that similarly drought-tolerant species are banyan tree, which has now created its Dhabi aims to replace desalinated water and habitat use of four dugongs that are will enhance regional co-operation on equally valuable here. own offspring. altogether with treated wastewater. The tagged with satellite transmitters. The conservation measures. Abu Dhabi is looking to change the way Of the several species that have survived Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is large marine mammals are in the waters Dugongs are a globally endangered gardens are created and nurtured. Plants in this complex, many are in the Planning using a drip-irrigation system buried about off the UAE’s Marine Protected Area species. Tracking them will yield data from wetter, cooler climates may briefly add Council’s rule book, the Abu Dhabi Public 40 cm around the reserve’s date palms; of Al Yasat Island and Marawah Marine not only about the dugongs themselves rich colour to a garden, but they are Realm Design Manual, which stipulates that this prevents evaporation during surface Biosphere Reserve. These two sites but also about the state of the marine ultimately totally unsuitable here. Plus, they 80 per cent or more of the plants used in irrigation. Such measures and more will were selected for their close proximity ecosystem around UAE, making the are a huge drain on the UAE water public area landscaping must be locally- help the UAE conserve the world’s most to the Qatar border, in order to better government better informed while framing resources, as they need irrigation using a occurring, drought-tolerant species. The valuable resource: water. understand dugong migration within the policy.

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Join the green- Geothermal enerGy Could slash uK’s promising sectors collar brigade power bills A new study says that initial subsidies Green sectors are set to create millions of new jobs. it mAy You can prepare for a new, improved to geothermal technology would rapidly 999 lists the promising green sectors that can be that earth by exploring the option of becoming cut the UK’s energy costs once the sites nothing matters to a ‘green-collar’ professional. We bring you are developed. The energy produced by generate the greatest number of jobs by 2020 people more than a primer on the careers in this changing these geothermal sites would be equal to money and so most world order. The definition of green jobs the output of nine nuclear power stations. of us fail to take note here is based on the U.S. Department of Sufficient subsidy, however, is not yet being 10 of environmental Labor’s Occupational Information Network. given to this technology, said the report. Renewable energy generation Energy trading Manufacturing degradation as we Geothermal power stations use water Related to developing and Related to buying and Related to industrial should. But one look green careers pumped down to hot rocks under the earth using energy sources such selling energy as an manufacturing of green at the purely monetary benefits of green A green career is any occupation that returns to the surface heated, fuelling as solar, wind, geothermal, economic commodity, as technology as well as technologies would show anybody that involving energy conservation, developing electricity generation or heating any space. and biomass. This sector also well as carbon trading energy efficient taking care of the planet also makes a lot alternative energy, reducing pollution, or There are potential sites for geothermal includes traditional, non- projects. manufacturing of financial sense. recycling. There are three main groups in power spread throughout the UK, from renewable sources of energy processes. At the end of May, a report by the green careers, as listed below. Cornwall to the Lake District, East Yorkshire, undergoing significant green Green Jobs Initiative – a joint effort by the Higher demand green occupations Northern Ireland and Scotland. Not only is 19technological changes (e.g., 5 United Nations Environment Programme, In these fields, the job duties are more this energy renewable, but it can also back oil, coal, gas, and nuclear). the International Labor Organisation, the or less the same as in a high-carbon up other sources of renewable energy, such International Trade Union Confederation, economy but the fields will grow because as wind and the sun. and The International Employers of the increased demand for green goods The study found that geothermal could Transportation Energy and carbon capture and storage Recycling and waste reduction Organisation – said that tens of millions and services. Job examples are: drivers, supply 9.5GW of electricity, about 20 per of new jobs could be created if the world needed to meet an increased demand cent of the UK’s current demand, and also Related to increasing Related to capturing and Related to solid moved towards low-carbon economies; for public transit; agricultural inspectors, 100GW of heat, enough for the whole of the efficiency and/or storing energy and/or waste and reducing environmental carbon emissions, as well wastewater this would happen in the next two decades required to keep an eye on organic country’s space heating needs. impact of various modes as technologies related to management and if green policies were put in place to switch and sustainable farming techniques; of transportation, power plants using the treatment, as well from a high-carbon economy to a low- construction workers, needed to work on California tuna including trucking, mass integrated Gasification as processing carbon one, it said. The study estimated green construction or retrofitting projects. transit and rail. Combined Cycle (IGCC) recyclable materials. that the number of new jobs could be as lovers shun sushi 2 6 technique. 10 high as 60 million, even after taking into Changing skills green occupations account any job losses in high-carbon These fields are adding new tasks or for radiation fears Energy efficiency Research, design, and consulting services industries that failed to make the switch. speciality areas to existing job roles in yet another reminder that no country is because of the demand for green goods immune to the fallout of environment damage Related to making Related to ‘indirect jobs’ and services. Examples are: construction elsewhere in the world, radiation traces from energy demand in the green economy, response more effective, including activities such managers, who may need to learn more the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan the green constructing ‘smart as energy consulting or about green construction and retrofitting; have been found off the US coast, forcing grids’, and so on. research and other payroll public relations specialists, who may sushi lovers to forgo their favourite dish. related business In the US, there are now about three million need to develop expertise in marketing Regulars at Los Angeles restaurants services. green jobs, in sectors such as wind power green products or services; farmers, who such as Sarku Japan are concerned that 3 7 and energy efficiency, the Green Jobs may need to expand sustainable farming the radiation might have contaminated the Initiative study found. In the UK, the number practices. fish in their sushi. “It’s concerning. You don’t Green construction Agriculture and forestry is close to one million and this has been one want food, to glow,” said a diner. A study Related to constructing Related to using natural of the few areas of the economy that has new green occupations published in the Proceedings of the National been creating jobs despite the deep new green buildings, pesticides, efficient land These are occupations that are emerging Academy of Sciences journal found bluefin retrofitting residential management or farming, recession. There are about 500,000 people because of green trends. Examples are: tuna contaminated with radiation believed working in green jobs in Spain. In the and commercial and aquaculture. energy auditors, who conduct audits to to be from Fukushima Daiichi, the Japanese developing world, too, the number is growing buildings, and installing determine how energy-efficient homes or nuclear reactor that was badly affected by rapidly – about 7 per cent of the people other green employed in Brazil, amounting to three buildings are; chief sustainability officers, the huge earthquake in 2011. Tiny amounts of construction technology. million people, are now in the green who oversee green activities at their caesium-137 and caesium-134 were detected 4 8 economy. organisations; wind energy engineers, who in 15 bluefin caught near San Diego, in design and develop wind farm systems. California waters, last August.

