Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan hails UAE as $29m Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road opens


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A UAE-funded road linking nine towns and more than 600,000 people has opened in Pakistan.

The $29 million (Dh106m) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Road carved a path through mountainous terrain in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It spans 9.3 metres and includes a tunnel, nine intersecting bridges and water channels to guard against flash floods along the 42-kilometre path in the Mohmand district.

And it is hoped it will improve the economy by making goods transport easier.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan opened the road on Monday and hailed the UAE's contribution.

"I want to express my sincere thanks to the UAE, especially Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed," said Mr Khan.

The project was implemented by the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme and financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

Abdullah Al Ghafli, director of the programme, said it represented one of the largest and most important development projects undertaken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said it took extensive and exceptional efforts to complete works on the road because of a harsh climate and mountainous terrain.

Mr Al Ghafli said the road was named after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in appreciation for his humanitarian gestures towards to the Pakistani people.

The road marked the latest relief and development effort by the UAE there.

Earlier this month, the UAE sent aid to southern Pakistan to help victims of heavy flooding in the province of Sindh, including Karachi city.

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Two products to make at home

Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million