NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies
Craze for junk food stronger than ever
DUBAI — May 20: While the variety of cuisines available in Dubai is undeniable, appeasing even the fussiest food nut, the appeal of junk food remains stronger than ever and experts worry that parents too frequently give in to the convenience and low price of this unhealthy option.
Dr Suresh Nair of Dubai Hospital, who specialises in Cardiac Rehabilitation, speculates that parents over-estimate the time and effort it takes to cook meals at home.
"Preparing meals at home can be quick and simple. Parents should realise that this effort on their part provides a role model for their kids and ensures that their food is free from unhealthy fats and preservatives."
"In terms of busy parents choosing what kind of food to buy, the unfortunate reality is that healthier food, though cheaper to produce, is usually more costly and thus accessible to only those from a certain income bracket."
Interestingly, the widespread attraction to fast food restaurants in Dubai seems to transcend socio-economic barriers, and the clientele range from teenagers to businessmen, a dichotomy of the young and old, poor and rich.
Alarmingly, these numbers include a significant amount of parents with very young children.
"I am well aware of that junk food is unhealthy, but we don't eat it on a regular basis. My daughter loves French fries and really looks forward to coming here due to the play area, so I consider this more ofan occasional treat," said a parent dining at a fast food joint with her five-year-old daughter.
Many other parents echoed her sentiment, saying that they understood the negative impact of junk food and did not buy it on a regular basis. Only one parent mentioned fast food as cheaper option.
"I work in Dubai and live in Sharjah. I really don't have time to wait too long for food. I usually use the drive-through to pick up a full meal for my wife and three kids. It's cheap and they love it, so I do it around three or four times a week," said Alex, a sales assistant.
When asked why parents did not look to healthier "treats" for their children, they asserted that their children were attracted to junk food due to the high amount of advertising, kid-friendly environment and the fact that many expatriate children recognise some of the well-known chains, and felt comfortable while ordering items on the menu.
Essentially, concludes Dr Nair, a balanced diet should be a parent's priority and his qualms about junk food are not how kids eat it, but the fact that kids in Dubai are leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.
"The problem with junk food is that it's calorie dense. Just one burger could provide a child with 1/4 of their recommended calorie intake per day. In order to strike a balance, energy intake needs to match energy output, as an energy oversupply leads to obesity. Therefore, the most effective solution may not be to avoid junk food all together, but to increase physical activity to burn off those calories. I cannot stress enough how exercise needs to be an essential part of life."
KHALEEJ TIMES
RTA sets guidelines to streamline abra service
DUBAI —May 20: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a code of guidelines, including violations and fines, to streamline operation of abras in the Dubai Creek, according to Eissa Al Dosari, CEO of the Marine Agency, RTA.
He said that fines ranging from Dh100 to Dh500 in addition to some deterrent penalties would be imposed on operators of abras at Dubai Creek for various violations of laws.
The marine agency reported 98 violations until April this year against abra operators registering an increase of 18 violations compared to the figures in the same period in 2006.
Al Dosari said that violations during the past four months fell under eight categories. "Parking abras in places other than the specified slots accounted for 42 violations; prescribed load violations 33 and non-provision of safety belts eight violations," he said.
Others included higher fares four violations, reckless driving three violations and failure to present abra driving licence, non-adherence to the prescribed route and disruption of traffic and navigation received two violations each.
Al Dosari said that all 300 abra operators working on a two-shift basis were required to follow the code of conduct except for the Route 2 operators who work round-the-clock.
"Fines range from Dh100 to Dh500 and fall under 29 categories that include operating unlicensed abras (Dh500 penalty with impounding of the abra), using the abra for purposes other than those for which it has been licensed (Dh500 fine and offender is suspended) and driving the abra without a driving licence or under the influence of alcoholic drink or any narcotics (Dh500 fine for both violations)," Al Dosari noted.
He also said that the amount of fine varied depending on the gravity of the offence. "Emission of black smoke from the abra engine carries a fine of Dh300. Disrupting the traffic, violating the prescribed load, fishing with abras in the Creek, operating without lights at night and non-availability of life belts, fire extinguishers, handheld lights and first aid kit carry a fine of Dh200. Removing specifications/equipment or making additions to abras without licence is also attract a Dh200 fine," he added.
