Tag Archives: business
Hospital bill paid, baby Mohammed returns home
Hospital bill paid, baby Mohammed returns home Nivriti Butalia / 22 January 2014 Premature baby discharged after a bill of over Dh170,000 at Al Baraha Hospital settled with the help of hundreds of KT readers. Infant of the fortnight, little Mohammed has finally come home. Born nearly three months ago on October 25, 2013, Mohammed — who, incidentally, shares a birthday with his father, Sayed — was discharged on Tuesday morning after a bill of over Dh170,000 was finally settled, thanks to donations by hundreds of KT readers. Mohammed’s father Sayed, along with his trusted aide and friend Mazher marched out of the ICU wing of Al Baraha Hospital in Deira — baby swaddled in a white and blue blanket in Sayed’s arms, Mazher lugging Sayed’s backpack and another polybag of baby-things, headed towards Mazher’s car. Staff of the hospital clicked photographs of Mohammed and Sayed as they left the hospital premises. There were no other family members present. “I never want to see another hospital, another ICU. I never again want to see hospital lights,” an exhausted but relieved Sayed told Khaleej Times . “If I sit down I will fall asleep,” he smiled, explaining why he won’t take a seat in the waiting room while the paper work wound up. Grateful for all the help that has come his way, Sayed kept repeating to all well-wishers and people in the hospital who were stopping to congratulate him for being able to take his baby home: “Alhumdullilah… Alhumdullilah (All praise and thanks be to Allah)”. The X-ray technicians and the security guards are now his friends. The nurses admire his fortitude. At the reception, the burqa-clad ladies think he’s not like the others. They talk of his virtues — “so patient, so decent, not screaming and shouting like others”. Sayed is most looking forward to Wednesday morning when his mother, sister and baby daughter arrive in Dubai. They are coming to basically, take over and provide some relief in childcare duties, to help out Sayed. Except that he has to work a night shift, Sayed is eagerly awaiting his daughter’s reaction to her baby brother whom she has never met. “I want to catch it on video,” he says in Hindi. He wants to see if she does her trademark thing of gingerly prodding a new specimen — in this case, her new baby brother, and then recoiling in glee, as if given an electric shock. That’s the moment he’s waiting for. Although Mohammed has been diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) — a hole in the heart — that doctors have told him is treatable, Sayed is feeling “90 per cent better and more optimistic” than last week. Besides being indebted to donors who came forward with the money, Sayed is indebted to his friend Mazher — who has turned his voice hoarse fielding phone calls all day, incurring the wrath of his manager at work since instead of being in office, he’s been by the side of his friend in hospital all of last week. nivriti@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Federal National Council hails army conscription
Federal National Council hails army conscription Nissar Hoath / 22 January 2014 Members say move will ensure citizen’s participation and help serve national interests The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday overwhelmingly welcomed and supported the government decision to make it compulsory for Emirati males aged 18 to 30 to serve in the UAE’s armed forces. National service will also cover military training, and high school graduates will have to be part of the military for nine months, while those who have not completed high school will serve two years. However, it will be voluntary for women. Most of the members hailed the move saying it will serve and protect national interests. “All these young trained men and women will always be there to provide their services in all kinds of natural and unnatural disasters,” said a member. The session chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was also attended by Mariam Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, and Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of FNC Affairs. In his remarks during the debate on the compulsory military service for Emiratis, the Speaker hailed the directives and decision by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for issuing a Federal Law on the compulsory national military and reserve service. “This kind of guidance comes in the framework of our wise leadership to recognise the importance of citizens’ participation in defending their homeland, further protect national security and serve national interests,” said Al Murr. The Speaker also hailed His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for launching the UAE’s National Agenda during the next seven years to achieve the “Vision 2021” making the country one of the best in the world in various fields. The other issue that came under debate on Tuesday was the new child law protection, which was approved by the council during its last session. Members further reviewed the law called Wadeema’s Law by the government. The council during its last session passed it with minor amendments, including changing the name of the law from Wadeema to Child’s Right Law. The bill was drafted by the Federal Government after a girl child was brutally murdered and dumped in the desert by her father and his girlfriend in 2011 when a children’s protection law was awaiting approval. nissar@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Sashaying down the catwalk at Armani Pavilion, vertically
Sashaying down the catwalk at Armani Pavilion, vertically Dhanusha Gokulan / 22 January 2014 The first vertical catwalk, as part of the DSF, was held when Etoile’s La Boutique unveiled their spring/ summer 2014 collections amid a crowd of fashion bloggers, socialites and members of the media. A blend of fashion and innovative ideas … models at the Vertical Catwalk at Burj Khalifa. —KT photos by Rahul Gajjar When you hear of an event such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) ‘Vertical Catwalk’ at the Armani Pavilion, Burj Khalifa, the image that comes to you would be of models sashaying down the tallest building in the world in designer outfits. The special, invite-only event did not necessarily disappoint. There was a fashion show, there were spring/summer designer outfits, and it had acrobats performing acts 30 metres above the ground. Not necessarily in the same order. The first vertical catwalk, as part of the month-long festivities of the DSF took place on Monday, January 20 when Etoile’s La Boutique unveiled their spring/ summer 2014 collections amid a crowd of fashion bloggers, socialites and members of the media at the Armani Pavilion, located at the base of the Burj Khalifa. Though several of the attendees expected the models to catwalk on the runway after descending from the building, the simultaneous display of fashion and acrobatics was indeed interesting. Strung on harnesses, men and women in silver and gold cat-suits descended over the building walking, spinning, and dancing to catchy tunes. “The trick is to tilt the runway by 90 degrees in the vertical direction and sometimes, we get the aerial dancers to wear the designer clothing and walk, but here however, we decided to have a normal fashion show and a vertical dance,” said Suhaila Gobash, Director of Festival and Events, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment. Organised by a German entertainment company that specialises in aerial acrobatics, eh showbox is not new to high-rises and walking on glass buildings with the support of harnesses. Etienne Herr, Founder and CEO of eh showbox, said they are not new to the UAE, and they have performed in Abu Dhabi in 2010. A total of six acrobats and 10 models performed at the event. “This is our first time in Dubai and working on the project was fun. It wasn’t extremely challenging for us because the standard climb height is about 20 to 30 meters,” said Etienne in an interview with Khaleej Times. Apart from vertical fashion shows, the company also performs vertical sports like football, tennis and several other dance routines. Herr who was eyeing the Burj Khalifa said: “Performing over this building would be the real challenge for us.” Gobash added: “The idea started after the success of the Metro fashion Show last year and we decided to do something path-breaking and different this year. We wanted a sort of ‘fashion landmark’ in Dubai and involve the many retailers who’ve always supported the festival. After several brain-storming sessions, we put them together to create a blend of fashion, Dubai, and innovative ideas.” When asked about future plans Gobash said that the department has a reached a certain height of success with this event today and, “we will have to go back to the office and think what next.” The company, eh showbox, will be performing outside the Dubai Mall till January 26. The timings are 6.15, 7.45, and 9.45 pm. dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
