Dubai fully deserved to win: Khalifa; We will astonish the world: Mohammed

November 28, 2013

khalifa

Dubai, Nov 28: Following a heated international competition over the course of two years, the United Arab Emirates was announced winner of the World Expo 2020 hosting bid. Accordingly, Dubai will be the host city of the world’s biggest and most prestigious fair as the world welcomes a new decade.

The voting took place in Paris, France at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference centre where representatives of the 165 member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) cast their votes to select the winning city. Three BIE member countries, namely South Sudan, Chad and Costa Rica were excluded by the BIE from the vote due to technical reasons. Dubai’s bid was announced winner after receiving 116 votes in a secret ballot, thus outdoing bids by the candidate cities of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Ekaterinburg (Russia) and Izmir (Turkey).

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection, and organisation of World and International Expos.

Dubai got 77 votes out of 162, as three countries have abstained in the first round, while Dubai increased the votes to 87 in the second round, before the BIE announcing UAE’s bid winner in the third round with total number of 116 votes.

Holding the Expo 2020 in Dubai will coincide with celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the United Arab Emirates. This will reflect positively on the event as the country celebrates a truly remarkable developmental march.

Khalifa congratulates Mohammed

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a telephone conversation, has congratulated Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Dubai's winning the bid to host EXPO 2020.

In the telephone conversation with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa affirmed that "our joy in the UAE was doubled by the win as it coincides with the celebrations of the 42nd National Day."

He noted that this success was the culmination of a series of successes and great achievements the UAE has been incessantly making since its establishment 42 years ago to remain in the lead in all fields.

His Highness President Khalifa said, "From day one when we submitted our bid to host Expo 2020, we were fully confident that Dubai deserves to win the bid, and that our country possesses all it takes to successfully organise a unique event that will add a new and outstanding imprint on the Expo series of events."

On this occasion, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum dedicated the achievement to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates and to the people of the UAE.

Win will breathe new life into region: Mohammed

Sheikh Mohammed said: “We congratulate the nation, our president and all people in the UAE on Dubai’s winning bid to host the greatest exhibition in the world. I extend my thanks to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa for his great support, and to every country that voted for Dubai to host Expo2020. I am proud of our teams who earned this victory for Dubai with two years of hard work, dedication and commitment.

“We renew our promise to astonish the world in 2020. Dubai will bring to life our vision: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. Our goal is to build a better future for the region’s youth. The UAE will achieve it through collaboration and inspiration at the event. Dubai Expo2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity.”H.H. added.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed also said: “Today, we have two reasons to celebrate. The UAE’s epic win to host the world’s most prestigious fair adds to our joy of celebrating the 42nd National Day of our beloved country,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “It is by the unwavering efforts of the leadership and the people of the UAE that this aspiration became reality.”

Furthermore, Sheikh Mohammed asserted that Dubai Expo 2020 will undoubtedly stand out as the best edition in the history of the event in terms of preparation and presentation.

Sheikh Mohammed went on to praise the role and efforts exerted by the Foreign Ministry, led by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in gathering international support for Dubai’s bid. His Highness noted that fine UAE diplomacy was essential in ensuring a victory in the voting process.

He also highlighted efforts of the National Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020 headed by Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum which worked on preparing Dubai’s bid in record time with tact, professionalism and high spirits to realise this milestone.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed praised the positive stance by all Arab and foreign countries who have supported the UAE in this regard. He also expressed appreciation to establishments and individuals from within and outside the UAE for their enthusiastic support, and greeted all departments, institutions and government bodies as well as private sector entities and the UAE community in general for their direct support stressing that they are all partners in success.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed best wishes for Sao Paulo, Ekaterinburg and Izmir, and said: “The competition was challenging and the competitors were strong. We wish them all the success in all their future initiatives. We are all partners in making a better future for humanity without differentiation or discrimination.”

Moreover, Sheikh Mohammed asserted that UAE’s achievement is a gain for the whole region and the world as it brings a global event of this magnitude to the doorsteps of a vast geographical area inhabited by approximately two billion people. It also opens opportunities and channels for the exchange of ideas and visions as well as innovative solutions for the benefit of humanity in general.

The UAE has received broad international support ahead of the voting process in Paris, where many brotherly and friendly Arab and foreign countries in the East and the West declared their full support for UAE’s bid to host the World Expo in 2020. The six-month event celebrates human innovation and creativity as the best means of finding solutions that help mankind overcome challenges and explore new horizons.

To this end, the UAE has chosen a unique theme that reflects future ambitions in harmony with the exhibition’s objectives. "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," would provide a unique platform for the global community to come together and explore creative and pioneering solutions to the three subthemes which have been identified as key drivers of global development: “Sustainability,” “Mobility” and “Opportunity”.

Expo 2020 is expected to have significant and positive direct and indirect economic impact on the United Arab Emirates and the region. Initial research and studies indicate that hosting Expo 2020 will generate approximately 277,000 new job opportunities between 2013 and 2020; each of these new job opportunities will sustain around 50 jobs in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region. Over a period of six month, Expo 2020 is expected to attract over 25 million visitors, 70% of them will be from outside the UAE.

