分类： society

Authorities in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah have finalized preparations for special Eid Al Etihad parades scheduled for Friday, November 28th, as part of the UAE’s 54th National Day celebrations. The coordinated events will feature military displays and require significant traffic management in both emirates.

Ajman Police confirmed their parade will commence at 4:00 PM along Corniche Road, with full road closure implemented for the duration of the event. The procession will include organized military units, prompting authorities to advise motorists to utilize alternative routes. Detailed maps have been released to guide drivers around the parade route and suggest optimal detours.

Simultaneously, Ras Al Khaimah will host its parade along Al Qawasim Corniche, with road closures affecting the main thoroughfare leading to the waterfront area. The RAK parade is scheduled for an earlier timeframe, running from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, and will similarly feature military participation. Police authorities have issued specific alternative route recommendations to minimize traffic disruption.

The coordinated parades represent significant civic events within the broader National Day observances, demonstrating inter-emirate cooperation in celebrating national unity. Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan travel accordingly and follow official guidance from local police departments regarding road usage during the specified time periods.

In the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza’s children are returning to makeshift classrooms, but the reality is far from normal. With 97% of Gaza’s schools damaged, many requiring full reconstruction, the educational landscape is in shambles. Eleven-year-old Layan Haji, who dreams of becoming a doctor, walks through the ruins of Gaza City to attend a temporary school set up in a battered building. ‘I walk for half an hour at least. The streets are devastated, full of ruins… It is difficult and sad,’ she says, yet she remains hopeful about resuming her studies. Haji is one of 900 students at the Al-Louloua al-Qatami school, which has opened its doors to provide education for the first time since the war began. However, the lack of basic supplies like books, notebooks, and even chairs poses significant challenges. Sixteen-year-old Said Sheldan, who has been displaced multiple times, shares similar struggles. ‘I don’t have books, notebooks, pens or a bag. There are no chairs, electricity or water — not even streets,’ he laments. The war has forced many children into ‘heavy labour’ to support their families, collecting firewood, fetching water, and standing in long queues for food. To address the psychological trauma, schools have adopted innovative teaching methods, such as using games and extracurricular activities. Despite these efforts, the scale of the crisis is immense. According to the UN, over 25,000 children have joined temporary learning spaces, but this is a fraction of the 758,000 students in Gaza. International initiatives, like Qatar’s Education Above All Foundation, are providing support, but the road to recovery is long. ‘Education is facing its most critical period,’ says Hazem Abu Habib, a local initiative leader. Before the war, Gaza was ‘completely free of illiteracy,’ but now, the future of its children hangs in the balance.

Wael Tarabishi, a US citizen battling Pompe disease, has faced a severe health crisis following the detention of his father and primary caregiver, Maher Tarabishi, by immigration authorities in Dallas last month. Wael was hospitalized with blood sepsis and pneumonia, spending days in intensive care while calling out for his father. His condition is described as the most fragile it has ever been.

Maher Tarabishi, a Jordanian citizen, has been Wael’s sole caregiver since his diagnosis at age four. He was detained during a routine check-in at the Dallas immigration office on October 28, despite having a lawful status under a Supervision Order issued in 2008 due to Wael’s medical needs. Pompe disease is a rare, progressive condition causing severe muscle deterioration, requiring constant care.

Relatives claim immigration officers ignored Maher’s legal status and documentation of Wael’s condition, handcuffing him when he tried to explain his role as a caregiver. Maher was held in a crowded room with 30 others, forced to sleep on the floor without a blanket, and denied a change of clothes until his transfer to the Bluebonnet Detention Center.

Immigration authorities have provided no updates on Maher’s legal status or his longstanding permission to remain in the US as Wael’s caregiver. An ICE spokesperson labeled Maher a criminal and a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a claim his family denies, emphasizing his clean record and dedication to his son.

Wael, who has undergone 36 surgeries and relies on medical machines to breathe and eat, expressed his despair, stating, ‘He is the only reason I want to continue living.’ The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover essential expenses now that Maher is unable to provide care.

Colonel Pandu, an Indonesian Air Force officer and participant at the International College of Defense Studies under China’s National Defense University, has composed a touching song titled ‘Changping’s Heart.’ The melody, now available on the university’s official Facebook and X accounts (@StudyinNDUChina), reflects his deep admiration for the institution and his affection for China. The song, described as a beautiful and heartfelt creation, symbolizes the cultural exchange and camaraderie fostered within the academic environment. It invites listeners to explore the inspiration and stories behind its creation, offering a voice that transcends geographical boundaries and resonates with emotional depth.

In a significant humanitarian gesture marking the nation’s 54th Union Day celebrations, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has authorized the release of 2,937 prisoners from correctional facilities across the Emirates. The presidential decree, announced on November 27, 2025, represents one of the most comprehensive prisoner amnesty initiatives in recent years.

