Coronavirus: Pregnant American expat is finally home in Dubai

Abu Dhabi: She was once stranded out of the UAE due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The UAE’s efforts brought her safely back, and now Hannah O Reilly is finally home with her husband in Dubai.

“I feel so appreciative to be back in the UAE, where we are very safe compared to the rest of the world. I’m beside myself with gratitude,” the 29-year-old American expat told Gulf News.

The supply teacher, who is nearly into the third trimester of her first pregnancy, had found herself unable to return from New York after all commercial flights to and from the UAE were suspended on March 19. She had been visiting her mother after the latter had undergone cancer surgery, while her British husband, Dan, 44, stayed on in the UAE, and the couple had never expected the turn of events.

Gulf News reported O Reilly’s plight on March 24, and it caught the attention of the UAE leadership. By March 29, she had been flown back on a flight bringing Emiratis back home, and was quarantined in an Abu Dhabi hotel. There, she documented her quarantine on her Instagram account in the hope that it would help other stranded expats.

“I have been extremely impressed with how smooth and efficient the entire evacuation and quarantine process was, despite the limited time to plan them,” she added.

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Hannah O’ReilyImage Credit: Supplied

O Reilly had earlier told Gulf News about how she had been delivered three meals a day free of charge, and had had access to laundry services twice a week.

“I was let out of quarantine on April 9, and my baby is well. I was even able to complete the required tests with my doctor after getting back,” O Reilly said.

Dan said, “The whole thing feels like a dream. I was constantly worried and felt totally helpless. I don’t know how we can ever say thank you to the UAE. Looking at the rest of the world, especially New York where Hannah’s parents are, it was clearly the right choice for her to be here. I’m just happy to have my wife safe at home with me.”

O’Reilly had been unable to step out of her hotel room during the quarantine, so the first thing she did after getting back home was spend some time in the garden with her cat.

“I’m home and I am feeling good,” she said.

Coronavirus: Now get a Dubai move permit once in 3 days

Dubai: Dubai residents can apply a one time permit every three days to go out and buy groceries or medcines, Gulf News has learnt.

In an update on the Dubai Permit website, residents can apply for the ATM cash withdraw permit once every five days.

According to the update in the system, people who want to withdraw money can get one permit every five days while those who want to visit the supermarket or pharmacy to buy food or medicines can get one permit every three days.

Residents who wish to go out on essential trips during the sterilisation restrictions must apply for a movement permit in line with the Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management’s directives to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The online system requires residents to state their reason for going outside, even in cases of emergency.

Dubai extends closure of restaurants, hotels and events until further notice

All inbound tour operators, hotels, restaurants, venues and event organisers in Dubai are to remain closed until further notice, according to Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

The authority said in a circular this week that the precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be extended indefinitely.

“In line with Dubai Government Precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of its residents and visitors, we extend all the Precautionary Circulars on the website until further notice.

Shahram Kabiri

Dubai Based entrepreneur Shahram Kabiri to launch his poetry books!

Shahram Kabiri, an entrepreneur from Dubai and CEO and Advisor of M1 Holding is all set to launch his poetry book “A Thousand Roses” on Tuesday, June 30.

Shahram Kabiri was planned to launch his books on his birthday in march, because of the lockdown situation he couldn’t manage to release his book, despite Covid-19 situation going to release out by end of June. He will hold a virtual launch on his Instagram account, @888shk on Tuesday, June 30st.

Shahram Kabiri was prepared to launch his two books together back in march, but with global pandemic issues he preferred to postponed the release of the second book to another date.

One of his most popular lyrics, “Mohtaj” (Needy), is performed by Siavash Shams. As a writer he has written two books “Sometimes I miss myself” and “A thousand roses”.

SHRITI CHAKRAVARTHY

From a normal to next door girl to who rose into an entrepreneur , her journey is quite a leap with a lot of observations, leanings , inception and conviction towards achieving her dreams. Shriti Chakravarthy known as ‘The Chic Iconic’ is someone who believes in envisioning the future and curating her present to align with her goals and achieve her highest dreams. She says persistence is the key , variety is the pivot. She has ventured into the field of content creation/writing in lifestyle blogging , Minimalism and personality development with very intriguing and attention capturing topics like “ Personality traits of a strong Women “ , “Efficiency and Time Management for women in the modern day”, “ Strong everyday routines for Productivity’ and many other. For a daily dose of inspiration and motivation You can read her on www.chiciconic.com.

