Sports
Shaikh Mohammed reaffirms UAE support to Egypt
Shaikh Mohammed reaffirms UAE support to Egypt (Wam) / 27 October 2013 Shaikh Mohammed assures that the UAE leadership and government are supporting Egypt, the Egyptian people and the new political leadership. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, held talks with visiting Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Hazem Al Beblawi at Zabeel Palace on Saturday. Shaikh Mohammed and Al Beblawi discussed the security, economic and social situation and the current political changes in Egypt. Shaikh Mohammed assured that the UAE leadership and government are supporting Egypt, the Egyptian people and the new political leadership. He asserted that supporting Egypt in this phase is a service to the entire Arab world. Shaikh Mohammed recalled Shaikh Zayed’s position in the 1980s when he insisted on Egypt returning to the Arab fold as he believed that Egypt is the heart of Arab world. Courtesy: Youtube.com/Sheikhmohammed.ae Dr Al Beblawi thanked Shaikh Mohammed for all support received from the UAE to enable Egypt and its people to pass this phase and successfully restore the political, security and economic stability. Al Beblawi assured that the domestic situation in Egypt is back to normal and it is in the process of recovery and stability, thanking the support of Egypt’s loyal friends and especially the UAE. The Egyptian people appreciate and value the historic and honourable stance of the government and people of the UAE towards Egypt after the 30th of June revolution, Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, who is part of the delegation, said. “We not only thank the UAE for its support to Egypt but (we are) also grateful because that assistance came within the context of implementing the economic programme, laid down by the government to improve living conditions,” Bahaa-Eldin told Wam. Shaikh Mohammed held a lunch banquet for the Egyptian Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy; Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State; Dr Nabeel Fahmi, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Osama Saleh, Egyptian Minister of Investment; and Dr Hisham Ramiz, Governor of Egyptian Central Bank. Continue reading
Tougher rules for shisha cafes in UAE from 2014
Tougher rules for shisha cafes in UAE from 2014 (Wam) / 27 October 2013 Shisha cafes to be restricted to places 150 metres away from residential buildings and populated neighbourhoods, schools, mosques, and others. Tougher rules related to shisha smoking in cafes and eateries, both public and private, across the country’s Capital will be implemented early next year, in a bid to promote a stop-smoking message. Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC), affiliated to the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, announced that it would start the application of the Regulations of Federal Law No. (15) of the year 2009 on tobacco control. The announcement came during a joint coordinating meeting between the Department of Economic Development (DED), the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the Department of Municipal Affairs and Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture. During the meeting, it was agreed on to determine the time remaining for cafes in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to adjust their positions until January 31 of next year, calling for the owners of cafes to review the Regulations of the law and the terms contained therein for the exercise of their activity. The new regulations prohibits the exercise of these activities in residential areas not authorised by the department unless only in specific places, 150 metres away from residential buildings and populated neighbourhoods, schools, mosques, and others. The opening hours for cafes have been set from 10am till 12am, and the regulation also stipulates that cafes must not provide water pipe tobacco and tobacco products to those who are under 18 years and prohibits their presence in places providing shisha. The distance between two smokers has also been specified at two square metres. Ahmad Tarish Qubaisi, Acting Director of the Department of Trade Protection at the ADBC, assured that the DED will begin, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to implement a plan designed to clarify the regulations and conditions contained in the law to cafes and private areas offering smoking-related activities. Qubaisi stressed the necessity of not hiring any commercial sites to exercise the activity of smoking shisha unless approval has been given by ADBC. Violating the provisions of the law amounts to imprisonment for a period of two years and a fine of up to Dh1 million, doubled in case of repetition of the offence, according to the provisions of Articles (13), (14), (15), (16) of the Act. Director of the Department of Environment, Health and Safety in the Department of Municipal Affairs Abdul Rahman Marzouki, said the issuance of Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control, aims at promoting a stop-smoking message. Marzouki also said the Department has prevented smoking in each of the malls, men’s and women’s salons, while coordinating with the authorities concerned to implement and enforce the provisions of the Act and the Regulations. Continue reading
Fifa U-17 World Cup gala starts in UAE
Fifa U-17 World Cup gala starts in UAE James Jose / 17 October 2013 Hosts hope for a victory against Honduras; Brazil meet Slovakia first in Fifa U-17 World Cup. ABU DHABI — Back in August, Shaikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Chairman for the General Authority of Youth and Sports had said that the tournament is a celebration of future stars. As a ball will be kicked in anger, over the next three weeks, 504 young guns will be hoping to show the world that they are the future. The Fifa Under-17 World Cup kicks-off at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. After the Opening Ceremony is done, it will be the perfect opportunity for the next generation of UAE football to give a glimpse that they are following in the footsteps of their more illustrious seniors. Shaikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan is also the Chairman of the Higher Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament. The UAE are competing in the tournament for the first time and take on Honduras in a Group A fixture. But there is no lack of confidence. UAE captain Humaid Salmeen reckoned that they could all the way. That is the attitude that the UAE are going with. “We are looking to win the tournament. At the Under-17 level, there is nothing different between the teams,” Humaid Salmeen, said on the eve of the match. “All teams are the same. The only difference is how the players deal with the pressure. As young players, we are not used to the media and the big stadiums. But to be a successful player, you have to prepare yourself well and pass all the difficulties. We will try our best to achieve our ambitions,” he added. The UAE play the second game of the night after three-time winners Brazil meet Slovakia. The UAE’s meeting with Brazil on Sunday is the one that the fans have been waiting for. But the UAE coach Rashid Amir cautioned that they are not looking too far ahead. He said that getting a win against Honduras will be the key. Honduras will be making their third appearance in the competition but haven’t won a game so far or even earned a point. But Amir is treating it the same way as he would treat a game against Brazil. “The most difficult game in any tournament is the first match. Achieving results is going to be hard throughout the whole tournament. But Honduras have been training for this match for a long time. Everybody is talking about the Brazil vs UAE game, but the match against Honduras is the most difficult,” Amir said. Amir said that the squad have prepared well and are battle ready. “The squad has been preparing for more than a year. During that time, they have been training very hard. We had a good training camp and some tough friendly games in Spain. I think we have reached the level that we wanted. The squad is ready to give their best,” he said. The squad began their preparations 15 months ago in Turkey. The UAE left for Turkey in July 2012 before travelling to Saudi Arabia and Spain. They returned to the UAE in January 2013 and trained at home till July before travelling to Turkey again. They left for Malaysia before returing to the UAE in September. The UAE were back on the road again and were in Marbella, Spain from September to October, for their final stint.The UAE played a few friendly games against World Cup opponents from other groups and returned home unbeaten. They played Argentina, defending champions Mexico, Ivory Coast and Panama, whom they blanked 4-0. “Our results indicate that the team is on the right track as far our preparations for the World Cup finals are concerned. We have to maintain this standard and always show a fighting spirit on the pitch. That is how we will win at this tournament,” said Amir. The UAE will be without midfieler Ali Ghuloum, who picked up a knee injury during the friendly against Panama. Ghuloum will have to undergo a surgery. He was replaced by Omar Jumah. Meanwhile, in the opening fixture of the competition and of the night, heavyweights Brazil will be looking to lay the platform for a fourth title when they meet debutants Slovakia. Slovakia are playing as an independent nation for the first time. Brazil’s Gabriel will be the one to watch. The striker signed a contract with one of Brazil’s top clubs Santos, last month. KICK-OFFS (Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi): Brazil vs Slovakia, 5 p.m UAE vs Honduras, 8 p.m Continue reading
