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India News News

India initiates collaboration visit for Lankan army officers

Several interactions with top armed forces officials and visits to various industries and cultural sites have also been scheduled during the visit, it informed…reports Asian Lite News.

As part of its move to contribute towards Sri Lankan armed forces’ capacity building including personality development initiative, India has organized an international collaboration visit for officers of Sri Lankan armed forces at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Indian embassy said in a statement released on Saturday.

Though it has not been announced as when this visit will take place, the embassy statement said the delegation of 39 officers will not only be exposed to the functioning of all three Service Headquarters at New Delhi but will also get familiarized with the routine of tri-services field formations.

Several interactions with top armed forces officials and visits to various industries and cultural sites have also been scheduled during the visit, it informed.

In order to mark the significant event, Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob and Assistant Defence Adviser Lt Col Puneet Sushil, visited DSCSC, Batalanda near Colombo on Saturday to interact with the delegation and to personally see them off for the visit to India.

During the interaction, the Deputy High Commissioner stressed that India and Sri Lanka have centuries old umbilical linkage underpinned by Buddhism and people to people ties. Thus, the initiative has hit the ‘right chord’ and is central to constructively engaging with the hearts and minds of Sri Lanka Armed Forces.

Maj Gen Lalith Herath, Deputy Commandant, DSCSC sincerely appreciated India’s efforts and persistent support towards realization of the visit.

He also underlined that the visit would immensely contribute towards developing greater understanding among the student officers about India’s culture, technical prowess and the structure of elite Indian Armed Forces.

These visits are an initiative to promote camaraderie and bonhomie among the Armed Forces of both the countries and also testify to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy with specific focus on industrial expertise in the overall ambit of defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, the statement said.

This would further provide an ideal platform to develop personal and everlasting bonds of friendship between the Armed Forces of the two countries who already share a deep and robust professional relationship, it further added. (India News Network)

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News Saudi Arabia

Saudi Air Defence intercepts three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi militia

The interception caused debris to scatter across the (Dahyat Al-Dammam) neighbourhood, which resulted in the injury of two Saudi female and male children… reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Air Defence has intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles and three bomb-laden drones launched by the Houthi militia towards the Eastern Province, Jazan and Najran.

Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, in a statement carried out by official news agency (SPA), said, “Saudi defences have intercepted and destroyed on Saturday evening a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist, Houthi militia from Sana’a using civilian objects as a launch site towards the Eastern Province of the Kingdom.”

The interception caused debris to scatter across the (Dahyat Al-Dammam) neighbourhood, which resulted in the injury of two Saudi female and male children, and minimal damages to 14 houses, he added.

“This brutal, irresponsible behaviour by the militia, through the attempted targeting of civilians and civilian objects, contradicts all divine teachings and humanitarian principles, and reflects the reality of the military operations’ conduct on the ground; as the militia’s positions in the battlefronts have severely deteriorated, and it has suffered heavy losses in key field commanders,” read the statement.

“The Ministry of Defence will undertake all necessary and deterrent measures to protect its territory and national capacities, stop these hostile, cross-border acts of aggression and safeguard civilians and civilian objects under the customary International Humanitarian Law,” it concluded.

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EXPO 2020 News UAE News

Israel plans mega pavilion at Expo2020 Dubai

Aravit Sign

The architecture of Israel’s pavilion is an inspiration from the arid landscapes of Israel and other Middle Eastern countries…reports Asian Lite News

The Israeli pavilion, produced by AVS, a company headed by Malki Shem-Tov, and designed by Knafo Klimor Architects, is 15 meters (M) high and 1,550 square meters (SQM) built up area.

The architecture draws its inspiration from the arid landscapes of Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. The pavilion adopts the shape of sand dunes and shaded Middle Eastern streets. These dunes are framed by seven LED screen gates at 15M high using 630SQM LED panels, creating a significant open space for people to gather, discuss and share ideas. The Israeli pavilion plot area comprises a built indoor area of 765SQM with an additional outer shaded area of 828SQM. The Dune surface area is 986SQM.

