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Category: UAE News
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World’s largest fountain to launch in Dubai
The Palm Fountain will attempt to break a Guinness World Records title on Thursday,22nd October during its inaugural launch event…Reports Asian Lite News
The Pointe, Dubai’s premier lifestyle and dining destination by Nakheel Malls, is gearing up to launch the world’s largest fountain.
‘The Palm Fountain’, Palm Jumeirah’s latest waterfront attraction, will attempt to break a Guinness World Records, GWR, title on Thursday, 22nd October during its inaugural launch event, and the public is invited to witness the celebration.
Spread over 14,000 square feet of seawater, the fountain’s super shooter will stand tall at 105 metres and come alive with over 3,000 LED lights. The attraction is the only multicoloured fountain in Dubai and is a celebration of Dubai’s resurgence and ambition to aim for the sky. On the day of the launch, visitors of The Pointe are invited to enjoy an entire day of festivities, with all-day events and competitions from The Pointe’s restaurants and, starting at 16:00, an array of live entertainment including multiple DJ sets, dance shows, performers, a magical fireworks show.
Omar Khoory, Managing Director, Nakheel Malls, said, “As pioneers of retail and lifestyle destinations in Dubai, the launch of The Palm Fountain is a testament to our commitment to support retailers and push boundaries to provide our customers with unique experiences. We look forward to the inspiration this will bring customers at The Pointe, residents of Palm Jumeirah, our retailers, tourists and the wider community.”
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, DFRE, said, “The Palm Fountain is yet another incredible addition to Dubai’s list of world-famous landmarks and is sure to be a big draw among residents and visitors alike.”
From 20:00 on 22nd October, spectators can enjoy the breath-taking views of The Palm Fountain show from 30 different restaurants at The Pointe. The day-long event is open to the public through registration, and the first 5,000 customers who arrive will receive a free LED wristband.
The public is encouraged to RSVP for the launch event and join in The Palm Fountain’s Guinness World Records attempt via platinumlist.net. For guaranteed restaurant seating, the public is highly advised to book a table at any of the restaurants at The Pointe. Free shuttle buses will be available to take visitors from Nakheel Mall to The Pointe every 30 minutes.
Also read:Sudanese peace deal: UAE takes part in signing ceremony
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4,000 students pay eco-friendly homage to Gandhi
In an eco-friendly tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary, more than 4,000 students of Sharjah Indian School made his iconic round-framed glasses with recycled paper, used matchsticks and cardboards to create his famous charkha and paper plates to depict the three monkeys.
The students ranged from classes 1 to 9,
Craft teacher, Rashida Adil, who is holding all her classes remotely, said: “We decided to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 151th birth anniversary in an eco-friendly way as that’s what the leader always propagated.“So, I started this project with 750 students from Grade 8 and 9 where I taught them to sketch and paint on old newspapers.”
The teacher said she had planned to dedicate a wall in her school to Mahatma Gandhi by putting up paintings and art creations made by students using eco-friendly materials, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, the school has advised students to opt for distance learning.
She later decided to engage the younger classes and sent out a plan to teachers of Grade 1-7 to start different craft projects based on Gandhi and his teachings.
As a personal homage, Rashida created an artwork, showing Gandhi on his charkha, using around 1,000 recycled buttons.
She gifted it to the Indian Association of Sharjah.Also read:Burj Khalifa to bear Mahatma’s image
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Sudanese peace deal: UAE takes part in signing ceremony
The delegations participating in the ceremony hailed the efforts and role of the UAE in urging the Sudanese parties in an earlier stage to reach an agreement that ensures the stability.Reports Asian Lite News
Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Cabinet Member and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, has led the UAE delegation to the signing ceremony of the peace deal between the Sudanese government and armed Sudanese groups, in Juba.
Addressing the ceremony, Al Mazrouei underlined the support of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for the deal which, he said, contributes to supporting peace and stability and puts an end to conflicts and infighting in the fraternal state of Sudan.
He thanked the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Tut Qalwak, the advisor to South Sudan’s President who is also the head of mediation, for their contributions to forging this “historic deal”.
“This is a significant and critical moment in the Sudanese people’s history that brings all parties together to support the principles of peace, security and stability in a way that puts an end to the causes of conflict and infighting,” the minister said, wishing for security and prosperity to prevail in Sudan.
