As COVID-19 spreads rapidly around the globe, it becomes imperative to take steps to protect oneself and their family from infectious diseases.
1. Coronavirus is an infectious disease but, less deadly than its outbreaks As compared to the outbreaks of novel viruses, coronavirus, although coming under infectious diseases, is rather less deadly. The other viruses that have spread in recent years, have been more dangerous and medically complex to find a solution for. Example: When MERS hit the world, the death percentage was 34%, while for SARS, it was 10%. This is far more than the deaths caused because of coronavirus. Although coronavirus has been spreading, there is no vaccine to prevent this virus from spreading. Flu-prevention strategies could be implemented to protect oneself and their family from this infectious disease. 2. Simple flu tips can help fend off the virus: One of the best ways to prevent being infected with the coronavirus is to follow the easy flu prevention tips such as:
3. Being better prepared helps: Infectious diseases spread quickly. The key to keeping things under control is to avoid panicking in such situations. The disease can be dealt in a more effective way when one is adequately prepared. Hoarding this isn’t necessary, but it is essential to ensure that household pantries and storerooms have some extra stock of food and cleaning supplies. Keeping extra medication in the cupboard can also be of help if the situation worsens. Following are some of the things that should be available at home in case of any major epidemic breakouts:
4. The uncertainties of masks: There is no proven evidence that wearing a face mask can be beneficial when it comes to keeping oneself safe from infectious diseases. Not all masks offer a snug fit, in which case one will be still prone to breathing in infected droplets. Also, many experts believe that masks can give a false sense of security. However, having a mask on hand will not hurt the chances of preventing an infection. Today, many health organizations insist on taking necessary measures to ensure that one does not catch infectious diseases. When caring for someone sick, wearing a mask and gloves can keep the caretakers safe and disease-free. With new research and updates focused on treating the disease, stopping the epidemic could be a possibility that will arrive sooner than expected.
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Saudi Arabia’s economic growth for the year 2018 has been remarkable 2.21% as per the reuters.com and considering its growth this year, things are shaping up for better. When World’s real GDP is expected to grow by 0.1% i.e. from 3.1% to 3.2% within the year 2018-2019 this sizable growth is considered as the global economic situation being stable or showing a slight improvement from what was anticipated by IMF.
This could be because of the new windows opened and explored further in the eastern countries. As the trade diversification among eastern countries and the focus from Saudi Arabia has started making an impact on the global trade. As Abdul Latif Jameel states in their report that the Gulf Cooperation Council has started to develop more and more links with eastern countries in various sectors of the trade especially the auto market. We see many changes post the policy restructuring in the trade between the US market and the Middle East and aftermarket auto accessories. In the recent visit from the Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman, he has made agreements with India, Pakistan, and China which focused on developing alternate energy, his Vision 2030 aims to reduce unemployment, growth in private sector, develop industrial, tourism and entertainment hubs in the coming decades, states CNN in their report. The Gulf and Asia together have the immense potential to reshape the geopolitical patterns and relationships, China is a major player in the trade of aftermarket auto parts, aftermarket auto accessories, Toyota and Lexus have been a part of the retail wing of Abdul Latif Jameel motors in China. It is a two-way trade as Saudi Arabia is the biggest market for the exports to China, there are equally strong links between Saudi Arabia and Singapore in the most recent times. Saudi Arabia offers the benefit of providing duty-free access to the members of the GCC thus making it a major destination for foreign direct investment. As GCC has signed up major trade links with South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia and has their companies set up businesses in Saudi Arabia considering the financial benefits they get including the absence of the income tax, sales tax and property tax. Foreign investors are facilitated with just 20% corporate tax on total profits. The BRI initiative from China including the eastern countries focuses on the connectivity of the 70 nations across Asia, Africa and Europe which plans to have new railroads and shipping lines. The HK Convention and Exhibition Centre had representatives from 51 countries which covered government officials and business delegates for the Belt and Road (BRI) Summit in June 2018, completing its 3 rd year, this clearly shows how every country is been associated and looking forward to an increase in its global trade. Japan isn’t far behind in its association with Saudi Arabia with its Saudi Japan Vision 2030, it focuses on the growth in the Middle East with its Global electronics giant Sony. The auto industry and aftermarket auto part makers from Europe make their substantial presence felt with the Volkswagen group Saudi Arabia. The Saudi prince focuses on his foreign policies that help international investors, which equally works in favor of Saudi Arabia as it supports macroeconomic stability, builds human capital and promotes international trade. The Saudi Arabian government has taken the initiative of Hayy: Creative Hub to nurture the Saudi artists and entrepreneurs. With the investment across the country and recognition from UNESCO, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is aiming to become a globally acclaimed cultural center. It will be an organization that will support, encourage Saudi heritage, playwrights, and filmmakers. It will not only be a great opportunity for artists and filmmakers but also create a plethora of business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Before that, let us see what exactly Hayy is.
