This year marks the “Year of China” for the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation. Having assumed the SCO’s rotating presidency, China will host the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State involving the organisation’s members in Tianjin on Sunday and Monday.
Last month, the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting was held in Tianjin. Chinese President Xi Jinping met the participating foreign ministers, emphasising the importance of remembering the organisation’s founding mission and being the torchbearers of the “Shanghai Spirit”, which includes responding to people’s expectations and acting to enhance co-operation, shouldering the mission of our times and being dedicated practitioners in building a community with a shared future for humankind. This spirit will guide the SCO into a new era to further determine its direction, strengthen its confidence, act effectively and achieve greater results.
Over the past 24 years, the “Shanghai Spirit” has helped to forge a glorious legacy. During this period, the SCO, which upholds this spirit of “mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations and the pursuit of common development”, has grown from its initial six members to a 26-nation “big family”. It spans more than 36 million square kilometres and accounts for 42 per cent of the global population, making it the world’s most representative and dynamic regional organisation.
During his meeting with the foreign ministers, Mr Xi noted that the organisation has continued to mature and grow, forging a path of regional co-operation that conforms to the trends of the times and meets the needs of all parties, setting an example for a new type of international relations. The continued expansion of the SCO’s “circle of friends” demonstrates the vitality of the “Shanghai Spirit”, and the “roots” and “soul” of the SCO, and will surely lead the organisation to even greater success.
The “Tianjin Moment” ushers in a new chapter.
As the birthplace and founding member of the SCO, China has always placed the organisation at the forefront of its diplomatic agenda. Since assuming the rotating presidency in July last year, guided by Mr Xi’s vision of building the “five common homes” of unity and mutual trust, security and tranquillity, prosperity and development, good neighbourliness and friendship, and fairness and justice, China has carried out more than 100 activities in the political, security, economic and people-to-people exchange fields, laying the groundwork for the upcoming summit.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the summit will be the largest in the SCO’s history. Leaders of more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organisations will attend related activities to summarise experiences, chart a new path and enable the SCO to embark on a new journey from China. We believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, the summit will be a grand event that showcases unity, friendship and fruitful achievements. The SCO will surely enter a new stage of high-quality development characterised by greater unity, collaboration, vitality and effectiveness.
China-UAE co-operation is multifaceted and extensive, creating more space for the SCO’s continued development
Shouldering the responsibility of justice, China-UAE co-operation is empowering the SCO. Since becoming a dialogue partner in May 2023, the UAE has actively participated in the organisation’s development, demonstrating its commitment to promoting the “Shanghai Spirit”.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, upon the UAE’s inception as a dialogue partner, clearly stated its willingness to build bridges for enhancing co-operation among member states and achieving shared goals. As a key hub and gateway in the Middle East, as well as a pioneer in transformational development in the region, the UAE connects the world while also connecting with the future.
China-UAE co-operation is multifaceted and extensive, creating more space for the SCO’s continued development. The two countries can further use their comparative advantages – in areas such as energy security, development finance, green development, digital economy and connectivity – to enhance the SCO’s co-operative development framework.
The road is not lonely; shared progress leads to greater success. And on this journey, China is willing to work with the UAE to implement the important consensus reached by their leaders.
This includes invoking the “Shanghai Spirit” through bilateral co-operation, with the purpose of powering the SCO’s wheels, jointly promoting the construction of the organisation’s “five homes”, and building a closer community with a shared future as well as fostering a more just and reasonable global governance system.
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
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Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
