Dubai Expo revises worker death toll up to six, declines to say if more died

DUBAI  - Expo 2020 Dubai, the huge world fair that opened last week, on Sunday revised up the number of worker deaths to six to include COVID-linked and construction-related fatalities but said it could not say whether more had died from other causes.

The state organiser disclosed three people had died after contracting COVID-19 in addition to the previously announced three construction-related fatalities among 200,000 people who have worked on Expo in the past six years.

The United Arab Emirates is expecting 25 million visits over the next six months to the $6.8 billion Expo, which like other mega projects in the Gulf region have attracted international scrutiny over conditions of blue collar migrants.

Asked by Reuters if there had been other deaths, including whether workers had died off-site from other causes, executives repeatedly declined to say, referring queries to authorities.

"We are just not permitted to disclose that information," health and safety vice president Rob Cooling said.

Dubai's media office did not respond to a request for comment.

Limited protections are offered to migrant workers in the UAE and other Gulf states. Those in low-paid jobs are most vulnerable to exploitation, often living in cramped, unsanitary quarters and typically paying high recruitment fees.

The European parliament last month called on member states to boycott the Expo over the UAE's "inhumane practices" against migrant workers which it said were exacerbated in the pandemic. The UAE rejected the charges.

Expo 2020 says it enforces higher workplace standards than the UAE requires, that contractors are audited and that it intervenes when infringements are discovered.

The three people who died in construction-related incidents were from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Germany, Cooling said, adding that investigations into the separate incidents determined the deaths to be accidents.

One of the COVID-19 deaths was a blue collar worker, he said, while the others worked at a site office.

Expo has recorded 72 serious injuries among workers during construction of the site, defending the accident rate as less than half that of building work in Britain.

Vice President of Worker Welfare at Expo, Emma Seymour, said there were 2,000 main contractors and 2,000 subcontractors working on the construction and many were not aware of UAE regulations. Two contractors were kicked off the project after failing to address violations.

Infringements have included workers not being paid or being underpaid and being charged employment fees, she said, adding that 300 workers who were found to have paid recruitment fees were reimbursed around a combined 420,000 dirhams ($114,354) by their employer following an Expo investigation.

The UAE has no minimum wage and Expo has only set one for cleaning services staff at 1,000 dirham ($272) a month. ($1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham) 

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Philippa Fletcher)

-reuters-

Dubai turns world's tallest building into coronavirus charity box

DUBAI - The world's tallest building, Dubai's 828-meter Burj Khalifa, has become a glowing charity donation box, raising money for food for United Arab Emirates residents suffering the economic impact of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Each of the tower's 1.2 million external lights was "sold" for 10 dirhams ($2.70), enough to buy 1 meal. As donations came in, the tower "filled up," and people could also bid to claim the light at the very top.

As the region's tourism and business hub with the world's busiest international airport, Dubai's economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people have lost jobs or had incomes reduced. Tens of thousands of migrant workers, who often live in crowded shared accommodation where the virus spreads more easily, have registered to be repatriated.

"Hope you have a good solid meal. We take things for granted but life has a way of teaching us how to wake up," said donor Shereen Harris in a public comment on the campaign's website.

The UAE has recorded 19,661 cases of infection with COVID-19 and 203 deaths, the second highest death toll after Saudi Arabia of the 6 Gulf states.

The donation box has raised funds for more than 1.2 million meals so far, organizing body The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) said.

The fundraising drive is part of a campaign to fund 10 million meals for low-income families during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan by MBRGI, patronized by Dubai's ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

-reuters-

Following Dubai, more UAE malls, restaurants reopen

DUBAI - Malls in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi began reopening to a restricted number of customers this weekend as the UAE eases lockdown measures imposed more than a month ago to combat the novel coronavirus.

Three Abu Dhabi malls reopened on Saturday at 30 percent customer capacity after adopting safety measures, including installing thermal inspection devices, the government media office tweeted and Sharjah emirate said it would reopen malls on Sunday.

Malls, dine-in restaurants and cafes in Dubai, the UAE's business and tourism hub, had earlier resumed operations with limited capacity. Shoppers must wear face masks and gloves and keep their distance.

Sharjah emirate's media office said malls, salons and dine-in restaurants could resume operations on Sunday.