What is Hayy? It is a creative cultural project that will form a shared environment for Saudi Arabian filmmakers, artists, painters, photographers, and entrepreneurs. Spread across 17000 m2 of the area, this art center is expected to bring Saudi Arabia investment from around the country. It is located in North Jeddah. The construction of Hayy started in 2017 and is expected to open in 2019. At Hayy, both international and local exhibitions of modern art will be hosted. Along with that, it will also include Jameel House of Traditional Arts and Jeddah Sculpture Museum. By focusing the cultural heritage and young artists across the country, the government is looking to attract young and vibrant visitors from around the globe. How will it look like? Ibda Design has been commissioned to construct Hayy: Creative Hub which would bring major cultural communities together to share the diverse cultural experience. The building will have a dynamic design with three floors. It will be a contemporary structure open to internal courtyards. It would be shaded by walkways and terraces. For a range of activities, the shared facility will have theaters and event spaces. It will include live art performances, exhibition, conferences, and community markets. With Saudi Arabia investment involved, the complex will have art galleries, comedy clubs and cafes, digital entrepreneurs, and many more. Here are some of its prominent features.
Along with this, Hayy will include a hub for Saudi Arabian producers. It will also incorporate a professional theater and a rolling program of educational events for all ages. A world-class exhibition of modern and contemporary art will be hosted along with locally produced solo shows, commissions and projects, work-art display and many more. For local and international designs there are independent galleries. In addition to that comedy nights, workshops, talks, debates, film screening, and mentorship will be held. Hayy: Cultural Hub is going to be a crucial milestone in Saudi Arabia’s tourism. It has opened a pool of business opportunities in Saudi Arabia also; so it would help the Saudi economy as well. Its grand opening is expected in the spring of 2019 where we can expect being the audience to Saudi’s cultural heritage. References https://www.alj.com/en/perspective/saudi-arabia-targets-cultural-tourists-major-investment-program/ https://openingdoors.alj.com/en/issue/spring-2018/making-hayy-in-jeddah-arts-scene/ https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/hayy-is-a-major-new-creative-complex-for-saudi-arabia-1.2164873 https://artjameel.org/learning/hayy-learning/ http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/550019/SAUDI-ARABIA/Art-Jameels-Creative-Hub-wins-multiple-international-awards Known to be the biggest economy of the Middle East, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a home to a plethora of job opportunities. The country welcomes innumerable working professionals along with their family each year. There are many benefits for the expats who are living in Saudi Arabia. Some of the benefits are tax-free salaries, low cost of living, and good housing options. However, the country has rather strict rules and regulations, adjusting to which may take some time. Also, the cultural and lifestyle difference may take some time to sink in too.
Here are a few pointers you need to remember when you plan to move or have moved to Saudi Arabia.
Having said this, living in Saudi Arabia can be very easy-paced and tranquil. Residing here will give you an opportunity to have plenty of time to yourself. The standard of living is good and the tax-free salary helps you save a fair amount for the future. Saudi Arabia is a good place to raise a family too. Many international schools and higher-secondary schools offer decent academic guidance and degrees. We list the attributes that help companies create successful campaigns for brands.
