Feel free to ignore this bit, I first need to rant about the dreadful new Gulf News web site. Again.
I can't believe how bad it is, it's now without doubt one of the worst newspaper sites on the web. I simply don't understand how anybody involved can think it's better than the one it replaced.
I'll get to the real post in a minute, which was triggered by a story in the India news section of today's Gulf News.
That section extends over four full pages, about a dozen stories.
What does the website give us in the India news section? Three of today's stories, then it travels back in time to old stories from earlier issues.
So much for the modern, up-to-the-minute, instant internet.
I tried searching for the story I want but: "Sorry your search did not find any results"
A dozen of today's stories are considered worth publishing in the paper but for the website only three are deemed worthy, and old stories dominate.
Anyone else as frustrated with it as I am? How about a petition to encourage them to scrap it and go back to the sensible, useable design?
And so to the real post.
There's an interesting example of how spin is put on stories, how facts are presented very differently, an example of why getting our news from one source is dangerous. A demonstration that we need to get information from a number of sources and use our brains to work out what's really happening.
The stories relate to a survey of over 6000 students from eight countries, including 1,100 from India, conducted by IDP Education.
Gulf News uses a wire story from PTI, the Press Trust of India, headed:
"Australia could see 50% fall in Indian students"
The spin on the PTI report is transparent if you give it any thought at all, or if you balance it against other reports.
It begins "In the backdrop of a spate of racial attacks in Australia, Down Under could witness a 50 per cent drop in Indian students in the next session."
Immediately you get the way they're going with this.
It goes on to claim the CEO of IDP Education: "...felt the fall in numbers might be entirely due to safety issues, global slowdown could also play a part in it."
That's followed immediately by what he actually said: "We have the GFC (global financial crisis), which has obviously impacted upon families in India and that’s evident by the fact that the applications for other countries are way down, particularly the US."
What he said and what they say he said are two totally different things.
The GN PTI report itself ends with another quote from the CEO, basically contradicting its own spin on the story. It says: "The somewhat surprising result and indeed promising result is that they believe Australia to be the safest destination of all the English speaking destinations - and by quite a margin."
In Oz the story says:
"Australia tops poll for student safety.
Despite media coverage here and overseas of violent attacks on Indian students, nearly 40 per cent of respondents ticked Australia as the safest place when asked to choose from a list comprising Australia, the US, Britain, New Zealand and Canada. The US ranked last for safety, with 4.3 per cent.
IDP Education chief executive Anthony Pollock said the findings in relation to Indian students reflected the 'private opinion of students which may be a little better disposed towards Australia than the public opinion in the press'.
He said IDP was expecting a 50 per cent drop in Indian student enrolments next year because of negative media coverage in India of attacks on Indian students, the global economic squeeze and a government crackdown on bad practices in the international education industry."
Same story about the same research but two very different impressions given.
Thanks to the failings of the new Gulf News website I can't give you a link because the story isn't there. I can give you a link to a different site which has part of the PTI story though, so I'll do that.
You can find a story based on the PTI report here.
The alternative interpretation is here.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Pricing Emiratis out of a job.
The National has a story this morning about security guards in Dubai protesting because they are payed much less than their colleagues in Abu Dhabi.
At the beginning of the year the the Ministry of Interior declared a minimum salary for expat guards at Dh2,000 a month, but that hasn't yet been applied in Dubai.
However, there was a particular sentence in the story that intrigued me:
"In January, the Ministry of Interior announced that expatriate security guards would have to earn at least Dh2,000 a month and Emirati ones Dh6,000 as part of a new accreditation scheme for private security companies. "
Now I can see that maybe the Emirati salary was introduced in an attempt to encourage Emiratis to apply for employment. But I can't imagine any company owner tripling his salary bill simply to employ them.
Counter productive, surely?
The story is here.
At the beginning of the year the the Ministry of Interior declared a minimum salary for expat guards at Dh2,000 a month, but that hasn't yet been applied in Dubai.
However, there was a particular sentence in the story that intrigued me:
"In January, the Ministry of Interior announced that expatriate security guards would have to earn at least Dh2,000 a month and Emirati ones Dh6,000 as part of a new accreditation scheme for private security companies. "
Now I can see that maybe the Emirati salary was introduced in an attempt to encourage Emiratis to apply for employment. But I can't imagine any company owner tripling his salary bill simply to employ them.
Counter productive, surely?
The story is here.
Monday, October 12, 2009
GN's new web portal - what a mess.
I planned to post about a story in today's Gulf News (which I'll get onto in a minute) but the proudly trumpeted new web portal has tripped me up.
They have a double page in the printed paper with plenty of people involved in the new design telling us how wonderful it is.
Here's how wonderful it is from a users perspective.
It isn't.
The story I'll get to shortly is the lead on page 2, so they obviously think it's of some importance:
As always, I want to give you a link to the full story but their sparkling new wonderful better-than-ever web site doesn't have it.
Inevitably the new design makes it harder to find stories than did the design it's replaced. This story isn't there anywhere though.
I've looked at all the relevant pages. Not there.
I've put everything I can think of into the search engine and every time I get: Sorry your search did not find any results.