Other public venues such as schools, mosques and cinemas remain closed in the UAE, which has so far reported nearly 13,600 infections and 119 deaths from the virus. It does not give a breakdown for each of its seven emirates.

The UAE had also relaxed a nationwide curfew, first announced on March 26, with the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on April 24.

-reuters-

Emirates airline asks staff to take one month unpaid leave over coronavirus

DUBAI -- Major international airline Emirates is asking staff to take unpaid leave for up to a month at a time due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has led to flight cancellations around the world.

Emirates has cancelled flights to Iran, Bahrain and to most of China because of the virus, and countries around the world have placed strict restrictions on entry of foreigners.

The airline has more resources than it needs as a result of cutting frequencies or cancelling flights to some destinations, said Chief Operating Officer Adel al-Redha in a statement on Tuesday.

"Considering the availability of additional resources and the fact that many employees want to utilize their leave, we have provided our employees the option to avail leave or apply for voluntary unpaid leave for up to one month at a time," he said.


Emirates Group, the state-owned holding company that counts the airline among its assets, has asked staff to consider taking paid and unpaid leave as it seeks to manage a "measurable slowdown" in its business, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing an internal company email.

The group had more than 100,000 employees, including more than 21,000 cabin crew and 4,000 pilots, at the end of March 2019, the end of its last financial year.

Major concerts and events in the United Arab Emirates, an air transit center that includes tourism and business hub Dubai, have been cancelled or postponed as the coronavirus spreads in the Gulf.

The airline industry's largest global body IATA on Monday urged Middle Eastern governments to provide support to airlines as they try to manage the impact of the outbreak.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

World's oldest pearl found in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI - An 8,000-year-old pearl that archaeologists say is the world's oldest will be displayed in Abu Dhabi, according to authorities who said Sunday it is proof the objects have been traded since Neolithic times.

The natural pearl was found in the floor of a room discovered during excavations at Marawah Island, off the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which revealed the earliest architecture found in the country.

"The layers from which the pearl came have been carbon dated to 5800-5600 BC, during the Neolithic period," Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism said.

"The discovery of the oldest pearl in the world in Abu Dhabi makes it clear that so much of our recent economic and cultural history has deep roots that stretch back to the dawn of prehistory," said its chairman Mohamed Al-Muabarak.

The excavation of the Marawah site, which is made up of numerous collapsed Neolithic stone structures, has also yielded ceramics, beads made from shell and stone, and flint arrowheads.

The "Abu Dhabi Pearl" will be shown for the first time in the exhibition "10,000 years of Luxury" which is opening on October 30 at the Louvre Abu Dhabi -- the outpost of the famous Paris museum.

Emirati experts believe that the pearls were traded with Mesopotamia -- ancient Iraq -- in exchange for ceramics and other goods. They were also likely worn as jewelry. 

"The Venetian jewel merchant Gasparo Balbi, who traveled through the region, mentions the islands off the coast of Abu Dhabi as a source of pearls in the 16th century," the culture department said.

The pearl industry once underpinned the economy of the United Arab Emirates, but the trade collapsed in the 1930s with the advent of Japanese cultured pearls, and as conflicts rocked global economies. 

Instead, the Gulf nations turned to the oil industry which dominates their economies to this day.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

High hopes as Dubai marks one-year countdown to Expo 2020

DUBAI -- Fireworks exploded over Dubai's skyline on Sunday to mark the one-year countdown to Expo 2020, a big-budget global trade fair the glitzy emirate's rulers hope will restore its flagging fortunes.

Megastar Mariah Carey headlined at a concert underneath the illuminated Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, where thousands gathered for the centrepiece of festivities across the United Arab Emirates.

At exactly 20:20 local time, the skyscraper was lit up with "1 year to go" and "the world's greatest show" in both English and Arabic.

"These spectacular nationwide celebrations will usher in the final leg of a historic journey," said Reem Al-Hashimy, a government minister and also director general of Expo 2020. 

"The next 12 months will see us put the finishing touches to ensure an exceptional World Expo." 

Dubai hopes to attract 15 million visitors to the sprawling site taking shape on sand dunes south of the city's gleaming downtown, being built at the staggering cost of 30 billion dirhams (8.2 billion dollars).

With the city in the grips of a downturn in its vital property sector, officials are pinning high hopes on the event, the logo of which is emblazed on everything from business cards to airliners.