Al Dosari said: "Fines and violations classified for medium violations include reckless driving, negligent and inattentive driving and non-compliance with the prescribed speed limits in the Creek. Each of this violation attracts a Dh150 fine."
A Dh100 fine is imposed for modifying or operating an abra without a number, driving without a valid driving licence or with expired ownership documents and failure to present the driving licence or ownership document on demand. Same penality is for non-adherence to the prescribed route between stations, allowing commuters to board or get down on locations other than the specified ones, failure to navigate and park abras at the station, failure to comply with the berthing spots during day or night time. Failure to maintain or clean the abra, higher fares, collecting fares from commuters during voyage, owner sitting in an insecure manner during the trip, loading dangerous or explosive materials and failure to take necessary precautions to ensure safety of navigation traffic at the time of defect or stopping and overnight sleeping in the abras will also attract a Dh100 fine.
"The Marine Agency is the competent authority to orders these penalties and issues violation tickets through the Operation and Performance Department," said Al Dosari.
He said that such violations were not reported randomly but in accordance with well defined laws and regulations. "These matters are being handled in specialised training courses in consultation with the Dubai Civil Defence," he added.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Dubai student misses top rank in ISC exams by two marks
DUBAI — MAY 20: A student of Dubai Modern High School, scoring an aggregate of 98.5 per cent, fell short of just two marks in his attempt to top in the Indian Schools Certificate (ISC) Examination, results of which were declared yesterday.
Unmukt Goel of Grade XII from the Science stream secured 394 marks out of 400, while the All India topper, based in India, scored 395 marks, aggregating 98.75 per cent.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, an elated Goel said, "I am quite happy to have scored so much. I am definitely not disappointed that I missed becoming the All India topper.
However, it hasn't sunk in yet that I managed to get 98.5 per cent."
The ISC Commerce toppers from Dubai Modern High School were Ankita Ohri and Neil De Sousa with both aggregating 94.5 per cent.
Elsa Philip from Sharjah-based Progressive English School L.L.C. secured 92.2 per cent in the ISC Science stream, while Arifa Mohammed Iqbal got 87 per cent in the Commerce stream.
In the ICSE exams, Nishant Ganesh Kumar from Dubai Modern High School got 97.6 per cent, while Sandeep Suresh from Progressive English School secured 94 per cent. The boy who topped the ICSE board exam, based in India, scored 98.4 per cent.
Both the UAE schools have 100 per cent pass percentage and the school management expressed happiness over the achievements by their students. "This year's results have been quite impressive and we are extremely happy," said K. Sashi Nayar, principal pf Progressive English School. Of the nearly 1,500 schools following this curriculum in India and abroad, only two are from the UAE.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Over 800 compete for one flat
ABU DHABI — MAY 20: The rent draw in Abu Dhabi on Thursday saw 853 people participating for one single-bedroom flat on offer for renting. The flat for which the draw was made is located in a building in Musafah area in the emirate and it has an annual rent of Dh21,000.
Juma Al Mansoury, head of the Rent Section at the Commercial Buildings Department in Abu Dhabi, said the participation clearly illustrated that there was a shortage of affordable houses in the emirate.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Nurses to have code of conduct
DUBAI — Nurses working under the Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) will now have code of conduct and guidelines for their professional duties.
According to a senior official from the Nursing and Midwifery Services at Dohms, the new rules will reflect standardised policy development regarding the profession. He also said that a committee had been formed to issue a new code of conduct and professional guidelines for nurses in both the private and government health establishments in Dubai.
The guidelines for Dubai nurses include features from those existing in Australia, Canada and the UK. The code of conduct will include guidelines how nurses should conduct themselves.
KHALEEJ TIMES
How safe are energy drinks?
ABU DHABI — MAY 20: Energy drinks, which have a growing popularity, especially among young people, have a negative impact on human health, nutritionists and health experts warn.
The experts caution that most energy drinks usually contain high percentage of caffeine and other ingredients which might not suit the medical conditions of some people. Frequent intake of these drinks might cause dehydration due to the high percentage of caffeine they contain. They can also adversely affect the general appetite of the users, experts point out.