The delegations participating in the signing ceremony hailed the efforts and role of the UAE in urging the Sudanese parties in an earlier stage to reach an agreement that ensures the stability of their country.
The UAE delegation included Hamad Mohammed Humaid Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan, and Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, Director of the International Security Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. WAM/Hatem Mohamed
Also read:UAE, Cyprus discuss EastMed disputes
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UAE expats hand over ‘Knitted Knockers’ to Indian survivors
The knockers are distributed free of cost to survivors who have undergone mastectomies or other cancer treatment procedures in India…Reports Asian Lite News
A group of expats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have created a total of 517 pairs of knitted and crocheted prostheses for breast cancer survivors in India, a media report said.
According to a Gulf News report published on Thursday, the items are distributed free of cost to survivors who have undergone mastectomies or other cancer treatment procedures in India.
The latest despatch of prostheses was headed to India with Geetha Krishnan, a support group member of the group, Saaisha India.
“At Saaisha, we craft these knockers and give them to survivors. We purchase the yarn, we knit the knockers and hope it will give hope and strength,” Krishnan, 49, a special educator, told Gulf News.
Each knocker, made of locally available cotton yarn, takes about four hours to craft. Worn under regular undergarments, they are comfortable, and provide the look and feel of regular breasts.
The patterns are specified by Knitted Knockers of USA, which first developed the concept of the cotton breast prostheses.
This was then taken up by Saaisha India, a registered charitable trust since April 2018.
“Many of the ladies who lend their time and effort to us learnt crocheting from scratch. We are enthused and encouraged by the response of our beneficiaries, and are in the process of scaling up in terms of operations, identifying beneficiaries and adding to our volunteer base,” the Gulf News report quoted Akhila Devi, a freelance trainer who works with the group, as saying.
The knockers crafted by Saaisha’s UAE-based volunteers have so far been given to 1,000 beneficiaries, either through hospitals in Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore and other cities, or via individual contact.Also read:Sikh Temple helps Stranded Expat Workers
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UAE, Cyprus discuss EastMed disputes
Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the UAE’s greetings on the Independence Day of Cyprus and reiterated determination to advance cooperation to a higher level in various fields…Reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Nikos Christodoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, have reviewed the prospects of advancing cooperation at the economic, investment, energy and education levels.
This came as the UAE top diplomat met his Cypriot counterpart on Thursday where they exchanged views over a number of issues of concern, primarily the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The two ministers underscored the robust and privileged relations between the two countries and their leadership’s determination to grow bonds across various fronts to the best interests of their peoples.
The global fight against COVID-19 and international efforts to develop a vaccine to the disease were discussed during the meeting which also occasioned a review of the peace accord recently signed by the UAE and Israel and its role in establishing peace and security in the region.
Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the UAE’s greetings on the Independence Day of Cyprus and reiterated determination to advance cooperation to a higher level in various fields.
Also read:UAE, US, Israel to establish strategic energy partnership
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Burj Khalifa to bear Mahatma’s image
Images of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India’s freedom movement, will be displayed on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa on Friday as a tribute on his 151st birth anniversary.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai in a tweet said it would telecast live through its social media pages a special programme on “Relevance of Gandhi’s message in the 21st century” at 7 p.m., followed by a LED projection on Burj Khalifa at 8.15 p.m.
On Gandhi Jayanti in 2018, a special LED show on the Burj Khalifa marked the commencement of the two-year line up of programmes of 150 years of Gandhian ideologies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The show was jointly organised by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate and Emaar Properties.
Images of Gandhi and the Indian flag were beamed on the world’s largest LED-illuminated facade once again on the same day in 2019.
Meanwhile, Consulate officials is also holding a cleanliness drive in the premises of the mission.
With the support from the Indian community, 151 trees will be planted on different sites to mark the occasion.
The annual debate for students, held under the patronage of the mission at GEMS Our Own Indian School, will be organised online due to Covid-19.
Essay writing and drawing competitions are also being organised for students.
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UAE, US, Israel to establish strategic energy partnership
To maximise the global benefits of cooperation, the UAE, the US, and Israel are committed to exploring collective activities in multilateral settings in coordination with financial institutions…Reports Asian Lite News
The United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and the State of Israel have affirmed the importance of establishing a joint strategic vision for energy partnership.