Some 200 countries will take part in the fair, which runs from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021. 

Attractions will include the UAE pavilion in the shape of a falcon in flight and a dome crafted from 800 tonnes of steel which will be the world's largest 360-degree projection surface.

Organizers say the Expo is much more than a six-month trade show.

But although experts believe the much-anticipated event will give the economy a boost, there are concerns it will be only a temporary one and that finances will slump again as soon as the show is over.

ECONOMIC HANGOVER

Since the first "World Expo" was held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851, world fairs have been used to showcase new ideas and technology as well as serving as nation-branding exercises.

But not all have had the desired impact, with some marred by disappointing visitor figures and leaving a legacy of debt and abandoned infrastructure. 

Raed Safadi, chief adviser to Dubai Economy which is charged with guiding the emirate's financial fortunes, said Expo will add some $34.6 billion to the economy between 2013 -- when it won the bid to host the event -- and 2030. 

"It will be gross value added, directly, indirectly and induced. You come to Expo, you stay at a hotel, you go shopping, etc.," he told AFP. 

London-based Capital Economics agreed the event would provide a boost -- but said it was likely to burn out soon afterwards.

"As preparations for the Expo come to an end, activity in the construction sector is likely to weaken," it said.

Already there are concerns of huge oversupply in the property sector, driven by predictions that the trade fair will deliver some 300,000 new jobs which saw hundreds of major projects unveiled in recent years. 

Also in the spotlight is the government's goal of attracting 20 million tourists in 2020, an increase of around 20 percent from this year. 

The all-important arrivals figure has been stagnant at 16 million in recent years, and there are doubts that Expo will singlehandedly bridge that gap.

Standard and Poor's ratings agency said in September that it expected Dubai's economy to pick up with 2.4 percent growth this year, from 1.9 percent in 2018, largely due to the completion of projects related to the Expo.

But after the event packs up, growth will drop to a modest 2.0 percent through 2022, it said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

UAE airstrikes raise tensions with Yemen gov't

DUBAI - The United Arab Emirates has confirmed it launched airstrikes on Yemen's interim capital Aden, after furious accusations from the internationally recognized government which has lost control of the city to UAE-backed separatists.

In the face of charges it targeted Yemeni government troops, Abu Dhabi said it acted in self-defense against "terrorist militias" threatening the Saudi-led military coalition against Huthi rebels in which the UAE is a key partner.

The UAE's foreign ministry issued a statement late Thursday, hours after the separatists regained control of Aden, forcing government troops who had entered the southern port city a day earlier to withdraw.

Airstrikes on Wednesday and Thursday that reportedly left dozens dead hit "armed groups affiliated with terrorist organizations", Abu Dhabi said, in a reference to Islamists it believes makeup part of Yemeni government forces.

The operation "was based on confirmed field intelligence that the militias prepared to target the coalition forces -- a development which required a preemptive operation to avert any military threat", it added.

The accusations risk straining an already complex conflict in Yemen, which is being fought on two main fronts -- a battle for control of Aden and the south, and the Saudi-led coalition's campaign against the Huthis in the north.

In further violence in the port city on Friday, a suicide bombing killed three separatist fighters, while a separatist military chief survived a roadside bomb that killed five of his guards, security sources said.

Blaming the attacks on Al-Qaeda, the security sources said separatist forces made several arrests, adding that they aimed to dismantle jihadist "sleeper cells".

But residents have reported arrests of soldiers loyal to the internationally recognized government. 

On August 1, separate attacks in Aden by jihadists and Huthi rebels killed 49 people, mostly separatist fighters from the Southern Transitional Council.

The STC accused the government of complicity in the attacks, sparking a showdown between the two sides.

The intensifying conflict between Abu Dhabi and the government undermines the coalition and poses a headache for regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which is focused on fighting the Huthis who are aligned with Riyadh's arch-foe Iran.

The airstrikes came in a see-sawing battle between the government and southern separatists who have tussled for control of Aden and the neighboring provinces Abyan and Shabwa over the past three weeks.

Saudis as peacemakers?

Yemen's government on Thursday accused the UAE of mounting the airstrikes in support of the separatists, in an assault it said killed 40 combatants and wounded 70 civilians. 

