| ....2000 08 23 : Wednesday |
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DEFEND ARAB STATUS OF JERUSALEM, SAYS UAE
Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, has called on the international community to defend the Arab status of Jerusalem and totally condemn Israel's plans on it. Sheikh Sultan, who is also the chairman of the Zayed centre for co-ordination and follow-up, made the remark on the 31st anniversary of the attack on the Al Aqsa mosque. He said the attack was a breach of international resolution, which called on the Israeli occupying forces to respect landmarks under them. Sheikh Sultan said, "planting in settlements in the holy city will never change the reality of the city's history, which is boldly inscribed in the mind and heart of all Arabs and all peace-loving people in the world." He called for a united Arab stance to face the challenge that threatens the Arab nation. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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TWO DIE AS UAE SOLDIER OPENS FIRE IN SELF-DEFENCE
Lt Colonel Abdul Salam Saeed Al Filasi, spokesman of the UAE peacekeeping force in Kosovo, said two Albanian attackers died on Monday when a UAE soldier opened fire in self-defence. He said on Tuesday that the incident broke out when four people attacked a checkpoint manned by personnel from the UAE force. They tried to assault the soldiers stationed there and snatch their weapons. Two of the attackers were killed. 'One of our personnel warned them as per the altercation rules set by the KFOR but they refused to calm down and continued their assault. He had to fire a warning shot and when they refused for the second time, he had to shoot them in self-defence and in defence of his colleagues,' Al Filasi said. He added that one of the attackers was pronounced dead en route to hospital while the other died later on Tuesday in the hospital. 'It turned out that each of the two persons killed had a criminal record and that they were arrested before by our personnel who were stationed there and handed over to the international police. They were imprisoned and when released, they came to the checkpoint, seeking revenge.' Al Filasi assured that the shooting was in self-defence and that the UAE force had never used any form of violence against the people of Kosovo. 'For that reason, our force gained respect of all people regardless of beliefs, race or ideologies,' he said. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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UAE SET TO BUILD 25 NEW DAMS
The UAE is set to get 25 new dams to combat drought as priorities in the budget proposal to be submitted for cabinet approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Saeed Mohammed Al Raqabani, UAE Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has directed department heads in the ministry to review their budget for 2002-2002, which was not approved, and to prepare a new budget proposal. The minister explained yesterday that the new budget proposal will be ready within a week, including projects that will be undertaken during the next five years, such as the construction of 25 new dams in different parts of the UAE. ìWe have decided that building new dams and maintaining the old ones, as well as setting up new modern irrigation systems, will help solve and avoid drought problems faced by farmers during the last year,' he said. The new budget proposal, according to Raqabani, will state the programmes the ministry intends to conduct within the next five years and the probability of completing the projects within the deadline. (The Gulf News)
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SHARJAH AIRPORT UNVEILS HALA SERVICE DETAILS
Sharjah International Airport has unveiled the logo and published the charges of its soon to be launched passenger meet-and-assist service Hala. The Hala logo, meaning 'hello' or welcome in Arabic, has been derived from the Arabic alphabet ëhaí and the design portrays a vaporous trail left behind by a supersonic jet. The service will be available 24 hours a day for arriving and departing passengers, and will take the clients through all the airport formalities. On arrival, passengers will be greeted at the entrance tot he terminal, receiving clearance through immigration and passport control. On arrival passengers will be greeted at the entrance to the terminal, receiving clearance through immigration and passport control, without the need to stand in queue. They will also be helped with baggage collection and be escorted through customs, and out of the building. Charges for arriving and departing passengers will be Dh60 and Dh50 respectively per person. For a family of two adults and two children the charge will be Dh150. For each unaccompanied child the charge will be Dh30. For groups of up to 10 passengers, either arriving or departing, the charge will be Dh300, while for groups of 11 to 20 passengers, arriving or departing, the charge will be Dh600. An optional charge of Dh10 will be levied for the standalone facility of visa drop-off to the arriving passenger, for those who donít want to use the Hala service. Additional charges are applicable for other services, like floral welcome for VIPs or guests. All Hala bookings have to be prepaid and must be made at least 24 hours prior to arrival or departure of the passenger at Sharjah Airport. Bookings can be made through the airportís Hala office on 06-5581222 or fax - 06-5581221, or e-mail hala@shj-airport.gov.ae. Bookings can also be made through some airlines or travel agencies in the UAE which will offer the service. (The Khaleej Times)
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UAE'S IT MARKET MAY CROSS DH2B THIS YEAR
The size of the UAEís information technology market could cross the Dh2billion mark for the first this year through a near 20 per cent increase over 1999ís Dh1.68 billion, according to International Data Corp., IDC, estimates. Concerns that sustained growth in computer sales over the last decade might flag are also belied with IDC forecasting a 53 per cent growth in PC shipments to the UAE this year to 173,000 >from 1999ís 113,200. Meanwhile, increased sales of its mobile computers and new institutional contracts helped Compaq firm up its market leader status in the UAE in the second quarter. Overall growth for Compaq across all product lines and services was 127.6 per cent for a market share of 37.3 per cent between April and June. (The Gulf News)
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SHEIKH MOHAMMED IT PROJECT TO REACH PRIVATE SCHOOLS
