Tag Archives: lifestyle
Several wounded in Cairo bomb attack on bus: security
Several wounded in Cairo bomb attack on bus: security (AFP) / 26 December 2013 A bomb was placed or hurled onto a bus in Cairo. Investigators check a damaged bus after a bomb blast near the Al-Azhar University campus in Cairo’s Nasr City district on December 26, 2013. – Reuters A bomb went off near a public transport bus in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, injuring five people, security officials and a medic said. Security officials said the improvised bomb had been placed next to a bus in the north Cairo neighbourhood of Nasr City and police defused another bomb nearby. The victims received mild to moderate injuries, a health ministry official said. The interior ministry said the bomb had been planted in a grassy area at the intersection of two busy streets in Nasr City. Militants have killed scores of policemen and soldiers in attacks since the military’s overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in July. The bombing comes two days after a suicide car bomber killed 15 people, mostly policemen, in an attack on their headquarters in a Nile Delta city. On Wednesday, the military-installed government declared Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement a terrorist group, and blamed it for the police headquarters bombing although a Al Qaeda-inspired group in the Sinai peninsula said it was responsible. The Brotherhood, which organises near daily protests demanding Mursi’s reinstatement, insists it is peaceful and has condemned militant attacks. The bombing in Cairo appears to be the first against civilian targets, although it could have exploded prematurely. A suicide bomber had set off a car bomb in September in the same neighbourhood in an attempt to assassinate interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim as his convoy passed by. The minister survived but a bystander was killed in the explosion. Continue reading
Christmas spirit grips UAE
Christmas spirit grips UAE Staff Reporter / 26 December 2013 People get together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. The Christmas tree put up at the Mall of the Emirates and the decorations surrounding it served as the perfect background for photo enthusiasts. — KT photo by Shihab The festive spirit gripped the country on Wednesday, as people got together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. Several residents that Khaleej Times caught up with, especially children, said their wish to Santa is to end the suffering of children in Syria, Philippines, and other areas, where people are grappling with the aftermath of disasters — both natural and man made. Eight-year-old Julian Duff, a British expatriate, said: “My mother said that we should always pray for people who are in need. So my wish to Santa is that children everywhere must be happy.” Christmas wishes put up at the St Mary’s Church in Dubai on Wednesday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar Julian’s parents’ got him a brand new battery operated race car and clothes on Christmas eve. People were also seen crowding at shopping malls, completing last minute shopping. Some residents said they miss celebrating with their family members back in their home countries. Melanie Donohue, an Irish national, said: “I miss my family and the Christmas weather back home. But Dubai so far has been great as well. You can buy pretty much everything that you usually get back home. I just finished a whole lot of last minute shopping and am heading back home for some turkey and other delicious Christmas goodies.” Sharjah resident and school teacher Seena Japeth said: “We miss our relatives back home. Here we celebrate more with friends than with our family. There was a hearty Christmas meal; we shared cake with our friends.” Indian national, Cherian V, said: “There is a wonderful spirit in the air and Christmas is mostly about spending quality time with friends and family members, which is exactly what we try and do. Our kids need to know the importance of tradition and spending time with family. This is one of the ways in which we can remind kids of family values.” An evening at the church Roses outside St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oudh Metha were being sold by the dozen on Christmas. Muthu, a rose-seller stationed at the Church, told Khaleej Times that he sold about 100 stems of pink and red roses by the afternoon of the 25th. The roses were bought and placed at the foot of the barn inside the church premises, constructed with hay and gunny sacks and a small toy figure of baby Jesus. Multiple counters were bustling with people buying 2014 calendars with photos of Mother Mary and Jesus, Bibles, Novenas and prayer beads. On Tuesday afternoon at 3.30pm, the church held a mass for the old and sick. Carol singing took place from 11.30pm onwards. The mass itself had a packed audience. In the main hall, at least 30 rows of pews tightly accommodated hundreds of worshippers singing hymns. Loudspeakers in the compound carried the voices of the hymns outside. People were dressed in their Christmas-best and were seen posing for photos. Office-goers were present too. They were either given the day off or availed of one to spend Christmas with families, eating festive food. It was a merry Christmas indeed. – news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Shaikh Mohammed reaffirms UAE support to Egypt
Shaikh Mohammed reaffirms UAE support to Egypt (Wam) / 27 October 2013 Shaikh Mohammed assures that the UAE leadership and government are supporting Egypt, the Egyptian people and the new political leadership. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, held talks with visiting Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Hazem Al Beblawi at Zabeel Palace on Saturday. Shaikh Mohammed and Al Beblawi discussed the security, economic and social situation and the current political changes in Egypt. Shaikh Mohammed assured that the UAE leadership and government are supporting Egypt, the Egyptian people and the new political leadership. He asserted that supporting Egypt in this phase is a service to the entire Arab world. Shaikh Mohammed recalled Shaikh Zayed’s position in the 1980s when he insisted on Egypt returning to the Arab fold as he believed that Egypt is the heart of Arab world. Courtesy: Youtube.com/Sheikhmohammed.ae Dr Al Beblawi thanked Shaikh Mohammed for all support received from the UAE to enable Egypt and its people to pass this phase and successfully restore the political, security and economic stability. Al Beblawi assured that the domestic situation in Egypt is back to normal and it is in the process of recovery and stability, thanking the support of Egypt’s loyal friends and especially the UAE. The Egyptian people appreciate and value the historic and honourable stance of the government and people of the UAE towards Egypt after the 30th of June revolution, Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, who is part of the delegation, said. “We not only thank the UAE for its support to Egypt but (we are) also grateful because that assistance came within the context of implementing the economic programme, laid down by the government to improve living conditions,” Bahaa-Eldin told Wam. Shaikh Mohammed held a lunch banquet for the Egyptian Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy; Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State; Dr Nabeel Fahmi, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Osama Saleh, Egyptian Minister of Investment; and Dr Hisham Ramiz, Governor of Egyptian Central Bank. Continue reading
