Day: March 26, 2024

ABU DHABI: The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) has commended the new law regulating rehabilitation and correctional centres in Abu Dhabi issued by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his capacity as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The law complements transferring the management of the emirate’s punitive and correctional establishments from the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, which has been effective since January.

Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri, President of ISAM, praised the comprehensive measures outlined in the law, emphasising its alignment with the UAE’s commitment to human rights and humanitarian values. He highlighted the law’s focus on providing adequate care and attention to all individuals, including those in rehabilitation centres.

He added that this legislative development is seen as a major milestone in the UAE’s global standing on human rights. Dr. Al Ghafri underscored the UAE’s proactive approach to human rights, including
drug addiction, by establishing specialised centres and implementing inclusive policies.

He stated that the centres’ roles also include providing health and social care services to inmates, providing education and professional training opportunities, and delivering rehabilitation programmes to reintegrate inmates as effective community members.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) organised a cultural retreat themed ‘Translation: Literature and Technology’, in collaboration with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London.

The session formed part of the ALC’s participation in the London Book Fair 2024, bringing together 30 experts and academics from various fields of translation.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said, ‘Our approach to organising our retreats was inspired by the UAE Government’s administrative excellence, which we transferred to the field of culture, turning the cultural retreats organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre into an important tradition that we have hosted in major world capitals to great success.’

‘The Centre recognises the important role translation plays in shedding light on cultures and the particular traits of various peoples,’ he added. ‘We also acknowledge literature’s role as a bridge that combines thought, culture, knowledge, science, and human
experiences into a blend of creative writing methods. With that in mind, we organised this year’s Cultural Retreat as part of our activities for the London Book Fair, in partnership with the University of London, to serve as an ideal platform to foster meaningful cultural discussion about translation, one of the most significant means to connect all members of the human family. The retreat focuses on literary translation, in particular, as a vehicle for communicating intellectual heritage in a creative and aesthetically appealing mould.’

The retreat shed light on a number of sub-topics in the Arabic language and the publishing industry through three sessions. The first session focused on the challenges facing literary translation, while the second discussed the challenges of translating content into Arabic. The third session focused on publishing Arabic translations and discussed translation and artificial intelligence.

In the first session, participants recommended that translators strive to understand a g
iven text’s cultural and intellectual weight and familiarise themselves with its specific traits relating to space, time, and social characteristics. They advised translators to avoid confusion with terminology, which results from having multiple translations of a single term, urging them to pay attention to the fact that translating works for children requires them to take into account the linguistic aspects.

Meanwhile, participants in the second session discussed the challenges facing the publishing of Arabic translations from other languages. They cited the disproportionate focus placed on translating works from more popular languages, such as English and French, while overlooking other important international languages, like Chinese and Hindi. Most Arab translators earn lower wages, and there is a lack of a standardised process for negotiating with publishers about remunerations.

Additionally, the shortage of courses focusing on criticism of translation in Arab universities has led professional translat
ors to shift towards work in other sectors, which, in turn, paves the way for artificial intelligence to replace them.

Participants developed a set of recommendations regarding this topic, including establishing a code of conduct for Arab translators to standardise legal contracts for rights, wages, and profit shares. The session also stressed the need to develop a transparent process for translation grants and rights acquisition that facilitates interactions in that regard and creates wider opportunities for translators to enrich cultural and scientific content in the Arab world.

Moreover, experts concluded that it is imperative to have an expert and credible review of translations into Arabic before publication and to diversify translations to cover additional languages. Recommendations also called for greater coordination among various Arab publishing houses involved in translation in order to avoid redundancy.

On the topic of translation and artificial intelligence, the most notable challenges highligh
ted during the session related to the key characteristics of the Arabic language and the limited data available on the internet to enable automatic translation to and from the Arabic language.

Participants in this session called on Arab translation institutions to invest in artificial intelligence to address the challenges facing automatic translation into Arabic. It also urged the development of a deeper understanding of the relationship between human translation and machine translation.

Source: Emirates News Agency

WASHINGTON DC: Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-chaired the first Vietnam-US Dialogue in the foreign ministerial level in Washington DC.

This was also the first ministerial-level dialogue between the two countries since they established their comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.

Describing the dialogue as an important opportunity to review and promote the implementation of high-level agreements, Blinken affirmed that the US values its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, and supports a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam that bolsters regional prosperity and stability, and takes on an increasingly important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as in the region and the international arena.