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TAKE A PEEK AT THE NEWEST MUST HAVE HIGH-TECH ELECTRONIC DEVICES MAKE A DASH FOR IT ECO-FRIENDLY READING MOST OF US long thought it was stupid to hook up your iPhone to a car stereo that then makes you use its THE SOLAR Kindle cover lights up your e-reader screen without drawing power from the Kindle convoluted control system instead of the iPhone itself. The itself. The cover’s built-in LED reading lamp turns on automatically when released from its Devium Dash is a new in-dash car stereo that is built housing, and turns off when pressed back into place, or when the Kindle goes into sleep mode. around a faceplate made to accomodate an iPhone or iPod The Kindle is easily secured to the cover simply by slipping it into the form-fitting interior case and touch, securing it in an aluminum and plastic cradle while pressing it into place. No other straps, latches, or catches are used. Removing the Kindle from the giving you full access to the touchscreen and all your apps. case is just as easy – simply insert a small, thin, non-metallic object into one of the slots on the Other features of the Dash include a double-din body, 50W side of the case and gently release the Kindle. An integrated reserve battery runs the LED lamp x 4 output with 2 preamp outputs, and your choice of for up to 50 hours continuously without using Kindle’s main battery. Optionally, the integrated standard aluminum or anodised black or white finishes. reserve battery can transfer its energy to the Kindle main battery and extend reading time. Price: From $349 (Dh1,282) Price: $79.99 (Dh294) www.devium.us www.amazon.com

HEAR, HEAR

GO GOLFING ANYWHERE THESE KOSS Strivia headphones are available in over-ear Pro and in-ear Tap models. Each uses built-in Wi-Fi to receive music directly from the Internet, working in conjunction with the new MyKoss service to deliver audio JUST WAVE YOUR HAND streams without the need for a middleman. If you want to LEAP MOTION has launched what is claims is “the world’s receive music from your smartphone or tablet, you can do most accurate” 3D motion control device. The four-inch that, too, of course, courtesy of the included Cap camera plugs into your computer via USB. It tracks motion headphone jack adapter. in 3D space from your fingers, pencil or other objects you place in its line of sight. The Leap lies flat on your desk and Price: From $500 (Dh1,836) “creates a three-dimensional interaction space of 4 cubic www.koss.com feet to control a computer more precisely and quickly than a mouse or touchscreen”, the company says.