But She soon took a turn into entrepreneurship and launched her clothing label “Pastels and Pink’ , with completely hand curated designs , conceived and produced as per the illustrations. She is now a team of 7 with excellent production management and extremely repetitive client base. Her perception of the clothes is versatility , femininity with an element of specialty and attention seeking capacity it can hold. She loves to make one of a kind designs with an extremely casual factor attached to it and the customers love the label for its constant refresh on the designs setting a trend by itself. Pastels, easy silhouettes , warm palettes , minimal textures , hand made art work are the forte of her label. She is a boss lady and extremely intuitive in training her team to achieve the best levels of creativity in implementing her vision.

When asked if she would like to give any message to other young entrepreneurs she said, “If you want to be a self made person, have a vision , take risks , hire a great team and manage your energy wisely, energy limits what you can do with your time. Do not give up even if it feels like it is not working out temporarily , you cannot build anything over night. Unlearn old ways of doing things and achieving targets and resort to new and innovative ways.

 

When you are running a business it is never going to be complete. There are always new challenges , new heights to uncover and new things to learn. All I can say is there is always more to do, “ She adds.

We’re sure there will be a lot more for this extremely talented , smart and gracious young woman to look forward to. Wishing her the best in her niche and to achieve more success.

La mia profondità nei riflessi

La mia vita in una foto, sono una persona molto profonda, sensibile, dolce e romantica, mi piace leggere ma soprattutto ascoltare, adoro la profondità in tutte le piccole cose e sfaccettature e penso, chi “Ascolta il suono del silenzio, va oltre al buio, perché solo nella profondità più oscura troverai qualcosa che non tutti possono avere .. ”mi distinguo dalla massa e dalla superficialità ogni mia foto o post, per cercare di vedere lontano far capire e migliorare le persone, far conoscere l’amore nelle piccole cose l’amore e il bene incondizionato ..

LUISA ABUCHAIBE

I doubted my identity.
My name, my believes, my security, my lenguage.
I let go the feeling to act on what others think.
I forgot about being on time and I started to focus instead in the idea to stay present.
I replaced the pain with watching a sunrise, a sunset.
With running around the broken streets in Bali and feeling the heat of the sun.
My fears with dancing under the rain letting my hair become tangled, dirty and messy.
I forgot with the idea of being perfect, trying instead to breath deeply everyday with freedom, with intention.
I started breathing with passion, observing and analizing the beauty around me.
I let myself to be in danger, to understand that I can be vulnerable and strong at the same time.
I understood that there is nothing to worry about it, as life gives you what you need and takes from you what feels permanent.
I lost my path, my goals, my vision.
To enjoy the darkness and appreciate the light when I am able to see it.
Sometimes I thought about my memories, what should or would be different.
I stopped and I told myself to let it go.
I started to focus in the injustice of the world to feel grateful for my fortune: my family, friends, the people I am getting to know , the ones that will leave my path, my rooftop, food, body and health.
I left behind the ideas of what I thought I was, to accept new beginnings.
I let the anxiety transform in desire.
The sadness in music.
The loneliness in contemplation.
I fighted myself, to figure out the rythem of my heart

If you look at this you may be thinking: This Colombian feeling sexy at her perfect life in Bali. Well let me tell you that, there is not such a perfect life, there is not such a thing. We all go through so many metamorphosis and before becoming a butterfly you most need to grow in a cocoon. I have been bullied plenty of times since I was a child:
•You are not beautiful enough than… ( I lived all my high school thinking I’m ugly that’s why I choose to play futbol, teakwondo, taichi, reiki, and the I decided to become a dancer to team up with women that are in another level of spirituality.
• You are not as talent as. I was doubted if I draw what I do as a “ pretty woman and a dancer can’t achieve anything more than be beautiful on a stage or a camera) •Maybe was your brothers or your bf who did it. ( one of my ex’s back in Colombia is a very talented artist )
•You won’t succeed in VFX as was taken as silly as my English was horrible when I starter studying again in Canada.
I’m a professional dancer from stage, I have won awards around the world in this field and as well in my area as VFX artist. I learned English by myself after being bullied in Canada during my studies and harassed by some classmates as I got a job first than them in the industry.
This didn’t stopped me, I kept going growing and understanding that I need to use this pain to motivate myself as anyone can believe on you, if you don’t give yourself credit.
I don’t care to be the most talented, beautiful, I care to be compassionate, live by example and have empathy and trust with the people I work with and then I become friends with.
My career has become my life, I guess that’s why I’m single. I was bullied as I was not fitness enough, not beautiful enough as I work so hard in VFX trying to accomplish my dreams. That’s not enough for certain men.
Someone said once: If you want to open a business find a problem.
I am that problem, I have to pay visas anywhere I go as I’m Colombian. I had to get one to come to Indonesia! I have to work so hard to become a Canadian citizen and have travel privileges. Colombians are passionate and hard workers more than drugs and war.

