The idea for a dedicated day to encourage the world to live together in peace was born in Abu Dhabi four years ago.
It followed a meeting and declaration between Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Iman of Al Azhar, during the head of the Catholic Church's first historic visit to the UAE on February 4, 2019.
What is International Day of Human Fraternity?
The International Day of Human Fraternity marks the day they signed a statement, known as the Document on Human Fraternity. The UN-recognised day was held for the first time last year and is being marked again on February 4.
Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed set out their joint statement, sometimes called the Abu Dhabi agreement, as a way forward for different religions to live peacefully together.
Denouncing terrorism, they called on world leaders to “to work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace”.
To do this, it was necessary “to rediscover the values of peace, justice, goodness, beauty, human fraternity and coexistence in order to confirm the importance of these values as anchors of salvation for all, and to promote them everywhere”.
Four years later, the second International Day of Human Fraternity takes place to a backdrop of a standoff between Russia and the West in Ukraine, the humanitarian disaster facing Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The United Nations, which chose February 4 in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly in December 2020, noted in particular the pandemic “requires a global response based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral co-operation".
How is it celebrated?
This year’s International Day of Human Fraternity will celebrate the winners of the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity, now in its third year.
The prize honours individuals and groups who advance peaceful coexistence, with $1 million to help continue their work.
Last year, winners included Latifa Ibn Ziaten, an Algerian-French activist, whose son was killed in a terror attack, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Mr Guterres was recognised for some of the initiatives he spearheaded during his tenure, including countering hate speech and violence, and modernising UN peacekeeping practice. Ms Ibn Ziaten was chosen for establishing the Imad Association for Youth and Peace, which works to prevent the radicalisation of young people, migrants, prisoners and communities in France, a month after her son was killed by Toulouse terrorist Mohamed Merah in March 2012.
International Day of Human Fraternity will be celebrated at Expo 2020 Dubai for four days from February 4, where more than 40 government agencies and ministries will take part.
What is the UAE doing to advance human fraternity and religious tolerance?
In Abu Dhabi, work is already well advanced on the Abrahamic Family House, under construction on Saadiyat Island.
Comprising a mosque, church and synagogue with an education centre, the multi-faith complex is designed to promote peaceful understanding and harmonious coexistence through greater understanding of the rituals of each of the three Abrahamic religions, whose faithful are often referred to in Arabic as “Ahl Al Kitaab” or “People of the Book”.
The Abrahamic Family House is scheduled to open later this year.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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