Day: May 9, 2023

Jordan, Egypt and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today condemned in separate statements the Israeli aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip that resulted in the killing of women and children, calling for ending the Israeli attacks against the Palestinians. Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sanan Majali called on the international community to act immediately to stop the Israeli aggression and provide protection for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied territories. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack that caused the death of 13 Palestinians, including women and children, and raids into Palestinian towns in the West Bank, the latest was the assault this morning on Nablus. It said that Egypt rejects such attacks, which are contrary to international law and United Nations charter, and inflame the situation in a way that may spiral out of control in the occupied Palestinian territories. The OIC also said in a statement that this ‘heinous crime’ committed by the occupying power this morning in Gaza left 13 dead, including children and women, and the injury of more than 20 others, and considered it a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law. It held Israel ‘fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of these crimes, aggressions and organized terrorism that threaten to undermine security and stability in the region,’ calling on the international community ‘to shoulder its responsibilities and provide international protection to the Palestinian people, and to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for all its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, their land and holy sites.’

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency

Traffic at Dubai International (DXB) has reached 95.6% of 2019 levels with passenger numbers exceeding 21.2 million in the first quarter of the year. This follows DXB’s strong showing last year during which the airport clocked 66m passengers to retain its position as the world’s busiest international hub for the ninth year running. Key facts and figures DXB’s passenger traffic totalled 21,256,489 during the first three months of the year, up 55.8% compared to the first quarter of 2022, and marking the first time since the fourth quarter of 2019 when average monthly traffic reached the 7-million passenger-mark. March was the busiest month in the first quarter with 7.3 million passengers, which is also the highest monthly traffic since January 2020 when DXB recorded 7.8m passengers. DXB is currently connected to 234 destinations across 99 countries via 89 scheduled international carriers. Top destinations India remained DXB’s top destination country with passenger traffic reaching 3m, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.6m), the UK (1.4m) and Pakistan (1m passengers). Other countries of note include the US (840K passengers), Russia (729K) and Germany (628K), while the list of top cities by passenger numbers was led by London (890K passengers) Mumbai (645K), and Jeddah (641K), followed closely by Riyadh (604K passengers). Cargo DXB handled a total of 400,015 tonnes of cargo during Q1, a contraction of 23% compared to the first quarter of 2022 during which the hub had handled 519,555 tonnes of airfreight. Flights Total flight movements during Q1 reached 100,840, a year-on-year increase of 23% and 1.6% higher than Q1 of 2019 when DXB recorded a total of 99,197 movements. With load factors exceeding 2019 levels throughout the first quarter and reaching 80% in March 2023, the passenger per aircraft movement grew 19.5% to reach 220. “DXB’s performance in the first quarter has exceeded our expectations and reflects the strong growth in demand that we are continuing to see across our key markets. With important developments in the international travel sector such as the further easing of travel protocols in China, and the upcoming local annual seasonal peaks and festive holidays, our outlook for the second quarter and the remainder of the year remains bullish. Accordingly, we have had to readjust our traffic forecast for 2023 upward to 83.6 million passengers, which will put DXB within striking distance to our 2019 annual traffic,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) launched a three-day awareness campaign on Tuesday, to elevate the level of customer experience effortlessly adopted by ADAFSA, in line with the Abu Dhabi Programme for Effortless Customer Experience. ADAFSA emphasises that the inspection drive aims to guide and advise food establishments against the most common negative practices without imposing penalties on violators. The ultimate goal is to achieve the highest level of compliance and ensure food safety to maintain consumers’ health rather than punishing violators. The initiative is part of ADAFSA’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of consumers by upholding the highest standards of food safety in food establishments. The campaign comprises several activities, such as regular inspections of establishments, evaluating their procedures and processes, and providing guidance and advice to enhance their food safety practices. The campaign encompasses all food establishments operating within the emirate, comprising restaurants, bakeries, shops, food factories, traditional markets, and other similar establishments. ADAFSA has urged all food establishments to collaborate with inspection teams and implement the advice and guidelines provided on health standards and best practices in the production and handling of food products. The campaign presents an opportunity for establishments to enhance their food safety level, raise awareness about adhering to the required health standards and procedures, and eliminate recurring harmful practices. The Authority has also encouraged the public to communicate with them and report any violations detected in any food, plant or livestock establishment by calling the toll-free number for the Abu Dhabi government, 800555. ADAFSA’s inspectors will handle the complaints and take necessary measures to ensure the delivery of safe and sound food to everyone in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Tariq Al Fahaam/ Muhammad Aamir