360 Degree Room

The dunes sit on a raft foundation, the pavilion has a steel structure prepared in the workshop in Dubai and assembled on-site using dry connections and multiple, approved, cladding materials for the finish. The dune floor is formed using a thin layer of concrete on top of a trapezoidal steel paneled structure to create the dune’s unique geometry, this is then topped with sand-colored, recycled rubber.  

David Knafo, Managing Director of Knafo Kilmore architects said: “The Israel pavilion offers an open space, a dune surrounded by seven gates reflecting joy and hope. The dune offers a place where imagination can create a breakthrough for the future of our planet, its ecological diversity and the preservation of human heritage. The present climate and ecological crisis call for urgent mobilisation of global good will, new technologies, inventions and close partnerships, in order to create new horizons for the next generations.”

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The pavilion, spearheaded by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses many unique and smart elements. The LED screen wall can be used by the visitor as a game engagement with people in Israel, as well as have certain control over the live presented content. These LED screens are also the cladding material of the seven gates inner walls. The LED screens will be presenting a variety of images and videos showcasing varied and timely content, such as; reducing world hunger, protecting nature, energy for everyone, water conservation and adaptation for arid countries, health technologies and cyber security. The dune level is also equipped with virtual reality binoculars, allowing visitors to experience the landscape of Israel.

On top of the dune, there is a large, illuminated, feature sign, 15m long and 5m high, using an aluminium structure with a translucent front cover and LED lighting fixtures inside. The sign is formed from letters in “Aravrit”, a font invented by the typographer, Liron Lavi Turkenich. Aravit is a hybrid of two local scripts, combining Hebrew and Arabic characters. Each letter is composed of Arabic on the upper half and Hebrew on the lower half. The meaning of the sign text in both languages is the same, “Towards Tomorrow”.

Seven Gates of the Israel Pavilion

In the main hall inside the pavilion, a 360-degree immersive show on 250SQM of screen, will present the Israeli innovation for a better future. The challenges of our time in medicine and healthcare, in food production and agriculture, in communication and space and in many other critical aspects of human life.

The pavilion creates a microcosm, with a temperate microclimate achieved using shading and sprinklers. The pavilion is designed to be demolished after the expo ends and except for the concrete floor, all the construction material and elements will be recycled.

DAVID KNAFO, MD, KNAFO KILMORE ARCHITECTS: “The Israel pavilion offers an open space, a dune surrounded by seven gates reflecting joy and hope. The dune offers a place where imagination can create a breakthrough for the future of our planet, its ecological diversity and the preservation of human heritage. The present climate and ecological crisis call for urgent mobilisation of global good will, new technologies, inventions and close partnerships, in order to create new horizons for the next generations.”

Elazar Cohen, Commissioner General of the Israel Pavilion said: “Our Pavilion reflects the Israeli spirit, which has made us who we are. We are composed of various peoples and cultures. We may walk different paths but we all share today’s same great challenges. We are looking to connect our minds and solves these challenges together.”

This open space overlooking Expo Park is a place to connect minds and find solutions to today’s human issues. The Israeli pavilion echoes the urgent need to reinvent our future by sharing technology achievements, scientific invention and novel ideas for the benefit of all.

Categories
Arab News Food News

VOX Cinemas announces tie-up with world-renowned chef Akira

Chef Akira

VOX Cinemas announces partnership with Akira Back, world-renowned Michelin star chef…reports Asian Lite News

VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and Africa, is proud to announce a partnership with Akira Back, world-renowned Michelin star chef. The highly-anticipated culinary collaboration, which launches in the United Arab Emirates in September, will see the global restauranteur curate a special menu for THEATRE, VOX Cinemas’ luxury cinema concept, so moviegoers can enjoy an unparalleled dining experience.