He emphasised the US commitment to implementing the new relationship framework and agreements of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

Son, for his part, asserted the US is a
strategically important partner of Vietnam, emphasising that the upgrade of the bilateral relations is a right decision demonstrating the strategic vision of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in accordance with the interests of the two peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Vietnam will continue working with the US to implement the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in an increasingly effective, substantive, and stable direction, while expanding the room for cooperation on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and political institutions to maintain development momentum for decades to come, he added.

The two officials discussed measures to deepen relations between the two countries. They agreed to promote the foreign ministerial-level dialogue to strengthen the close collaboration between the two foreign ministries in implementing high-level agr
eements, effectively implement existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and actively coordinate with each other to hold activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of the bilateral relations in 2025.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, said the rapidly changing local and international media landscape calls for a swift overhaul of organisational structures, regulations and legislations relating to the media sector in Dubai so as to keep pace with the rapid changes shaping the industry. His Highness added that such proactive steps would also enable media to convey their message objectively and cater to their audiences in keeping with international best practices and ethical standards.

His Highness’s remarks came as he chaired a meeting at the Dubai Media Council’s headquarters in the presence of Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, and Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Council, along with Board members.

Sheikh Ahmed underscored the significance of redoubling efforts to develop a comprehensive blueprint outlining necessary policies to drive the media sector
in Dubai that would help it stay abreast of swift technological advancements and harness breakthrough opportunities.

His Highness said that Dubai’s legislative flexibility stands out as a shining example in the success it has achieved as a global business hub and preferred investment destination. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop policies and regulatory frameworks that synchronise with global advancements in the media sector, further cementing Dubai’s leadership position in this domain regionally and globally.

His Highness also directed that the Media Policy Development Plan in Dubai be swiftly implemented, with its accent on three key aspects: policies related to media professions, vital and emerging media sectors, and investment policies. His Highness also highlighted the importance of further bolstering the capabilities of the media economy as it requires a comprehensive set of policies that further support the investment environment, especially in the context of talent development and techn
ological enhancement.

#RamadanInDubai campaign reviewed

Sheikh Ahmed also reviewed the #RamadanInDubai campaign, which was launched on his directives at the start of the Holy Month. The campaign, managed by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has added to the glow of festivities in Dubai throughout Ramadan, showcasing seamless coordination between government entities, authorities, institutions, and the private sector. The campaign highlights the importance of commemorating the Blessed Month, with vibrant celebrations across Dubai reaffirming its status as a premier global city to live in and visit. His Highness commended all participants in the campaign for their initiatives, events, and activities that have helped capture the true essence of Ramadan, presenting Dubai in its finest light and honouring Emirati traditions.

Mona Al Marri said that efforts are underway, in accordance with His Highness’s directives, to propel the media sector forward with a keen focus on secto
r governance, preparing legislation and policies, developing human capital, attracting talent, and providing training and upskilling opportunities for local talents. This concerted push aims to empower Dubai’s media to achieve the highest levels of readiness and competitiveness in delivering high-quality content, she added.

Critical role of media highlighted

She also emphasised ongoing efforts, in collaboration with strategic partners, to elevate Dubai’s media competitiveness to global standards. This resonates with Dubai’s aspiration to lead as a global hub for business, innovation, and quality of life. Additionally, she underscored the critical role of media in showcasing Dubai’s dynamism worldwide, aiming for excellence in various domains.

Meanwhile, Nehal Badri emphasised the Council’s commitment to strong governance and adaptable policies to foster confidence, enhance performance, and bolster competitiveness in the media sector. She said that the Council is focused on crafting a resilient framework of
policies that align with the sector’s evolving needs, driven by modern technologies and flexible regulatory frameworks.

This approach aims to promote transparency, accountability, and investment attractiveness, while strengthening risk management, internal controls, talent attraction and retention, thereby supporting sustainable growth, she added.

The meeting was also attended by Hala Youssef Badri, Malek Sultan Al Malek, Abdullah Hameed Balhoul, Younis Abdulaziz Al Nasser, Amal Ahmed bin Shabib, Mohammed Sulaiman Al Mulla, and Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Karam.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: Under the patronage of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, the eighth edition of the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR) is set to take place from May 21 to 23 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi with registration officially open.

