DUBAI // The country's water is to fall under the control of the Federal Government. A law transferring the management of the resource from each emirate is under legal review, the Ministry of Environment and Water said yesterday. The move is aimed at improving efficiency and planning, which have often been lacking under splintered control.
Dr Rashid bin Fahad, the Minister of Environment and Water, could not say when the law would be enacted, nor what it contained. However, he confirmed it would put his ministry in charge of water management. "The law will lay out the legal mechanism for management and use of water resources across the whole country and for all resources of water," said Dr bin Fahad. Even within emirates, the responsibility for managing water resources is not clear cut.
Different authorities can have a say in the process, and often contradict one another. Apart from Abu Dhabi, which has an independent authority to regulate desalination, water and electricity authorities also provide the service, potentially leading to conflict. "This is why we need this law," said Dr bin Fahad. "Water is a resource belonging to the whole country. "We are emphasising the need for water security. It is not only about the availability of [water] supply, there are also environmental issues."
The law was being reviewed by a committee that included Ministry of Justice officials and representatives from each of the seven emirates, said Dr Mohammed Mustafa al Mulla, the Deputy Minister of Water and Soil Affairs. After the review, the draft must be approved by the Cabinet and the FNC before being passed by the President's Office. "We are still working on it," said Dr al Mulla. "It is a long journey."
The UAE is one of the poorest countries in terms of the availability of fresh water, but has one of the highest rates of consumption per person. While the new regulation was expected to help improve that record, the law could run into opposition from some emirates, said Dr Shawki Barghouti, the director general of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in Dubai. "The question becomes how to get all emirates to subscribe to it," he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting at the ministry to celebrate Arab Water Day, Dr Barghouti said that the issue was a sensitive one that would require "certain careful political negotiation". The UAE relies on desalination for 98 per cent of its water needs. The country's 30 plants have a combined capacity of 1.3 billion cubic metres per year. The process is heavily subsidised by the Government and requires large amounts of energy, taking its toll on the environment.
Besides an enlarged carbon footprint, the plants have a negative impact on the marine environment through thermal and chemical pollution, according to environmentalists. Dr Barghouti said decision makers should also look at the reduced flow of fresh water into the Arabian Gulf due to the building of dams along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Although the decision to build the dams is outside of the remit of Gulf governments - with Turkey, Iran and Syria behind the projects - they were having a large impact on the Gulf, he said.
"The reduction of sweet water has an impact on marine life, water quality and the circular movement of water in the Gulf," said Dr Barghouti. It required "careful monitoring of water quality and strong co-operation among the Gulf countries" as well as "improvements in desalination regulation", said Dr Barghouti. Finding solutions to the issue "will not be that easy", he added. @Email:vtodorova@thenational.ae
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
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