Price: $69.99 (Dh257) www.leapmotion.com YOUR PHONE IS TOAST!

CAMPING COMPANION THERE ARE LOTS of iPhone docks, but this one will make KILL TWO CAMPING birds with a single stone, thanks to the you smile. The Day Maker is an iPhone-charging alarm clock SAY HELLO to the Nike Golf 360º app. This slick new app is PowerPot. Using thermoelectric power generation, the toaster that gives you two slots for charging two iPhones divided up into four sections – My Game, which lets you track PowerPot uses the heat from your cooking – it’s a at once – just set your alarm and press them down. When your scoring and statistics; My Swing, where you can compare camping-style cooking pot – to run a 5W it’s time to wake up, they’ll pop up just like toast, making for and upload video of your swing, and even receive personal generator that can power up to 2-3 USB devices at an enjoyable start to your day – and if you need extra time, coaching from Nike Swoosh Staff members; My Body, which a time. Food and gadgets – what could be better just push them back down to snooze. Other features helps you get into golf shape; and My Gear, where you can keep on your next trip into the wilderness? include a built-in, self-setting analogue clock for your track of what’s in your bag and receive recommendations on middle of the night waker-uppers, stereo sound with the new gear – all of which sync with a companion website. Think of Price: From $149 (Dh547) ability to play back music via the iPod app, and a pull tab on it as your own personal clubhouse. www.thepowerpot.com the back to set and pop both iPhones at once.

Price: Free app Price: From $100 (Dh367) www.nike.com www.habitco.com

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Whatever the financial climate, these books will help you change the game at work and manage your personal wealth better The Science of Live A debT-free Monetise Your Passion reTiring WiTh A SMiLe And hAPPY Life Title: The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future Author: Chris Guillebeau Title: The 7 Most Important Equations for Title: How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Publisher: Crown Business Your Retirement: The Fascinating People Debt, and Live Prosperously*: Based on Price: $23 (Dh84) and Ideas Behind Planning Your Retirement the Proven Principles and Techniques of Income Debtors Anonymous Chained to a desk and dreaming of a life full of fun that also pays for itself? Guillebeau promises to Author: Moshe A. Milevsky Author: Jerrold Mundis get you just that. He has travelled the world, never had a ‘real job’ and a monthly pay cheque. But he Publisher: Wiley Publisher: Bantam Price: $24.95 (Dh92) has a talent for turning ideas into income, so the money keeps coming. And there are so many more Price: $15 (Dh53) who are living proof that you can follow your passion, start small and get rich. To write this book, the author identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest this is not just some Cut-and-dried advice. The author presents retirement investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group he has picked the 50 most intriguing case planning as no less than a science, and highlights the work of seven scholars – Whether you are Currently in studies. In most cases, these are people who discovered aspects of their personal passions that could summarised by seven equations – who, he says, shaped all modern retirement debt or fear you’re falling into it, you be monetised. You don’t need an MBA, a business plan or even a staff. All you need is a product or calculations. They are Leonardo Fibonnaci, the Italian businessman; Benjamin are not alone. Millions of people in service that springs from what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get paid. Gompertz, the gentleman actuary; Edmund Halley, the astronomer; Irving Fisher, the all walks of life have seen their debt stock jock; Paul Samuelson, the economic guru; Solomon Heubner, the insurance mountain grow, causing both mental and marketing visionary; and Andrey Kolmogorov, the Russian mathematical genius. stress and practical difficulties. Here is Social media Success The PoWer of The Mind Synergy rules a step-by-step guide to getting out of debt once and for all. The book tells you: how to recognise the warning Title: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy Title: Think and Grow Rich: The Secret to Title: How Winning Works: signs of serious debt; how to negotiate World Wealth Updated for the 21st Century 8 Essential Leadership with angry creditors and collection Author: Michael Hyatt Author: Napoleon Hill Lessons from the Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publisher: Tribeca Books Toughest Teams on agencies; how to design a realistic Price: $24.99 (Dh92) Price: $12.80 (Dh47) Earth and painless payback schedule; how Author: Robyn demistify to identify your spending blind spots; to be suCCessful in the market this has been a Benincasa how to cope with the anxiety and daily today, you must possess two strategic bestseller for decades. Publisher: Harlequin financial pressures of owing money. It is written assets: a compelling product and a The book examines Price: $26.95 (Dh99) with the Americans in mind, but the meaningful platform. In this step-by-step the power of personal Puzzles principles apply to readers anywhere. guide, the author, a top business blogger, beliefs and the role if aChievement Can be likened Title: Worth It... Not Worth It? Simple takes readers behind the scenes, into the they play in personal to an extreme sport, then the author & Profitable Answers to Life’s Tough new world of social media success. He success. “What the mind is the right person to dispense advice. Financial Questions shows you what of man can conceive and In her 15-year career as a professional Author: Jack Otter bestselling authors, believe, it can achieve,” adventure racer, Benincasa has biked Publisher: Business Plus public speakers, is one of Hill’s hallmark through jungles, climbed mountains, Price: $19.99 (Dh73) entrepreneurs, expressions. How trekked across lava fields, rafted rapids. musicians and achievement actually occurs, and a formula She is also a firefighter and a noted We often faCe a dilemma on every major financial transaction. Credit or debit? Rent or other creative for it that puts success within reach of the speaker on the subject of teamwork buy a house? Buy or lease a car? Buy stocks or mutual funds? The right answers all seem to people are doing average person are the topics of his writing. and leadership. In this book, she shares require complicated research. The book demystifies these complex, real-world dilemmas and differently to win Though the title talks of growing rich, it is the eight essential elements that create breaks the answers down into simple ‘do this/not that’ solutions. Organised around six basic customers in not just about money – the author says that synergy with all the teammates in your topics – getting started, shelter, automotive, investing, family matters, and retirement – this today’s crowded the philosophy taught in the book can be life, from colleagues and customers to book aims to be the Swiss Army knife of personal finance. marketplace. applied to succeed in anything. family members and friends.