Perfect Storm

Guests at THEATRE can expect a modern Japanese menu that features a dynamic combination of Akira Back’s signature dishes as well as culinary creations exclusive to VOX Cinemas. Famed for his sense of adventure and creativity, Akira Back has enjoyed an illustrious career bringing his culinary expertise and artistry across the globe, with a portfolio of critically acclaimed restaurants and lounges in destinations like Beverly Hills, San Diego, Seychelles North Island, Toronto, Singapore, Seoul, Dubai and more.

VOX Cinemas’ THEATRE combines film with fine food and provides guests with the option of dining in an exclusive private lounge area or having their food delivered straight to their seat through the in-theatre waiter service. Redefining the luxury cinema experience, THEATRE boasts reclining leather seats, plush blankets, and pillows, and cutting-edge audiovisual technology in a stylish and intimate setting.

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Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas said, “Cinemagoers in the region are becoming increasingly discerning and we are extremely excited about collaborating with Chef Akira Back to introduce a new era in fine dining and film in response to rising expectations. At VOX Cinemas, we offer more than just movies and, are continuously diversifying our offering so guests can enjoy an all-encompassing cinematic experience. We believe that F&B plays a major part in enhancing the moviegoing experience and, with Chef Akira Back at the helm, THEATRE is sure to set a new benchmark in cinema dining.”

Creamy Spinach Salad 2

Chef Akira Back added, “THEATRE has revolutionised the luxury cinema experience and, I’m extremely proud to join forces with VOX Cinemas given our shared commitment to innovation. Together we believe that F&B is a complementary component of going to the movies and we have designed a menu that is sure to appeal to the most discerning guests and movie lovers.”

Akira Back’s menu will be available at VOX Cinemas across the United Arab Emirates in September before being rolled-out across Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait later in the year. The official launch dates will be announced closer to the time.

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Arab News News UAE News

Farewell Party for Mali, Spain Envoys

Farewell Party for Mali, Spain Envoys

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) conducted a farewell ceremony for the Ambassador of Mali to the UAE and Ambassador of Spain to the UAE…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) today held a farewell ceremony at the Emirates Palace Hotel for Boukary Sidibe, Ambassador of Mali to the UAE, and Antonio Álvarez Barthe, Ambassador of Spain to the UAE, to commemorate the end of their terms as ambassadors of their countries.

At the start of the ceremony, Aliaa Al Mehrezi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Protocol Affairs, made a speech commending the distinguished efforts of both ambassadors to enhance relations between their countries and the UAE while wishing them luck and success in their future endeavours.

Farewell Party for Mali, Spain Envoys

She conveyed the appreciation of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for them and his best wishes in their future assignments.

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The two ambassadors thanked the Emirati officials and hailed the wise policy of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The two diplomats highlighted the most important achievements accomplished between their respective countries and the UAE in all domains.

Farewell Party for Mali, Spain Envoys

They also praised the developing bilateral ties between the UAE and their respective countries and thanked Emirati officials for their cooperation and support, which contributed positively to their assignment of enhancing the distinguished ties between their countries and the UAE.

The event was attended by Arab and foreign diplomats and officials from the ministry.

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News UAE News World

Erdogan Calls MBZ

Recep-Tayyip-Erdogan

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, discussed the prospects of strengtehning relations between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, Monday, reviewed the prospects of reinforcing the relations between the two nations in a way that serves their common interests and their two peoples.

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This came in a phone call between the two leaders, wherein they exchanged views over a number of international and regional issues of interest.

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COVID-19 News UK News

Scotland to lift all curbs by Aug 9

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of a “rough winter” as pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) could intensify due to possible new diseases amidst the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News.

Scotland is planning to ease all of its major legal Covid curbs in early August, the country’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday.

According to BBC reports, Sturgeon was speaking as she confirmed lockdown easing would be paused for three weeks to allow more time for people to be vaccinated.

Until July 19, the mainland areas will not move to the lowest level zero restrictions. It is expected that the remaining rules will be lifted on 9 August, according to the report.