ISNR 2024, organised by ADNEC Group, is the largest platform in the Middle East for national security, cybersecurity, and civil protection. It contributes to efforts aimed at building safe cities capable of addressing security challenges by integrating security protection with advanced digital and technical innovations. Enhancing national security and cybersecurity has become a global priority, and ISNR Abu Dhabi plays a significant role in advancing these objectives.

The eighth edition of ISNR 2024 is anticipated to be the largest yet since the inception of the exhibition and centred around the theme “Accelerating the transformation of the national security ecosystem.”

ISNR
2024 is the yearly specialised event that brings together some of the most important and prominent specialised officials concerned with national and cybersecurity, alongside buyers and stakeholders from both the government and private sectors. It serves as a significant international forum for finalising business deals and highlighting digital and technical innovation to shape visions for implementing and addressing future national and cybersecurity measures.

As a pivotal platform for innovation, ISNR 2024 convenes experts, leaders, and global companies to showcase the latest technologies, exchange knowledge, and foster partnerships that shape the future of professionally addressing security challenges. The upcoming edition will spotlight four dedicated areas: national security, cybersecurity, policing, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure protection. These areas aim to tackle challenges and explore new technologies and best practices to mitigate the ever-increasing threats faced by countries.

Addit
ionally, ISNR 2024 facilitates numerous events aimed at enhancing business communication and fostering partnership relations. These include a comprehensive conference programme and various innovation initiatives. The event stands as an indispensable gathering for staying updated on the latest advancements in promoting and safeguarding national security, as well as addressing global cybersecurity threats.

Source: Emirates News Agency

GENEVA: One in three migrant deaths happens while people flee conflict, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday. More than two in three migrants whose deaths have been documented remain unidentified.

Last year was the deadliest on record, with 8,541 migrant victims. Nearly 60 per cent of deaths is linked to drowning.

So far in 2024, the trends are just as alarming. Along the Mediterranean Sea route alone – while arrivals this year are significantly lower (16,818) compared to the same period in 2023 (26,984) – the number of deaths is nearly as high as before, with 956 registered since 1 January.

IOM noted that the number of unidentified deaths remains high – more than two in three migrants – leaving families and communities to grapple with the lack of clarity about what happened to a friend or relative. To date, the UN agency’s Missing Migrant Project data shows that the remains of 26,666 people who died while migrating have not been recovered.

‘Despite the many lives lost whose
identities remain unknown, we know that almost 5,500 females have perished on migration routes during the last 10 years and the number of identified children is nearly 3,500,’ said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, commenting on the recent findings. However, the report suggests, the true number of deaths of women and children is likely far higher: there are more than 37,000 dead for whom no information on sex or age is available.

More than one in three deceased migrants whose origin could be identified come from countries in conflict or with large refugee populations, the study finds. That highlights dangers faced by those attempting to flee conflict zones without safe pathways, the agency underscored. The deadliest route is the Central Mediterranean, where at least 23,092 people have died since 2014.

‘The toll on vulnerable populations and their families urges us to turn the attention on the data into concrete action,’ Ms. Daniels said, advocating for more detailed information col
lection that would facilitate creating safer migration routes for people fleeing conflict and distress in their home countries.

IOM has adopted a new Strategic Plan 2024-2028 that aims to save lives and protect people on the move as its first objective. To do so, the UN migration agency is calling on countries and other partners to work jointly to end migrant deaths and address the impacts of the tens of thousands of lives lost on migratory routes worldwide. 

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has accomplished phase one of the new generation of integration services to achieve the vision of the (360 services) policy, aimed at developing services to be proactive, seamless, integrated, remotely accessible and automated.

RTA has made extensive efforts to upgrade its service channels by encouraging digital adoption to enable self-service capabilities and make them more accessible via common platforms such as the Dubai Now App.

RTA applied the ‘Services 360’ policy through a detailed analysis and assessment of service maturity levels over a three-year plan (2023-2025). This approach is aligned with the master plan of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of the Dubai Government.

RTA fully implemented the first stage of the ‘Services 360’ policy, resulting in enhanced, automated, flexible, and proactive services. These improvements were spread across six main services: traffic services, marine transport, infrastructure works services, bus services
, and journey planning, investment services.

The scope of the initial stage encompassed 20% of RTA services. The second stage in 2024 will include 40% of services, and the third stage in 2025 is set to cover the remaining 40% of services.

The ‘Services 360’ policy has positively impacted RTA’s service delivery channels, notably improving the customer experience in accessing services. Three digital channels for service access were added to RTA’s platforms: the website, mobile applications as well as the Dubai Now App, which stands out as one of the key shared channels for services. RTA enabled digital payment options for 46 sub-services through the Dubai Payment Gateway.

