Water consumption in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region has been slashed by 75 per cent, thanks to irrigation methods used by the Department of Municipalities and Transport.
Government figures show 12.4 billion gallons of water were saved in 2021, thanks to better use of natural resources.
Only 1.2 millimetres of rain fell in the first three months of 2021, with figures compiled by the National Centre of Meteorology showing the six months from October to March yielded a fifth of expected rainfall ― a total of 7.73mm in Abu Dhabi.
The dry spell forced authorities to focus on water-saving initiatives, including improving the use of groundwater in Al Dhafra.
Al Dhafra Region Municipality introduced programmes to bolster the region's vegetation while reducing groundwater usage to irrigate trees and plants, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The programmes increased irrigation efficiency in green spaces, mid-streets islands, and roadside plants using innovative methods.
Local plant species covered an area of 58,000 square metres, under the beautification project that includes 40 roundabouts and several traffic islands covering 156,000 square metres.
The municipality also removed 61,611 harmful trees from communities across the region, as these severely affected groundwater and had a negative impact on the infrastructure assets and the city's appearance.
By removing the trees and replacing them with local plant species, water consumption was reduced to 66 million gallons a year.
Other measures included the decommissioning of groundwater wells near Jebel Dhanna and along the Ghweifat International Highway.
As part of the department's goal to boost groundwater consumption efficiency, 19 wells were removed from use entirely while several others were only partially operational.
In Abu Dhabi, the municipality covered 504 wells in areas where diseased and dying trees were removed, as part of the beautification maintenance programme. Another 33 shafts were covered as part of continuing efforts to make abandoned wells safe.
Water consumption in the green spaces of residential areas was 4.59 litres per square metre, a reduction of more than 57 per cent from the year's objective of 8.0 litres per square metre.
There are plans for other cities across the emirate to benefit from these methods in the coming months.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
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Syrian National Security Bureau
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
