Month: February 2024

The Yemeni Coffee Unit of the Higher Agricultural and Fisheries Committee and the Coffee Development Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation organized on Wednesday an introductory seminar on Yemeni coffee, as part of the activities of the National Coffee Day on the third of March.

In the seminar, the Director of Coffee Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Eng. Muhammad Harith, explained that coffee cultivation has witnessed a remarkable expansion in recent years.

He pointed out that the quantities of production increased from 20,000 tons in 2019 to 41,000 tons currently.

Eng. Harith stressed that these results came as a translation of the objectives of the National Strategy for Coffee Development 2020-2025. He pointed to the role of youth in promoting coffee productivity through studies and research that will improve the added value of Yemeni coffee.

In the seminar, Dr. Balqees Al-Ariqi presented a working paper entitled “Digital Marketing of Yemeni Coffee”, in which
she reviewed the importance of websites in promoting and marketing coffee, and digital marketing methods.

Source: Yemen News Agency

ABU DHABI: The UAE strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces targeting of thousands of Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip who were awaiting the arrival of humanitarian and relief aid, which resulted in the killing of dozens, and the injury of hundreds of innocent civilians.

The UAE called for an independent and transparent investigation, and the punishment of those responsible, and warned of a catastrophic and dangerous humanitarian situation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), expressed its deep concern over the exacerbating humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip that threatens further loss of innocent civilian lives. The Ministry stressed that the immediate priority is to end the escalation of military operations and achieve an immediate ceasefire.

The Ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s position that calls for the protection of innocent civilians, and the facilitation of immediate, safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of relief and humanitarian aid. The Ministry further s
tressed the importance of the full and urgent implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2712 and 2720.

The Ministry warned against further exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and underlined the importance of avoiding further loss of life, and fuelling the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while preventing regional spill-over that risks further violence, tension, and instability.

The Ministry called on the international community to advance all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, based on a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, today honoured the winners of the App Olympics at a ceremony organised by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that the foundation that Dubai has created for its continuous development and prosperity has been guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The App Olympics is part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed in March 2023, with the aim of reinforcing Dubai’s global leadership in digital technologies and the smart applications sector. The App Olympics attracted 1,100 applications, with 12 ideas being selected for the final stage of the contest.

Sheikh Hamdan issued directives to launch a global edition of the App Olympics, expanding the opportunity for i
nnovators and developers of smart applications from around the world to participate in the next edition.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said, ‘Dubai has an ambitious vision and is taking proactive steps to enhance its position as a global hub for technology innovation. The city has created an exceptional platform for attracting digital talent from around the world. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the city serves as an inspiring role model for nurturing ideas and innovations that shape the future.’

He stated, ‘Dubai continues to inspire the world and showcase its commitment to developing a comprehensive digital ecosystem, powered by advanced infrastructure that is capable of fostering innovative solutions to major global challenges.

‘Empowering the technology sector is an integral part of efforts to achieve the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to establish Dubai as one of the world’s top three cities. The extensive participation of innovators and digital creative
s from around the world in the App Olympics reflects Dubai’s stature as a global hub for research, innovation, and opportunity and a leading city that offers sustainable growth and a high quality of life.’

He further said, ‘Dubai’s digital leadership is our top priority, and advancements in smart applications offer Dubai a new opportunity to excel on the global stage. The world’s confidence in Dubai as a hub for innovative digital ideas serves as powerful motivation to strengthen our efforts to position the emirate as a global leader in the digital economy.’

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed presented awards to the winners of the App Olympics across four categories. Following this, His Highness crowned Emudy as ‘Dubai’s App of the Year’ for its ground-breaking idea that assists students in preparing for their EmSATS exam to enter universities and apply for scholarships.

The award for the ‘Best Youth-Made App’ category was also presented to Emudy earlier in the ceremony. The award for the ‘Best Social Impact App’
was presented to The Intern, an app that connects college students with highly relevant internships as well as financial management and educational resources. Bareeq, an app that connects users with unique homemade products from their communities, received the award for the ‘Most Innovative App’ category. Takeem, an app that reduces the time, stress, and cost of long-term renting, was announced as the winner in the ‘Best Advanced App’ category.

The award ceremony was attended by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; Ahmed bin Byat, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation; Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; and a number of officials from the government and
private sectors.

Spearheaded by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three Chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, the App Olympics is part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

The App Olympics received over 1,100 applications from all corners of the world, with international participants from 64 countries accounting for 30% of the entries submitted. The remaining 70% of entries were from UAE nationals and residents. A total of 247 ideas were chosen to participate in the App Olympics programme and compete across four categories, with 12 ideas selected to progress to compete in the final stage.

The education sector accounted for the largest share of ideas submitted for the App Olympics, followed by the healthcare sector. Sustainability-related ideas ranked third, with logistics services apps in fourth place.

The four winners each received a prize worth US$150,000, which includes a package of services provided by Builder.ai, a global company speciali
sing in the development of smart application software. In addition, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will extend comprehensive support to the winners in launching their startup companies, including assistance with licensing and banking services and help in identifying potential partners and customers.