Furthermore, the process to avail services has been simplified by reducing two steps from the list of customer requirements to streamline the service provision from the customer’s viewpoint. Also, the necessity for physical visits to obtain services through traditional channels was eliminated for over 90% of RTA’s services, making them acce
ssible via smart channels only.

The integration of systems and services with RTA’s government and private partners, represented by 15 Dubai Government entities, 8 federal entities, and 53 private entities, has led to a reduction in the number of requirements from customers to access services by making use of their existing information.

Source: Emirates News Agency

GENEVA: The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) today signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), reaffirming the critical role that parliamentarians play in enabling good health to foster stable and equitable societies.

The new five-year memorandum was signed by Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, at the 148th IPU Assembly, which is taking place in Geneva from 23 to 27 March 2024. Both organisations commit to continue working together to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all people, everywhere. It renews a historic commitment made in 2018 to leverage their respective scientific and political mandates to address persistent and emerging challenges facing populations worldwide.

The memorandum reinforces critical areas of cooperation that align with global health priorities, namely universal health coverage, global health security, health promotion and reducing health inequities, es
pecially in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

It also adds new cross-cutting areas of work, including responding to climate change, support to the government-led negotiations on a new pandemic agreement, and sustainable financing for health. This includes collaboration on this year’s first WHO Investment Round to overcome the historic imbalance between assessed and voluntary contributions, the distortions this creates, and the issues WHO faces with insufficiently predictable and flexible financing.

WHO Member States are staging their latest round of negotiations on an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response before scheduled consideration of a proposal for adoption at the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024. The proposed agreement aims to provide a basis for international cooperation that was lacking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parliaments are instrumental in supporting the process towards adoption, as well as in guiding the follow-up considerations
at a national level.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: ‘Parliamentarians play an essential role in setting policies, prioritizing investments and ensuring accountability to advance public health. Political leadership in service of the public saves lives and protects health by ensuring communities and countries are better prepared and designed to be healthier and safer. WHO looks forward to working even closer with the IPU and parliamentarians worldwide to advance efforts to protect and promote people’s wellbeing, from negotiating a pandemic agreement to prevent a repeat of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to investing in universal health coverage.’

Mr. Martin Chungong, said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic was not an isolated occurrence. Another pandemic will happen. It is not a question of if, but when. Parliaments have a key role, which is why we will continue working with WHO at all levels to raise awareness among parliamentarians on the pandemic agreement and other global health processes; to give parli
amentarians access to technical expertise and information; and to support them to pursue their national health priorities and back them with the necessary legislation and resources.’

Source: Emirates News Agency

BRUSSELS: The European Commission is financing the purchase of new firefighting planes to increase the aerial firefighting capacity of rescEU, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s strategic crisis response reserve. pound 600 million in EU funds will be used to purchase 12 new planes, which will be hosted across 6 EU Member States: Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain.

These new planes will be used to extinguish fires across the European Union, in particular during the difficult summer months when lives, homes and livelihoods are coming increasingly under threat to large scale forest fires. They will be delivered as of 2027, with the existing rescEU transition planes operating until the whole fleet is operational.

The announcement comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, participated in Zagreb today in the signature ceremony of the agreement between the government of Croatia and the Canadian Commercial Corporation to purchase specialised firefighting aircraft. This, together
with the signature of a similar agreement by the government of Greece recently, marks an important step in increasing the aerial firefighting capacity in the EU, protecting EU citizens from disasters.

Five years ago, the European Commission upgraded the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and created rescEU to further protect citizens from disasters and manage emerging risks. Fully funded by the EU, rescEU was established as a reserve of European capacities, and it includes a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters. In 2023 alone, rescEU was deployed 35 times for a total estimated value of pound 110 million of assistance, including in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the earthquakes that hit Trkiye, and the wildfires in Tunisia and Greece.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi City Municipality, represented by Al Shahama Municipality Centre, collaborated with the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) to conduct a planting initiative in Al Samhah.

This initiative aimed to plant approximately 500 diverse seedlings in the Al Samhah East area as part of the “For Our Emirates We Plant” initiative.

The initiative aimed to expand agricultural lands and green areas, adding an aesthetic touch to streets and public spaces within the centre’s geographical jurisdiction. Additionally, it sought to enhance sustainability standards and improve collaboration with strategic partners.

