United Arab Emirates(Press Release): Gulf Medical University (GMU) concluded its 15th edition of Annual Medical and Science Exhibition (MASE) competition for high school students, which saw the participation of more than 81 schools in five different categories- including project, poster, painting, music and poetry.

Held online, more than 3000 students of grades 10, 11 and 12 from across the country had put together approximately 500 exhibits in the project, poster, music, poetry and painting categories, competing for cash prizes of AED 25,000 in total, in addition to trophies and certificates. The competitions were judged by a panel comprising of leading doctors, professors and medical science professionals. A total of three winners were declared in each of the five categories by a panel of judges that comprised eminent doctors and faculty members from GMU; whereas even online voting was conducted for Viewer’s Choice awards.  

Professor Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University, gave away the prizes to all the winners/runners of the competition. Explaining the aim of the annual exhibition, Prof. Hossam Hamdy, said, “Every year GMU MASE stimulates the creative talents of young scientists and instills in them an interest in medical and science based careers. It provides the students a platform to integrate art and scientific thinking and to apply the knowledge and idea to the championship, thereby creating an engagement which inspires the consciousness of future medical and science professionals.”

Out of 500 entries received, Erfan Firouzi from the Westminister School Dubai (Grade 10), Hari Srinivasan from Global Indian School, Ajman (Grade 11) and Mansi Bhatia (Grade 12) from Al Diyafah High School Dubai claimed the first place in project making and were awarded cash prizes for their work. Similarly, Eco Friends from Delta English School, Sharjah (Grade 10), Sindhu Rachapudi from Abu Dhabi Indian School (Grade 11) and Hari Srinivasan from Global Indian School, Ajman (Grade 12) secured the first position in poster making competition.

Meanwhile, Bernice Bodemeh (Grade 10) from Our Own English High School Fujairah, Kena Patel (Grade 11) from Indian High School Dubai and Ciril Biju Joseph (Grade 12) from Leaders Private School Sharjah won the first position in painting competition. Lastly, Mariam Maali (Grade 10) from Sama American private school, Sharjah, Oliver Gullick (Grade 11) from Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and Benamin Cal (Grade 12) from Al Afiah Filipino Private School, Sharjah wowed the jury with their music skills and securing the first position.  The other three winners in poetry competition included Safoora Abdus (Grade 10) from International Indian School Ajman, Azra Fairooz (Grade 11) from Sharjah Indian School Ghubaiba and Rashi Sinha (Grade 12) from GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah – Girls.

Separately, for the Viewer’s Choice painting competition: Habiba  Rahman (Grade 10) from The Westminster School Dubai; Annmaria Pathrose (Grade 11) from Our own English High School Sharjah and Aafreen  Nazer (Grade 12) from Sharjah Indian School bagged the first position respectively. Likewise, for the Viewer’s Choice project competition: Darshini Ramesh (Grade 10) from Leaders Private School, Javaria  Batool (Grade 11) from Dubai Scholars Private School and Najma (Grade 12) from Cambridge International School, Dubai secured the maximum votes. 

In addition, for the Viewer’s Choice poster competition: Shahazad Nazar (Grade 10) from Leaders Private School Sharjah; Rejoyna Pauline (Grade 11) from Own English High school Sharjah and Tamanna Khanam (Grade 12) from Leaders Private School, Sharjah secured the maximum votes. For the Viewer’s choice poetry category: Hibah Fathima  Anshar (Grade 10) from Sharjah Indian School; Naurin  Faisal (Grade 11) and Neha  Beno (Grade 12), both of them, from The Indian High School Dubai gained the first rank.

Lastly, for the Viewer’s choice music category: Grace Gurudev Sharma (Grade 10) from Gems Our Own English High School, Sharjah; Khadeejath Shazfa Shafeer (Grade 11) from Sharjah Indian School and Hiba Anwar (Grade 12) from Pristine Private School won the prize. 

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.