Source: Emirates News Agency

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and in collaboration with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Dubai is currently hosting the 2023 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Fraud Conference Middle East. With over 300 anti-fraud leaders and experts in attendance, the two-day conference seeks to explore the latest trends and tools used in the detection and prevention of fraud in various sectors in the Middle East. During the opening speech, Mariam Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Government Financial Management Sector at Ministry of Finance, expressed gratitude to the ACFE for hosting the conference in the UAE and acknowledged their role in executing sustainable initiatives in secure business environments. Al Amiri highlighted the significant progress made in the online payments segment since its inception in the mid-1990s. However, she also cautioned that technological advancements and digital initiatives are empowering fraudsters with new tools to breach security measures. She further noted that fraud cases have significantly increased worldwide in recent years, with billions of dollars reportedly lost by consumers, particularly in the Middle East. In her speech, Al Amiri emphasised the importance of working collaboratively to combat fraud, which she described as a serious threat to economies. She expressed her pride in coming from a country that is a frontrunner in this field and that is dedicated to creating a secure investment climate. Al Amiri highlighted the UAE’s efforts to raise awareness about fraud detection and prevention through nationwide initiatives such as the National Fraud Awareness Campaign. She also discussed the Ministry of Finance’s role in safeguarding the business climate, regulating financial services, and implementing best practices to reduce the risks of fraud. Al Amiri went on to discuss the Ministry of Finance’s anti-fraud manual, which was developed in 2018 to combat fraud in the federal government. She noted that the manual is implemented by all federal entities and that the ministry holds training workshops on an annual basis to enhance its application. Al Amiri also mentioned that the ministry has established a secure and confidential communication channel for stakeholders to report any cases of corruption or violations without fear of retaliation. At the end of her speech, Al Amiri stressed the UAE’s commitment to supporting the region’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud and maintain the stability and integrity of the fiscal systems. Al Amiri said: “Together, we can promote accountability and transparency in the public and private sectors and create a secure business environment to boost prosperity across the region. Today and tomorrow, we look forward to discussing ways of safeguarding our investment climate, and sharing our experience and expertise to help reduce fraud cases in the Middle East.” Bruce Dorris, President and CEO of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), said, “We greatly appreciate the support and partnership with the UAE Ministry of Finance for our eighth Middle East Fraud Conference. With new fraud threats arising everyday, it is important to have events like this one to learn from financial crime experts and one another so that we can prevent these frauds from greatly impacting our businesses and governments. The Ministry of Finance has demonstrated their commitment to the anti-fraud community by being a part of this conference.” The first day of the conference included two panel discussions; the first was titled “Operational shifts and their impacts on the financial industry”, and the second was titled “Managing fraud risks in sustainability initiatives”. Additionally, a panel session was held on the evolution of fraud in the global financial market, in addition to an optional session on how to pass the CFE exam.