The First Minister said this would allow life in Scotland to return to “almost complete normality”.

But the government will not advise an immediate return to full office working on that date – and people will still be required to wear face masks in some settings, it was reported.

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of a “rough winter” as pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) could intensify due to possible new diseases amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You can never exclude that there will be some new disease, some new horror that we simply haven’t budgeted for or accounted for,” Johnson said on Monday as he did not rule out the prospect of further lockdowns in the winter.

“Obviously there are big pressures on the NHS, which is all the more reason to reduce the number of Covid cases now, give the NHS the breathing space it needs to get on with dealing with all those other pressures.

“We’re certainly going to be putting in the investment to make sure that they can,” he added.

The Prime Minister said cases of the Delta variant are still rising and the public have to remain cautious.

“It’s going up by about 30 per cent a week in cases, hospitalizations are up by roughly the same amount and so, sadly, are ICU (intensive care units) admissions into intensive care.

“We’ve got to be cautious but we’ll be following the data the whole time. But looking at where we are, the efficacy of the vaccine against all variants that we can currently see.

“I think it is looking good for July 19 to be that terminus point,” Johnson added.

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Europe News UK News

PHE data suggests low risk of Covid-19 reinfection

The data will be published regularly as part of the PHE weekly surveillance report…reports Asian Lite News.

For the first time, Public Health England (PHE) has published population surveillance data on possible Covid-19) reinfections, to help monitor and understand the risk of people catching COVID-19 again.

The data will be published regularly as part of the PHE weekly surveillance report.

The current data shows that there is a low risk of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. There were 15,893 possible reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 identified up to 30 May 2021 in England throughout the pandemic, out of nearly 4 million people with confirmed infections. This is equivalent to around 0.4% cases becoming reinfected.

Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is expected and has been previously reported, however, this data highlights that the overall risk, as detected through national surveillance, remains low.

PHE is calling on everyone who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to take up the offer of 2 doses as this will minimise the risk of re-infection.

The population surveillance suggests that there were 15,893 possible reinfections, 478 probable reinfections, and 53 confirmed reinfections.

A possible reinfection is identified where consecutive positive test results in the same person are at least 90 days apart. These are reinfections which have not been sequenced and so we cannot be completely certain they are not the same original infection.

A probable reinfection is when sequencing of the second test sample identifies a variant known to be circulating now and/or that was not circulating at the time of the first test.

A confirmed reinfection is where sequences are available from each episode and the sequences are genetically distinct.

“People are understandably concerned about whether you can catch COVID-19 more than once. While we know that people can catch viruses more than once, this data currently suggests that the rate of COVID-19 reinfection is low,” said Dr Susan Hopkins, Strategic Director for COVID-19 at PHE.

CORONA VIRUS

“However, it is important that we do not become complacent about this – it is vital to have both doses of the vaccine and to follow the guidance at all times to reduce your chance of any infection,” she said.

Meanwhile, there is currently no evidence that the Delta variant, or any other Variants of Concern, are more likely to cause reinfection than others, according to PHE.

ALSO READ-UK Covid 19 cases surge to four-month high

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Asia News COVID-19 News

Sri Lanka extends nationwide travel curbs

Only essential services and food suppliers are allowed to be on the roads while all others are urged to stay at home….reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lankan authorities said on Wednesday the ongoing nationwide travel restriction had been extended to June 14 as health officials looked to stop the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Sri Lanka’s Army Commander and Head of the National Operations Center for the Prevention of COVID-19, General Shavendra Silva told Xinhua that the nationwide travel restriction was extended under the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and it would not be relaxed anytime in between.

Only essential services and food suppliers are allowed to be on the roads while all others are urged to stay at home.

Sri Lanka is facing a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with over 80,000 infected patients detected since the end of April.

Authorities said this new virus which had infected the younger population was now airborne and people were urged to strictly follow all health guidelines.

