Latest news with #Manar
Middle East Eye
4 days ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Students launch 'Gaza40' campaign for Palestinian scholarship recipients who cannot enter UK
A coalition of student groups has launched the 'Gaza40 Campaign', an initiative aimed at pressuring the UK government to waive bureaucratic requirements that make it impossible for Palestinian students from Gaza to take their place at British academic institutions. Led by students in the UK and Palestine, the campaign advocates for over 40 students from Gaza who have been offered full scholarships to study at 24 UK universities but are unable to obtain visas due to a biometric data requirement that they are unable to provide. Israel's ongoing destruction in Gaza makes it near impossible for Palestinians to access consular services for foreign nations. The Gaza Visa Application Centre (VAC) has been closed since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in 2023, meaning that students are unable to submit the necessary biometric services. The campaign's open letter calling on the government to make an exception for the affected students has over 1,400 student signatures across 111 universities as of Thursday morning. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Gaza40 campaigners demand the deferral of biometric data requirements and safe passage for Palestinian students to reach the UK. Similar waivers to the one being demanded have previously been issued by the UK for Ukrainian and Afghan students. 'The refusal to extend similar accommodations to Palestinian students in Gaza, where the risk to life is equal if not more severe, amounts to discriminatory treatment,' the letter says. Dreams on hold Baraah, a Palestinian doctor in Gaza who only gave her first name, was awarded the Chevening Scholarship to study Women and Children's Health at King's College London. She told MEE: 'This scholarship was my dream – a light in the middle of years of war, fear and exhaustion.' At least for now, the dream is on hold. 'I have spent years serving my people in Gaza through war and pandemics," she said. "All I want now is a chance, a chance to study, to grow, and to return stronger to help rebuild what war has broken.' 'All I want now is a chance to study … and to return stronger to help rebuild what war has broken' - Baraah, Palestinian doctor Manar, a two-time PhD scholarship awardee who also preferred to speak to MEE under her first name, said that her home in Rafah was completely destroyed by Israeli forces in May 2024. Since then, she has been displaced 14 times and has lost at least 22 family members. In May this year, she was awarded the prestigious Cara fellowship to pursue her PhD at the University of Glasgow. 'Every attempt to pursue this dream has been blocked by war, displacement, and border closures,' she explained. Gaza40 organisers told MEE that the initiative, which was officially launched this week, began with advocacy efforts for individual students at various UK universities, and has developed into a national campaign driven by British students and the Palestinian students affected by the UK's visa policies. Through a network of Palestine solidarity societies, Islamic societies, human rights groups and other student groups, the campaign aims to amplify the stories of affected students and build awareness to pressure UK lawmakers. Sanaa, another student from Gaza, told MEE that she was admitted to an Education Master's programme at the University of Durham. She had to complete her application under gruelling conditions: 'To apply for this scholarship I wrote my essays by hand often under the light of my phone's flashlight. I took my English language test under the sound of shelling. How Unrwa school closures could damage the education of hundreds of Palestinian children Read More » 'I am not asking for charity,' she added. 'There is no way for me to leave Gaza or complete my visa procedures without international diplomatic coordination and humanitarian access.' Over 16,000 students have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, as of June 2025. Israeli strikes have damaged at least 20 higher education institutions in Gaza. "This campaign is not just about visas. It's about dignity,' Baraah told MEE. Leen, one of the 40 Palestinian students affected, said that she and other students were not asking for favours, but 'a functional, safe and urgent solution'. 'I hope this campaign reminds the world that Gaza's youth are still here, still dreaming and still fighting to learn, and that we will not be erased,' she added.