Source: Emirates News Agency

While Brazilian and Argentinian football have dominated most of the spotlight and fame when it comes to South American football and its global impact, it is a fact that Uruguayan football has had a historic influence predating its counterparts in Brazil and Argentina by decades. Football is the world’s leading sport on the South American continent, the rest of the world, and even at the Olympics. Football in Uruguay has a rich history that spans over a century, with the country winning many continental, international and Olympic titles, rivalling Brazil and Argentina and even surpassing them during certain eras. The strength of the Uruguayan Primera Division has played a major role in enabling the national team to win many international titles. Uruguay’s population is much smaller than most South American countries, but it has produced strong clubs that have fiercely competed for titles on the continent and gained widespread support. The Uruguayan Primera Division began in 1900 and is one of the oldest leagues in the world. Since the start of the league, the historic Peaarol and Nacional clubs established their dominance over the competition, with the former holding the current record for the number of championship titles won with 51, compared to 49 titles for Nacional. No other club has come close to them in terms of the number of titles, with those in third place in the championship’s golden register having won only four titles. Throughout its history, the championship has produced many stars who have played in Uruguayan stadiums and on the world stage, leaving legacies of professionalism in Europe, such as Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, while others may not have received the same level of fame but also left distinctive marks, such as 71-year-old former Peaarol striker Fernando Morena. Despite Morena’s short professional career with both Rayo Vallecano and Valencia in Spain, as well as with Boca Juniors in Argentina, he achieved many successes with the Peaarol team, where he won the league title six times, as well as two Copa Libertadores and an Intercontinental Cup. Morena also won the Copa America with the Uruguay national team in 1983 and established himself as the all-time top scorer in the history of the Uruguayan league. At a continental level, Uruguayan clubs have won a good share of titles, including eight championships in the Copa Libertadores, ranking third on the list of the competition’s most successful clubs, after Argentinian clubs with 25 titles and Brazilian clubs with 22 titles. Peaarol is third on the list of teams with the most championship titles, with five, compared to seven for Argentina’s Independiente and six for Boca Juniors. Nacional has also won three titles for Uruguay in this prestigious continental championship. At the international level, the Uruguay national team, wearing their iconic “sky blue” jersey, has even surpassed its club counterparts, winning the first edition of the Copa America in 1916, becoming the first team among 15 to win the title, and sharing the top position in the list with the Argentine national team in terms of the most titles. The Uruguayan national team won the Copa America six times in the championship’s first ten editions. The 1920s and 1930s were a golden age for the Uruguayan national team, when it won the gold medal in football at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, becoming the first South American team to win the Olympic title. The team’s achievements on the Olympic stage supported the establishment of the World Cup. FIFA granted Uruguay the right to host the first edition of the World Cup in 1930 in appreciation of its Olympic success in the 1920s. The Uruguayan national team took advantage of this, marking its name with a golden record in the World Cup by winning the title on home soil in 1930 after defeating Argentina in the final. The Uruguayan team also reclaimed the world title in the edition hosted by Brazil in 1950, winning the championship in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the game at the final of the tournament held in a league format against the Brazilian team and against a hostile home crowd at the famous MaracanaPound Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian team only needed a draw to be crowned world champions for the first time in its history, but the Uruguayan team snatched victory and won the title. Over the past two decades, Uruguay also provided another golden generation to world football, which many consider the best in the team’s history. Led by their famous coach ascar Tabarez and with outstanding players such as Suarez, Forlan, Diego Lugano and Diego Godin, the team reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and won fourth place. Forlan also won the “Golden Ball” award during the tournament, and the team had more than one player in the list of top scorers. Despite the retirement of stars from this generation, the Uruguay team is on course for another golden generation in the coming years, led by Federico Valverde of Real Madrid and Ronald Araujo of Barcelona.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Despite never winning the FIFA World Cup, Mexican football has always held a prestigious stature on the international stage, with its teams and clubs always being considered strong contenders for causing upsets and achieving impressive results in various competitions. Like in other Latin American countries, football has always won the largest share of fans’ support in Mexico, to the point when the Mexican league has become one of the most attended local tournaments worldwide and one of the most watched on television. During the early decades of the previous century, Mexican football focused on local tournaments that were not on the same level as the national league, as they involved teams from geographically close regions. These included various tournaments, such as the Primera Fuerza, launched in 1902. In 1943, Mexico established its first professional league, marking the start of the professional era. Since then, Mexico’s national championship has produced many outstanding players and remarkable teams. At the local league level and throughout the tournament’s history, since its first edition in 1943, Club America has achieved the record for winning the most titles with 13, compared to 12 for Chivas, 10 for Toluca, and nine titles for Cruz Azul. According to statistics from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, the Mexican league ranked tenth in the list of the strongest domestic leagues in the world during the first decade of this century. Statistics from Concacaf also show that the Mexican league has the third-highest attendance among all sporting championships in North America, after the American Football League and the American Association of Professional Baseball. These statistics highlight the attachment of Mexican fans to football and their love and support for their teams. The Mexican national football team achieved its best results in the 1970 and 1986 editions of the World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in both tournaments. In 1983, Mexico won the right to host the FIFA World Cup for the second time after FIFA rejected bids from the US and Canada, making it the first country to host the tournament twice. Despite not winning the World Cup, the Mexican team ranks fifth in the list of teams that participated in the tournament, after Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Italy, while topping the list of all teams that have not won the title but participated in the tournament since its first edition in Uruguay in 1930. Mexican clubs, led by Club America, occupy the top spot in Concacaf’s list of most successful clubs in continental competitions it has held, including the Concacaf Champions League. Throughout the history of Mexican football, many stars have left their mark during their professional journey, whether in local or international leagues. Among the best players in the history of Mexican football, 50-year-old goalkeeper ascar Perez stands out as one of its best goalkeepers and still holds the record for the most games played by any player in the Mexican league. Other notable players include Jorge Campos, Hugo Sanchez, Luis Hernandez and Javier Chicharito Hernandez, with the latter holding the record for the team’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals. Current team captain Andres Guardado still holds the top spot on the list of players with the most appearances in international matches with the Mexican national team, totalling 179 games.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah discussed with the Municipality of Sharjah, in a meeting held at the Authority’s offices recently, means to develop the labour accommodation standards in the emirate, as part of its new projects after the issuance of the law reorganising its objectives and specialisations. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of the Labour Standards Development Authority, said, “As part of a series of projects, the LSDA is seeking to achieve the goals and specialisations entrusted to it to enhance the position of the Emirate of Sharjah as an attractive environment for work and workers.” He added, “H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued Law No. 1 of 2022, reorganising the objectives and specialisations of the Labour Standards Development Authority. The law entrusted the LSDA with ensuring the availability of the necessary standards and requirements in labour accommodation in accordance with best practices and proposing legislation regulating the labour accommodations standards and the supervision, control, and inspection of the accommodations to ensure compliance with labour housing standards in coordination with LSDA partners. The Authority took the initiative to work with its partners to find out the current status of labour accommodations and the challenges and opportunities for improvement of the labour accommodations according to best practices. The meeting, comprising relevant officials of the LSDA and the municipality, reviewed the goals and outputs that the LSDA aspires to achieve through its strategic directions in managing the labour accommodations file, including boosting the standards of labour accommodations. The directions are based on identifying and analysing the current situation of labour accommodations in terms of organisational and operational aspects, developing the standards of labour accommodations, and the role of the government partners in this regard. Muhammad Aamir

Source: Emirates News Agency