ABU DHABI // Four of the country's largest malls are encouraging shoppers to donate unwanted possessions to charity.
The Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Sharjah City Centre and Ajman City Centre have each set up large transparent plastic boxes to collect the donations throughout the month.
Visitors will be able to donate everything from used eyeglasses or sunglasses to clothes, mobile phones and books as part of the campaign entitled "Make a Difference This Ramadan". The goods will be distributed to the UAE Red Crescent Society, Al Ihsan Medical Complex and EnviroFone.
Al Ihsan Medical Complex is a UAE-based organisation that offers free medical care and services, while EnviroFone facilitates the refurbishment of old phones that are donated to people in African countries and disposes of broken phones in an environmentally safe manner. For every phone it receives, EnviroFone donates Dh5 to the Gulf for Good Foundation.
The Red Crescent takes part in many charitable activities. During Ramadan, it will be serving iftar, free of charge, in tents across the country.
Fareed AbdelRahman, divisional asset manager for Majid al Futaim, which owns all the malls, said: "This campaign was introduced at our four shopping malls in the UAE last year and we received an incredible response from visitors. Many of us have unwanted goods in our homes but don't know where to take them.
"We decided to put these boxes in the malls because people go there anyway to shop so they can take part in the giving spirit of Ramadan at the same time."
The malls will be thanking people who take part by giving them discount coupons for products similar to the ones they donate.
aseaman@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013