Day: August 30, 2022

BAGHDAD — Iran closed its land borders to Iraq as flights to the country halted Tuesday amid violence in Baghdad following an influential Shiite cleric’s announcement he would resign from politics.

The death toll rose to 20 Iraqis on Tuesday after the unrest erupted the previous day, according to a senior medical official.

Iraq’s military said four rockets were launched into the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s government where armed clashes raged overnight between a militia royal to Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi security forces.

Iranian state television cited “unrests” and “curfew” in Iraqi cities for the reason for the border closures. It urged Iranians avoid any travel to Iraq while urging Iran’s Shiite pilgrims in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.

Iranians urged to pause pilgrimages

The decision came as millions of Iranians were preparing to visit Iraq for annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites.

Meanwhile, Kuwait has urged its citizens in neighboring Iraq to leave the country. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans over the eruption of violent street clashes between rival Shiite groups in the country. The tiny Gulf Arab sheikhdom of Kuwait shares a 254 kilometer (158 mile)-long border with Iraq.

Dubai’s long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday over the ongoing unrest in Iraq. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.”

It did not say whether flights would resume Wednesday.

Military announces curfew

Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who resigned Monday, pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence. Medical officials said dozens of protesters were wounded by gunfire and tear gas and physical altercations with riot police.

Source: Voice of America

ABU DHABI, Masdar City, the regional home of technology innovation and R&D in Abu Dhabi, has announced the opening of the Global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Institute’s first Middle East headquarters.

The opening was attended by the Institute’s global CEO, Jarad Daniels, who was visiting the region as part of a five-day tour, accompanied by the Institute’s Head of the MENA Region, Dr. Mohammed Abu Zahra, and General Manager of Client Engagement, Jeff Erikson.

The Global CCS Institute is an international think tank with a mission to scale-up carbon capture and storage technology to support the drive to climate neutrality. It aims to work alongside industry and public sector partners to build CCS ambitions in the region in the months and years to come.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar, said, “Hosting the MENA headquarters of the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute underlines Masdar and the UAE’s commitment to practical solutions to climate challenges. Carbon capture technologies are a critical tool for the global response to climate change and there is increasing awareness that widespread adoption will be essential to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

“As the first country in the region to deploy CCUS on an industrial scale, the UAE has a proven track record of success as a leader in carbon capture. The addition of the Global CCS Institute will only help promote CCS further. The Institute’s mission to accelerate the adoption of carbon capture technologies perfectly aligns with Masdar’s role as an incubator and catalyst for innovative clean technologies. I am confident that the Global CCS Institute will thrive in this environment and continue to make a valuable contribution to global decarbonisation efforts, particularly as the UAE prepares to host COP 28 in 2023.”

By basing its regional headquarters in Masdar City, the Global CCS Institute is adding an important area of climate response specialisation to the City’s network and will benefit from its exceptional digital infrastructure, advanced regulatory frameworks, and other sustainability-focused R&D initiatives.

The Institute has joined other key industry institutions and companies based in Masdar City, including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Siemens Energy, which respectively have their permanent and regional headquarters in the sustainable urban development. Other major Masdar City tenants include the Mohammed Bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence, Emirates Nuclear Energy Company, Honeywell and start-up incubator, and the Catalyst, the region’s first sustainability-focused start-up accelerator.

Daniels said, “Following years of ambition, CCS opportunities are being realised in the GCC states and the progress so far is promising. The region is well positioned to become a leader, both in the CCS market and the energy transition more broadly. With the Institute’s new regional office in Abu Dhabi, we aim to be there every step of the way.”

Carbon capture and storage is an innovative technology that mitigates climate change impacts by capturing CO2 – typically from a point source at an industrial facility – and storing it beneath the Earth’s surface before it can impact the atmosphere. There are currently three CCS facilities in the GCC region, which account for 10% of the world’s CO2 captured by the technology every year.

Along with making an inaugural visit to Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the Institute representatives also met with key stakeholders in Dubai and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to discuss opportunities regarding the scale-up of CCS.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The HR Division at Dubai Customs joined forces with the Institute of Leadership and Management and City & Guilds to launch the “Promising Customs Leaders” program as part of its efforts to enhance leadership competencies within the work environment.

The training program comprised lectures, one-to-one guidance sessions, and Axonify- the ongoing learning platform, as well as the VR Training Lab, which features an interactive content built on advanced behavioral psychology approaches.

During the opening workshop, Ahmed Al-Housani, Senior Manager, Development and Training at the Customs Training Center said, “We invest in our people and aim to develop national competencies through dedicated training programs in support of the Dubai Customs 2021-2026 strategy. First batch of this training program will gain different skills that will qualify them to be future leaders, who are highly competent to lead the future of the Government Department and better serve its vision of protecting society and facilitating trade.”

First batch of the program included 14 male and female employees from different departments.

Source: Dubai Customs

DUBAI, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has announced that 15 companies have been selected to participate in the ‘DMCC Impact Scale-Up Programme – Powered by C3’ (Companies Creating Change).

The programme is the first of its kind in the UAE, supporting the growth of impact-driven businesses that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Inaugurated at a virtual opening ceremony, the programme is operated in partnership with C3, a UAE-based social enterprise helping impact-driven entrepreneurs in the region unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community.

The programme forms an integral part of the DMCC’s wider Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, representing the focus of its commitment to dedicate 0.5 percent of its net profits toward social impact.

Alongside a range of other initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability across its community, the DMCC currently offers up to a 30 percent discount on licences to any company that becomes a member of the UN Global Compact to fight climate change.

During her opening speech, Feryal Ahmadi, Chief Operating Officer, DMCC, said, “As one of the world’s leading business districts with over 21,000 member companies, the DMCC is uniquely positioned to champion environmental, social and governance programmes in the region. We have a significant opportunity to enact positive environmental and social change by activating and mobilising our community.”

She added, “It is our fundamental belief that social and environmental impact go hand in hand with economic development and the long-term growth of global trade. Our partnership with C3 on the DMCC Impact Scale-Up Programme ties directly into our mandate to attract and promote trade through Dubai.”

The 15 impact-driven companies have joined the DMCC’s growing community of over 21,000 businesses with substantial savings on business set-up costs through a bespoke 70 percent discount on licence fees and flexi-desk space for two years, in addition to offering further discounts on licence renewal from the third to the fifth year.

Originating from global markets including Colombia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Egypt, the successful companies cover various sectors such as health tech, agri and food tech, ed tech, as well as employment and job readiness.

Medea Nocentini, Founder of C3, added, “We look forward to working with the inspirational founders of these businesses who are on a mission to solve global challenges, supporting them in scaling their impact across the UAE and the wider region. Our network of experts, trainers, and investors will help the founders unlock new opportunities and sustainably grow their impact-focused businesses. The selected companies are a welcome addition to our network of more than 200 accelerated start-ups, who have benefited from our programmes, and more than 2,500 founders committed to putting their business to good use.”

The business founders will kick off their training with C3 in September, receiving expert support on various pillars including impact, strategy for scaling, business, governance, talent and doing business in the UAE. The selected companies will be prepared to meet investors and potential partners from C3’s network of 4,000 senior experts, clients from blue-chip companies, and more than 150 investment firms.

The programme will support these businesses contributing to the UN SDGs, enabling them to establish a presence in the UAE and leverage the local ecosystem as a launchpad to successfully expand across the Middle East and Africa region.

The comprehensive training and networking programme will provide a proven blueprint to successfully enter the UAE market and connect with domestic and regional investors and blue-chip companies.

Source: Emirates News Agency