Recognising that energy collaboration can be a step toward a more stable, integrated, and prosperous Middle East, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Cabinet Member and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz, have agreed to the following joint statement supporting the development of a strategic vision for an energy partnership that drives innovation and prosperity:
“The United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and the State of Israel, acknowledging the benefits of focusing on pragmatic steps that have tangible outcomes, agree to encourage greater coordination in the energy sector, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, oil, natural gas resources and related technologies, and water desalination technologies. Together, our dynamic economies will look to leverage world-leading research and development capacities to meet the needs of current and future generations. We will also seek to find solutions to the energy challenges faced by the Palestinian people through the development of energy resources, technologies, and related infrastructure.
“To maximise the global benefits of cooperation, the UAE, the US, and Israel are committed to exploring collective activities in multilateral settings in coordination with financial institutions and the private sector to enhance international investment in research and development and the rapid adoption of new energy technologies.”
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2020 IMD ranking: UAE tops in Arab region
The UAE ranked 14th globally, ahead of countries such as Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan and Belgium, maintained its leadership in the Arab region in all categories of the rankings…Reports Asian Lite News
The UAE ranked first in the Arab region and one of the best in the world in the “World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2020” issued by the IMD World Competitiveness Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The UAE, which ranked 14th globally, ahead of countries such as Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan and Belgium, maintained its leadership in the Arab region in all categories of the rankings, most notably in the “Technology” factor where it ranks fourth globally, as well as in ” Future readiness” where its ranks 11th globally, and “Knowledge” where it advanced four places.
Now in its fourth year, the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking measures the capacity and readiness of 63 economies through three key factors (Knowledge, Technology and Future readiness), nine sub-factors and 52 criteria to adopt and explore digital technologies as a key driver for economic transformation in business, government and wider society. It uses an array of data to understand how 63 economies employ digital technologies.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, said that “The fact that the UAE ranked first globally in the ‘Public-Private Partnerships’ confirms the strong belief of its government in the importance of the partnership between the public and private sectors, upon the directives of the country’s leadership to promote the role of the private sector, as one of the key cornerstones of the national economy.”
The UAE ranked first in the factors of “Wireless broadband,” “Public-private partnerships” and “Immigration laws,” and jumped to second place in the factors of “Foreign highly-skilled personnel” and “Use of big data and analytics by businesses.” It also ranked third globally in the factors of “Management of cities,” “Net flow of international students” and “Foreign highly-skilled personnel,” as well as in the “Legal Framework” sub-factor.
The country ranked fourth in the “Technology” key factor, as well as in factors of “Opportunities and threats” factor and “Cyber Security.” It also ranked fifth in the world in the “Attitudes toward Globalisation” and the “Talent” sub-factor.
The United States came first, Singapore second, and Denmark third in the 2020 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, a giant compilation of data that economists said could help predict how well economies would weather the pandemic.
“In the midst of uncertainty and a fluid global situation, it seems that business and societies that are agile correlate strongly with the IMD World Digital Competitiveness ranking. Knowledge also remains of paramount importance for the digital performance of different economies,” stated Professor Arturo Bris, Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.
Also read:UAE, China relations built upon mutual respect: Sharjah Chamber
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DP world, Jafza, CII discuss auto sector revival
The Confederation of Indian Indusrtries (CII), DP world UAE region and Jebel Ali Free Zone, Jafza together held a meet to discuss the bounce back of the auto industry. The Auto Resurgence Summit held on Thursday reflected upon the measures to be taken to ensure the revival of the sector, after being hit by the pandemic crisis.
Speakers highlighted the significance of creating a self-reliant, sustainable and stable market, emphasising the need to adopt measures like increased localisation, use of technology, new-gen mobility and increased participation in the global value chain.
“We were thrilled to be a part of the Auto Resurgence Summit 2020. Joining hands with CII was a great opportunity for us to tap the Indian market and reach out to our partners there. The pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of supply chains and demonstrated the need to have resilient ones,” said Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza.
The DP world has got significant presence in India. DP World’s network spans a wide range of ports in the Indian subcontinent. It is the first global operator with a pan-India license in Indian freight rail industry.
Last year, DP World, UAE Region had launched the India-UAE Bridge, a major project that aims to attract Indian trade and investments to its flagships, Jebel Ali Port and Jafza.
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