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CanCer by the numbers John Allen Paulos is Professor of It is not easy to weigh cancer’s dangers against the Mathematics at Temple University and the author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the cumulative effects of radiation from dozens of mammograms Newspaper over the years

t is difficult to communicate medical risk to a large Consider the following hypothetical example. Assume audience, especially when official recommendations that the screening test for a certain cancer is 95 per conflict with emotional narratives. That is why, when cent accurate, meaning that if someone has the cancer, Ithe United States Preventive Services Task Force the test will be positive 95 per cent of the time. Next, (USPSTF) in 2009 presented its guidelines for breast assume that if someone does not have the cancer, the cancer screening, which recommended against routine test will be positive only 1 per cent of the time. screenings for asymptomatic women in their 40s and Finally, assume further that 0.5 per cent of people – biennial, rather than annual, mammograms for women one of every 200 – actually have this type of cancer. over 50, the public responded with confused fury. If your doctor tells you that you have tested positive, The key to understanding this response is to be found in does this mean that you are likely to have the cancer? the nebulous zone between mathematics and psychology. Surprisingly, the answer is no. People’s discomfort with the findings stemmed largely A little arithmetic shows why. Suppose that 100,000 from faulty intuition: if earlier and more frequent screening screenings are conducted. On average, 500 people increases the likelihood of will have the cancer. Since 95 detecting a possibly fatal cancer, per cent of them will test positive, then more screening is always there will be, on average, 475 desirable. If more screening When it comes to positive tests. Of the 99,500 can detect breast cancer in policymaking, decisions people without cancer, 1 per asymptomatic women in their 40s, must be based on facts cent will test positive, yielding wouldn’t it also detect cancer in and argument, not 995 false positives out of 1,470 women in their 30s? And, if so, why positive tests. In other words, not begin monthly mammograms anecdotes and stories, even if you tested positive for the at age 15? however compelling cancer, the probability that you The answer, of course, is that those narratives may be actually have it is only about 32 such intensive screening would per cent. cause more harm than good. But striking the proper That answer is decidedly counterintuitive and hence balance is challenging. Unfortunately, it is not easy to easy to reject. Most people do not think in terms of weigh breast cancer’s dangers against the cumulative probabilities other than “50-50” and “one in a million.” effects of radiation from dozens of mammograms over the But, whatever the probabilities, the fact remains that years, the invasiveness of biopsies, and the debilitating there will generally be a high percentage of false impact of treating slow-growing tumors that would never positives when screening for rare conditions. Moreover, have proven fatal. the patients who receive these faulty diagnoses will The Dartmouth researchers found that, of the estimated usually receive further treatments, which often will have 138,000 breast cancers detected annually in the US, the harmful consequences. test did not help 120,000-134,000 of the afflicted women. But the bottom line is that the ongoing reevaluation The cancers either were growing so slowly that they did of cancer screening is evidence-based. When it comes not pose a problem, or they would have been treated to policymaking, decisions must be based on facts successfully if discovered clinically later, or they were so and argument, not anecdotes and stories, however aggressive that little could be done. compelling those narratives may be.

