ABU DHABI // Eighteen south-east Asian victims of a single human-trafficking operation can travel home, a judge ruled yesterday. The 10 people accused of trafficking them, however, remain in police custody and appeared at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance, charged with bringing the women into the country and forcing them into prostitution.
WM, from China, and WA, from Thailand, are accused of leading the trafficking ring and luring the women into the UAE with promises of high-paying massage jobs in Abu Dhabi. Eight other defendants, from China, Thailand and Singapore, were charged with assisting and facilitating the sex trade. After their arrival in May, the women were told that the "massage shop" was not yet open and that they had to work in clubs and hotels to bring in Dh300 each day for rent.
However, one of the girls had spoken to a man on her flight from Bangkok who expressed surprise at the amount of money they had been promised. The man lived in Abu Dhabi and gave them his mobile phone number, telling them to call if they needed help. One of the victims called the man after she realised she had been deceived. He gave her the Thai embassy's contact number, and she called for help.
Just more than a week after the women's arrival, police raided the apartment. Since then, the women have been housed at the Ewaa Shelter, a secure villa in Abu Dhabi. Fatima al Mazrouei, a chief specialist at the shelter, asked Chief Justice Saeed Abdul Baseer of the Criminal Court yesterday to allow the women to go home because the "investigation has finished". The chief justice asked the defence lawyer whether he needed to ask the victims any questions, and the lawyer said "no".
"Then they can travel any time," the chief justice said. Officials at the shelter yesterday said the women were expected to leave the UAE in the next week. They will return with some financial assistance provided by Ewaa to help get them back on their feet. Since opening in January 2009, Ewaa has provided refuge to dozens of trafficked women, most of whom have been forced into prostitution. The shelter falls under the umbrella of the UAE Red Crescent Authority and is supported by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the wife of Sheikh Zayed, the late President of the UAE. Two additional shelters under Ewaa's management - in Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah - are expected to open in the coming weeks. @Email:hhassan@thenational.ae zconstantine@thenational.ae
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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.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Six large-scale objects on show
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- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
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December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
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December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
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All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.