Brand visibility is an essential component of brand success, and marketing agencies can help create tremendous value in a competitive market. Marketing agencies are tasked with grabbing its target audience’s attention, explaining the strategy in minimum time and use media to spread the message, Consider the 5 essentials for successful marketing: 1 A clear strategy. A clear strategy emerges when the marketing and advertising teams work in tandem to formulate the brand message in a catchy manner. Paying heed to the brand ethos and the target audience that the brand wants to reach are good starting points. The strategy is a vision encapsulating the creatives (for example, the ad copy, promotion objectives and medium, promotion plan across various media, etc.) the budgets for each promotion activity, RPI plan, etc. This strategy is then approved by the client for implementation. 2 A clear understanding of the markets. The glitziest, most expensive marketing plan cannot work successfully if it does not connect with the markets at an emotional level. For example, an advertisement for a baby care product will have a bigger impact with a baby featured in a TV spot in the local language. Another factor to consider is the cultural mores of the market – is it wise to envision using alcoholic beverages in a market where consuming alcohol is illegal? The campaign cannot hurt religious sensibilities, legal frameworks, accepted way of life of certain communities, etc. A leading marketing entity like Abdul Latif Jameel uses its deep knowledge of the markets to create innovative, sensitive marketing campaigns. 3 Plans B, C and D. Despite careful planning, there is always the potential for unexpected errors and deliberate malpractice. For example, a rival brand may sabotage your big-ticket product launch by announcing a similar product or campaign just a day before your launch. This situation necessitates immediate damage control, and swiftly moving on to Plan B. Have different plans ready to account for different situations. 4 A new presentation without departing from the core essentials. Lazy marketers look at past successful campaigns and convince the client to rework a past strategy again. It helps to study what worked in the past, but reworking old campaigns seldom works in today’s era of real time information. As brand compete for recognition and visibility, innovation and not repetition will fetch success. 5 Intelligent use of available media. Not every campaign needs a media blitzkrieg. For example, a campaign for a new range of shoes might not require TV, radio, print, digital and outdoor advertising. Or a client may not wish to create TV spots but focus entirely on social media and radio activities to boost sales. A canny marketing team gets an idea of the budgets and media plan from the client before formulating a strategy. This reduces resource wastage and improves media efficiency. We list the businesses that need construction equipment, and how it is possible to buy or rent the most suitable ones.
The rise of construction in the KSA and MENAT region has resulted in a huge demand for equipment that transports and excavates. Companies involved in heavy industrial and infrastructure work require specialised equipment to carry out big projects. The following 5 businesses need construction equipment: 1 Construction rental businesses. This doesn’t occur to most people – but construction rental businesses need a lot of construction equipment that can be rented out. 2 Realty construction firms. Firms working on creating home and commercial realty need heavy construction equipment to transport material and labour to the site, factories, etc. 3 Excavation companies. There is tremendous scope for excavation companies involved in both private and public infrastructure works. They need construction equipment on a 24/7 basis. 4 Ground and deep sea mining. Mining is a growing activity in the KSA and MENAT region, whether on the ground or in the sea. Construction equipment is needed for these activities, especially for transport of materials from the mining site. 5 Bridge and major public works firms. The KSA and MENAT region are witnessing a lot of infrastructure work aimed at public use. Construction equipment is required for these works. How to choose the best construction equipment There is a wide variety of construction equipment on offer. Picking the one best suited to your needs depends on: * What do you need the equipment for? The equipment you choose depends on the purpose you need it for. Equipment required for mining is different from that required for transporting debris from a construction site. * Which equipment is on offer? Go through the equipment provider’s brochure or product catalogue. Zero in on the products in your preferred category of purpose. If you don’t find what you are looking for, or if you are unsure about a certain equipment, you can discuss its use and functioning with the equipment provider before making a decision. * Do you need to buy or should you rent? If you run a business that relies exclusively on the use of construction equipment, you might consider buying it. Not only can you use your own equipment any time you want, you can also rent it out to others for a certain fee. Or if you are in infrequent need of equipment, it is better to hire it to save money and storage space. * Are the hiring charges competitive? Before hiring construction equipment, be sure to take quotes from at least three contractors so that you get the best price. Outdoor advertising companies must know some simple tricks to capture audience interest and create an instant connect – without overlooking simple points!