The views expressed by 999 columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ministry of Interior (MoI)

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The hoTTesT new inTernaTional movie releases coming soon To a cinema near you

Brave ToTal reCall Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell Director: Len Wiseman voices: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly Starring: Colin Farrell, Bill Nighy, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale movie type: Animation, Action, Adventure movie type: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Ever since the karate-kicking Princess Fiona (Shrek) came on the scene, princes have somewhat The original film directed by Paul Verhoeven is an ‘almost classic’, one that has endured in lost their shine, having been elbowed out of pop culture by ‘action woman’ princesses. The new public memory, but for what, precisely, is not clear – certainly it was not for lead star Arnold girl with flaming hair is Merida (Kelly Macdonald), who wants to make her own path in life, and so Schwarzenegger’s acting chops. The plot, based on a Phillip K. Dick short story, is one to defies custom, and brings chaos – predictably – to her kingdom. Granted one wish, she must rely which Colin Farrell is much better suited. Douglas Quaid (Farrell) lives a normal, humdrum life on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. The film is set in Scotland, which has from which he seeks escape and excitement through a mind-trip of implanted memories as a always been fertile ground for mythical beasts, so Merida has plenty of work to do. superspy. Turns out that Douglas is probably an actual spy, and he is not sure if he is on the side of Euromerica or New Shanghai, two nation states fighting for supremacy in a new world.

The Dark knighT riSeS The oDD life of TimoThy green Director: Christopher Nolan Director: Peter Hedges Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy Starring: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Cameron ‘CJ’ Adams movie type: Action, Crime, Drama movie type: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

It would take a woman to upstage Batman. So the character that everyone is looking forward Cindy (Garner) and Jim Green (Edgerton) are frustrated with their inability to have a baby, so they to in this new instalment is Catwoman – that would be Anne Hathaway flicking her figurative make a wish – one night they dream up their ideal offspring and write the child’s characteristics and feline tail while Batty does his usual stuff in the background. No one has been able to – and life events on pieces of paper, including “scoring the winning goal”. The couple places the notes in we doubt that anyone ever can – play Catwoman as well as Michelle Pfeiffer did in Batman a box and buries them in their backyard. After a stormy night, a 10-year-old arrives at their doorstep, Returns (1992); she was born with the look, the body, the attitude, the stare... But the gorgeous claiming the Greens as his own. Soon they realise that the child, Timothy, is far more special than they Anne at least fills the catsuit very nicely. Aside from this, the plot goes as it always does: a originally thought. This is good stuff for young viewers. new supervillain (Tom Hardy) is in town, Batman must show up and save Gotham, doing the noble thing even though the city sees him as an enemy.

The Bourne legaCy Director: Tony Gilroy Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton movie type: Action, Adventure, Thriller The Campaign Director: Jay Roach Great spies never retire; they just fiddle with some other job before doing the run-chase-shoot Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis thing again. So, in the book, Jason Bourne, who had for a while become a professor of linguistics, movie type: Comedy resurfaces when a bullet just misses his head. That was first plot in which Eric van Lustbader took up the Bourne series from where Robert Ludlum had left off. The man in this movie is not our old What can a director not do with two such A-listers of slapstick comedy (helped by the rather JB, though. His name is Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), but his life is more or less like Bourne’s and droll Sudeikis) And if that director happens to have also made Meet the Parents, Meet the he is “a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum’s novels”. New name, same Fockers and two Austin Powers movies, you can safely hand over the cash for the popcorn game. Would you even notice the change? The part that really matters is that Jeremy Renner and settle down for some big laughs. In the plot, two rival North Carolina politicians with makes a good rugged spy. presidential aspirations tangle with one another. Nothing too deep here, but Ferrell and Galifianakis are masters of comic timing, so this should give abundant entertainment.