According to official figures, the country has recorded 1,527 deaths from the virus.

A mass vaccination program is ongoing in the country with over 2 million people vaccinated with the vaccines, figures from the Epidemiology Unit showed.

The army commander said that while the Sinopharm vaccines are presently administered in the country, the vaccination program will be extended to further districts of the nation from June 8, with priority given to pregnant women and senior citizens above the age of 60.

Heavy rains, winds

Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department said that heavy rains and strong winds were expected to lash several areas of the island nation in the coming days due to the onset of the southwest monsoons.

The Meteorology Department said heavy rainfalls of up to 150 mm were by Friday and the public were urged to be cautious especially from heavy lightning, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Department further said wind speeds were expected to increase up to 50 to 55 km per hour in Northern, North Central and North-Western provinces.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, several areas in the country were inundated on Thursday following the heavy rains and a warning has been issued to families living in low-lying areas.

A landslide warning has also been issued for some districts. (ANI/Xinhua)

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Categories
Business India News News

WazirX announces the launch of India’s first NFT marketplace

The popularity of cryptocurrencies over the last 18 months has led to these tokens slowly becoming a part of mainstream markets and investment decision-making, with more and more people looking to put their money into the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin and many other tokens. While the prices of all these tokens have soared, the craze around crypto has also created a new phenomenon – non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. NFTs are essentially units of data on blockchain networks, where each unit is unique and cannot be changed for another. They are being used to certify ownership of digital assets, and have the potential to change the way digital economies work. Many celebrities, content creators and even organizations from all over the world have pushed their NFTs this year, with some of these being sold for huge amounts. In this light, it is extremely encouraging that India finally has its own NFT marketplace as well, through the crypto exchange WazirX.

This is quite an interesting and encouraging development for the crypto industry in India, which recently received a breather from its central bank as well, as it stated that an old 2018 order that barred banks from dealing in cryptocurrencies can no longer be cited to restrict cryptocurrency operations in the country.

NFTs are the next big thing in the crypto market, and given the popularity of crypto in India, it was vital for this new trend to enter the Indian market as well. The use of online crypto gambling has also been widespread in the country, and NFTs could be a potential game-changer in that industry as well, with bitcoin games in India perhaps being accessible via NFTs in the near future.

WazirX, which is owned by Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, recently announced the launch of WazirX MarketPlace, which will be a marketplace for Indian artists and creators to post their content in exchange for WRX, the platform’s own native token (1 WRX = Rs 104 at present)

WazirX, which is owned by Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, recently announced the launch of WazirX MarketPlace, which will be a marketplace for Indian artists and creators to post their content in exchange for WRX, the platform’s own native token (1 WRX = Rs 104 at present). Users will be allowed to switch their holdings of WRX to other blockchain networks such as Ethereum at a later date, but the current condition is in place to try and encourage the use and growth of WRX.

WazirX has also decided to allow the purchase and sale of NFTs via WRX only as of now to mitigate the environmental cost of minting new NFTs, which is the same as that for coins like Bitcoin, and has led to quite a lot of opposition to the overall crypto industry all over the world. A 5 per cent service charge will be subtracted from all sale proceeds, with the remaining amount being deposited into creators’ accounts, while artists will also have the option of adding a royalty fee of up to 15 per cent on resales of their assets. The beta phase of the marketplace is launching with a fixed price model in place, with WazirX opting to not allow bidding on these digital assets at the moment, unlike the global model where huge sales of NFTs have taken place partly due to the bidding system in place.
There are around 15 popular creators, including visual artist Vimal Chandran, wall mural artist Sneha Chakraborty and media artist Ishita Banerjee who have posted their creations on the WazirX marketplace already, with more than 15,000 applications by creators being processed by the company at present. This is an exciting time for the crypto sector in the country, with restrictions finally being lifted to allow full access to the crypto market, and the arrival of NFTs in the mix is another step in this direction, with other entities sure to follow WazirX’s lead.