Indian expatriates stranded abroad cannot return home for at least another month, India's Supreme Court said on Monday.
Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde deferred the hearing of seven cases challenging the government's decision to close borders for four weeks.
He urged Indians to "stay where you are".
Seven petitions were made to the court from citizens who were abroad when Narendra Modi's government closed the borders last month.
Among them were expat workers in the UAE and students in the United Kingdom.
Once the decision is taken by the central government, Kerala is ready to receive our brothers and sisters. Whatever the number, we are well prepared
Unlike some governments, India's has allowed no repatriation flights.
On Tuesday, Mr Modi will address the nation at 8.30am UAE time. He was expected to extend a 21-day lockdown that began on March 25, but could allow some repatriation flights home.
Expats in the UAE who have lost jobs or closed businesses hope to return home.
“If flights open I can go back to my country. I have stayed in UAE for 10 years, but I cannot stay anymore," said Munawara Zainuddin, a house cleaner in Abu Dhabi.
Her landlord has come calling for two months rent of Dh4,000.
Emirati authorities warned homeowners they cannot evict tenants, but low-income workers are particularly vulnerable, and she has no work on the horizon.
"I must go home, I have no money," she said.
“The landlord said he will throw me out. Without work, I cannot pay rent. Everyone has problems. My friends also want to go back."
The 45-year-old from Kerala is among thousands anxiously awaiting the resumption of flights.
Kerala's state government said it was getting ready to accept more than 200,000 people from abroad, once the lockdown is lifted by New Delhi. It is understood at least 70,000 could be from the UAE.
Senior Kerala cabinet minister KT Jaleel told The National that beds in government and private hospitals were being prepared to handle non-resident Indians, who would be placed in quarantine for 14 days.
“Once the decision is taken by the central government, Kerala is ready to receive our brothers and sisters. Whatever the number, we are well prepared,” said Mr Jaleel.
“We have more than 200,000 beds that we can give for quarantine facilities to those who wish to come back to Kerala from abroad, especially from the UAE. These are in government and private hospitals and government institutions.”
Officials in Indian states such as Kerala and western Maharashtra earlier expressed concern over high number of positive cases detected among passengers returning from the Middle East before the lockdown.
Of Kerala’s 194 cases, at least 119 arrived from overseas, of which 87 were from Dubai, according to state government figures.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last week wrote to Mr Modi urging him to look after citizens in the UAE seeking to return home.
“Each and every family in Kerala has a connection with the Gulf. There are one or two persons from each family working in UAE,” said Mr Jaleel whose brother and sister-in-law have lived in Dubai for the past decade.
“Kerala is their birth land and if anybody wants to return, how can we deny them the opportunity? We have approached the central government because they have the authority for air transport.”
Indian officials said they awaited a decision from federal authorities.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai recently received repatriation requests from 800 residents and one employer in the entertainment sector seeking to send back 1,000 staff.
The mission has launched a telemedicine facility from 9am to 6pm for its citizens worried about contracting the coronavirus.
Phone lines were jammed as soon as the message went up on Twitter on Monday, with authorities planning to add an additional 20 doctors and counsellors to handle demand.
“We wait for guidance from India,” said Mr Vipul, Indian Consul General in Dubai when asked about permission for flights.
The more pressing issue is handling workers living in small apartments with people who had tested positive.
“For both physical and mental well being, people can call doctors and counsellors if they are jittery because they have flu-like symptoms,” Mr Vipul said.
On Sunday, state news agency Wam said the UAE is considering introducing quotas or employment clauses for workers from countries that have refused to repatriate their citizens.
Emirati officials are understood to be keen to help expats who wish to return home.
They aim to reach arrangements with governments to ensure their citizens can return home. But they need the agreement of other countries to facilitate such flights.
"They [employers] say they will call me to work when the corona stops. But no one is calling me. I will just go back to Kerala to live with my sons
The governments of India and Pakistan, who have more than four million citizens working in the Emirates, are among those to have imposed hard border closures that extends to denying repatriation flights.
As per international safety guidelines, coronavirus patients require at least two, if not three, negative tests to be allowed to board flights.
Emirati officials have offered to test potential passengers for Covid-19 and, if needed, quarantine expats in the Emirates before sending them home once virus-free.
Testing and support conducted in government facilities is open to all nationalities and free to all.
In the past week, the UAE has ramped up testing to as many as 20,000 people per day, including in neighbourhoods placed on strict quarantine.
Social workers and government-backed charitable groups have brought food supplies for a month to help hundreds like Ms Zainuddin.
"They (employers) say they will call me to work when the corona stops," she said.
"But no one is calling me. I will just go back to Kerala to live with my sons."
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Naga
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