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Help your children understand that for Muslims, rewards don’t necessarily always come in this life. They may have to wait for the bigger and better rewards STRATegIeS To of the hereafter. 4. hiGhLiGht the biG 16STEPS educATe kIdS ThIS ideas Ask yourself how many equations or formulas you remember from your TO A Grade 12 math textbook. It may be fi ve, HEALTHYRamadan two, or none. Let’s be honest – most of us retained very little of the details we The fasT of Ramadan is RigoRous duRing The besT of learned. Children will not retain all the Times. duRing long and hoT summeR days, as iT is This fi qh rulings of zakah, wudu’, or Salah, yeaR, The fasT is ReQuiRed To be obseRved foR as many and they won’t need to! as fifTeen houRs. To ensuRe adeQuaTe nuTRiTion and Make sure the little that they retain is exactly what you want them to conTinued good healTh, folloW These Tips: remember. Focus on the big ideas, such as the awareness that Allah  Even if you are generally healthy, recognise that the Ramadan is watching us, that we get our rulings from the Qur’an and the Ramadan fast will take a toll. Plan your schedule and meals Sunnah, and that Prayer is a means of self-purifi cation, etc. Repeat ahead of time in order to make sure you get the nutrients, these ideas every day in diff erent ways. hydration, and rest that you need  Eat suhoor just prior to dawn. Yes, it’s hard to get up at that The many aspecTs of Ramadan – fasTing, pRayeRs, moRal values, chaRiTy, QuR’an, 5. Let them Lead hour, which is why it has many benefi ts and rewards. It will help family, and eid – pRovide a valuable oppoRTuniTy To TRain kids. WheTheR They aRe youR Children often take responsibilities more seriously than adults. you to wake up for the Fajr prayer. The suhoor meal is Sunnah, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) appointed Usamah ibn Zayd who was a and this morning meal is generally recognised as the single oWn kids oR of oTheRs’ in The family, educaTion isn’T an auTomaTic oR easy pRocess. young boy at the time, as commander of the Muslim army although most important meal of the day childRen don’T bRing empTy minds and fill Them WiTh WhaT We say. TRaining ReQuiRes many older and more experienced companions were present. The  Do not overeat during suhoor, though. Focus on taking effoRT, eneRgy, and a feW TechniQues To Take off. heRe aRe some Tips and TechniQues Prophet (PBUH) trusted Usamah’s capability for the position. in foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates and protein, To TRansfoRm youR childRen’s minds and memoRies This Ramadan Give children leadership over important tasks and step out of the fruits or vegetables, and plenty of water. For example: an egg picture. Assign one child to wake up all his siblings for suhoor. Let on whole-grain toast, a few crackers with peanut butter, some someone else be in charge of orange slices, and two glasses of water 2. invoLve their emotions 3. reveaL the PurPose updating the iftar time every evening.  During the hottest part of the day (between 12noon and When children get emotionally involved in an We often hear students complain, “why do Allow the children to plan, budget, 3pm), stay in cool areas (indoors or in shade) and limit your activity, they rarely want to leave it. Video we have to do this?” or “this math exercise is and buy Eid gifts for all the relatives. physical activity. Rest if possible games and TV shows target children’s pointless.” Unfortunately, we often hear Let them choose which task they want  Avoid gorging yourself when breaking the fast at sunset. emotions. As parents, we can use the same responses like “because I’m telling you to,” or to be in charge of. Follow the Sunnah: break your fast with dates and either milk, technique for training. Stories, songs, skits, “because you have to,” or worse, “you’ll get a Allow children to make mistakes water, or fruit juice. After the maghrib prayer, continue with a crafts, and games grab children’s emotions. new CD player if you finish the book.” and realise on their own what they light starter such as soup and crackers. After a long period of Once a child is interested and excited, Like us, if children don’t see the purpose should have done. Experience often fasting, you need to bring your fl uids and blood sugar level up they’re more likely to stay attentive until the or importance of an action, they won’t have trains better than instruction. Once a without overdoing it end and get the message you want to give. the motivation to complete it. To avoid child goes out into the cold without a  During the early evening (after maghrib), have a healthy and Just as we remember events in our lives that getting similar comments from your kids jacket, he’ll remember, before you can balanced dinner. Do not overeat, and be sure to drink a few were emotionally significant, children about prayer or fasting, make sure they remind him, to put on his jacket next time. more glasses of fl uids remember concepts learned through understand the purpose. Before you begin Train kids to be responsible for their own learning. If a child asks,  During the evening hours, resist the temptation to drink 1. Let it be ‘hands-on’ activities that were ‘fun,’ ‘funny,’ ‘exciting,’ or any lesson, whether it’s a story about the “Does brushing teeth break my fast?” a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ may give tea, coff ee, and soda. When visiting friends or family, ask for Children learn by ‘doing.’ On average, ‘different.’ companions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) them the answer, but it won’t provide any long-term training. Ask them glasses of water students retain 75 per cent of a lesson when Don’t be afraid to stir some fun into your or an Eid craft, explain exactly why you are instead, “Where can you look to fi nd that answer? Let’s do some  Serve yourself, your family, and guests a ‘dessert’ of fresh they learn through hands-on activities training – you don’t have to lose any content. doing the activity and what benefits the research.” fruits and nuts. There are lovely choices available in this compared to 5 per cent through a lecture or Write a song about Eid, create a Hadith children will gain from it. Begin the month of Ramadan by asking your children to do a season, and they are much healthier than chocolates and 10 per cent through reading. If, for example, treasure box, organise a Ramadan trivia night, Remind your children that they are doing research project on what breaks the fast and what does not. If they candy. you want to teach your kids the concept of or read a story about Ramadan in Medina. If acts of worship to please Allah, not you. fi nd the information themselves, they are likely to remember it and  Sip on water throughout the evening. Aim for 8 glasses by zakah, get them to help you calculate your the kids enjoy it, they’ll come back for more. Explain why we need to please Allah and know exactly where to get it again next year. bedtime. To help you keep track, fi ll and refi ll a water bottle zakah, decide where to send the money, and how every action, including washing dishes with a measured amount of water, and be sure to fi nish it mail the envelopes. Action and or math homework, will help us achieve that 6. Get eXCited!  Light exercise, such as walking for 15-20 minutes, is best implementation can occur while children goal. If children are praying only to please Kids catch on to your enthusiasm. Show some excitement and done in the evening hours learn, not necessarily later. Prophet you, when you leave, their motivation and passion about Ramadan. Show your kids that you can’t wait for  Avoid fried and spicy foods as they may cause heartburn or Mohammed (PBUH) used to bring his prayers will disappear. Ramadan to begin. Be cheerful at Prayer times. Decorate the house in indigestion grandchildren Hassan and Hussein to the If children are motivated to fast Ramadan anticipation of Eid.  Speak to your doctor about an appropriate multi-vitamin mosque as toddlers before they knew how to or complete the Qur’an for a material Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) taught by example. His character and  Continue to brush and fl oss your teeth several times a day pray. A concept becomes real and important incentive (like a CD player), they may never actions motivated people to love and emulate him. Be the example  Wash your hands regularly, and avoid those who cough or to children when they experience it rather develop a love of Allah or an intrinsic desire you want your kids to be. Make a genuine eff ort to love the activities sneeze. This is important to prevent the spread of viruses (such than simply read about it. They’ll remember to perform the action. They may, instead, you want your kids to love. as seasonal fl u and H1N1) and bacteria which may cause illness how to do it years later when you may catch learn to value material rewards and when the Make this Ramadan the beginning of a memorable and long-lasting  Quit smoking them telling their friends “I’ve been rewards disappear, the actions may experience for you and your children.  Organise your schedule so that you get enough sleep calculating zakah since I was a kid!” disappear with them.

