Day: March 11, 2024

DUBAI: Organised annually throughout the holy month of Ramadan, the Dubai Police Iftar Cannon will this year celebrate contributors towards the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to honour mothers by establishing a AED1 billion endowment fund to support the education of millions of people around the world.

Celebrating contributors to the campaign aligns with Dubai Police commitment to support humanitarian and charity initiatives in the UAE, evident by its support for the ‘1 Billion Meals Endowment’, ‘1 Billion Meals’ and ‘100 Million Meals’ campaigns which ran over the past years.

During its daily live broadcast on Sama Dubai TV, the Dubai Police Iftar Cannon segment will announce the name of one of the contributors of AED1 million or more, to encourage more individuals and institutions to join the efforts to provide education for underprivileged individuals.

The move is also particularly significan
t due to the association of the Iftar cannon with the values and historical heritage associated with the holy month of Ramadan, which makes it a further inspiration for to follow in the footsteps of those celebrated for their contributions.

Promoting the culture of giving

Lieutenant-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said, ‘The Mothers’ Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the highest expression of appreciating and honouring of mothers. At the same time, the endowment campaign reflects the importance our nation places on education and its role in people’s lives and in driving development. Islam urges us to seek knowledge and education, as well as promote it and help others attain it.’

Stressing Dubai Police’s role in promoting a culture of giving by honoring contributors to the Mothers’ Endowment, presenting them as inspiring role models of philanthropy, he added, ‘We are honoured to stand behind the global humanitarian m
ission of the Mothers’ Endowment, and before it the 1 Billion Meals Endowment, the 1 Billion Meals and the 100 Million Meals campaigns. This reflects how keen the Dubai Police is to support UAE’s charity and humanitarian initiatives that extend aid and support to those in need around the world.’

Sustainable opportunities

Coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, the Mothers’ Endowment campaign allows contributors to make donations in their mothers’ names to honour them. It also aims to empower underprivileged individuals by providing education and training opportunities that builds their capabilities and skills and allows them to improve their quality of life and be ready for the job market.

Donation channels

The Mothers’ Endowment campaign welcomes donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across six main channels including the campaign’s website (mothersfund.ae), as well as a dedicated call centre via the toll-free number (800 9999). Donations are also possible
via bank transfers in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (AE790340003708472909201). Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word ‘Mother’ to the following numbers (1034, 1035, 1036, 1038) for Etisalat by e and users. Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the ‘Donations’ tab, and Dubai’s community contributions platform Jood.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), honoured 20 male and female employees who graduated from the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme, which DEWA launched last year in cooperation with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

‘The UAE prioritises youth empowerment, particularly in the field of sustainability. Youth represent the driving force behind sustainable development. At DEWA, we invest in our employees and empower Emirati youth by enhancing their capabilities and nurturing their talents to become the next generation of sustainability leaders who will consolidate the UAE’s leading role in climate action.

We have many pioneering programmes and initiatives that aim to prepare young people to be sustainability leaders, including the Youth Ambassadors Programme, which we launched in cooperation with CISL, as part of our shared vision of the importance of sustainability to achieve a balance between economic dev
elopment and the environment,’ said Al Tayer.

Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, highlighted that the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme, which was launched during the Sustainability Year 2023, emphasises DEWA’s commitment to preparing young people to be effective sustainability ambassadors.

They play a key role in spreading sustainability awareness among their colleagues, families, and friends, thus reinforcing Dubai and the UAE’s global leadership in sustainable development.

Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, said that DEWA seeks to foster a culture of sustainability among its employees through comprehensive training programmes and pioneering initiatives. He noted that the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme equips DEWA’s young employees with diverse leadership skills to help them become influential sustainability leaders.

Since their graduation, the Sustainability Youth Am
bassadors have participated in various sustainability-related activities and events. These include COP28, which was hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, as well as the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and Dubai Solar Show 2023.

Additionally, the Ambassadors have also participated in the virtual ‘Sustainability Talks’, organised by DEWA to instil a culture of sustainability among employees and enhance their awareness of various areas of sustainable development.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BEIJING: Ongoing Chinese efforts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) may help reshape industries and drastically cut research and development costs, according to an industry watcher.

According to a government work report presented on 5th March to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), the national legislative body, as cited by China Central Television, China is set to inaugurate the AI Plus initiative.

