Sports
Sharjah Police in dramatic rescue of suicidal student
Sharjah Police in dramatic rescue of suicidal student Afkar Abdullah / 22 September 2013 Police prevented a university student from leaping to her death from the top of a Sharjah hotel, in a dramatic rescue operation. Sharjah Police Stations Director Omar Al Suwaidi said the 22-year-old woman from Saudi Arabia, a student at Sharjah University, went into the coffee shop of the Al Aryan Hotel in Sharjah on Saturday morning, before sneaking through an emergency exit, climbing to the top of the hotel and exiting on to the helipad. The security and administration of the hotel saw the woman on the hotel’s security camera footage and called the police at 11.10am, after she rebuffed their approaches. Speaking to Khaleej Times , the manager of Al Aryan Hotel said as soon as staff saw the woman on camera they went to try to speak with her, but when she refused to respond they called police. He said the hotel made strides to protect residents and guests, and the emergency doors to the helipad were always open in case of emergency. The Anjad patrol, ambulance and Civil Defence services and psychiatrists arrived at the scene to attempt negotiations. The police negotiated with the girl for almost two hours, before convincing her to drink water, as she was becoming weak and dehydrated as a result of the high temperatures outside. Al Suwaidi said police managed to grab her back while she was drinking the water, before taking her inside and to the ground. The police took the distressed woman to Al Kuwaiti Hospital for a check-up, though doctors said she was fine and had no medical problem. She is reportedly suffering from depression. The woman was at Al Buhairah Police Station late last night, where she was being questioned over the reasons she wanted to commit suicide. Police said the reason for her actions was not yet clear and investigations were continuing. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Suicide attack on Pakistani church kills 56 people
Suicide bombers kill more than 60 at Pakistan church (AFP) / 22 September 2013 A double suicide bombing killed more than 60 people at a church service in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, officials said, believed to be the deadliest attack on Christians in the troubled country. The two bombers struck at the end of a service at All Saints Church in Peshawar, the main town of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Doctor Mohammad Iqbal of Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital said that 61 people had been killed and 120 wounded. Fellow doctor Sher Ali confirmed the numbers. Sahibzada Anees , one of Peshawar’s most senior officials, told reporters the bombers struck when the service had just ended. “Most of the wounded are in critical condition,” Anees said. “We are in an area which is a target of terrorism and within that area there was a special security arrangement for the church. We are in a rescue phase and once it is over we will investigate what went wrong.” Former minister for inter-faith harmony Paul Bhatti and provincial lawmaker Fredrich Azeem Ghauri both said the attack was the deadliest ever targeting Christians in Pakistan. School teacher Nazir Khan , 50, said the service had just ended and at least 400 worshippers were greeting each other when there was a big explosion. “A huge blast threw me on the floor and as soon as I regained my senses, a second blast took place and I saw wounded people everywhere,” Khan tosaid. Grieving relatives blocked the main Grand Trunk road highway with bodies of the victims to protest against the killings, an AFP reporter said. Provincial lawmaker Ghauri said there were about 200,000 Christians in the province, of whom 70,000 lived in Peshawar. “Now after this attack Christians across Pakistan will fear for their lives,” he warned. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombings. “Terrorists have no religion and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions,” he said in a statement. Sharif said such “cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mindset of the terrorists”. Continue reading
UAE seen to rise in asset wealth rankings
UAE seen to rise in asset wealth rankings Staff Report / 22 September 2013 The UAE is expected to be the highest climber over the coming decade as its built asset wealth is expected to grow by two per cent, moving the country up two places to 23rd in the global rankings. This was stated by Flash Properties based on recent findings of the Global Built Asset Wealth Index, which quantifies the accumulated wealth of 30 countries’ built assets and is conducted by EC Harris in conjunction with the Centre for Economic and Business Research. According to this index, when it comes to built asset wealth per person, the UAE comes 12 th in the global rankings, with an estimated built asset wealth of $122,809 per person, while Saudi Arabia is in 15 th place with $72,861. The rankings were highlighted on the sidelines of the announcement by Flash Properties of its participation in Cityscape Global, the Middle East’s largest and most influential international real estate event, taking place from October 8 to 10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Tanzeel Gader, chief executive officer of Flash Properties, said: “The recent findings of Global Built Asset Wealth Index by analysing the accumulated wealth of 30 countries’ built assets — encompassing all the property and infrastructure that contributes to economic productivity — is a true indicator of the great potential of the UAE’s real estate market. The country is investing aggressively in its built environment and this opens the door wide for more sustained growth of the real estate market.” “With more than Dh5.5 billion worth of transactions recorded by the current Dubai real estate market, is appears that 2013 will be the year of revival for real estate industry, on the back of renewed confidence of global and regional investors.” abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