The App Olympics encourages participants to showcase their ideas, with the goal of reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in developing smart applications and attracting talented individuals in this crucial sector.

Led by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and supported by key government entities and leading technology companies, ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ has launched a series of initiatives aimed at further strengthening the emirate’s position as a global leader in the digital domain. The initiative seeks to train over 1,000 Emiratis on the fundamentals of coding, building mobile applications, and business creation models through the Emirati Training Academy. ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ also aims to triple the number o
f app developers in Dubai by 2025 and support 100 new national projects for the development of cutting-edge mobile applications.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Aqaba: Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Azmi Mahafzeh, on Thursday inaugurated Aqaba Medical Sciences University (AMSU).

The university houses two colleges for medicine and dentistry and an “advanced” educational hospital that serves students, researchers, and clinical training to conduct research activities, according to a ministry statement.

During the opening ceremony, Mahafzeh said the university will serve the Kingdom’s southern region in particular, and the country’s remaining areas.

The minister added that the university’s hospital, which houses 200 beds, specialized medical clinics, emergency and dentistry wards, will offer various medical services.

Mahafzeh also indicated that the AMSU and its affiliated hospital will provide “advanced” medical services in light of the high population in Aqaba, and feature the latest laboratories, specialized clinics, and qualified doctors to provide healthcare.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordanian Engineers Association (JEA) announced launch of “Ramadan Iftar in Gaza” Project during the holy month to help steadfast Gazans, who suffer barbaric Israeli aggression, genocide and starvation.

In a statement Thursday, JEA Head, Ahmed Zoubi, said since the beginning of the brutal aggression, the association made “utmost” efforts in organizing events and campaigns that support steadfastness of Gaza people.

Zoubi stated that continuation of this brutal aggression doubles Gazans’ suffering and impedes arrival of humanitarian aid, in addition to increasing the urgent need to provide treatment, medicine, medical supplies and shelter to the coastal enclave.

Zoubi noted this project comes within the framework of the JEA’s national and moral duty as it will be launched during the holy month of Ramadan, aimed to provide basic food supplies to Gazans.

Additionally, Zoubi called on the engineers, trade unionists and citizens to interact with this initiative, as Gaza is in dire need of all forms of su
pport to face the criminal Israeli aggression.

Donation to the project will be via e-wallets at JEA’s headquarters in Amman’s Shmeisani headquarters and its branches in all the Kingdom’s governorates during Ramadan, he pointed out.

Source: Jordan News Agency

SHARJAH: British artist and portrait photographer Mark Julian Edwards charmed the audience with his talk, ‘The Lenses of Perception: Seeing the Potential in Others,’ on the opening day of the Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2024), being held at Expo Centre Sharjah until March 5. Edwards, celebrated for his ability to blend coaching and photography, shared his insights into the transformative power of focusing on others’ strengths through the lens of photography.

Highlighting the profound human need to be seen and understood beyond surface-level perceptions, the TedX speaker and writer said that professional photography should aim to fulfil people’s need to be seen by capturing more than just images – it should reveal the essence of its subjects. This, according to the artist, is where the true magic of photography lies.

‘By empowering people through their own uniqueness, we unlock an incredibly strong point in photography,’ Edwards said. His approach combines his Gallup-certified strengt
hs coaching with his passion for photography to not only capture the external likeness of his subjects but to delve deeper into their personal stories and strengths. His work, which sits at the intersection of photography, psychology and coaching, offers a fresh perspective on how we see ourselves and others.

Edwards illustrated his talk with stories from his own projects, including the ‘Faces of Mallorca’ series, which showcases the diversity and beauty of individuals from the Spanish island.

The storyteller also shared compelling anecdotes from his career, illustrating how focusing on strengths and personal qualities can elevate both the subject and the photograph. Recounting the process of working with a diverse group of individuals, from Polish to Indian and Japanese subjects, each story highlighted the transformative effect of recognising and capturing individuals’ unique strengths through photography. These ranged from capturing their fearlessness and courage during a significant transition period in
their lives, to a young mother who rediscovered her sense of individuality and identity through his photography. In each case, Edwards’ ability to see and reflect their strength in the photographs had a profound impact on how the subjects viewed themselves.

The photographer’s session also demonstrated the power of photography as a tool for empowerment and self-discovery. Through his lens, Edwards invites us all to see the potential in others and ourselves, proving that the greatest strength of photography may indeed lie in its ability to reveal our true selves. “The greatest need we have is to be seen, and through photography, we have the power to meet that need in the most beautiful and profound ways,’ he noted. ‘By focusing on what makes us unique, we can transform how we see ourselves and how others see us.’

Edwards concluded the session with practical lessons on the art of perception, applicable both in photography and in life, as follows: a) If you can see a strength in others, you’ll be loved b) If yo
u can see a strength in others they didn’t even know they had, you’ll be remembered forever c) Our lens is not fixed d) How others see us is often more powerful than how we see ourselves e) Pick the right environment to shine.

Source: Emirates News Agency