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NRI teacher dies of coronavirus in Abu Dhabi

coastaldigest.com news network

May 24,2020

Abu Dhabi: A senior Hindi teacher at Sunrise School in Abu Dhabi has died of coronavirus, it has been confirmed. Anil Kumar, 50, passed away on Sunday morning, May 24.

The sad and shocking demise of Mr Kumar, a senior Hindi teacher of Sunrise School on May 24, has left the entire Sunrise family in a pall of gloom, read a statement.

“The management, administrators, other faculty members, students and the school as a whole is struck with intense sorrow and is speechless.

“The bond that he had developed over the years, just as how we have with each faculty, makes the loss unbearable. The entire SEPS family is shaken and finds it hard to come to terms with this most saddening news.

“Anil Kumar was a very inspiring teacher. He always brought a creative aspect to the classes he handled and would make it an enjoyable class to attend to. Mr. Anil Kumar had a great way of motivating his students to do their best, and pushed them to be the best they could be. He was a great strength and support to the Department of Hindi, always willing to scaffold and mentor students and teachers. He was a very approachable man, warm and friendly at heart and that is something I will truly miss about Mr. Anil.

“Mr Anil Kumar has left behind his wife and two children. Mrs. Rajini, his wife is also a member of the school family. She is a faculty of the maths department. Our prayers and sincere condolences to each and every one of the family. May God give the strength to endure and face this most challenging phase of their life.”

It is learnt Mr Kumar fell ill with COVID-19 and had been in hospital since May 7.

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Covid-19 increases suicide rates among expats in Kuwait

Agencies

June 28,2020

Kuwait, Jun 28: Measures imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Kuwait are believed to have increased suicide cases in the country, according to a media report.

Forty suicide cases and 15 failed attempts, mainly among Asian expatriates, have been recorded in Kuwait since late February, Gulf News quoted the Al Qabas newspaper report, citing sources as saying on Saturday.

Investigations into the majority of cases have revealed that those who committed suicide had experienced psychological and economic troubles due to dire financial circumstances after their employers stopped to pay them as a result of economic fallout from the coronavirus-related measures.

In one case, an expat livestreamed his suicide while chatting with his fiancee on a social networking platform, the newspaper report said.

Suicide cases have increased by around 40 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the sources.

Some 70 to 80 suicide cases are recorded annually in Kuwait. Last year, they reached 80 suicides against 77 in 2018.

"Suicide cases have started to go up in Kuwait during the coronavirus pandemic due to fear, anxiety, isolation and instability experienced by people and absence of daily aims that could help the person to spend time regularly as before," the newspaper quoted social psychology consultant Samira Al Dosari as saying.

Uncertainty for some expatriates, whose countries have refused to take them in, is another motive for attempting suicide, according to Jamil Al Muri, a sociology professor at the Kuwait University.

"This is in addition to greed of the iqamat traders, who have brought into the country workers in names of phantom companies and abandoned them on the streets," he added.

Starting from Tuesday, Kuwait will embark on the second phase of a stepwise plan to bring life to normal, Gulf News reportd.

According to Phase 2, a nationwide night-time curfew will be reduced by one hour to run daily from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. for three weeks.

Kuwait has so far reported 44,391 COVID-19 cases, with 344 deaths.

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YA ALLah save all dispressed people in the earth..

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Pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat for peak of hajj

Agencies

July 31,2020

Mount Arafat, July 30: Muslim pilgrims converged Thursday on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat for the climax of this year's hajj, the smallest in modern times and a sharp contrast to the massive crowds of previous years.

A tight security cordon has been erected all around the foot of the rocky hill outside Mecca, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy.

Pilgrims, donning masks and observing social distancing, were brought in buses from neighbouring Mina, state television showed, as Saudi authorities impose measures to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.

They were subject to temperature checks and attended a sermon -- which state media said was translated into 10 languages -- before they set off on the climb to the summit for hours of Koran recitals and prayers to atone for their sins.

The scene was strikingly different to last year's ritual when a sea of pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat, marshalled by tens of thousands of stewards in a bid to prevent any crushes.

After sunset prayers, pilgrims will make their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, another holy site where they will sleep under the stars to prepare for the final stage of hajj, the symbolic "stoning of the devil".

It takes place on Friday and also marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

But only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom will participate in this year's ritual, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.

"You are not our guests but those of God, the custodian of the two holy mosques (Saudi Arabia's King Salman) and the nation," Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said in a video released by the media ministry on Wednesday.

Security cordon

A security cordon has been thrown around the holy sites to prevent any security breaches, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Riyadh faced strong criticism in 2015 when some 2,300 worshippers were killed in the deadliest stampede in the gathering's history.

But this year, those risks are greatly reduced by the much smaller crowd.

The pilgrims have all been tested for the virus, and foreign journalists were barred from this year's hajj, usually a huge global media event.

As part of the rites completed over five days in the holy city of Mecca and its surroundings, the pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat after spending the night in Mina.

A district of Mecca, Mina sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky mountains, and is transformed each year into a vast encampment for pilgrims.

They began the hajj on Wednesday with their first "tawaf", the circumambulation of the Kaaba, a large structure in Mecca’s Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray.

The Kaaba is draped in a black cloth embroidered in gold with Koranic verses and known as the kiswa, which is changed each year during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims were brought inside the mosque in small batches, walking along paths marked on the floor, in sharp contrast to the normal sea of humanity that swirls around the Kaaba during hajj.

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