分类： society

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its 82nd exclusive online auction featuring 300 premium vehicle number plates, scheduled to commence on February 9, 2026. The highly anticipated event will offer distinctive 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-digit combinations for private vehicles, classic cars, and motorcycles under multiple code series including H, I, K, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.

Registration for prospective bidders opens on February 2, with the auction running for a limited seven-day period exclusively through digital platforms. Participation requires a Dubai traffic file and involves submitting a security cheque of Dh5,000 made payable to RTA alongside a non-refundable Dh120 registration fee. Registration can be completed either at designated Customer Happiness Centres in Umm Ramool, Al Barsha, and Deira, or digitally via the official RTA website (www.rta.ae) using credit card facilities.

Successful bidders must settle their payments within ten business days following the auction’s conclusion. Payment modalities include cash transactions for amounts up to Dh50,000, while higher valuations require manager’s cheques or credit card payments. All transactions will be subject to a standard 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) implementation.

The auction continues Dubai’s tradition of premium plate sales, which have previously generated record-breaking revenues, including the notable sale of plate ‘BB 88′ for Dh14 million in recent history. This event provides vehicle enthusiasts with opportunities to acquire distinctive identifiers that have become status symbols within the Emirates’ automotive culture.

Astronomical experts at the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre have projected that Ramadan 1447 AH will commence on Thursday, February 19, 2026, across most Arab nations including the United Arab Emirates. This determination follows sophisticated scientific analysis indicating the lunar crescent marking the beginning of the holy month will not be visible on February 17th from any region within the Islamic world.

Engineer Muhammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomy Centre, provided detailed technical explanations confirming the impossibility of crescent sighting on Tuesday, February 17th. According to astronomical data, the moon will set either before or simultaneously with the sun across most regions, with minimal separation angles making visual detection impossible even using advanced telescopic technology. In the UAE specifically, calculations show the moon’s lower edge will disappear below the horizon one minute before sunset.

The scientific assessment receives additional validation from an annular solar eclipse occurring on February 17th, visible across southern Africa and Antarctica. This celestial event demonstrates the moon’s positional alignment with the sun, providing conclusive evidence that the crescent cannot form until later.

For nations adhering to confirmed crescent sightings, Wednesday, February 18th will consequently complete the 30-day cycle of Shaban, making Thursday the logical starting point for Ramadan. While most Arab countries will follow this timeline, some non-Arab Islamic nations including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Morocco, and Mauritania may commence observations on February 18th, with their Ramadan beginning either February 19th or 20th depending on local weather conditions and sighting methodologies.

Astronomers have issued warnings regarding potential false sightings on February 17th, emphasizing that any claims of visual detection would be scientifically impossible according to established astronomical parameters. The Centre has provided detailed visibility maps indicating that crescent observation remains impossible from regions colored red on their charts, while only minimal visibility using optical instruments might occur in limited blue-zoned areas under perfect atmospheric conditions.

A devastating health crisis has emerged from the tropical archipelago of Cape Verde, where six British tourists have died following severe gastric illnesses contracted during holidays since January 2023. The alarming pattern has prompted legal action representing over 1,500 affected travelers against tourism giant TUI.

The most recent casualties include Mark Ashley, 55, from Bedfordshire; Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham; Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire; and an unidentified 56-year-old man. All succumbed to complications arising from violent stomach infections characterized by symptoms including severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and extreme lethargy.

Medical tragedies unfolded differently across cases. Mr. Ashley collapsed at his Houghton Regis home weeks after returning from holiday and was pronounced dead minutes after hospital admission. Ms. Walsh, a part-time nurse, died during her August 2025 stay at Riu Cabo Verde resort on Sal island. Most tragically, Ms. Pooley’s condition was compounded by a fall on wet flooring from a leaking fridge, resulting in a fractured femur that escalated into fatal sepsis and multi-organ failure.

Irwin Mitchell, the law firm representing all affected families, described the scale of illness as ‘truly staggering.’ Senior lawyer Jatinder Paul noted he had ‘never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time.’

Families have expressed profound grief and frustration. Emma Ashley reported her husband’s illness through TUI’s app during their October holiday and raised concerns about resort hygiene standards. Andy Pooley described poor communication from medical facilities and holiday providers during his wife’s medical emergency.

TUI acknowledged the investigations but declined detailed comment due to ongoing legal proceedings. The company noted it had transported over one million visitors to the islands since 2022 and provided support to those reporting illness.

Coroner investigations and legal proceedings continue as health authorities examine the unprecedented cluster of tourist illnesses in the popular destination located west of Mauritania and Senegal.

A wave of national mourning has swept through Nigeria following the tragic death of 26-year-old vocalist Ifunanya Nwangene, who succumbed to a venomous snake bite in Abuja on Saturday. The emerging artist, who gained recognition through her appearance on The Voice Nigeria in 2021, was known for her remarkable vocal versatility across jazz, opera, classical, and soul genres.

Disturbing social media footage documented snake handlers extracting a cobra from her residence, with audible screams from bystanders confirming the lethal nature of the incident. According to close associates, Nwangene was asleep when the serpent attacked, awakening her abruptly. Subsequently, authorities discovered a second snake within the premises.

The medical response proved tragically inadequate. After initial treatment at a local clinic lacking antivenom supplies, Nwangene was transferred to a hospital that possessed only one of the two required antivenoms. Sam Ezugwu, music director of the Amemuso Choir where she performed, recounted the desperate search for the missing antivenom while the young artist struggled to breathe and communicated through hand gestures before her condition deteriorated.

This devastating incident has ignited fierce criticism of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, coming shortly after the controversial death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s infant son under similar circumstances. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate has acknowledged systemic failures and announced the formation of a national task force focused on clinical governance and patient safety.

The World Health Organization classifies venomous snakebites as a neglected tropical disease, with sub-Saharan Africa experiencing approximately 30,000 fatalities annually from an estimated 435,000-580,000 bites requiring treatment. The crisis disproportionately affects rural communities with limited medical resources, though Nwangene’s death in an urban setting has highlighted the pervasiveness of the problem.

Experts identify antivenom scarcity, improper storage requirements, and high costs as primary obstacles to effective treatment, forcing many victims to seek traditional remedies rather than professional medical care.