The Sheikh Mohammed IT Project for Schools will extend its expertise to private schools throughout the UAE in its third phase. Jamal Khalfan Al Huwairb, Director of www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae, said the second phase of the project to equip all public schools in Dubai with IT labs was completed last month. "We have already got official approval to extend the expertise from General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, since we also happen to be his private IT office as well. "We have an exceptionally well designed curriculum which is set to begin at all public schools in Dubai when the new academic year starts in September and thought it would be unwise to leave out students from the private schools in our endeavour to groom future IT professionals." The basic aim of the IT project was to equip all school graduates with a strong base in programming, web designing and networking. " The second phase of the IT project was exclusively formatted and designed by pioneering IT companies - IBM with its equipment, Lotus with its solutions and Cisco Systems with its IT academies and education programmes. The first phase of the project involved equipping the Imam Malik Secondary Boy's School with computer labs and equipment. (The Gulf News)
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WORLD LOOTAH UNIVERSITY TO OPEN 'WINDOWS' SOON
Studies will start in September for the new academic year 2000-2001 at the first-of-its-kind in the UAE Internet University. World Al Lootah University, which is on the Internet website <www.lootah.sch.ae>www.lootah.sch.ae, will have two degree programmes for bachelor and higher studies in five faculties. They are Economics and Commerce, Islamic Banking, Management and Leadership, Accounting in addition to Computer Science and Information Systems. According the university's president Haj Saeed Lootah, they aim to encourage keenness on the part of the learner to improve his skills through the process of self-activity, continued practice and practical application. "We are making use of the latest developments in technology and electronic inventions in self-learning activity as well as scientific research so as to help the learner acquire the maximum possible knowledge," he said. Lootah said that the scientific courses have been chosen keeping an eye on the spirit of the age and the latest developments on a global level in these areas. "The courses have been designed in consultation with a number of Arab and foreign professors." He also pointed out that contacts have been made with several well-established academic institutions and universities in Egypt, Jordan Scotland, Canada, and USA to conclude agreements for academic and scientific co-ordination on evaluation, accreditation and exchange of syllabuses and teachers. The university also has invited some professors and academic consultants from Arab and foreign universities to evaluate and supervise the World Al Lootah students through the Internet. Lootah said a number of supervisory committees have been formed, such as the Trust and Testament Committee comprising of eminent personalities. The board of trustees is composed of a group of professors, specialists and businessmen drawn >from different parts of the world while the University Council consists of the director, deans of faculties, professors and the administrative staff. (The Gulf Today)
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SPECIAL ELECTRICITY BILL PAYMENT FACILITY IN SHARJAH
Sharjah residents returning >from their summer holidays need not worry about immediate payment of their pending electricity and water bills since the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, SEWA, has a special payment facility. An official at SEWA said that the authority has a flexible payment system that is not known to many consumers. Consumers who failed to clear their bills before going on holidays and came back to find that the accumulating dues are not affordable, can defer payment or pay in instalments. This procedure, however, is followed in exceptional cases including that of consumers returning from holiday. Under SEWAís payment policy, all consumers are given the privilege of postponing payment of bills for more than a month. Power will not be disconnected if payment is not made on time for one month. But when the bill has been issued for two monthís dues, then the consumer is given a grace period of two weeks from the date of issuing the bill, at the expiry of which the power will be disconnected and will not be restored until the consumer in question pays the total amount plus a Dh50 reconnection charge. (The Khaleej Times)
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WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD RING GOES ON DISPLAY IN DUBAI
A Saudi Arabian jewellery manufacturer is in Dubai with a gold ring described, as the world's largest. All of 62 kilos and studded with seven precision cut stones, the ring named Najmat Taiba (Star of Taiba), will be on an display exclusively at Bur Juman Centre >from Aug. 24 to Sept. 9. Visitors to the shopping mall can view the "gold marvel", which has already been referred to the Guinness Book of World Records authorities, between 5 and 10pm on all days. The ring has a limited number of white and yellow gold replicas tagged along with it during the promotion. Priced at Dhs575 each, the replicas will be available at leading jewellery outlets in Dubai during the display period. Crafted just a month ago, the ring was earlier displayed only in Saudi Arabia. After Dubai, it will be displayed in Beirut, Bahrain and Egypt. The ring was made with 50 kilos of pure gold. The precision cut stones studded on it are of a total weight of 25.850 carats. With an outside diameter of 70 cms and inside diameter of 50cms the ring has a circumference of 223cms. Najmat Taiba, comprising 615 pieces ,was made by 55 crafts persons from the Taiba factory in 45 days. Its manufacture logged a total of 25,000 man hours. (The Gulf Today)
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SHARJAH TO HOST F1 POWERBOATING ROUND
An agreement was signed between Sheikh Tarik bin Faisal Al Qasimi and Nicolo Di San Germano which effectively introduced Sharjah into the mainstream of water sports, with the 12th round of the 13-round UIM 2000 Formula One Powerboat World Championship. This will be held at Khalid Lagoon over Nov. 16-17. Late last year, the first essay was made, significantly under the active patronage of Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, with the hosting of the first ever Formula-2/Formula-4 event at the Khalid Lagoon. Mohammed bin Sanad Al Qubeisi, Member of the UIM F1 Committee for Middle East and General Manager, Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, ADIMSC, stated at the conference that there could be four UAE drivers at the event. Along with regular F1 driver Awad Al Qubeisi, there is every likelihood that Salem Al Khattal -- who took part in the Belgian GP, Thani Al Gimzi and Majid Al Mansoori could represent the UAE, he said. The race is being held under the patronage of Crown Prince of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi and under the direct supervision of the SCTDA and ADIMSC. (The Gulf Today)
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Department External Information Ministry of Information and Culture P.O. Box 17, Abu Dhabi E-Mail: mininfex@emirates.net.ae Tel: 009712-4452922 Fax: >009712-4450458
PLEASE NOTE: The items covered in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the official view of the UAE Government. Rather, they form a UAE-related digest of reports from the local press and publication