Opinion » Reader Comments

25 May 2013 Updated at 6:07 PM UAE

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1

Dubai ruler launches 'm-Gov't' scheme

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai ruler and vice president and prime minister of the UAE, on Wednesday launched a new initiative that will see an increasing number of government services delivered...

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Posted by: Omar May 23, 2013 1:56 PM [United Arab Emirates]

With the greatest of respect and admiration to his Highness Sheikh Mohammed I must relay my extreme frustrations with the whole e-government initiative he is trying to establish.

I fully support such an initiative, however I must state that at this point in its evolution it is more a burden on the citizen / resident. The reason is that the new online / connected processes in general are now in addition to the old "manual" processes. Extra steps and levels of bureaucracy have been added with very little tacken away. A prime example is the ID card. I assume that the objective of this ID (as I understood from the promotion at its launch) is to have one vehicle with which ALL government agencies/processes can utilise in interacting with the citizen and resident. However, in general the old processes are still in place with the mandatory addition of "Please provide a photocopy of your ID card". Where is the benefit, logic of this?

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2

Mall of Qatar project set for 2015 opening

Construction has started on Doha’s QR3bn ($820m) Mall of Qatar, which will be the largest retail centre in the Gulf state when it is completed in September 2015.The mall will house more than 400 outlets...

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Posted by: Charlie May 25, 2013 12:41 PM [KSA]

There is not much about the the Mall as presented. To be successful, the Mall must have a unique something to offer the guest that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

There is no point in creating Mall with shops the same as you can find elsewhere in Doha like BCA, Festival City, or the simple Doha Souk, etc.

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1

Bahrain opposition party suspends reconciliation talks

Bahrain's main opposition group has suspended its participation in reconciliation talks with the government for two weeks, blaming the slow pace of talks and the raid last week on a top Shi'ite Muslim...

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Posted by: Calvin May 23, 2013 3:37 PM [India]

Misplaced priorities. Full participation to ban pork and play petty politics but bunk and stay absent for this.

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8

Dubai contractor Arabtec says workers end strike

Dubai contractor Arabtec said on Wednesday a four-day strike by foreign workers seeking higher pay was over and the emirate's police chief said 200 of them would be repatriated.The company, in which Abu...

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Posted by: Manoj May 24, 2013 1:23 PM [Qatar]

I have worked in Arabtec, Dubai as an Engineer for 7 years and moved on a few years back. I consider Arabtec as one of the best company's I have worked for. I know the Top Management personally (Mr.Riad Kamal/Tom Barry/Greg Christofides). Their attitude towards the labour force has been very humane and positive. I have worked in the site and has dealt with the Foremen and labourers. I am sure that Arabtec will never hold back anybody's overtime or salary. Whatever happened in this particular case is unfortunate and need to be investigated to find out the truth.

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4

Middle East's killer virus: what's in a name?

For a pathogen with such a short history, the mysterious new virus killing people in the Middle East and Europe has already had an amazing array of names.It first surfaced last year as "human betacoronavirus...

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Posted by: Telcoguy May 25, 2013 12:43 PM [UAE]

Naming diseases using toponymy is a fairly standard practice.

Spanish flu was called like that because the first cases were reported in Spain (other countries could not because the news censorship from 1st WW was still in place)
You can add Nile fever, Ebola, Marburg, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Korean hemorrhagic fever

You are correct that cultural patterns have an impact on disease transmission, you should also consider (at your age) that as summer comes the AC in many buildings get to the chilly point, as every summer we will see an increase in pneumonias and other ailments

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1

GCC tobacco tax could fuel smuggling

A proposed 100 percent increase in duties applied to tobacco in the GCC could lead to growth in illicit trade and smuggling, experts warned.As GCC finance ministers deliberate over whether to introduce...

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Posted by: RAH May 22, 2013 9:15 PM [Kuwait]

I agree. Its not price that will deter a Gulf smoker. it's the avaiability of places that cater to smoking: as long as the place is enclosed and cooled with an AC unit and has chairs to sit on, a smoker will enjoy his puff.

Ban smoking in ALL enclosed places AND a few feet from door entrances of any building structure and you'll see some people feeling the inconvenience.

Also, exclude smoke-related medical checks from government free medical services and that too should slowly help.

Finally, include more health/hazards of smoking topics into school curriculums to reinforce the dangers. You need to target the young ones more to help raise a future generation more aware of health risks and benefits to smoking.

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1

Kerry hails tentative $2.1bn arms sale to Oman

US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed on Wednesday what US officials said was an estimated $2.1bn deal for Oman to buy a ground-based air defence system from US defence contractor Raytheon Co."I wanted...

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Posted by: Mark Z May 23, 2013 9:47 AM [Argentina]

What a JOKE. Of course with $2.1bn in the pocket for SPEADING ARMS in the region, he can afford a trip to "I wanted to come here to be able to thank you " $$$$$$$ in the eyes.

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28

Bahrain MPs vote to ban pork in kingdom

Lawmakers in Bahrain have approved a change in legislation that would criminalise the sale, import, export, production and possession of all pork products, it was reported.English language newspaper Gulf...

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Posted by: Jeffrey Kershaw May 25, 2013 6:05 PM [UK]

If one wants to visit or live in Bahrain one must abide by the laws. Living without pork is no huge sacrifice. Muslim and Jewish nations subscribe to this and manage to get through life quite comfortably.

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6

Turbulence drama injures 13 on Emirates flight

A number of passengers and crew on an Emirates Airline flight from Dubai to Jakarta sustained minor to serious injuries after the aircraft was caught in heavy turbulence.The Emirates Boeing 777-300 jet...

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Posted by: RAH May 25, 2013 6:06 PM [Kuwait]

I am glad to see many not blaming an airline for air turbulence but may I remind all one important thing:

Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off.

Turbulence can happen at the last minute and not always picked up by the pilot's radar to provide you with advance notice.

So please make it a habit to keep your belts fastened during your flight and while asleep and make sure you convey this message to your travelling family to ensure their safety and minimize turbulence-related injury.

Wish you all a great and safe summer trips home and/or abroad.

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1

Reviewed: the Aston Martin Vanquish

As I watched the video for Aston Martin’s Vanquish special pick up service to Burj Al Arab, my fantasies about being in one of those iconic cars started projecting in a bubble that floated on top of my...

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Posted by: Glen K May 25, 2013 12:40 PM [UAE]

Great Review on the Aston, a true Gents car and show of British engineering. Makes me proud to be a Brit when I see moments like that day here in Dubai.
Aston should be marked as one of the top manufacturers here in the UAE, where I feel they still have a little way to go before they make a true inpact on the ME Market.

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