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: President H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has sent a written letter to Dr. Esmat Abdel Meguid, Secretary General of the Arab League, informing him of accepting the call of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to hold an emergency Arab summit. The letter was delivered by Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahmoud, UAE Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative at the League. "A high level delegation will represent the UAE in the summit," Al Mahmoud said, adding that the exact level was not decided yet. "The UAE is keen to attend this great Arab gathering, taking into consideration that His Highness the President was the first to call for an Arab summit to clear skies and unify ranks in confronting the current challenges," he said. In an earlier statement to the Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, affirmed Sheikh Zayed's full support to President Mubarak's call for holding the summit later this month. "The UAE expects a full solidarity by the summit with the Palestinian people who are confronting the Israeli war machine and offering scores of martyrs," Sheikh Hamdan stated. At the top of summit agenda is the current developments in Palestine. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : A UAE Red Crescent Society, RCS, plane carrying 30 tonnes of relief and medical supplies arrived at Al Arish Airport yesterday as part of the UAE relief supplies to assist the Palestinians who were affected by the Israeli attacks. The plane was received by the Palestinian health minister. The flight, which took off from the Abu Dhabi International Airport on Sunday morning, had to be diverted towards Al Arish airport in Egypt as Israeli authorities had closed Rafah airport on Sunday. The flight, considered the first air bridge created for sending relief aid to the Palestinians, came on the orders of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow up of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Red Crescent Society (RCS). According to Khalifa Nasser Al Suweidi, board chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Society, the plane carried 30 tonnes of urgent relief materials to the Palestinians. Suweidi said the relief supplies, which included medicines and medical equipment and other urgent items, will be the first such assistance to Palestinians in the occupied territories. The RSC team on its humanitarian mission to assess the situation at the hospitals in the affected areas will also buy three fully-equipped ambulances to be distributed to three different associations in Palestine. These associations include the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Al Ahila Hospital in Hebron and the Islamic Heritage Committee of Al Aqsa Mosque. The delegation will also distribute $100,000 (Dh360,000) to five of the Palestinian charity and humanitarian organisations in the occupied territories to enable them to carry on with some of their emergency programmes and projects. Sanaa Darwish Al Kutbi, RCS secretary general, said that a number of projects are already being undertaken by the RCS in the occupied territories, including a renovation work at Al Aqsa, adding that the organisation had declared a state of emergency on its campaign for collecting and supplying relief aid to the Palestinians. She called on philanthropists in the country who wish to donate to the special fund to do so through the organisation's special accounts no. 20000417 at the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and account no. 03520534675401 at the Dubai Islamic Bank or through its agents throughout the country. (The Gulf Today) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : The Federal National Council, FNC, will raise the issue of the UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs occupied by Iran and the Jerusalem case at the 10th International Parliamentarians Conference to be held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta from Oct 15 to 21. FNC Speaker Mohammed Khalifa bin Habtoor will lead the UAE delegation to the conference. He has sent messages to speakers of parliaments of Arab and foreign countries explaining the UAE stand on the islands issue and the Iranian attempt to block any initiative for setting the issue by peaceful means. Responses to the messages have been very encouraging and parliaments across the world have voiced support for the UAEís stand and expressed readiness to back the UAE in its efforts to end the dispute peacefully. The delegation will also organise an exhibition on the sidelines of the conference featuring a wide range of photographs about the country. Documentaries on the UAE and the occupied islands will also be screened at the exhibition. (The Khaleej Times) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : Al Wafaa, a 77,000 cubic feet hot air balloon in the shape of the UAEís firs fort, has taken part in an international balloon fiesta in the U.S. Owned by a UAE company, Al Manhal International Group, the balloon was launched at the fiesta as a special tribute to President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Al Wafaa Balloon was on of the 1,000 balloons that took part on Saturday at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta ñ the worldís largest balloon event known for the simultaneous launch of hot air balloons. Al Wafaa is built in the shape of the UAEís first fort which is also the companyís logo, and also features two pictures of Sheikh Zayed with words of gratitude to him in Arabic and English. The balloon is approximately 20 metres high and 17 metres in diameter and was operated by a three-member crew including Pilot Tariq Al Omari. (The Gulf News) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : The Emirates Transport Award for Safety and Traffic Education for 1999 has been announced. One hundred and thirteen private and public schools participated in the competition and 37 special projects were submitted by various schools. Among the educational zone, Ajman Educational Zone stood first with 26 points followed by Sharjah Educational Zone with 15 points and Abu Dhabi Educational Zone with 10 points. The competition was organised by Emirates Transport. Cash awards of Dh3,000 Dh2,000 and Dh1,000 were given to the winners of first, second, and third prizes. Meanwhile, Emirates Transport with the slogan ìTogether on the Road to Safetyî has invited all private and public schools in the UAE to take part in the next competition for the year 2000. (The Khaleej Times) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : Owner so 18,000 cars in Dubai have failed to register or cancel the registration of their vehicles for over two years. Dubai Traffic Policeís Car Registration Department says it will not accept any transactions >from owner who have vehicles with registration issues outstanding for over two years, until they settle their