Tag Archives: entertainment
Ministry says 77 killed in Algerian military air crash
Ministry says 77 killed in Algerian military air crash (Reuters, AFP) / 12 February 2014 Defence ministry announcement brings death toll down to 77 instead of local media reports of 102 casualties. A total of 77 people died in the crash of an Algerian military transport plane carrying members of the armed forces and their relatives on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, fewer than the 103 dead that had been cited by local media. The ministry said in a statement bad weather was the likely cause of the accident, one of the worst air crashes in the North African country in a decade. Earlier, local media and emergency officials said the military aircraft carrying 103 people crashed in Algeria’s mountainous northeast, with just one survivor found in one of the country’s deadliest air disasters. The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which crashed in the Oum El Bouaghi region, was carrying 99 passengers — soldiers and their families — as well as four crew members, a security source told AFP. Emergency services officials told public radio that they had found a sole survivor, who was suffering from head trauma. By early evening, the emergency services had recovered 76 bodies from the crash site, including the remains of four women, public radio reported, after an extensive search and rescue operation was launched. A security source had said earlier that all on board had perished. The plane was flying from the desert garrison town of Tamanrasset in the deep south to the city of Constantine, 320 kilometres (200 miles) east of the capital, and lost contact with the control tower just as it was beginning its descent. The aircraft slammed into Mount Fertas in the Oum El Bouaghi region at around midday (1100 GMT), state media quoted army spokesman Colonel Bouguern as saying. “Very bad weather conditions, involving a storm and heavy snowfall, were behind the crash,” the defence ministry said in a statement. Military and civilian personnel were deployed for the search operation, the ministry added, with hospitals in Constantine and nearby Ain M’Lila placed on alert to treat any survivors. Nearly 250 rescue workers had reached the site of the crash, despite the difficulties caused by the mountainous terrain and wintry conditions. Tamanrasset, where the flight had departed from, lies in the far south of Algeria, near the border with Mali, and is the main base for the country’s southern military operations. Extra troops and equipment have been stationed there in recent months as part of efforts to beef up surveillance of Algeria’s frontiers with Mali and Libya, following a deadly hostage-taking by Islamist militants at a desert gas plant in January last year. The city lies 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from Constantine, and was the site of the worst previous aviation disaster in Algeria, in March 2003. In that accident, all but one of 103 people on board were killed when an Air Algerie passenger plane crashed on takeoff after one of its engines caught fire. The sole survivor, a young Algerian soldier, was left in a critical condition. In December 2012, two military jets conducting routine training operations collided in mid air near Tlemcen, in the northwest, killing the pilots of both planes. A month earlier, a twin-turboprop CASA C-295 military transport aircraft, which was transporting a cargo of paper for the printing of banknotes in Algeria, crashed in southern France. The plane was carrying five soldiers and a representative of the Algerian central bank, none of whom survived. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Resist the urge for loans, Mansour tells Emiratis
Resist the urge for loans, Mansour tells Emiratis Muaz Shabandri / 12 February 2014 Shaikh Mohammed launches Ehtmam Web initiative along with the Deputy PM at the end of the plenary session. Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has urged Emirati citizens to be more careful and prudent when taking loans from banks. “My advice and recommendation to UAE citizens is not to take a loan unless you are in dire need. Take a loan in order to establish your own business and if you are aware of the risks. The citizen has to be aware of this matter and the media can play an important role in highlighting financial guidance,” he said during a plenary session on the second day of The Government Summit on Tuesday. Shaikh Mohammed, in the presence of Shaikh Mansour, inaugurated ‘Ehtmam’, a website of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, on the sidelines of the Dubai Government Summit on Tuesday. Citizens can log on to the website and submit suggestions and ideas aimed at development of local community. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Ehtmam Web initiative along with the Deputy PM at the end of the plenary session. The Ehtmam service will help members of the public to submit comments and suggestions on services provided by government entities and give feedback for improving government services. It will also allow residents to raise complaints concerning customer service, problems or unjustified delays in finishing processing the applications or any mistreatment from a government employee. Talking about loans earlier, Shaikh Mansour said: “A bank has certain responsibilities and people who benefit from loans should also be aware of the risks involved. We do realise there are some weaknesses in our laws and we should improve these laws for the sake of UAE,” . In 2012, the government’s initiative to pay off debts by Emiratis reached 1,500 citizens. A total of Dh1.3 billion was paid to banks in 2012 to help heavily indebted ones. In 2013, the number of beneficiaries of the debts settlement fund reached 2,000 citizens and it had paid off Dh2.05 billion. Shaikh Mansour, who is also Minister of Presidential Affairs, acknowledged the efforts of local and international banks and recognised the support extended to the UAE Government. Asked about the Arab spring and its effect on the UAE, the Deputy PM highlighted the openness of the UAE’s leaders to innovation and development. “Throughout our history, the people of the UAE have always been very supportive of the leadership because of the strong bond between the leaders and people.” He added: “When a revolution takes place, there should be a positive outcome. We pray to Allah to stabilise these Arab countries and I hope these countries go back to better conditions. Arabs are welcome in the UAE and we do really exchange our experiences with them. We want to take advantage of their ideas and we have implemented some schemes to benefit from Arab experiences.” During the session, Shaikh Mansour was also asked about the increasing energy needs of the UAE and how the country planned to meet the infrastructure requirements. In reply, he said: “The energy minister is doing a great job in upgrading water and electricity infrastructure. The ratio of increase in demand for energy services is very high and it has reached 12 per cent in some areas of the UAE. Federal institutions have created a 10-year plan and providing water and electricity to all emirates is a priority. These high ratios of increase do not suit the requirements of water and power generation and we have insisted on more cooperation (between federal and city authorities).” muaz@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Hidden secrets of Global Village