The stories are also all over the place, out of date, no longer news.
For example, under 'Environment' the lead story is "Public warned against exposure to dusty weather." It's a story dated August 1st.
Lead stories in Housing & Property section dated four days ago, in Crime dated three days ago, the Weather section lead story is dated September 24!
Like so many new web page designs it was both unnecessary and is much harder to navigate than the original. Why is it that so many companies can't resist the urge to do it?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
GN, scrap it and re-instate the design you've just dumped. It looked better, it was more user-friendly, it was up-to-date and relevant.
Anyway, to the story, which is about an interesting departure in the way we're used to laws being written.
It quotes the Dubai Police CID Director as saying that they want victims of money doubling scams to be prosecuted.
Yes, victims.
Of course 'everybody knows' comes into it too: "...to convict victims of money doubling since they are aware that the process of doubling money is illegal."
The process of doubling money is illegal?
The jails should be full of property speculators, investors, businessmen...
Apparently the proposal has been under discussion for many years and the Brigadier believes a law for charging the the victims will soon come into effect.
Back to the drawing board on this one too I suggest.
They have a double page in the printed paper with plenty of people involved in the new design telling us how wonderful it is.
Here's how wonderful it is from a users perspective.
It isn't.
The story I'll get to shortly is the lead on page 2, so they obviously think it's of some importance:
As always, I want to give you a link to the full story but their sparkling new wonderful better-than-ever web site doesn't have it.
Inevitably the new design makes it harder to find stories than did the design it's replaced. This story isn't there anywhere though.
I've looked at all the relevant pages. Not there.
I've put everything I can think of into the search engine and every time I get: Sorry your search did not find any results.
The stories are also all over the place, out of date, no longer news.
For example, under 'Environment' the lead story is "Public warned against exposure to dusty weather." It's a story dated August 1st.
Lead stories in Housing & Property section dated four days ago, in Crime dated three days ago, the Weather section lead story is dated September 24!
Like so many new web page designs it was both unnecessary and is much harder to navigate than the original. Why is it that so many companies can't resist the urge to do it?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
GN, scrap it and re-instate the design you've just dumped. It looked better, it was more user-friendly, it was up-to-date and relevant.
Anyway, to the story, which is about an interesting departure in the way we're used to laws being written.
It quotes the Dubai Police CID Director as saying that they want victims of money doubling scams to be prosecuted.
Yes, victims.
Of course 'everybody knows' comes into it too: "...to convict victims of money doubling since they are aware that the process of doubling money is illegal."
The process of doubling money is illegal?
The jails should be full of property speculators, investors, businessmen...
Apparently the proposal has been under discussion for many years and the Brigadier believes a law for charging the the victims will soon come into effect.
Back to the drawing board on this one too I suggest.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Ajman proposing property visa changes.
They've left it a mystifyingly long time but Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Agency has asked for changes to the federal property visa regulations. They're the first official body to do so and I hope the others follow their lead without delay.
The new regulations were announced back in May, when I posted about the aspects which needed revision. Others said much the same thing because the mistakes were blindingly obvious.
ARRA has come to much the same conclusions because they're proposing changes to the same unfair clauses.
They're the minimum price of Dh1 million, the minimum salary (anywhere in the world) of Dh10,000 a month and the requirement to leave the country every six months.
I also disagree with the fundamental structure of the visa, that it's just a six month visit visa. It should be a standard three year residence visa in my opinion.
Here's hoping the other emirates' authorities join the call for revisions and that the feds listen to them.
It's really very simple. It should be a standard residence visa and the law should be equally fair to all owners.
EmBiz247 has the story here.
They also have a more detailed report which suggests that ARRA has given it more thought than went into the original law. That story is here.
The new regulations were announced back in May, when I posted about the aspects which needed revision. Others said much the same thing because the mistakes were blindingly obvious.
ARRA has come to much the same conclusions because they're proposing changes to the same unfair clauses.
They're the minimum price of Dh1 million, the minimum salary (anywhere in the world) of Dh10,000 a month and the requirement to leave the country every six months.
I also disagree with the fundamental structure of the visa, that it's just a six month visit visa. It should be a standard three year residence visa in my opinion.
Here's hoping the other emirates' authorities join the call for revisions and that the feds listen to them.
It's really very simple. It should be a standard residence visa and the law should be equally fair to all owners.
EmBiz247 has the story here.
They also have a more detailed report which suggests that ARRA has given it more thought than went into the original law. That story is here.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Emirates' Aussie resort opens
One of the big stories in today's Aussie newspapers' travel sections is the opening of the Wolgan Valley Resort by Emirates.
It's about 190 kilometres west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, a stunningly beautiful huge National Park.
The area was named because oil from the eucalyptus trees which cover the area give the air a blue haze. The air has a very nice perfume too, as you can imagine.
Photo: The Australian
Photo: Sydney Morning Herald
If you fancy having a few days there for your next holiday you'll need to start saving. The cheapest suite is A$1,950 a night, which is about AED6,000, full board and including a couple of 'nature-based activities' each day.
The Sydney Morning Herald has one of the stories, which includes some good photos
It's about 190 kilometres west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, a stunningly beautiful huge National Park.