Additionally, the municipality teams, in collaboration with representatives from the EEG and 150 volunteers, planted hundreds of various trees in the targeted areas of Al Samhah East. This effort included 250 Prosopis (Ghaf) seedlings, 150 Acacia seedlings, and 100 Acacia Nilotica seedlings, totalling 500 seedlings.

These efforts were part of the ongoing collaboration between the municipality
and the EEG. Within the scope of Al Shahama Municipality Centre, the number of seedlings planted in partnership with the municipality and EEG reached 5,575 seedlings in different areas affiliated with the centre, as part of the “For Our Emirates We Plant” initiative.

Additionally, the municipality emphasises its commitment to continuing collaboration with its various strategic partners to conduct similar initiatives in many areas within its geographical jurisdiction and its sub-centres. These efforts aim to enhance cooperation, expand green areas that contribute to preserving the environment, improve the city’s aesthetic appearance, and enhance the elements of natural beauty.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ISLAMABAD: The Emirates Red Crescent’s (ERC) Ramadan 2024 programme in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan continued to provide Iftar meals in the Sindh province.

The ERC distributed 4,500 Iftar meals as part of the Ramadan project it is implementing through its office in Pakistan.

The Ramadan 2024 programme is part of the charitable work organised by the ERC during the holy month.

The locals expressed their appreciation for the charitable initiatives of the UAE and its humanitarian arm, the ERC.

Source: Emirates News Agency

RAS AL KHAIMAH: RAK Medical and Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU) has received a five-star rating in the QS Stars International Rating for universities, making it the first medical university in the country to receive such a rating. This achievement is an important addition to the university’s record of academic excellence and reinforces its position as a leading educational institution in the field of medical and health education in the region.

Professor Ismail Matalka, President of RAKMHSU, said, ‘This rating was awarded after the data was collected and analysed rigorously and independently, according to the performance criteria specified in a precise methodology.’

The QS Stars Rating was conferred by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based, world-leading provider of services, analytics, and insight into the global higher education sector. QS, relies on accuracy and detail in evaluating the performance and specifications of universities, focusing on various evaluation criteria, such as the quality of tea
ching, graduate employment, facilities and environment on campus, international relations, and comprehensive student care. Universities are then rated from 1 to 5 stars according to specific criteria and the total number of points achieved by the university during the evaluation process.

Professor Matalka added, ‘This rating is a comprehensive assessment of the excellence and performance of universities at a global level, based on the highest standards of academic, research, and educational excellence. It provides a comprehensive and integrated picture of the university and evaluates it objectively and transparently. According to the final report, RAKMHSU has received a 5-star overall rating and 5 stars in the categories of teaching, medical program, graduate employment opportunities, and facilities. This reflects the university’s commitment to excellence and continuous development, and the dedication and concerted efforts of the faculty, staff, and students in providing a stimulating and enjoyable learning
environment and offering distinguished medical and health programs according to best practices and the highest international standards in higher education.’

For his part, Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), presented the 5-star certificate to the President of the University in the presence of the Chairman and members of the University Board of Trustees, faculty and staff members, the Student Council, and representatives of the university’s alumni, said, “This 5-stars rating is a clear indicator of RAKMHSU’s excellence in providing top-tier education and creating an environment conducive to learning and innovation.

“It reflects the university leadership’s unwavering dedication to providing high-quality education, benchmarked against global standards. This places RAKMHSU on the map of distinguished international universities and embodies its role as a leader in higher education.”

Salem Al Sharhan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of RAKMHSU, said, “To be ranked among top-p
erforming universities is a distinguished honour for what is a leading university in the United Arab Emirates that is committed to its role in achieving academic excellence and offering academic programs in medical health sciences to students of all nationalities. The final evaluation shows the standards that the university has achieved, thanks to the commitment of the University administration, faculty, staff, and students. This achievement comes within the framework of an ambitious roadmap and strategic plan that the university has adopted and started implementing effectively about a year ago.”

According to the QS portal (TopUniversities.com), which receives over 60 million visitors annually, a university that receives a five-star rating is not just a world-class university, but an academic destination sought after by the best students and faculty around the world. These institutions are also known for utilising various advanced technological equipment to facilitate the training and practice of learners, t
o prepare students for employment, rates of which are very high after graduation. Its graduates are employed by the most reputable organisations in the world.

Source: Emirates News Agency