The groundbreaking pardon extends beyond mere release, with the President committing to settle all outstanding financial penalties and debts incurred by the inmates as part of their judicial sentences. This dual approach of physical freedom coupled with financial relief underscores the leadership’s commitment to providing truly fresh starts for those affected.

The timing of this benevolent act coincides with Eid Al Etihad (Union Day) festivities, reflecting the nation’s values of compassion and social solidarity. Official statements emphasize that this initiative aims to alleviate burdens on families while facilitating the reintegration of pardoned individuals into society through proper rehabilitation opportunities.

This mass pardon forms part of the UAE’s broader strategy toward criminal justice reform and social cohesion enhancement. By removing financial barriers that often hinder successful reentry into society, the leadership demonstrates its innovative approach to correctional reform and community stability.

Previous similar initiatives have shown that such comprehensive amnesty programs significantly reduce recidivism rates while strengthening family bonds and community ties. The current pardon continues this established tradition of using national celebrations as occasions for mercy and social renewal.

An international symposium focusing on the copyright protection and promotion of traditional cultural folklore was convened in Quanzhou, Fujian province, on November 27, 2025. The event, co-organized by China’s National Copyright Administration and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), brought together over 300 participants, including officials, intellectual property experts, and business representatives from 11 countries. The symposium aimed to foster international dialogue and explore innovative strategies for safeguarding and promoting traditional cultural folklore in the digital age. Key discussions centered on balancing preservation with development, fostering industry integration, and nurturing young talent to ensure the continuity of cultural heritage. The event also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in building a governance system that respects cultural roots while embracing modernization. Participants were encouraged to collaborate on creating effective protection mechanisms, ensuring that folk art serves as a bridge connecting diverse civilizations. The symposium concluded with a call for mutual respect and equality in cultural exchanges, highlighting the role of folk art in fostering a shared future for humanity.

Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region has unveiled a remarkable discovery of 3,346 new cultural relic sites during the second phase of the fourth national cultural relics census. This significant find brings the region’s total number of documented cultural relics to an impressive 7,623, as announced by the regional cultural relics bureau on Thursday. The comprehensive survey, initiated in April 2024, meticulously covered all county-level units across Xizang, yielding a diverse array of historical treasures. Among the notable discoveries are ancient rock paintings in Sagya County, situated at an extraordinary altitude of 5,303.8 meters, marking the highest-altitude relic site recorded in China to date. The newly documented relics encompass a wide spectrum of historical artifacts, including ancient tombs, architectural structures, cave temples, stone carvings, and modern historical sites. Additionally, special investigations conducted in 21 border counties have added 254 relics linked to territorial defense and border garrisoning. Authorities have also expressed their commitment to intensifying efforts in documenting relics within ancient urban areas, further enriching the historical narrative of Xizang.

In a gesture marking the UAE’s 54th National Day, Umm Al Quwain has introduced a 40% discount on traffic fines, effective from December 1, 2025, to January 9, 2026. This initiative, announced by the emirate’s police authority, aims to provide financial relief to motorists while encouraging compliance with traffic regulations. However, the discount excludes serious traffic violations, ensuring that severe infractions remain subject to full penalties. The announcement aligns with the broader festive spirit across the UAE, which includes a two-day public holiday for both public and private sector employees on December 2 and 3. Similar measures are anticipated in other emirates as the nation prepares to celebrate its unity and progress. The move underscores the UAE’s commitment to fostering goodwill and easing burdens on its citizens during significant national events.

A catastrophic fire that engulfed a public housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has resulted in at least 75 fatalities, with approximately 300 residents still unaccounted for, marking the territory’s deadliest blaze in six decades. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when flames rapidly consumed seven of eight tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court, a subsidized housing estate built in 1983.

The devastation has exposed critical safety failures, including the absence of functioning fire alarms and the use of highly flammable materials during recent renovations. Authorities have arrested three construction executives for “gross negligence” after discovering substandard plastic sheeting and polystyrene insulation on scaffolding that accelerated the fire’s spread.

Personal accounts reveal harrowing escapes and unbearable losses. Forty-five-year-old Mr. Chung received a final desperate call from his wife trapped in their 23rd-floor apartment with their cat. “Hang in there,” were his last words to her before communications ceased. After 24 hours of waiting, he now believes she perished in the smoke-filled flat.

The disaster disproportionately affected elderly residents, who comprise nearly 40% of the complex’s population. Many were physically unable to evacuate quickly through thick, toxic smoke that filled corridors within minutes. Seventy-two-year-old Grandma Chan escaped only after receiving an urgent call from her daughter abroad, while 82-year-old Grandma Wu abandoned her mahjong game when alerted by family calls rather than building alarms.

The Hong Kong government has announced immediate relief measures, including HK$10,000 payments to displaced families and a HK$300 million assistance fund. However, for survivors like Kyle Ho, who invested his family’s savings into their apartment, the future remains uncertain despite gratitude for their survival.

As firefighters continue their search operations, insisting they “haven’t given up” on finding survivors, the community mourns and demands accountability for one of Hong Kong’s most devastating urban disasters.