The area was named because oil from the eucalyptus trees which cover the area give the air a blue haze. The air has a very nice perfume too, as you can imagine.
Photo: The Australian
Photo: Sydney Morning Herald
If you fancy having a few days there for your next holiday you'll need to start saving. The cheapest suite is A$1,950 a night, which is about AED6,000, full board and including a couple of 'nature-based activities' each day.
The Sydney Morning Herald has one of the stories, which includes some good photos
Friday, October 09, 2009
An apology from Etisalat!
A company lets its customers down by not delivering the service it promises and for which they pay.
It apologises publicly.
Hardly worth commenting on.....except in this area where the normal procedure is to say nothing hoping that ignoring the problem will make it go away. Only if pushed do you then comment, to deny that any problem exists.
I came across this full page ad in Gulf News this morning:
So for once a thumbs up for Etisalat, for at least breaking with tradition, admitting there was a problem and apologising.
It apologises publicly.
Hardly worth commenting on.....except in this area where the normal procedure is to say nothing hoping that ignoring the problem will make it go away. Only if pushed do you then comment, to deny that any problem exists.
I came across this full page ad in Gulf News this morning:
So for once a thumbs up for Etisalat, for at least breaking with tradition, admitting there was a problem and apologising.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Dubai, expat Utopia
There are two stories in Khaleej Times today demonstrating again the accuracy of the survey that said UAE is tops in providing luxury to expats.
One from Abu Dhabi is on official labourer accommodation and says that many companies are ignoring the basic standards required by law.
What a surprise.
Of the 100-plus accommodation sites inspected "many" were found not to be complying with the standards.
All the companies are required to do is basic stuff. To provide accommodation which has good ventilation and adequate sunlight, with floors high enough off the ground to avoid being flooded, and have electricity and water. Rooms must be adequate to accommodate the maximum allowed of six people. They must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.28m, be equipped with beds, elevated from the ground, plus wardrobes. There must be at least one toilet and wash basin for every 10 workers, the toilets equipped with exhaust fans and be located far from the kitchens.
It's just basic isn't it, nothing draconian.
Yet "many" are not even providing this basic level, which demonstrates yet again that laws are ignored unless they're rigorously enforced.
The other story is from Umm Al Quwain and is about unofficial accommodation. Like the other emirates, UAQ does not allow 'bachelors' to live near families.
The story begins: The Umm Al Quwain Municipality has disconnected water supply to 25 houses in Old Al Salama to punish 2,000 bachelors living in a locality designated for families.
Twenty-five houses, two thousand people?
I make that an average of eighty people living in each house. Even if they're large enough to have ten rooms that's eight to a room.
In Old Al Salama, up to 95 bachelors lived in one house. The houses were partitioned and each room was packed with up to eight workers. Landlords of these houses have flouted the housing committee’s regulations.
Both landlords and tenants apparently ignored warnings, so the Municipality has decided to force the issue. The tenants are obviously being exploited and they're now being forced out of their accommodation by a lack of water.
I wonder what action is being taken against the landlords. Are services being cut off to their houses? Are fines being issued to them? Or do you think it's only the 'bachelors' who'll be punished and the exploiters will simply get away with it?
Here are the stories:
Labourer accommodation.
Bachelors denied water.
One from Abu Dhabi is on official labourer accommodation and says that many companies are ignoring the basic standards required by law.
What a surprise.
Of the 100-plus accommodation sites inspected "many" were found not to be complying with the standards.
All the companies are required to do is basic stuff. To provide accommodation which has good ventilation and adequate sunlight, with floors high enough off the ground to avoid being flooded, and have electricity and water. Rooms must be adequate to accommodate the maximum allowed of six people. They must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.28m, be equipped with beds, elevated from the ground, plus wardrobes. There must be at least one toilet and wash basin for every 10 workers, the toilets equipped with exhaust fans and be located far from the kitchens.
It's just basic isn't it, nothing draconian.
Yet "many" are not even providing this basic level, which demonstrates yet again that laws are ignored unless they're rigorously enforced.
The other story is from Umm Al Quwain and is about unofficial accommodation. Like the other emirates, UAQ does not allow 'bachelors' to live near families.
The story begins: The Umm Al Quwain Municipality has disconnected water supply to 25 houses in Old Al Salama to punish 2,000 bachelors living in a locality designated for families.
Twenty-five houses, two thousand people?
I make that an average of eighty people living in each house. Even if they're large enough to have ten rooms that's eight to a room.
In Old Al Salama, up to 95 bachelors lived in one house. The houses were partitioned and each room was packed with up to eight workers. Landlords of these houses have flouted the housing committee’s regulations.
Both landlords and tenants apparently ignored warnings, so the Municipality has decided to force the issue. The tenants are obviously being exploited and they're now being forced out of their accommodation by a lack of water.
I wonder what action is being taken against the landlords. Are services being cut off to their houses? Are fines being issued to them? Or do you think it's only the 'bachelors' who'll be punished and the exploiters will simply get away with it?
Here are the stories:
Labourer accommodation.
Bachelors denied water.
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