ABU DHABI // A group of Emiratis with special needs was welcomed to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with a rare sign-language sermon during Friday prayers.
The visit last week was part of the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care's programme to help those with special needs integrate more effectively with society.
"We're introducing more initiatives with sign language," Raja Hassan, a sign-language translator for Abu Dhabi Television, said.
Mr Hassan can be frequently seen on Uluum al Dar, an ADTV programme for the deaf community that is conducted in Arabic sign language.
"Hopefully, we will see them begin to do this with all the Friday prayers," he said. "And after the Friday prayers we will attempt to add sign language to all government services.
"It is important for children with special needs to go out and integrate with society. It's usually a very healthy experience for them. They were delighted with it.
"They came from all over, including Al Ain, and the northern Emirates. Most of the congregation who were already present in the mosque were very interactive - some regular worshippers helped us to co-ordinate the group, to lift wheelchairs and to ensure that the group worshipped in line with the rest of the congregation."
Talal al Mazrouei, the director of events and activities at the mosque, said: "The centre is always keen on strengthening partnerships with all local community organisations".
Mr Mazrouei also helped the mosque to organise a special reception for the group.
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Result
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Pathaan
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Our family matters legal consultant
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
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Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
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PLAY-OFF%20DRAW
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Al Jazira's foreign quartet for 2017/18
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Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
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2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
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2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
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2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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The%20specs
The burning issue
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The biog
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Kill%20Bill%20Volume%201
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