The UAE, which has a zero-tolerance policy towards Islamists, believes that part of Yemen's army is made up of militants from Al-Islah, a party considered close to the Islamic Brotherhood.

The allegation was backed by its Yemeni ally, the head of the STC, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, who aims to regain independence for South Yemen, which was forcibly unified with the north in 1990. 

At a press conference in Aden on Thursday, he said that among fighters captured during the retaking of the city were "internationally wanted terrorists".

However, Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi redoubled his allegations against the UAE, accusing it late Thursday of having planned, financed and coordinated attacks on state institutions and military positions in Aden.

The Yemeni head of state, who is in exile in the Saudi capital, called on Riyadh to "intervene to halt the blatant interference of the United Arab Emirates, in support of the militias, and air raids against the armed forces of Yemen".

The UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, on Friday urged all sides to go back to the negotiating table under a Saudi proposal for talks in Jeddah.

Yemen's government has said the STC must first withdraw from its positions.

"The Saudi initiative is the way out of this crisis," Gargash said on Twitter.

The coalition intervened in Yemen's war in 2015 in support of the government after the Huthis swept south from their northern stronghold to seize the capital Sanaa and much of Yemen -- the Arab world's poorest nation.

The strategic port city of Aden has since then served as the government's interim capital. 

Fighting over the past four years has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and sparked what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

"The situation is very fragile. Families are again trapped in their homes by fighting, unable to secure food and reach medical care," the UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, said of the recent battle for the south.

The UN Security Council on Thursday voiced concern over the clashes, including what it called a "violent attempt to take over state institutions".

It urged all parties to "show restraint and to preserve Yemen's territorial integrity".

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress on Friday to complete the sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The Trump administration informed congressional committees that it will go ahead with 22 military sales to the Saudis, United Arab Emirates and Jordan, infuriating lawmakers by circumventing a long-standing precedent for congressional review of major weapons sales.

Members of Congress had been blocking sales of offensive military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for months, angry about the huge civilian toll from their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Lawmakers and congressional aides warned earlier this week that Trump, frustrated with Congress holding up weapons deals including the sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia, was considering using a loophole in arms control law to go ahead by declaring a national emergency.

"President Trump is only using this loophole because he knows Congress would disapprove ... There is no new 'emergency' reason to sell bombs to the Saudis to drop in Yemen, and doing so only perpetuates the humanitarian crisis there," said Senator Chris Murphy.

Murphy, a Democrat, made public on Twitter on Wednesday that Trump was considering the loophole in the Arms Control Export Act to clear the sales.

Several of Trump's fellow Republicans, as well as Democrats, said they would object to such a plan, fearing that blowing through the "holds" process would eliminate Congress' ability to check not just Trump but future presidents from selling weapons where they liked.

Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said the administration’s action was "unfortunate" and likely to damage future White House interactions with Congress.

"I would have strongly preferred for the administration to utilize the long-established and codified arms sale review process," McCaul said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that U.S. partners in the Middle East needed the contracts to be completed to help deter Iran, and that the decision to circumvent Congress was meant to be a "one-time event."

It is not the first time Congress and Trump have clashed over policy in the region, or the division of powers between the White House and Capitol Hill. The House and Senate voted to end U.S. military support for the campaign in Yemen earlier this year, but Trump vetoed the resolution.

BOON TO DEFENSE INDUSTRY

In documents sent to Congress, Pompeo listed a wide range of products and services that would be provided to the countries.

They include Raytheon precision-guided munitions (PGMs), support for Boeing Co F-15 aircraft, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Other companies that will benefit include General Electric , now cleared to sell engines for use in F-16 fighter jets operated by the UAE and the U.S. unit of French firm Thales , which was cleared to sell a fuzing system for Paveway IV precision guided bombs to Britain and the UAE.

It will also likely be welcome news for Britain’s BAE Systems Plc and Europe’s Airbus, clearing the way for installation of Paveway laser-guided bombs on European-built Eurofighter and Tornado fighter jets sold to Saudi Arabia, as well F-15 fighters built by Boeing.

"I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the Trump Administration has failed once again to prioritize our long-term national security interests or stand up for human rights, and instead is granting favors to authoritarian countries like Saudi Arabia," Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement.

Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vowed to fight the action, and said he was in talks with both Democrats and some of Trump's fellow Republicans on ways to preserve congressional review of arms sales.

The Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, said he had received formal notification of the administration's intent to move forward.

In a statement, Risch said, "I am reviewing and analyzing the legal justification for this action and the associated implications."

In his memorandum justifying the emergency declaration, Pompeo listed years of actions by Iran. "Iranian malign activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad," he wrote, and cited "a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Tehran.

Trump's administration also announced that it was sending 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which it described as an effort to bolster defenses against Iran against what it sees as a threat of potential attack.

Members of Congress from both parties have worried that Trump is pushing toward war with Iran. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said the administration was responding to important needs from partners.

"This is about deterrence and it's not about war," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

UAE to scrap fuel subsidies

Leading oil producer the United Arab Emirates will scrap subsidies on petrol and diesel from August to cut spending as low crude prices hit revenues, the energy ministry said Wednesday.

Pump prices for the two fuels will now be set on the basis of world prices and adjusted each month, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

The move is expected to save billions of dollars a year.

The International Monetary Fund said in a report released on Monday that the UAE has been spending $29 billion a year subsidising petroleum products and electricity.

"The decision to scrap subsidies was taken to support state finances, rationalise fuel consumption and protect natural resources and the environment," the ministry said.

Fuel prices in the UAE are already the highest of any of the six Gulf Arab states but still among the lowest in the world because of the heavy subsidy.

Petrol currently retails at 50 US cents a litre ($2.27 a gallon) and diesel at 64 cents ($2.91).

Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said the decision was is "in line with international economic trends to liberalise markets and boost competitiveness."

He said it would also cut fuel consumption and encourage greater use of environmentally friendly transport alternatives like electric cars.

He said that in 2013, the transport sector was responsible for 22 percent of harmful emissions in the UAE.

The UAE had already reduced the level of the fuel subsidy in recent years.

Like other Gulf states, its revenues have been hit hard by the sharp drop in world crude prices since last year.

The IMF has forecast that the UAE will post a budget deficit this year -- its first since 2009 -- of 2.3 percent of gross domestic product or around $9.0 billion.

In January, Kuwait began selling diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel at market price but left heavy subsidies in place on petrol and electricity.

Bahrain and Oman, which are already posting budget shortfalls, have also said they plan to cut subsidies, especially on fuel.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Oil prices plunge again as UAE defends holding production

Brent drops below $46 a barrel, lowest since early 2009

LONDON - Brent and U.S. WTI crude oil prices fell to their lowest levels in almost six years on Tuesday as a big OPEC producer stood by the group's decision not to cut output to tackle a glut in the market.

Oil prices have fallen 60 percent from their June 2014 peaks, driven down by rising production, particularly U.S. shale oil, and weaker-than-expected demand in Europe and Asia.

Rather than cutting output to try to balance the market, producers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are offering discounts to customers in an attempt to defend market share.

At 0903 GMT, February Brent crude was down $1.40 to $46.03 a barrel, after dipping as low as $45.23, its lowest since March 2009.

U.S. crude for February was down $1.28 at $44.79 per barrel, off an intraday low of $44.41.

"The market is in a bit of a panic now and the momentum is really quite negative. We haven't seen any actions or comments that could reduce this aggressive selling," said Ole Hansen, senior commodity strategist at Saxo Bank.

On the contrary, the United Arab Emirates' oil minister, Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui, said on Tuesday that OPEC's November decision not to cut output had been the right one. He also said U.S. shale oil was an important part of global oil supplies.

He added that the market would stabilise at a level at which conventional producers could sell profitably, "whether $60 or $70 or $80".

Oil prices have fallen so far that the front-month February contract is now trading about $7 below the July contract, encouraging traders to hire tankers to store oil at sea.

The aim is to buy cheap oil now and sell it at a higher price at a future date, when demand picks up again.

At present, deflationary pressures are beginning to build in both Asian and European economies as demand remains weak.

The downward pressure on prices is so large that even record Chinese crude imports for December, above seven million barrels per day for the first time as the world's second largest oil consumer took advantage of low prices to build up its strategic reserves, could not lift the market for long.

Banks have slashed their oil price outlook, with analysts at Goldman Sachs cutting their average forecast for Brent in 2015 to $50.40 a barrel from $83.75.


source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UAE group withdraws $120-M offer to Mayweather

A group from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has withdrawn its offer for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Manny Pacquiao in Abu Dhabi this year, Boxing Scene reported.