On the face of it, outdoor advertising is simple – it has an image, text, and contact details. So far, so good. But this same pattern is followed by print advertising – so how is outdoor advertising any different? The following are five facts that outdoor advertising companies need to know: 1 Not more than 7 words, please. Most advertisers don’t know this, but a first glance read at a billboard catches the attention if it is less than seven words long. A long opening sentence, followed by a paragraph, then an image and some more text…you’ve lost your audience at the first line! The rule of thumb for all outdoor advertising companies is: As less text as possible, with a powerful accompanying image that complements the brand message. 2 Generic fonts hurt your credibility. Using everyday fonts like Times New Roman and Arial will hurt your case in many ways – and they are all subtle ones. People use these fonts every day, and seeing a billboard using the same fonts tells them that the company is too lazy to try new fonts. Or that the company is too generic in its approach, and probably too generic with the product it is selling. This hurts your credibility in one fell stroke – or font. 3 Proof read carefully. This is really basic, but not proof reading your ad is simply ridiculous. It is basic human tendency to fixate on an error, so if there is a glaring typo in your ad, it will draw the eye at once. Outdoor advertising companies must be really careful about vetting the text for innuendos, cultural taboos and other mistakes. No amount of fancy art work or witty lettering will save your case if there is a silly typo sitting in the middle of it. 4 Break the rules within reason. It is all very well to disrupt the system to create a sensation. Regular disruption is needed so that fresh blood is infused in outdoor advertising. But never go overboard – human beings appreciate images they see with a pre-existing frame of reference. A totally radical concept that does not evoke any feelings in the audience? The outdoor advertising company has seemingly gained new ground while losing its audience. 5 Create a connect before adding a call to action. Every billboard is not necessarily a call to action. Outdoor advertising companies need to understand that the medium is often the message – there is no need to force feed a call to action to the audience if your ad is compelling enough. Devising a beautiful advertising campaign creates an emotional connect with the audience. Following it with ‘Call now!’ makes the audience feel like you think they’re too stupid to know what to do next. Is fluoridation of water a good thing or a bad thing? This article looks at both sides of the debate.
It is a known fact that most countries in the world received fluoridated water in their homes. Fluoride is added to the water supply to keep the community’s teeth free of decay. But it has widespread implications, both for human health and the growing need for water desalination. Consider the 7 truths about fluoride in water that must be aware of: 1 It must be consumed to be effective. Most people argue against the consumption of fluoridated water by saying that it is not needed when fluoride toothpaste is readily available. However, fluoride must be consumed to be effective. It cannot benefit you if you apply it topically as a toothpaste. So fluoridated water is more effective than fluoridated toothpaste. 2 Fluoridated water can prevent cavities and caries. Research over the years has shown that those consuming fluoridated water regularly show a lesser risk of infected or decaying teeth. This is why several countries in the West add fluoride to the water supply so as to protect the community’s dental health. 3 But it should be taken in controlled doses. However, fluoride is still a chemical though it is beneficial for the body. It needs to be taken in minute doses to be effective. You cannot control your daily fluoride consumption if you drink it via your water every day. So you might be at risk of over-consuming it. 4 Over consumption of fluoride can cause other disorders. The over-consumption of fluoride results in fatty deposits in the liver, increases the burden on the kidneys, and even causes certain blood disorders. Overexposure to fluoridated water may also result in immunity against it, thus defeating the purpose. 5 Fluoridated water supply forces communities to undergo a ‘medical treatment’. Fluoride is added to water as a means to keep the teeth healthy. Ethical activists argue that this is a sort of ‘medical treatment’ that the community is forced to undergo. This violates the fundamental norm of undergoing any kind of medical intervention with personal consent only. 6 Fluoride may not even prevent tooth decay! No dental health issue is caused by fluoride deficiency. Fluoride is just a means of protecting the teeth from future decay, but like every other measure, it is not 100% effective. 