A police investigation has been launched after graffiti was daubed on a building in Osaka written in protest at Israel's participation in the upcoming Expo 2025 event in the Japanese city.
Osakan authorities discovered messages in English on the exterior of a wall of a building affiliated with the prefectural office. "The police have launched an investigation into the incident as a possible legal violation," UAE state news agency Wam reported on Monday. Prefectures are local government bodies which oversee individual cities and areas in Japan.
Israel has faced international condemnation over its war on Gaza, in which at least 50,277 Palestinians have been killed and 114,095 wounded since October 7, 2023. The conflict has led to the displacement of the vast majority of the Gaza Strip's 2.2 million population, and persistent air strikes have demolished homes, schools and hospitals, fuelling a humanitarian crisis. Major global brands have had sales hit by boycotts since the onset of the war, driven by their perceived links to Israel.
Global gathering
More than 150 countries will participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, which will run from April 13 until October 13 and is set to attract about 28 million visitors in a global celebration of innovation, ingenuity and enterprise. It will be the third world's fair to be staged in Japan and the second hosted in Osaka, one of the country’s oldest cities, which held Asia’s first World Expo in 1970.
The theme "Designing a Future Society for Our Lives" will seek to address themes of building happy lives and devising new technology in health, medicine and sustainability. A number of countries, including Iran, South Africa, Botswana and El Salvador have withdrawn from the event, organisers previously announced. The World Expo is held every five years and often is intrinsically tied to providing a boost to the host city with investments in infrastructure, culture and businesses.
Expo 2020 Dubai – which was held in 2021 after being delayed by 12 months owing to the Covid-19 pandemic – attracted 24.1 million visits during its six-month run and is expected to contribute Dh154.9 billion ($42.2 billion) to the UAE economy until 2042, according to a report issued in 2023 by the consultancy EY.
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Honeymoonish
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THE SPECS
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
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The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
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