The group, headed by M. Akbar Muhammad, had offered Mayweather a $120-million purse to fight Pacquiao this spring but withdrew the lucrative offer and is now heavily criticizing Mayweather.

Muhammad told Boxing Scene that Mayweather was informed a week ago that the offer will be withdrawn in the first week of January. The offer was originally made in late November.

"We want to deal with serious individuals, individuals who have the ability to make a decision. Regrettably, that is not the case with Mr. Mayweather," Muhammad said, as quoted by Boxing Scene.

"The Abu Dhabi group is serious, and I will not allow them to dangle an inordinate amount of time. Now that time has come, and the offer is gone," he added.

Muhammad also said Mayweather and "The Money Team" should "consider re-thinking its nickname" if the American superstar would rather fight for what he said was "hot dog money" instead of a $120-million purse.

He also criticized Mayweather for failing to live up to the standards set by some of the greatest boxers in history, naming Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard specifically.

"The very best of all time are just that because they overcame adversity; they met and beat their nemeses," said Muhammad, pointing out that Ali beat Joe Frazier and Leonard beat Thomas Hearns.

"To rise to the challenge, first, you must accept the challenge, and that means fighting the very best you can when the opportunity arises. Unfortunately, it appears someone on 'The Money Team' has no regard nor respect for the tradition and history of boxing, nor, even more unfortunately, the wishes and desires of the fans of our sport," he added.

Muhammad said their investment group will move forward "with absolutely no hesitation, no reservations, and no Mayweather," but will still hold a huge event in Abu Dhabi that features a championship card, concerts, and tributes.

"In keeping with the vision and determination of our investment group, it will be a boxing spectacle unrivaled in the history of the sport," he guaranteed.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jollibee soon to open in United Arab Emirates

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos living and working in the United Arab Emirates will soon be able to enjoy their favorite Chicken Joy and Jolly Spaghetti.

Jollibee Foods Corp. on Tuesday said its subsidiary Golden Plate Pte Ltd. signed a joint venture with Golden Crown Foods to create a company that will own and operate Jollibee stores in the United Arab Emirates.

Golden Plate will own 49% of the joint venture company, with the rest owned by Golden Crown. Both companies will share control and management of the UAE company.

Jollibee said the initial funding for the yet unnamed UAE company will be $80,000.

However, Jollibee did not say when it will open its popular fast food chain in the UAE.

JFC said it currently has 42 outlets, all franchised, in the Middle East. This includes 16 Jollibee stores (9 in Saudi Arabia, 4 in Qatar and 3 in Kuwait); and 26 Chowking stores (5 in Qatar, 2 in Oman and 19 in UAE).

As of end-December 2013, JFC Group had a total of 2,764 stores around the world. In the Philippines, it has 2,181 restaurant outlets, comprised of 811 Jollibee stores, 400 Chowking, 199 Greenwich, 278 Red Ribbon, 459 Mang Inasal and 34 Burger King. Overseas, JFC has 583 stores.

JFC also has 50% stake in joint ventures for Highlands Coffee in Vietnam and the Philippines; Pho 24 in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Macau, Hong Kong and Cambodia; and Sabu in China.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UAE actor 'too handsome' for Saudi Arabia?

MANILA, Philippines – Several websites have been pointing to Oman Borkan Al Gala, an actor, photographer and poet from the United Arab Emirates, as one of the three men who were reportedly forced to leave Saudi Arabia for being “too handsome.”

Among these websites is New York Daily News, which reported that Al Gala has not responded to its requests for clarification regarding the issue.

On April 21, he posted an article about the deportation on his Facebook page, setting social media sites on fire.


“This is what [is] written in newspapers in (sic) over the world,” Al Gala told his more than 140,000 “fans” on Facebook as he pointed to an article, which showed his photo.

Several Facebook users commented on the post, which has been “liked” more than 11,000 times, with most of them asking Al Gala to stay in their country instead.

“Come to Brazil, handsome man!” said Carmen Silva.

“Come to Vietnam, dear,” added Jinny Nguyen.

Al Gala went on to post what New York Daily News described as “glam beauty shots accompanied by swoon-inducing quotes.”