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92-93 Tips&Trivia final.indd 92 7/26/12 5:52 PM 92-93 Tips&Trivia final.indd 93 7/26/12 5:52 PM PUZZLES Security And Safety For All PUZZLES Test your wits with our classic crossword and sudoku puzzles Across easy 1- Legal rights org. 5- Baht spender 9- Tire (out) 14- Word of comparison 15- Cast 16- Banish 17- Tear 18- And others, briefl y 19- Employees 20- Silvery white 22- Ulan ___ 24- Cry ___ River 25- Cripple 29- Lake in the Sierra Nevada medium 32- Spelunking site 34- Prompted 35- Bakery fi xture 36- Low point 37- Coffee dispensers 38- Narrow inlets 39- Blot out 66- Primordial giant in Norse 27- Legume 40- Baptism, e.g. myth 28- Ford fl ops 41- Constituent 67- Actress Downey 29- Lethargic 42- Barely beat Down 30- Do the Wright thing? 43- Complain 1- Gillette brand 31- Learn about 44- Like ___ not 2- “Believe” singer 32- Study of the heart 45- Conked out 3- Singer k.d. 33- Maxim tricky 46- Tablets 4- Reserved 36- Must 47- Actual 5- 8th letter of the Greek 46- Acceptable score for a 49- Pouch alphabet professional golfer 50- Implements 6- Humble dwelling 48- Part of the large 52- Expects confi dently 7- Bedouin intestine 56- Thin as ___ 8- Imprudent 49- Guide 59- Shoppe adjective 9- Mexican money 51- Close with force 61- Currency of Turkey, and 10- Like afterschool activities 53- Farm structure formerly of Italy 11- Acapulco aunt 54- Streetcar 62- Simultaneous fi ring of 12- Mischievous person 55- Franklin D.’s mother artillery 13- TKO caller 56- Balaam’s mount 63- Big blow 21- Born 57- Encouraging word 64- Banned apple spray 23- Set in layers 58- Bar order 65- Luster 26- Inhumation 60- Half of MCII diabolical

