Sports
Federal National Council hails army conscription
Federal National Council hails army conscription Nissar Hoath / 22 January 2014 Members say move will ensure citizen’s participation and help serve national interests The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday overwhelmingly welcomed and supported the government decision to make it compulsory for Emirati males aged 18 to 30 to serve in the UAE’s armed forces. National service will also cover military training, and high school graduates will have to be part of the military for nine months, while those who have not completed high school will serve two years. However, it will be voluntary for women. Most of the members hailed the move saying it will serve and protect national interests. “All these young trained men and women will always be there to provide their services in all kinds of natural and unnatural disasters,” said a member. The session chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was also attended by Mariam Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, and Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of FNC Affairs. In his remarks during the debate on the compulsory military service for Emiratis, the Speaker hailed the directives and decision by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for issuing a Federal Law on the compulsory national military and reserve service. “This kind of guidance comes in the framework of our wise leadership to recognise the importance of citizens’ participation in defending their homeland, further protect national security and serve national interests,” said Al Murr. The Speaker also hailed His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for launching the UAE’s National Agenda during the next seven years to achieve the “Vision 2021” making the country one of the best in the world in various fields. The other issue that came under debate on Tuesday was the new child law protection, which was approved by the council during its last session. Members further reviewed the law called Wadeema’s Law by the government. The council during its last session passed it with minor amendments, including changing the name of the law from Wadeema to Child’s Right Law. The bill was drafted by the Federal Government after a girl child was brutally murdered and dumped in the desert by her father and his girlfriend in 2011 when a children’s protection law was awaiting approval. nissar@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Sashaying down the catwalk at Armani Pavilion, vertically
Sashaying down the catwalk at Armani Pavilion, vertically Dhanusha Gokulan / 22 January 2014 The first vertical catwalk, as part of the DSF, was held when Etoile’s La Boutique unveiled their spring/ summer 2014 collections amid a crowd of fashion bloggers, socialites and members of the media. A blend of fashion and innovative ideas … models at the Vertical Catwalk at Burj Khalifa. —KT photos by Rahul Gajjar When you hear of an event such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) ‘Vertical Catwalk’ at the Armani Pavilion, Burj Khalifa, the image that comes to you would be of models sashaying down the tallest building in the world in designer outfits. The special, invite-only event did not necessarily disappoint. There was a fashion show, there were spring/summer designer outfits, and it had acrobats performing acts 30 metres above the ground. Not necessarily in the same order. The first vertical catwalk, as part of the month-long festivities of the DSF took place on Monday, January 20 when Etoile’s La Boutique unveiled their spring/ summer 2014 collections amid a crowd of fashion bloggers, socialites and members of the media at the Armani Pavilion, located at the base of the Burj Khalifa. Though several of the attendees expected the models to catwalk on the runway after descending from the building, the simultaneous display of fashion and acrobatics was indeed interesting. Strung on harnesses, men and women in silver and gold cat-suits descended over the building walking, spinning, and dancing to catchy tunes. “The trick is to tilt the runway by 90 degrees in the vertical direction and sometimes, we get the aerial dancers to wear the designer clothing and walk, but here however, we decided to have a normal fashion show and a vertical dance,” said Suhaila Gobash, Director of Festival and Events, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment. Organised by a German entertainment company that specialises in aerial acrobatics, eh showbox is not new to high-rises and walking on glass buildings with the support of harnesses. Etienne Herr, Founder and CEO of eh showbox, said they are not new to the UAE, and they have performed in Abu Dhabi in 2010. A total of six acrobats and 10 models performed at the event. “This is our first time in Dubai and working on the project was fun. It wasn’t extremely challenging for us because the standard climb height is about 20 to 30 meters,” said Etienne in an interview with Khaleej Times. Apart from vertical fashion shows, the company also performs vertical sports like football, tennis and several other dance routines. Herr who was eyeing the Burj Khalifa said: “Performing over this building