One of the photos, which showed him wearing a basketball jersey, had the caption: “The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”

Another photo had the caption: “With early mornings I take a deep breath, full of hope that this will be [a] better day, and I believe that God will facilitate my day and will fill it with love, kind (sic) and happiness.”

Last week, TIME reported that Saudi Arabia has deported three men for being “too handsome,” citing an article from the Arabic-language newspaper Elaph.

The three Emiratis were visiting Saudi Arabia for the annual Jenadrivah Heritage and Cultural Festival in Riyadh, TIME added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UAE may face risks from deepening euro crisis - IMF

DUBAI - The United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries could face major financial repercussions if the euro zone debt crisis spreads from the bloc's peripheral states to its core and infects global markets, the International Monetary Fund said.

Risks are particularly serious for economies that depend on foreign financing and have financial links to Europe, the IMF said in a report dated April 27, which it prepared for consultations with the UAE and released in June.

"While vulnerabilities have decreased since 2008, the results of this analysis nonetheless suggest that the (UAE) authorities need to remain vigilant to global shocks and continue to strengthen buffers."

The banking system of the UAE, the world's No. 3 oil exporter, is only moderately exposed to Europe, the IMF noted. Foreign liabilities are about 19 percent of its total liabilities, while Europeans hold about 20 percent of UAE banking system assets.

"While the estimated level of financial spillovers to Dubai is once again increasing, it is still below 2008-09 levels. European countries, Greece in particular, have been key contributors."

The IMF also said the UAE banking system did not show any signs of distress now, while the probability that all its banks would experience large losses simultaneously was very low.

However, the report added: "The results of this analysis show that risk is concentrated in a few banks; these banks will need stronger supervision and closer monitoring of their cross-border and their domestic interbank exposures."

Any worsening of the pressures on euro zone governments and banks to fund themselves would pose a direct risk for the UAE, the IMF said. Despite solid economic growth last year, Dubai is still recovering from its 2009-2010 corporate debt crisis.

"While the funding situation of local banks has stabilised, a foreign funding shock could generate some liquidity tightening in the banking sector," the report said.

It predicted the asset quality of UAE banks would deteriorate this year and the number of bad loans would rise, although the banking sector would be able to handle a significant increase.

Seven out of 26 listed companies in the UAE's real estate sector, with total liabilities of $12 billion, have operating losses or do not have sufficient operating income to service their debt, it said.

source: interaksyon.com

Pinoys abroad warned vs. donation scams for 'Sendong' victims

Filipinos, especially those based abroad, were warned Monday against falling for scams claiming to raise funds for victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi).

In the United Arab Emirates, Consul General Benito Valeriano particularly warned against new Facebook and Twitter accounts soliciting such donations.

"They can always send their donations to the Philippine ... Red Cross (PRC). If there's any official advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila regarding this matter, we will let the public know," Valeriano said in an interview posted Monday night on Gulf News.

Valeriano said Filipino expatriates who wish to give financial assistance to the victims should send it through credible and recognized organizations.

Online donations can be made through the website of the PRC, he said.

Last weekend, flash floods from Sendong hit several areas in Mindanao and Visayas, particularly devastating Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities.

Nearly 700 had been confirmed killed as of Monday evening.

The Gulf News report said the Filipino Community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (Filcom-DNE), the umbrella organization of 99 groups in the UAE, have begun collecting funds through its member groups for the victims of the devastating storm.

"We have requested all heads of Filipino organizations in the UAE to seek assistance from their members who have something extra to give—be it Dh 1, Dh5, or whatever is convenient for them," Alan Bacason, president of Filcom-DNE, told Gulf News. — KBK, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com

US teen youngest golf winner

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — American teenager Lexi Thompson has made history as the youngest winner on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.

The 16-year-old Thompson shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to win the Dubai Ladies Masters, becoming the youngest professional winner on that side of the Atlantic.

Thompson pulled away from Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa to win by four strokes for her second professional victory. In September, she became the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama.

“It feels amazing,” Thompson said.

Poulter wins

In Melbourne, Australia, England's Ian Poulter won the Australian Masters on Sunday, spoiling Geoff Ogilvy's bid for a victory on his boyhood course.

Poulter, two strokes behind Ogilvy entering the round, closed with a 4-under 67 in windy conditions to finish at 15-under 269 at Victoria Golf Club.

source: mb.com.ph