Tag Archives: windows
Arab Idol set to enthral at Clusters of Light
Arab Idol set to enthral at Clusters of Light Staff Reporter / 24 March 2014 Assaf will join a stellar cast of Arab performers including Ali Hajjar, Lotfi Bouchnak and Hussein Al Jasmi in addition to a large global team consisting over 700 people. Acclaimed young Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf — who won the Arab Idol competition in 2013 — arrived in Sharjah to perform in the oratorio Clusters of Light . Assaf will join a stellar cast of Arab performers including Ali Hajjar, Lotfi Bouchnak and Hussein Al Jasmi in addition to a large global team consisting over 700 people. The performance is the inaugural event of Sharjah’s tenure as the Islamic Culture Capital 2014. Composed by Khalid Shaikh, a distinguished Bahraini artist, Clusters of Light is about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and reviews the history of Islam from the Prophet’s birth to his death. Mohammed Assaf said, “I am excited, of course. It will be a thrill to see the audience’s reaction to the many surprises in the show, and to its sheer scale and ambition. I am confident this show will be so spectacular that it will remain in people’s memories forever.” He said he is excited to share the stage with Arab performers when the show opens on March 26 at the 4,500 seat Open Majaz Island Theatre. Assaf became gained international fame after he won the hugely popular talent programme Arab Idol in its second season. He has since gained global recognition and critical acclaim. – afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Catch this high-speed train from a skyscraper!
Catch this high-speed train from a skyscraper! (IANS) / 24 March 2014 The vertical train hub aims to resolve the inevitable challenges that cities will face by 2075, and offers a deliverable and sustainable solution for the future of the transport generation. Imagine taking your seat on a high-speed train through an elevator that is parked on the side of a skyscraper. It may sound wild but two British designers have the concept ready to roll on the track. Called as the Hyper-Speed Vertical Train Hub, this unusual transportation concept is the brainchild of designers Christopher Christophi and Lucas Mazarrasa. “The vertical train hub aims to resolve the inevitable challenges that cities will face by 2075, and offers a deliverable and sustainable solution for the future of the transport generation,” Christophi was quoted as saying. Here, the station for high-speed rail is built on the side of a skyscraper. As the train travels and transitions from its horizontal formation and ascends up the facade vertically, the carriages will pivot similar to that on a ‘Ferris wheel’. It would allow the passengers within the carriage to remain in an upright position and facing towards the cityscape, said a report on eVolo website. The carriages would be supported by a magnetic structure located at either side — eliminating the need for rails beneath and allowing the carriages and its passengers to connect to the tower. Trains, once ready to move, would shoot down the sides of the building into underground tunnels to their destinations. Each coach would have 10 people in two rows facing each other. Take an elevator to a specific floor to catch your train. Each terminal would have its own set of elevators to increase efficiency, the report added. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Work permit application in Abu Dhabi goes online from April
Work permit application in Abu Dhabi goes online from April (Wam) / 23 March 2014 New online protocols connect the Ministry of Labour work permits with the issuance of entry permits through the Ministry of Interior. Business owners in Abu Dhabi can apply online and follow-up on labour work permits without the need to personally visit service centres from next month. The Ministry of Labour has recently designated April 1 as the start date for business owners in the UAE capital to be able to electronically apply/follow up on labour work permits without the need for frequent service centre visits. The date marks the completion of the second phase of the electronic linkage project by implementing new online protocols that connect the Ministry of Labour work permits with the issuance of entry permits through the Ministry of Interior, using new services that enable applicants to electronically monitor their requests, the ministry said on Sunday. Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour Affairs, said: “The completion of the second phase, which includes issuing electronic work permits within the city of Abu Dhabi after implementing it in other emirates, reaffirms the commitment of both ministries of Interior and Labour, to follow the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which refers to the unification of the federal government’s strategy in terms of partnership and integration between the federal government institutions and local communities to provide the best quality of services to customers in order to achieve their satisfaction.” “We will move forward to finalising the upcoming stages of the electronically linked project under the directives of Lt.-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour; as they follow-up on the current operational status and emphasise the need to complete all stages of the project with outstanding performance,” he continued. Al Suwaidi also said that the new measures will save time and efforts and cut costs on business owners, especially as it connects the work permit permission with the entry permit, therefore the applicant will enjoy completing the transaction in a single step without the need to visit the Residency and Foreign Affairs Department to review the entry permit status to complete work permit procedures related to the Ministry of Labour. “The completion of phase two basically revolves around adapting these new measures in Abu Dhabi, which include checking on all permit applications submitted by business owners in Abu Dhabi via the MoL’s “Tasheel” service centres or through facilities involved with Tasheel or official typing centres. After the check-up stage, the Ministry of Labour will exchange data electronically with Ministry of the Interior and respond to the applicants by approving or rejecting permits or even informing them of required documents if any are found missing,” Al Suwaidi said. He pointed out that before the approval notification, business owners will be required to pay any set fees related to issuing the permit, and provide the bank guarantee sum per worker within a period of 30 days from the date of notification. The permit will be cancelled in the event of not fulfilling the requirements during the period mentioned. “After finalising work permit payments and providing the bank guarantee, applicants must apply for entry permits from the Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs during the same 30-day period otherwise he’ll have to submit a new application,” he went on to say. “The reduction of the application/payment period from 60 to 30 days comes due to the fact that the new measures have reduced the steps to applying at the MoL offices, payment of fees and guarantees upon approval and request an entry permit. 30 days are considered long enough.” The electronic linkage project between the Ministries of Interior and the Ministry of Labour includes linking around 20 major services within several stages, the first phase included the cancellation of labour cards and work permits project. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
