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Gen. Shaikh Mohammed lauds youth participation in Adihex
Gen. Shaikh Mohammed lauds youth participation in Adihex (Wam) / 6 September 2013 General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, toured the 11th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) on Thursday. The exhibition is being hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until September 7. Gen Shaikh Mohammed visited a number of local and foreign pavilions featured at the Adihex held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, Chairman of the Emirates Falconers Club. He toured the exhibition which hosts over 600 exhibitors from 40 countries, of whom 100 are Emiratis. The UAE nationals displayed hunting equipment and traditional sports and race products aimed at preserving the national heritage. Gen Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the products being showcased at the pavilions and efforts being taken to preserve wildlife and raise awareness on sustainable hunting methods, falconry, sports arts and saluki dogs, as well as plans to elevate these sports and Arab authentic hobbies. He was also briefed on the role of some institutions in organising the heritage competitions, events and efforts to foster the culture of fishing, hunting and conservation of Houbara birds from extinction, as well as efforts to publicise these traditional activities among students through awareness programmes and initiatives. Gen Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the ancient Arab manuscripts and references, cutting and archeological tools related to falconry. He commended on the quality of the products featured and appreciated the participation of youth to acquaint with the heritage of forefathers. Gen Shaikh Mohammed also referred to the interest of the UAE government in preserving the heritage and reviving its authentic components. The tour took Gen Shaikh Mohammed to the Abu Dhabi Falconers’ Club, the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and the Hair Academy, which presented its latest editions, the International Fund for Conservation of Houbaras, Japanese Pavilion, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Environment & Protected Areas Authority and Qatari Pavilion. Continue reading
EU divided entering days of Syria talks
EU divided entering days of Syria talks (AP) / 6 September 2013 European Union nations enter high-octane talks on Syria as divided as ever, split between moral outrage over the use of chemical weapons and the obligations of slow and burdensome UN diplomacy. France, like the United States, is preparing possible armed action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Britain has been surprisingly hamstrung by its parliament. And Germany says it will not take part in an attack and would limit itself to a backseat role at most. While EU leaders are in St. Petersburg with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama during the G-20 summit ending Friday, the EU’s foreign and defence ministers are meeting in nearby Lithuania through Saturday, seeking to broker a common stance that statements on Thursday indicated would prove elusive. Speaking in Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “I do not believe yet that we will reach a joint position.” And while EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton cautiously said in Vilnius that she had been “of course, carefully talking with our colleagues and allies,” EU President Herman Van Rompuy — speaking in St Petersburg — bluntly insisted upon UN cooperation, upsetting the French and widening divisions further. Rebuffing French urgency, Van Rompuy told reporters that EU nations had to underscore “the need to move forward with addressing the Syrian crisis through the UN process.” That involves further delays as UN inspectors prepare a report on the August 21 chemical attack and the diplomatic quagmire at the Security Council, where Russia and China have veto power over military action. By invoking UN approval, Van Rompuy appeared to be isolating France, the lone EU member actively looking at military intervention. French President Francois Hollande came to the G-20 summit in hopes of rallying other European countries to support military action, if not with warplanes then at least with logistical or other symbolic help. Van Rompuy’s comments echoed those of Merkel — and upset the summit’s French contingent. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held bilateral meetings with several EU counterparts in Vilnius on Thursday, aiming to make them fully aware of the “unacceptable nature” of the chemical weapons attack, an official in his office said. He was pushing for tough language against Syria in a statement expected from Ashton on the crisis in coming days. On Saturday, US Secretary John Kerry will be coming to Vilnius to confer with his EU counterparts for a tougher stance against Assad. The US said it has proof that the Assad regime is behind attacks that Washington claims killed at least 1,429 people, including more than 400 children. Obama, however, finds himself slowed on taking action as he seeks congressional authorisation for the use of force in a vote expected after Congress returns to work September 9. British Prime Minister David Cameron stunningly lost such a parliamentary vote on military action last week, strongly reducing any chance of a US-British alliance such as the one that dominated the Iraq war a decade ago. Now, Cameron is on the defensive as he faces world leaders in St. Petersburg. In the face of such problems, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged “the international community to overcome its divisions.” “Not to act would send a dangerous signal to dictators all over the world that they can use chemical and maybe other weapons of mass destruction without any reaction from the international community,” Rasmussen said. Continue reading
NRIs warned against taking cash to India
NRIs warned against taking cash to India Sajila Saseendran / 6 September 2013 The Central Bank of the UAE has asked banks and exchange houses operating in the country to advise their customers travelling to India to abide by the laws on carrying cash to India. In a notice issued on Tuesday, the Central Bank also asked the banks and money exchangers to warn their customers of the consequences of failing to do so. “The penalties stipulated in the new law include confiscation of money, prosecution and imprisonment,” the notice said. It advised the firms that the Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had implemented a new Law on 22/05/2013, criminalising bringing cash in Indian currency into India. As per the law, foreign travellers to India are strictly prohibited from carrying cash in Indian currency into India, while Indian nationals are permitted to carry cash not exceeding Rs7,500. The law also stipulates that all travellers to India must declare all cash in foreign currencies they might be bringing into India, including the UAE dirham, where its value exceeds $5,000. Foreigners should also make a declaration when the aggregate value of all foreign bills in the form of currency notes, financial instruments, travellers’ cheques etc. is equal to or exceeds $10,000, the notice added. The Central Bank’s move follows another advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in March. The mission advised non-redident Indians staying in the UAE against carrying Indian currency notes when they visit their homeland. According to the mission, there is a general misconception that NRIs are allowed to carry Indian currency and there had been some instances when NRIs were found carrying large amounts of cash in the form of Indian currency while visiting India and faced problems at the airport. “In some cases, the currency being carried by NRIs has even been found to be counterfeit,” the Embassy had said. Its counterpart in Oman had also issued a similar advisory after “cases of counterfeit Indian currency involving Omani visitors” which the mission described as a cause for concern for the Indian government. When contacted, Indian Ambassador to the UAE M.K. Lokesh denied the Embassy requesting the UAE Central Bank to issue any advisory on the law. Promoth Manghat, vice-president of global operations at UAE Exchange, confirmed receiving the notice from the Central Bank. “We have already started informing our customers about this law when they come for Indian currency. The new law hasn’t had much of impact in the market.” A section of the Indian expatriates feels they should also be allowed to carry a minimum amount of cash in Indian currency for emergency use after landing in India. However, officials point out that NRIs can exchange the UAE Dirham or any other foreign currencies with the Indian rupee on arrival in India, where there is a better system to check counterfeit Indian currency. – sajila@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