UAE: TRA unblocks Skype for Business, Google Hangouts amid COVID-19 outbreak

Dubai: The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced the availability of five applications to support distance learning and remote working amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, the TRA explained that residents will now be able to use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Blackboard, which are available on all networks in the country. Microsoft Skype for Business and Google Hangouts are compatible with fixed internet networks.

In a statement, the telecom authority said: “In context of the current situation, and as part of the TRA’s efforts to support distance learning and working from home, the TRA – in coordination with the UAE telecom operators – announces the availability of a group of applications, exceptionally until further notice.”

The announcement was made following the UAE’s decision to make distance learning mandatory, and after a number of employees started to work from home as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

The regulator said it will periodically review the list of available applications.

COVID-19: Abu Dhabi banks offer loan and financial relief to customers affected by coronavirus

Dubai: Abu Dhabi-based banks have announced a package of initiatives to support the emirate’s individuals and businesses as the country fights the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Group and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance and Department of Economic Development, have put together 17 financial initiatives for individuals and SMEs.

All Abu Dhabi banks had announced last week various measures to support their customers affected by coronavirus outbreak.

Relief for retail customers include:

– Payment deferral of 3 months for retail loans of affected customers with zero charges and interest waived for the deferral period

– Interest-free installment offers on loans for school tuition until June 30

– A payment deferral of one month will be available on request for all customers holding personal loans, auto loans and / or mortgage loans with no service charge

– Reduction in bank charges by 50 per cent on early settlement of loans for eligible customers (until June 30)

– An increase in the Loan to Value ratio (LTV) by 5 per cent for first-time home buyers

– Full refund of processing fees for foreign currency credits on cards for due to cancellation of travel plans, and

– Reduction of 50 per cent in late payment charges on credit cards.

For SME customers, these banks will defer up to three months of installments for all loan types. The banks are also working with all customers to ascertain the COVID-19 impact on their cash flows, to provide further support in loan restructuring or deferment.

US approves $2 trillion stimulus

Washington: The US Senate approved a historic $2 trillion rescue plan to respond to the economic and health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, putting pressure on Congress to pass the bill quickly and send it to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The massive legislation passed on a 96-0 vote after days of intense negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats, who demanded changes to the bill introduced last week by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The package includes an unprecedented injection of loans, tax breaks and direct payments for major corporations and individual taxpayers to help the US economy get through an abrupt shutdown as people avoid social interaction and businesses close to keep from spreading the coronavirus.

More than 68,000 people in the US have been infected with the deadly respiratory disease and some economists warn that unemployment could hit 30 per cent.

The House was scheduled to vote on the legislation Friday. Trump had urged Congress to act “without delay” and said he would sign the legislation immediately.

Who gets what

The package provides for about $500 billion in loans and assistance for big companies, including struggling airlines, as well as states and cities. There is a separate pot of about $350 billion for small businesses.

$800billion

What the US passed as economic stimulus during the financial crisis of 2008.

For individuals the package provides direct payments to lower- and middle-income Americans of $1,200 for each adult, as well as $500 for each child. Unemployment insurance would be vastly expanded. There also is money for hospitals, some of which are on the verge of being overwhelmed.

The size of the stimulus package is unprecedented, dwarfing the approximately $800 billion Obama stimulus that passed five months after the 2008 financial crash. Together with Federal Reserve actions, the legislation amounted to a $6 trillion stimulus, according to White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, or about 30 per cent of annual GDP.