US Secretary Blinken visits Abu Dhabi's Abrahamic Family House


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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited one of Abu Dhabi's most popular sites of religious tolerance.

Sharing photos on social media of his visit, Secretary Blinken visited the Abramic Family House with a message about the Emirates' attitude towards coexistence.

"Visited the newly opened Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, an exemplary model for active exchange between faiths and a true testament to the UAE’s commitment to peaceful coexistence among the Abrahamic faiths," said the senior American official.

"This is what the future of the region should look like."

Among the photos was an image of Secretary Blinken's message, written on a tile in the multi-faith centre's forum, which read 'light in the darkness'.

The interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island opened this year and is home to a mosque, church and synagogue.

Also on Saturday, President Sheikh Mohamed and Secretary Blinken held talks as Israel prepared to launch a major offensive in Gaza.

He had arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening, only hours before Israel's military said a "land, air and sea operation" in the coastal strip was planned.

Secretary Blinken arrived from Riyadh where he met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. He and Prince Faisal urged Israel and Hamas to protect civilians.

About 2,200 Palestinians have died in Gaza following retaliatory aerial bombardment from Israel. It came after Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack against Israel last Saturday, killing 1,300.

Most of the dead on both sides are civilians.

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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Rating: 4/5

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Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

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
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Updated: October 16, 2023, 12:14 PM`