would be the real challenge for us.” Gobash added: “The idea started after the success of the Metro fashion Show last year and we decided to do something path-breaking and different this year. We wanted a sort of ‘fashion landmark’ in Dubai and involve the many retailers who’ve always supported the festival. After several brain-storming sessions, we put them together to create a blend of fashion, Dubai, and innovative ideas.” When asked about future plans Gobash said that the department has a reached a certain height of success with this event today and, “we will have to go back to the office and think what next.” The company, eh showbox, will be performing outside the Dubai Mall till January 26. The timings are 6.15, 7.45, and 9.45 pm. dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
UAE court convicts 30 Muslim Brotherhood men
UAE court convicts 30 Muslim Brotherhood men Staff Reporter / 22 January 2014 State Security Circuit at the Federal Supreme Court orders the convicts to be jailed for terms ranging from three months to five years. Thirty people accused of links to the Muslim Brotherhood, and charged with setting up a branch of the organisation in the UAE, were sentenced by the State Security Circuit at the Federal Supreme Court to jail terms ranging from three months to five years. The verdicts were issued in the presence of 24 accused. Six others were sentenced in absentia. Fair trial, says human rights association In a statement, the Emirates Human Rights Association said it had followed up the trials of 20 Egyptians and 10 Emiratis, who were allegedly involved in the Egyptian Muslims brotherhood cell, at the Supreme Federal court in Abu Dhabi. “The prosecutions were held in a transparent, clear and open aura,” the statement said, noting that the defendants, throughout the trial, were defending themselves and through lawyers. The trial was attended by representatives from Egypt’s embassy and Egyptian Journalists Syndicate. In reply to a question on the arrest and torture, Jameela Al Hamili, member of the board of directors of the association said the procedures of arrest are legal, and no complaint on torture was sent. news@khaleejtimes.com Earlier, the court heard statements from the accused, the defence team and witnesses and reviewed the reports of experts. The court also ordered the dissolution of the Brotherhood in the UAE, closure of all its offices, as well as confiscation of seized equipment. It also ordered the deportation of the foreign national accused after completion of their jail terms. According to a copy of the verdict which has been obtained by Khaleej Times , Medhat Rajab Abdellah Ammar was sentenced to five years in jail, while Saleh Faraj Daifallah Al Malhatani, Salah Mohammed Rizq Al Mashad, Ibrahim Abdel Aziz Ibrahim Ahmed, Murad Mohammed Hamid Othman Badawi, Othman Abdel Rahman Suliman Matkees, Al Sayyid Awaad Hifni Moussa, Hamada Abdel Aziz Abdel Maqsood and Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Dhufairti were each sentenced to four years in prison. Ahmed Mahmoud Taha was acquitted of the charges. Ahmed Labeeb Jaffar , Hassan Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, Khalid Mohammed Abdullah Al Shaiba Al Nuaimi, Hamad Hassan Ali Reqait, Ali Saeed Al Ghandi, Rashid Omran Al Shamsi, Mohammed Ali Saleh Al Mansour, Tariq Ibrahim Abdel Rahim Al Qasim and Hussein Ali Abdullah Al Najjar were ordered to serve a year in prison. Ahmed Rashid Al Taboor Al Nuaimi, Hassan Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, Khalid Mohammed Abdullah Al Shaiba Al Nuaimi, Hamad Hassan Ali Reqait and Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Dhufairi each received three months, while another defendant Hamad Hassan Ali Reqait was let off with a fine of Dh3,000. The foreign nationals accused in the plan are to be deported after serving out their jail terms. The sitting judge, in his ruling said: “Inspired by the rules of the Islamic Shariah, and guided by the principles of the law, the court has given the defendants to prove their innocene and has conducted the trial with utmost transparency as per the UAE constitution and international conventions.” “This court had issued its verdict studying the documents and results of investigations, as well listening to the statements of the defendants,” the judge said. The Public Prosecution stressed that the accused intended to set up a branch affiliated to the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood. “They structured the organisation and set up a general administrative centre under which there are central committees and offices, which are located all over the country.” The Muslim Brotherhood members collected monthly subscription fee, the prosecution told the court. Their actions posed a threat to state security, the prosecution said, and added that their investigation was held in a fair manner. Defence lawyers, meanwhile, challenged the role of the investigators and alleged the evidence gathered did not prove any wrongdoing. “The charges against the accused have been cooked up, and charges of theft are not true because there is no tangible evidence,” the defence lawyers told the court. — news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