status. Department Director Maj. Hani Jamal Yousef Al Sweihi said the rule was being strictly enforced to cut down on the number of unregistered vehicles. Major Al Sweilhi said that owners of cars whose registration has expired will be fined Dh100, with Dh10 added for every month it remains unregistered. The Department has registered of a total of 38,457 cars during the past month at its 13 offices. Of these, 14,375 transactions were submitted to the Deira office, 5,068 at Bur Dubai, 2,417 at the technical test centre, 5,263 at the Al Awir office, 5,555 at Al Qusais and 3,218 at the Tasjil station. (The Gulf News) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : Official from environment, health, education and police institutions as well as other agencies concerned will meet tomorrow to discuss a set of legislations to curb the use of hubble-bubble (shisha or hooka) in Abu Dhabi. The officials represent the General Secretariat of UAE Municipalities, Abu Dhabi Educational, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf. The one-day workshop will seek to find solutions to the problem through studying a set of mechanisms taking into consideration environment, health, education, and social aspects. Despite the banning the use of hubble-bubble in public places, its use in residential areas caused a lot of concern to residents. The order, issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti, the Rulerís Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Municipality and Town Planning Department said the ban was aimed at protecting the environment and controlling air pollution. It prohibited smoking of hubble-bubble in public places such as coffee shops, cafeterias, and restaurants in residential areas. Accordingly, coffee shops and restaurants are not allowed to spread tables and chairs along the sidewalls and on pavements. However, the problem is still there despite frequent warnings issued by health inspectors to owners of coffee shops. (The Khaleej Times) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : Two UAE nationals are taking part in a 10-week adventure in the mountains of Chile with Britainís Prince William. Mohammed Musabeh Ali Dhahi, 23 and Khalifa Hussain Alattar 21, were selected for the Raleigh Internationalís latest expedition in Patagonia months before it was announced that the young British royal would be joining the trip as part of his ëgapí year between A levels and starting university. The two Dubai Menís College graduates are among 110 volunteers aged between 17 and 25 taking part of the trip which involves three principal components ñ an environmental project, a community project and an adventure project. The organisation was set up in 1984 by Prince Charles and British explorer Co Hon Blashford Snell who wanted to launch a programme which would encourage young people to explore far flung corners of the world while helping others at the same time. (The Gulf News) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS : GITEX Computer Shopper 2000, the retail arm of GITEX 2000, to be held at the Airport Expo Dubai from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, will offer massive discounts on computers and peripherals. According to a press release >from the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), there has been tremendous response >from the exhibitors. The exhibition this year offers better facilities to exhibitors and visitors. Computer Shopper is the most popular event among exhibitors, who plan special promotions during the show, and visitors who literally wait for it to strike the best deals. An estimated 120 regional companies have confirmed participation at the Shopper. The bundle offer that Jumbo will give on its machines include a free Lotus Smart Suite, which comprises six software programmes, colour printers and a word book, which is an encyclopaedia. Jumbo is the biggest exhibitor at GITEX Computer Shopper with a total of four stands. Al Futtaim Sanyo will sell a wide range of Sanyo's digital still cameras and projectors at the Computer Shopper. Cosmos ITL, a relatively new entrant to IT-related consumer products, will display a wide range of products and come up with special offers during the Shopper. (The Gulf Today) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS An aggregate of over Dhs10 million at an average of over Dh200,000 was the catalyst for the inaugural Pearls of Dubai racehorse auction, becoming one of the most successful sales staged in the UAE. Just Call Me, a filly by Blues Traveller from the Sea Anchor mare Jahdu, was the highlight of the evening, bringing a final bid of Dh2 million on behalf of Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Just Call Me was the third of three lots purchased by Sheikh Rashid, he had earlier spent Dh600,000 for Shoreline, a gelding by Bigstone from the Group I winning mare Round the World and a similar amount for Pikachu, a gelding by Select Prince from the Karaman mare Queen of the Show. The official aggregate for the sale was Dh10,555,000 for the 51 horses that were at an average of Dh206,960. The international flavour of the sale was immediate with Lot 2, Pinctada Pearl, being sold to leading New Zealand breeder Sir Patrick Hogan for Dhs350,000. Sir Patrick was to spend Dh1,530,000 in total for four lots, including Dh500,000 for the filly by champion Australasian stallion Zabeel, who stands at his Cambridge Stud in New Zealand. Fellow New Zealand breeder Nelson Schick, owner of Windsor Park Stud, sat with Sir Patrick throughout the sale and is expected to take part ownership in at least one of the four purchases. Leading South African bloodstock agent Robin Bruss spent Dh170,000 for the gelding by the Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch >from the multiple stakeswinning mare Tessuti. Gautam Kotwal spent Dh470,000 on three lots, the most expensive being the Dh300,000 needed for the filly by Victory Dance from the Jade Hunter mare Majestic Hunter. Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmed Al Mualla was the most prolific buyer at the Pearls of Dubai sale, outlaying Dh1,290,000 for eight lots, the most expensive being the Dhs320,000 he spent for the gelding by Dance Floor from the Gold and Ivory mare I Like Diamonds. Other notable purchases at the Pearls of Dubai sale included John Ferguson's bid of Dh190,000 for Garryowen, a gelding by Honor Grades from the Kings Island mare Kerry Star. (The Gulf Today) Return to contents list | WAM UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS Department External Information Ministry of Information and Culture P.O. Box 17, Abu Dhabi E-Mail: mininfex@emirates.net.ae Tel: 009712-4452922 Fax: >009712-4450458 PLEASE NOTE: The items covered in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the official view of the UAE Government. Rather, they form a UAE-related digest of reports from the local press and publication
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