Al Etihad
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Manar 2.0 light art exhibition to illuminate Abu Dhabi's waterfronts this November
25 July 2025 00:35 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Abu Dhabi's waterfront will be lit again this year when Manar, the capital's large-scale light art exhibition, returns in launched in 2023 by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Manar Abu Dhabi transforms the city's coastline into a mesmerising gallery of light sculptures, projections and interactive installations and year's edition, Manar 2.0, will feature the work of 35 artists hailing from across the globe, including the UAE, Japan, France, Mexico, assembling an extraordinary mix of perspectives and the names announced are teamLab, Carsten Höller, Shezad Dawood, Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri and Nujoom meaning 'lighthouse' in Arabic, is not a typical art exhibition. The installations will appear across several sites in the city, including Saadiyat, Jubail and Fahid Island, as well as along the Corniche and the Eastern event is designed to be experienced from multiple perspectives, whether you're walking along the beachfront, riding in a dhow, or watching from the year's programme will explore themes of nature, light, and creative connection. The full programme details are yet to be announced. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Time Out Abu Dhabi
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Manar is making its way back to Abu Dhabi and it's going to be beautiful
The capital's coasts, islands and skyline are about to glow once again. Manar Abu Dhabi, the city's stunning light art exhibition, is making its much-anticipated return this November and it's bringing even more magic to the waterfront. Launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) as part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi programme, Manar (which means 'lighthouse' in Arabic) is anything but your typical art show. Think massive light sculptures, ethereal projections, interactive installations and thought-provoking performances – all set against the natural beauty of the capital's shores. Rise 2023 © Alaa Edris Following its dazzling debut in 2023, Manar 2.0 is upping the ante with over 35 artworks from global artists, including powerhouses like teamLab, Carsten Höller and Shezad Dawood, plus homegrown talents like Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri and Nujoom Alghanem. From Japan to Mexico and everywhere in between, it's a lineup that promises to transform Abu Dhabi into a living, glowing canvas. Expect to see light installations ripple across iconic locations like Saadiyat, Jubail and Fahid Island, as well as along the Corniche and Eastern Mangroves. Whether you're walking the coastline, cruising past in a dhow, or snapping pics from dry land, the experience is designed to stop you in your tracks and get you thinking – about nature, about connection and about creativity in all its forms. Stay tuned for the full programme reveal, but for now, mark your calendar. November is going to shine. Summer in Abu Dhabi The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Psst: This is when summer officially ends in Abu Dhabi No complaints here 25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Most truckers suffer hearing loss: Study
Lucknow: The constant hum of engines, blaring horns, and relentless traffic noise is quietly damaging the hearing of long-distance truck drivers. A new study found that over half of the drivers tested showed signs of hearing loss—even in their better-hearing ear. Published in the Jan–Feb 2025 issue of Noise & Health, the study was conducted by Anupam Mehrotra (AKTU), Sheo P. Shukla (Rajkiya Engineering College Banda), and Prof Manish K. Manar (KGMU). The team tested the hearing of 200 male long-distance truck drivers from Lucknow using pure tone audiometry. Results showed 50.5% had hearing loss in their better ear. The right ear was more affected in 73.5% of cases (147 drivers), 14% (28) had loss in both ears, and 12.5% (25) in the left ear. "This may be because the right ear is closer to the window while driving," said Prof Manar of KGMU's community medicine department. At 4000 Hz—typically the first frequency affected by Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)—abnormal thresholds were found in 84% of right ears. Lead author Anupam Mehrotra explained that normal hearing ranges from 0 to 25 decibels (dB). Lead author Anupam Mehrotra explained that normal hearing ranges from 0 to 25 decibels (dB). "The average threshold was 32.61 dB in the right ear and 28.66 dB in the left—both above the normal range," Prof Manar added. Risk factors included poor sleep, longer driving experience, and age. Drivers sleeping less than six hours or with over 10 years of experience had more damage. Those above 40 had age-related compounding effects. "Lifestyle habits like poor sleep and alcohol use increase vulnerability," said researcher Arvind K Shukla. While past Indian studies focused on car or auto-rickshaw drivers, truckers—who endure prolonged noise—remain under-researched. "This is among the first major studies on hearing loss in Indian truck drivers," said Mehrotra. "We hope it encourages action from transport companies and health authorities." The team recommended regular hearing check-ups, use of earplugs or noise-cancelling devices, awareness drives, and better working conditions to reduce fatigue. "Our truck drivers are the backbone of the economy," Mehrotra added. "Protecting their hearing is vital for their well-being and the nation's functioning."
Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Amid federal funding uncertainty, Illinois lawmakers add ‘safety valve' to state budget
Illinois lawmakers grappling with uncertainty over Trump administration spending cuts tucked a handful of tools aimed at maintaining key programs into the budget package signed by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this week, including a flexible fund of $100 million the governor can use to cover gaps left by unrealized federal funding. 'The magnitude and volume of problems that Trump and his administration are creating is something that no state has ever dealt with before. So it will have limited use,' Andy Manar, the deputy governor on budget issues, said of the $100 million fund. 'But it will serve a very strategic role.' The state has also expanded the state treasurer's authority to lend up to $2 billion to the comptroller to pay bills, building on emergency lending powers used during the budget impasse of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, as well as expanded payroll protections for state workers funded by federal grants. Pritzker has said since President Donald Trump's inauguration that the state can't make up for multibillion federal funding shortfalls, although the scope of those cuts remains unclear as federal budget negotiations led by Republicans are ongoing in Washington, D.C. The measures signed this month are intended to bridge gaps this year and begin to address the $1.8 billion that Manar said the Trump administration is withholding from the state. In February, the administration said nine state agencies, boards and commissions were unable to access funding obligated by the federal government. Manar declined to say what the priorities might be for the new fund, but noted that critical areas that have recently seen lapses in funding include state inspections of meat and poultry facilities that were paid for by the federal government. About 12,000 of the state's 55,000 employees are fully or partially paid for by federal funds, and covering payroll would be a top concern, Manar said. The $100 million flexible fund, which Manar said was the administration's idea, pulls from about 50 existing funds that weren't being fully used, according to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who compared the new reserve to a 'safety valve.' Still, House Republicans in a statement criticized the governor for 'raiding funds to continue his war on the President,' noting that the fund pulls from pots of money that were at one point set aside for a specific purpose. Another tool expanded under this year's budget allows for more flexibility in lending within state government. During Rauner's administration, the General Assembly allowed the state to take out low-interest loans from the state treasury to pay certain bills amid a yearslong budget impasse, according to the state treasurer's office. In the budget year starting July 1, those loans — up to $2 billion — will be available to cover gaps in additional designated funds, such as the road fund, according to the budget implementation bill. Other designated funds that could benefit from the expanded lending authority include funds for health care providers and hospitals, education and disaster aid, according to the comptroller's office. While the authority already existed in a more limited form, it's been years since it was used, according to the treasurer's office. 'Our hope is we don't have to use this power at all, but it's a tool in our toolbox,' state Treasurer Michael Frerichs said in a statement. And even if they're used, it's possible that neither the bridge fund nor the internal lending would be enough to cover broad cuts to large federal programs like Medicaid that some Democrats fear may come from the upcoming federal budget. Barring a decision to convene this summer, state lawmakers aren't scheduled to return to Springfield until their annual fall session, when they could address any potential federal budget issues, the impeding fiscal cliff for the Chicago-area transit system, or both. 'We have prepared to the extent that we can, but much of what is going to be needed in terms of a response, we won't know until there's a bill passed by the Congress and sent to the president for his signature,' Manar said, asked whether a summer legislative session was likely. Republican critics drew a comparison between the new bridge fund and the broad authority granted to Pritzker during the COVID-19 pandemic to spend billions of dollars in federal aid, including $2 billion from pandemic relief to make up for lost revenues at the time. Unlike the COVID aid, however, the uses of the bridge fund are limited to where the legislature already approved funding. 'This is not going to be used counter to its intention,' Manar said. The additional tools will allow for the state government to work in the short term around potential federal shortfalls while still maintaining the rainy day fund, a move that in turn helps the state to maintain its credit rating, Mendoza, the comptroller, said. In balancing the state's $55 billion budget this year, the state already suspended about $45 million in contributions in the upcoming fiscal year that would have otherwise gone to the rainy day fund. 'Let's only break that glass in case of emergency,' Mendoza said of those reserves.
