Proud to create partnerships with Muslims all over the world: Saudi

Arab News
September 17, 2017

Sao Paulo, Sept 17: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Saleh Al-Asheikh said the Saudi government and people are proud to communicate and create partnerships with Muslims all over the world, notably Latin America, in serving Islam and strengthening the moderate approach of Islam.

The minister’s remarks came at the opening of the 30th session of the International Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Muslims which started in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday. The ministry’s undersecretary, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Ghannam Al-Ghannam, who is leading Saudi delegation at the conference, addressed the conference on behalf of the minister.

He said the Kingdom used to support the moderate Islamic approach which combines preservation of originality and constant Islamic teachings; promotes good dealing with Muslim and non-Muslims, irrespective of their sects and religions; strives for positive interaction in serving the security, stability and coexistence of societies; and faces all risks that could distort the good image of Islam or stir up divisions and spread hatred among communities.

Al-Ghannam also lauded the good message and objectives of the conference which are represented in deepening the Islamic identity through the family, mosques, and Islamic, educational and media institutions, as well as the enhancement of communication between the Islamic institutions in the Latin American and the Caribbean countries.

He said the session comes in light of critical conditions and changes at the world level and big challenges facing Muslims which require enormous efforts to preserve the Islamic identity.

For his part, the director of the Islamic Call Center in Latin American and the Caribbean countries, Ziyad bin Ahmed Al-Saifi, welcomed the Saudis and other delegates to the conference. He lauded the Saudi ministry’s efforts in organizing the current 30th session and the Kingdom’s continued efforts to support Muslim minorities and spread Islamic teachings.

Addressing the conference, Brazilian Parliament member Antonio Gollart affirmed the importance of the conference at it deals with a topic concerning humanity in general. He also expressed his admiration over the teachings of Islam which guarantee the rights of families and protects their original values and customs.

Palestinian Ambassador in Brazil Ibrahim Al-Zain also addressed the conference and appreciated the efforts of the Saudi government in supporting issues of Islam and Muslims around the world.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Marzouq, from Lebanon, gave an address on behalf of the preachers participating in the conference. He expressed thanks to the Kingdom for its concern over the Islamic call and Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ support to preachers in different parts of the world.

For his part, adviser to the Palestinian president for religious affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, stressed the importance of human communication and building of one humanitarian family based on the principles of tolerance, love and brotherhood with their different religions and faiths.

The head of the Women’s Section at the Islamic Call Center in Latin American and Caribbean countries, Braa bint Ahmed Al-Saifi, appreciated the Kingdom’s efforts in sponsoring the current 30th session and its continued support to Muslim minorities in different parts of the world.

Bishop of Sao Paulo Carlos Lima Garcia also addressed the event and conveyed his greetings to leaders, scholars and preachers. He said the divine religions share with Islam its concern over families, their ethics, and youths and their protection from what is harmful to their societies.

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News Network
July 28,2020

Dubai, Jul 28: A heart-broken father who lost his 19-year-old son in a tragic car accident during Christmas last year has sponsored the repatriation costs of 61 Indians stranded in the UAE.

 The special flydubai repatriation flight, chartered by the All Kerala Colleges Alumni Federation (Akcaf) volunteer group, of which he is a member of, departed from Dubai to Kochi on July 25 carrying 199 passengers.

 On this particular flight, I sponsored 55 air tickets," said TN Krishnakumar, a sales and marketing director. He had lost his son Rohit Krishnakumar in a car accident, which also claimed the life of the teen's friend, Sharat Kumar (21).

"All passengers who were registered with the Indian missions were also asked to register on the Akcaf volunteer group website. Each passenger was further vetted, after which we made home visits to ensure that all the applicants were genuinely in need of financial support and repatriation," he said.

Commenting on what inspired him to dedicate himself to community work, Krishankumar said: "When a situation like this comes up, you realise there is no meaning in money. I invested everything I made into my son, and that had crashed in front of my eyes. He was a third-year medical student at the University of Manchester in the UK and had returned home for a vacation when the accident took place. Since then, I have been involved in a lot of social activities. If I do not do this, there is no meaning to my existence."

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Krishnakumar said the group has supported thousands of individuals in need of help. "We supported unemployed people with several hundred bags of grocery kits and other necessary items. We also supported Covid-19 patients by transferring them to the medical facility in Warsan, etc.," he said.

"I come from a very middle-class family. I got a scholarship to study in college, and I studied with the help of taxpayers' money. I have always wanted to give back to society. I have grown immensely in life and now is my time to give back.," he added.

Krishnakumar also sponsors the education of over 1,000 academically gifted school children in Kerala's government-aided schools. He is a life trustee at the College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni Galaxy Charitable Trust and an active participant towards various educational causes.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Dubai, Jul 28: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) (ADCB.AD) is letting go hundreds of employees, sources said, the latest in a round of lay-offs by regional banks as pressure mounts to cut costs amid lower oil prices and the coronavirus crisis.

The UAE’s third-biggest lender is laying off 400 employees, two sources familiar with the matter said, after it had committed to not cutting staff because of the crisis.

In a statement, a spokesman said ADCB had pursued efficiency over the last decade by managing out its lowest underachievers after regular reviews, while ensuring talent was deployed in high-growth areas, such as digital banking.

“A certain number of redundancies are therefore expected every year in the normal course of business,” the bank spokesman added.

The sources said the cuts would involve ADCB’s consumer business and several in top management were among those being let go. One source said the bank was looking to close 20 branches.

In March, ADCB had declared, “No employee will be made redundant during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

UAE banks have been hit by government measures to rein in the spread of the virus, forcing many businesses to shut temporarily.

Last week, Dubai’s largest bank, Emirates NBD, reported a slump of 58% in profits. In June, sources told Reuters the bank started a new round of hundreds of lay-offs.

In May, ADCB reported a fall of 84% in first-quarter net profit as it took impairments of $292 million on debt exposure to troubled hospital operator NMC Health and payments group Finablr.

It was a major lender, with an exposure of about $981 million, to NMC Health, which went into administration this year after months of turmoil following questions over financial reporting.

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News Network
March 23,2020

Dubai, Mar 23: The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday it will temporarily suspend all passenger and transit flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Emirati authorities "have decided to suspend all inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE for two weeks as part of the precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19", reported the official state news agency, WAM.

It said the decision -- which is subject to review in two weeks -- will take effect in 48 hours, adding: "Cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt."

The UAE, whose international airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are major hubs, announced on Friday its first two deaths from the COVID-19 disease, having reported more than 150 cases so far.

Monday's announcement came hours after Dubai carrier Emirates announced it would suspend all passenger flights by March 25.

But the aviation giant then reversed its decision, saying it "received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers" and will continue to operate passenger flights to 13 destinations.

Emirates had said it will continue to fly to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Canada.

"We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services," said the airline's chairman and CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.

Gulf countries have imposed various restrictions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the air transport sector.

The UAE has stopped granting visas on arrival and forbidden foreigners who are legal residents but are outside the country from returning.

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