SOLUTIONS for the July issue easy medium tricky diabolical

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Security And Safety For All HOROSCOPE WHAT THE MONTH Looking into the future with HAS IN STORE Tita B

Aries (21 March – 19 April) Libra (23 September – 22 October) The restless ram tends to start fretting about something Use your power of diplomacy to sort out the issues that have around this time of the year. Now is the perfect opportunity been cropping up at work. People will look up to you for your to inject some excitement into the coming months by taking intellectual superiority, and your general attitude should be a trip, or planning it. Simply thinking about it feels like a empathetic. If you are offered a new project, look at it carefully break from routine. Although you need to perk yourself up, whether through a and take it up only if you are sure you want to fi nish it. Those who appear charmed vacation or by cultivating a new hobby, do not go for anything too drastic, such by you are not necessarily going to become your friends, so take their fl attery lightly. as a change of job or line of work. Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) Taurus (20 April – 20 May) Restore communication with the people you have been If you need a shift of direction in life, acknowledge it and avoiding, especially if they were close to you once. Holding act on it without letting your emotions getting in the way. on to old slights will just not do. On the contrary, repairing Since stubbornness is a trait of this sun sign, it is best relationships will make you a far happier person. At work, you to consult someone close to you before making a major are likely to be presented with new avenues of income but look into any such decision. A different point of view will help. By making the proposition, be it a new job or a trade deal, thoroughly before you sign on the right moves for the right reasons, you will be attracting some substantial dotted line. Expect to travel on business. gains. It could come in the form of money or more time for the things you love. Sagittarius (22 November – 21 December) Gemini (22 May – 20 June) You have been rather agitated at work because of unpleasant You are likely to become more prosperous this month, colleagues. Now is the time to take control of things. Make but will also have to work a bit harder for it. The main yourself your fi rst priority and let people know fi rmly how challenge is to channel your quick, impulsive nature in far is enough. Do not hesitate to act boldly, but be sure of the right direction, so that any steps you take, especially your reasons and be calm in your communication. Bank on friends to give you in business activities, are tempered by practical thinking psychological support. Your health and expenses may give you minor headaches without hampering your natural creativity. Be gracious to well-wishers and but do not get too tense about it. people who compliment you, as it will attract more good things to come. Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) CANCER (21 June – 22 July) You get more confi dent with every passing year, but do Cut some of the complexity out of your life by taking things not allow yourself to become complacent and do not get at face value. Think things through, but not so hard that you lazy about keeping track of your fi nances. With just a little start reading double meanings in everything. If you require vigilance, you can spot opportunities to create new wealth. assistance, ask for it without overanalysing your need, and If nagging health problems surface again, make a deliberate effort to seek out accept what is given freely. Walk away from thoughts that things that make you happy, and your mind will heal your body. Take note of cause you stress. Let go of negative ideas, even if they offer some kind of what others say but do not be shaken by criticism. perverse satisfaction, and then watch your productivity soar. Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) Leo (23 July – 22 August) You have a drive to succeed, but have been held back by This could be a slump period for you money-wise, but it will family obligations. Ask your partner or parents to take on pass soon, so do not worry. Focus on your work and the more duties, or to free you of some duties, so that you rewards will come. In your personal life, you might meet can rise higher in your career. Do this in an assertive but an ex who needs your help. Be helpful without resentment non-confrontational way. You are probably not the fi ttest or cynicism, but skirt any sweet-talk trap. A rekindled romance will not person around, so undertake some regular physical activity. As your body gains lead to anything good. This is the time to concentrate on your personal strength, so will your mind, and making yourself heard will be easier. accomplishments rather than on someone else’s needs. Pisces (19 February – 20 March) Virgo (23 August – 22 September) Give a morale boost to everyone around you with a kind word Remember to breathe, as this could be your busiest month yet or a token gift. This is necessary as business could see a shaky for the whole year. You may have time to mix both business period and you need help and goodwill to steer it through any and pleasure after the 15th. It might surprise you, that that hardships. You are by nature fair-minded, so let everyone see someone is the least you expected. You might decide to hold it and let them know that you will do your best for them if they stand by you. any romantic involvement at bay at this time, as you feel that many eyes are on Let your artistic side blossom, and you might well come up with out-of-the-box you. Put in some good behaviour if you decide to follow your heart. solutions to any problems.

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IN THIS ISSUE: SpEEd LImIT, AUTISm, pET prEdIcAmEnTS

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