Hidden secrets of Global Village (Sadiq Shaban) / 12 February 2014 You are likely to take home a special piece that has a soul and sensory value, unlike anything. There is so much more to Global Village than meets the eye. As one of the region’s most visited cultural, entertainment and shopping destinations, Global Village tucks away some of the finest artifacts, relics and objets d’art from around the world. Some of the interesting products on display at the pavilions of the UAE and the UK at Global Village. — KT photos by Juidin Bernarrd and M. Sajjad Those with a knack for the exotic and curio will find exquisite handmade goods, authentic wooden statutes and hand-painted ceramics in several of the 30 pavilions dotting the 17-million-square-feet facility. But that is not all. From Jordanian shadow artists whose calligraphy is sure to leave you awe-struck to waterproof papier-mâché masks from Venice, it is the less-explored side of Global Village, which should set you thinking to take another trip. “Throughout Global Village, there are a plethora of handmade artifacts that are unique to each country’s pavilion. Visitors can find lots of authentic tribal shields and masks at the African Pavilion, as well as great mosaic handicrafts and lamps that are available from the Moroccan Pavilion. We want to make sure that when people come to Global Village, they get to experience products that are genuine and hold real cultural value to the country it comes from. Bringing authentic goods to Global Village makes the cultural experience we provide to visitors unique within the UAE and the Middle East,” Ahmed Hussain, Executive Director of Operations, Global Village, told Khaleej Times. Once you sashay into the African Pavilion and walk past psychedelic stalls, you cannot help notice some of the most striking hand-carved artifacts from Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Madagascar and Gambia. Intricate designs on these products, lending them a touch of the peregrine, are often made on the finest types of wood such as ebony, mahogany, rosewood and soapstone. It is tough to take a pick from the vast variety of styles, often varying within the same context, but the African solid wood-carved tribal mask surely stands out. Worn during special events or situations that take place in the tribal communities, these souvenirs reflect the true soul of Africa. Similarly, you will find large wooden croc-figurines for sale along with uncountable designs that are meant to bring good energy, warding off bad spirits. The Tanzanian stall features stunning knife paintings, a unique form of art in which artists use knives to paint. This form of painting, which is quite a rarity, affords a close relationship between the artist and the painting surface. The displays have brilliant textures reflective of the spontaneous and dramatic movement of this art form. “We have been looking around in the African Pavilion and ended up buying an unusual stash of things like horns, knife paintings and vintage walking sticks — all of which carry the signatures of these innovative cultures. I visited the Mauritania, Angola and Nigeria stalls. Without doubt, the wood-carved products available here are priceless and the best part is that one can have them at very competitive prices,” said Sarmad Misgar, a Pakistani art collector visiting Global Village. In the Afghanistan Pavilion nearby, you can meander through piddly kiosks selling the latest crop of mountain almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dried white berries, apricots, figs and raisins. Soon you will come across the daintiest Afghan rugs in town. These eco-friendly carpets are made from colours derived from pomegranate, herbs and cinnamon in addition to other natural ingredients. The best quality Afghan wool and silk, one of the salesmen in a stall told Khaleej Times, is used in these oriental rugs, which are adorned with elongated human and animal figures. Usually woven in Shindand and Adraskan regions in Afghanistan’s Herat province, the rugs are available in warm tones and extraordinary patterns. An alcove in the European Pavilion transports you back to the 15th century Tudor England. The combined pavilions of France, the UK and Germany offers the service of History Land Studios, one of London’s best-known photo studios for old-time portraits. The branch in Global Village, the only one outside of the UK, helps you create your own history by dressing you in costumes from the 15th and 16th century England. You can also have your pictures taken in Victorian attire or the gangster Wild West style. “The History Land Studios is an experience of a lifetime. They have a splendid staff that ensure you are comfortable, styled and pampered royally before you get your portrait clicked,” Kenneth Raley, an English tourist visiting the pavilion, marvelled. The Indian Pavilion, owing to its sheer size (largest in Global Village with 300 stalls), has the feel of a traditional Asian bazaar. However, the must-visit cubbyhole in the sprawling enclosure is a corner shop that sells the splashiest collection of Punjabi juttis. Bargain hunters can haggle for a wide range of bright-coloured traditional footwear here. Embroidered with beautiful phulkari work, these shoes are made from genuine leather with multi-hued sequins and flamboyant threads. Curiously, there is no left or right foot distinction, because this party-wear is supposed to take the shape of the foot over a period of time. Available in flat soles, the sharp extended tips of these must-haves are dazzlingly embellished. In its 18th season now, Global Village has emerged not only as a great entertainment venue, one that has stolen the hearts of millions, but an ideal destination which showcases a selection of the world’s most contemporary designers, artists and craftsmen selling their products directly to public. From the enigmatical figurines ensconced in the various African shoppes to the satiny rugs in the Afghanistan Pavilion, Global Village is a track through some of the world’s most avant garde ideas. sadiq@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