7 It can be removed with water desalination. If you receive fluoridated water in your main supply, you can push for a water desalination plant to clean the water of harmful additives. Water desalination uses thermal distillation and reverse osmosis to isolate and remove the chemical components of water to improve its consumption value. Rising global populations spell a major threat to all that we hold dear – our own existence is under siege when resources dwindle and space shrinks. Thanks to technology and advances in medical science, the world is simply bursting with people. As cynical as it sounds, the biggest threat to world peace today is not through terrorism or economic fluctuations, but over population. The US Census Bureau states that there are about 7,113,749,767 people in the world today. One million more people are added to the world population every five days. That is a staggering statistic – and countries must deal with this phenomenon with a few ways – * Greater investment in affordable housing. Governments and real estate developers around the world are waking up to the need to house growing populations. The population of a certain city or country may rise with migration too. Thus, there is an urgent need to create affordable housing units that are driven by touchpoints such as future growth, sustainable building practices, and partnerships between real estate developers, the end users, and the Government alike. * Measure environmental costs and impacts. As the global population grows, the Government administrations need to map the environmental costs of procuring and providing more power, gas, water and infrastructure to meet the rising need. Putting a cost on the impacts of high population on the environment and measuring their impacts can help Governments frame future policies for sustainable growth. * Increased emphasis on renewable sources of energy. Many countries around the world have good reserves of fossil fuels, water, and natural sources of power. But developing nations are already on the brink of an energy crisis, with no solution in sight. This could well be the situation of the entire planet, if we continue to use fossil fuels and plunder the Earth’s natural resources for our own needs. A sustainable solution? Use renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, and have real estate developers create housing out of biodegradable materials. * Rewarding parents that have not more than two children. This might seem like a harsh measure, but it is time to curtail populations by incentivising a lower birth rate. That is not to say that parents must consider not having children, but they can try limiting the number of children to two. Though larger families may not be penalised in any way, offering Government incentives to smaller families may actually limit the population. * Pay heed to the needs of an aging population. With the big strides that medical science has taken in recent years, combined with changed genetic makeup among the races, most people are living longer than they used to. Average life spans have increased around the world. This means that while newer human beings are being born, older populations continue to thrive – thus creating a double whammy for the planet. The needs of the older populations – financial, medical and emotional – must be humanely and justly met. The wind does much more than cool down your surroundings. It provides clean energy that can sustain future generations.
It is the nature of man to exploit natural resources to his own advantage. All throughout history, there are several examples of how misbehaviour towards nature has resulted in widespread natural disasters that have affected generations to follow. But despite all their natural intelligence, mankind is remarkably short-sighted about the adverse impacts of exploiting nature. There may come a time when today’s actions will result in colossal losses for us all. Our actions, their impacts on the environment In the quest for more housing, more commercial space and 24/7 water and power supply, man has been indiscriminately ruining the world’s natural reserves. Hacking down forests to create buildable land, burning crops to make way for concrete jungles, reclaiming the seas to build upon, buying more and more cars to get around…man’s wasteful habits have begun to impact the planet in several serious ways. The first impact of deforestation is seen on the erratic rainfall, lack of wind and soil erosion. Widespread flooding, cyclones, unseasonal rain and heat waves are all by-products of these phenomena. Climate change is the single biggest contributor to the increase in disease, temperatures, receding of water levels, and melting of glaciers. Most of man’s erroneous ways stem from using up the Earth’s natural resources to create power. The conventional sources of power such as fossil fuels and coal, for example, are non-renewable resources. Exhausting them completely would lead to entire countries being plunged into darkness. And yet, many of us are unable to stop our harmful, wasteful behaviours despite the severe impacts these same behaviours have on the planet – and how they will make us suffer for our own actions in the future! The need for clean energy It is imperative to explore sustainable, renewable sources of energy to meet our needs. An ever-increasing population needs power and water much more than it previously used to. At the same time, this demand must be met with clean sources of energy, such that there is no further addition to the already polluted environment. Solar and wind power are clean energy sources, and they are freely available as well as inexhaustible resources. No pollution is generated while harnessing these powers, nor while supplying or creating them. Thus, they are economical, always available, and a viable substitute for conventional energy sources. At the same time, it is important to invest in clean energy on a massive level, so as to save conventional sources of energy for the future generations. Increased awareness on these fronts, combined with investment in the right equipment so as to harness clean energy sources, can result in the creation of pollution-free, non-heat producing energy for the future. Besides, the electricity created from these sources can power entire neighbourhoods daily. |
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September 2016
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