Al Bawaba - Editor's Choice

Butting out the butts on the streets: Lebanese duo solves urban pollution issue

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter around the globe, according to a report in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. When not disposed of properly, these toxic stubs can be transported through drainage systems into rivers and onto beaches, poisoning native wildlife.

No more roadkill! Dubai's streets safer for children

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Intensive road safety campaigns and awareness activities have helped curtail road fatalities in Dubai as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported a 40 per centdrop in death of children under the age of 15 years in road accidents.

Horse meat scandal still looming? UAE consumers demand more transparency

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Consumers say they are being kept in the dark about the red meat quality grading system in the UAE, which imports meat of five different quality levels.

They are demanding that the government give them mandatory quality labelling of red meat. They said they were taken by surprise over the grading system.

“Imported red meat must meet a set of criteria related to fat content, colour of meat and age of animal at one of five quality levels: Prime, Choice, Good, Commercial and Satisfactory,” a Ministry of Environment and Water spokesperson told Gulf News.

Old habits die hard. Qatari men still look for a cook when they pick their wife

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Is the old saying ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’ still true today? With fast food culture reigning in almost every household these days, many girls now have the luxury to take up cooking as an only optional skill to learn.

Go green! Abu Dhabi hopes students can boost environmental protection

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

A task force has been appointed to deliberate on key issues to achieve sustainable development in the UAE, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on Wednesday.

Bewitching: Abu Dhabi police launches witch-hunt

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Abu Dhabi police are trying to break the spell of sorcerers on ordinary people.

The police have launched an awareness campaign called Amman, encouraging people to come forward and report anyone practicing witchcraft or sorcery.

Too hot to handle! Saudi cleric warns that women's use of air-conditioners calls for "moral depravities"

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

A self-proclaimed Saudi cleric said that if women turn on air-conditioners at home in their husband's absence could lead to moral depravities.

Health or Law: Raising cigarette prices a conundrum for GCC?

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The dilemma facing GCC finance ministers as they deliberate over a 100 per cent increase in duty on tobacco products is underlined by a White Paper published today which spotlights the growth in illicit trade, beyond the control of police and customs authorities, as an inevitable consequence of a sharp overnight rise in the cost of cigarettes.

Pump up the volume...in the suburbs. Dubai motorists warned to turn the music down while driving

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Motorists who play music at full blast while driving in residential areas will have their vehicles permanently confiscated, Dubai’s Police Chief said on Tuesday.

Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said that people in residential areas, especially Jumeirah, have been complaining about motorists who drive their cars after midnight playing loud music. Residents have also complained about noisy motorbikes.

Munching on memories: Syrian restaurants in Lebanon bring refugees together

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Back in Damascus there used to be a restaurant where everyone felt at home.

Located in the heart of the capital, a short walk from the Old City and footsteps from the big hotels, Sitt Sham was a longtime favorite for locals who would meet for their morning beans and coffee and tourists who wanted an authentic meal near some of the capital’s historic sites.