These expensive drinks, which commonly include caffeine as a central active ingredient aside from vitamin B, sugar and herbal ingredients, are mainly marketed for teenagers and young adults.
During their exams, a large number of teenagers take to what is marketed as "drinks capable of combating mental and physical fatigue." Ahmed, a 19-year-old student says: "Energy drinks help me stay awake for a longer time and give me the energy to memorise my lessons". Rihab, 24, also a student, believes the energy drinks make her feel fresh and active.
Meanwhile, for the supermarkets and groceries, these energy drinks mean big business. Jassim Mousa Khori, a staff at a supermarket in the capital says: "Everyday, we sell a cartoon (of 24 bottles) of these drinks. My customers are mostly in the age group of 18-30 years," he discloses.
Dr. JH, a nutritionist, warns that the energy drinks can have disastrous consequences for the diabetic. "Have water and other fresh juices instead of these energy drinks," she says. Dr. LS, a health expert, says the energy drinks should be replaced with healthy beverages.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Sharjah - The long slog to Sharjah
Sharjah - MAY 20: Motorists travelling from Dubai to Sharjah are gearing themselves up for a long drive after diversions were put in place on the Al Ittihad Road. Speaking to 7DAYS, some drivers said they were worried about the extra time it was going to take them to travel home each night.
I was not aware of this closure. I took the road today and the traffic was at a standstill for nearly an hour. I am now mentally preparing myself for Sunday [today] when the traffic will be at its peak,” said Adarsh, a media exexutive, who commutes from Sharjah to Dubai Media City everyday.
The stretch of road from Dubai to Sharjah between Dubai Police Headquarters Interchange and Al Mulla Plaza on Al Ittihad Road was closed on Friday as part of an dhs800 million expansion plan, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. Motorists going to Sharjah will now have to take diversions from the traffic lights before the Dubai Police Headquarters towards Al Quds Road, then take a detour behind the police headquarters and join Al Nadha Road.
And while the Roads and Transport Authority promises the expansion will eventually make life easier for commuters, motorists fear that their travel time for the foreseeable future could be doubled due to the works. “This is bad news for all of us. It already takes me two hours to reach home. This block means more hours wasted in the car,” said Rajgopal Chari, who works between Garhoud and Sharjah everyday.
Salim Khan, who works in Bur Dubai, added: “Some arrange-ment has to be made to coordinate the traffic until this work is completed otherwise we may have to leave two hours earlier than we already do.” The 7.5km stretch of Al Ittihad Road is used by more than 8,000 motorists an hour during peak times. Last night motorists were already reporting long tailbacks towards Garhoud Bridge because of the diversion.
SEVEN DAYS
Dubai - School abuse inquiry
Dubai - MAY 20: A bus conductor working for one of Dubai’s leading private schools has been suspended from duty after the parents of a seven-year-old boy accused him of physical abuse. The boy, who is studying in grade two at The Winchester School, returned home on Tuesday with dark bruises on his upper inner-thigh very close to his groin, said his horrified parents who live in Bur Dubai.
The youngster and his parents allege that the conductor pinched him, a claim the man denies, saying the boy must have done it to himself. His furious mother went to the school the next morning with two police officials and demanded action be taken. A spokesperson for GEMS, which runs The Winchester School, confirmed that a complaint had been registered by a parent and said the bus conductor was immediately suspended.
“A complaint was made by the parent on Wednesday. The parent called the police and two policemen came to the school along with paramedics. The school has launched an investigation into the incident and a report will be shared with the parents on Tuesday,” the spokesperson said. She added that the conductor maintained his innocence and that a final decision on his future would be taken after the investigation.
But yesterday the boy’s mother claimed this was not the first time her son had come home covered in bruises. “I first saw the bruises three weeks ago when I was giving a shower to my son. He said he was pinched by the bus conductor,” said the mother, who requested anonymity. “I reported this to the school but they did not believe me.”
She said the school had then insisted the conductor was a good man and would never have touched her child. “They said they would take care of it but no real action was taken,” she said. The mother added that she felt she had to go to the police this week as she did not feel she was being taken seriously. “The school just brushed aside every complaint I made, forcing me to finally call the police,” said the mother. The GEMS spokesperson declined to comment on the claims of an earlier complaint
SEVEN DAYS