Wei Kai, Executive Deputy Director of AI Research Centre under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said the initiative stands to bring a slew of tangible benefits to the country’s high-quality development.

“I think an important thing to implement the AI Plus initiative is to find a specific focal point. Actually, we have been exploring in a wide range of areas. AI large models will reshuffle the production side including research and development of new products, production management, customer service, marketing and other links of the whole process. For example, many enterprises h
ave used large-model technology in finding new materials in the research and development link, and in wind tunnel experiments and other scenarios, which greatly slashes the research and development cycle and costs,” he said.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) has unveiled its comprehensive plans, strategies, and a range of programmes, proposals, and initiatives set for rollout in 2024 to improve the quality of lives of both women and children.

During the “Leadership Meeting,” an annual event chaired by Sheikha Saeed Al Mansouri, Acting Director-General of DFWAC, the foundation discussed the significant milestones and achievements made over the past year (2023).

Attended by heads of departments and sections, the meeting touched on aligning the foundation’s strategies and plans with the Dubai Agenda, which aims to build the happiest, most cohesive, and most tolerant families, uphold national values and identity, promote healthy lifestyles, and enhance the quality of psychological and preventive services provided to the community.

Expressing her pride in the foundation’s 2023 accomplishments, Sheikha Al Mansouri highlighted that the foundation’s team has made tremendous efforts to fulfil its objectives and
respond to societal needs.

She emphasised that enhancing partnerships and collaboration with strategic partners and the community is crucial to bolster the foundation’s humanitarian endeavours and realising the goals of Dubai’s Social Agenda 33.

Al Mansouri highlighted that the meeting provided a vital platform for coordinating efforts across DFWAC’s departments to improve communication, programme execution, and service efficiency. It is also crucial to boosting team spirit and fostering a sense of community among employees by involving them in decision-making and programme enhancement.

The meeting delved into analysing the outcomes and gauging these programmes’ social and economic effects on society. A thorough review of DFWAC’s accomplishments over the past year showcased its steadfast commitment to advancing its core goals of nurturing, supporting, and rehabilitating women and children.

Additionally, the meeting was held as part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts to enhance and advocate for the well-b
eing of women and children, solidifying its pivotal role in fostering a more prosperous and sustainable society in Dubai.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: Trends Research and Advisory announced the inauguration of its fourth external office and the third in the African continent in Cape Town, South Africa.

The new branch office is part of a plan to open ten offices as part of Trends’ commitment to expanding its outreach and enhancing its studies and research output.

The office includes a team of researchers and experts who will conduct research and studies on various topics related to African and international affairs. These include African and international politics, economy, social development, political Islam, artificial intelligence, modern technology, and other knowledge subjects. The office shall strengthen cooperation with research institutions across the continent and beyond.

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Advisory, said, “We are delighted to open our third office in the African continent in Cape Town. We hope that this office will be a centre for scientific research and knowledge transfer in South Africa and acro
ss the continent. We believe that access to information is essential to anticipate and explore events.

He added that the office in Cape Town shall add to the achievements of the offices in Dubai, Cairo and Rabat. The new addition shall support the headquarters with research and studies.

Nasser Al Ali, Director of Human Resources at Trends, said the office’s establishment in Cape Town, South Africa, was due to its strategic location. South Africa is a cultural centre that has gained global interest.

Economist Benjamin George Davis, Director of TRENDS Cape Town Office, said that Cape Town has been selected for certain reasons. It is close to a number of universities and research centres and will be an important link between the parent centre in Abu Dhabi, the branch in South Africa and research centres in the entire continent. He said the office will conduct research and special consultations in the economic field to serve the region.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Minister of Finance Mohamad Al-Ississ issued Financial Order No. 3 on Monday to govern public spending of ministries and state agencies

In the financial order, Al-Ississ underlined the text of Article (4/A) of General Budget Law No. (1) for the fiscal year 2024, which states that “spending is made from funds allotted to government agencies based on public and/or private financial orders, and pursuant to monthly financial transfers certified by the Director General of the General Budget Department.”

He also underlined the text of Article (15/A), which states that “spending is made from funds allotted to government agencies based on public and/or private financial orders.”

Source: Jordan News Agency