Day: 7 October 2022

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UAE Minister of Economy Discusses with Greek Prime Minister Boosting Economic Partnership & Mutual Investments

THESSALONIKI, Greece, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The UAE Minister of Economy, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, held bilateral meetings, at the UAE Pavilion in Thessaloniki International Fair TIF 86, with several high-ranking Greek Ministers & officials to boost cooperation & bilateral relations between the UAE and Greece. The extensive meetings between the two-shed light on the most attractive economic sectors to invest in the UAE — including non-oil industries, whose foreign exports have recently hit an all-time high.

The Greek Prime Minister, H.E Kyriakos Mitsotakis, opened the UAE pavilion at Thessaloniki International Fair 86, on Monday in the presence of the UAE Minister of Economy, and then held a meeting with the UAE Minister of Economy, to discuss ways to boost cooperation between the two countries and enhance bilateral trade & investment relations.

The Minister of Economy, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, also met H.E Vassilis Kikilias, Greek Minister of Tourism, where they discussed several issues, including mechanisms to boost Tourism in the two countries. The plan is to enhance the sustainable development of the Tourism sector in the UAE & Greece and boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The UAE pavilion also shed light on the UAE’s new economic model and strategy of establishing a diverse economy & developing the nation’s non-oil economic sectors, in addition to its pioneering position on the global trade map.

UAE’s upward trajectory in non-oil exports is astounding. The UAE has recorded its highest-ever non-oil exports in the first half of 2022, with a total value of AED 180 billion. In the Manufacturing sector, the UAE aims to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion by 2031.

Press contact:

Rana Elshorbagy
Senior PR Specialist
E: rana.elshorbagy@strategic.ae
M: +201020092841

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TIF ENDS ON HIGH NOTE WITH 212k VISITORS

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ —

– Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) –

The 86th edition of the Thessaloniki International Fair ended on a positive note as the event witnessed and welcomed 212,000 visitors surpassing its previous record on the 85th edition. Visitors from the hosting country, Greece and across the globe flocked Greece’s second city to be entertained, trade, browse, or simply be part of the festive atmosphere.

A total 65 exhibiting companies including private and public entities represented United Arab Emirates. Presence of vibrant business entities saw over 1,000 business meetings taking place with the contribution of the Association of Greek Industries (SBE).

The UAE companies that participated in the 86th TIF came from the sectors of investment management, Aviation, energy, food-drinks, defense, space technology, tourism, shipping, real-estate, and more.

United Arab Emirates’ pavilion, through its delegation headed by H.E Abdulla bin Touq Al Mari, Minister of Economy, was the main centre of attraction as the Honoured Country and the visitors had the change to have a glimpse of what the country has to offer.

“The participation of UAE in this exhibition came in response to the state’s plans to develop strategic relations with the friendly Republic of Greece, and strengthen ties in various vital areas. It was an opportunity to reach new markets and build strategic partnerships, to develop trade and investment and work in other areas of common interest. In addition, the prestigious event availed opportunities to build strategic relationships and paved ways of cooperation and highlight the authority’s efforts and strategic initiatives in the civil aviation sector and economic sector at large,” he said.

The UAE is preparing for the future and the development of a sustainable and diversified economy and a competitive knowledge economy, and to guarantee long-term prosperity for the country.

Media contact:

Patrick Mashegwana
p.mashegwana@mcgroup.com
+49-30-65000435

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LaLiga and Dapper Labs Unveil “LaLiga Golazos” Digital Collectibles, Capturing the Epic Nature of LaLiga Action on the Pitch from 2005-Present

Fans Can Register Now for LaLiga Golazos, with First Packs Featuring the Best from LaLiga’s Fiercest Rivalries including ElClásico and Storied Derbies dropping on October 27

At launch, Ansu Fati, João Félix, Luka Modrić and Marc-André ter Stegen will Serve as Faces of the first fully Bilingual Digital Collectible Experience Developed by Dapper Labs

MADRID and VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 6, 2022 /CNW/ – Today, LaLiga and Dapper Labs unveiled the name of their officially-licensed digital collectible platform – LaLiga Golazos – and the launch date of its closed beta and first drop, October 27. To have the opportunity to secure a spot in the closed beta which will enable them to purchase, own and sell LaLiga Golazos Moments, fans can join the closed beta waitlist at www.laligagolazos.com.

With LaLiga Golazos, collect some of the most iconic Moments in the history of LaLiga, with audio commentary in both Spanish and English: amazing dribbles and skills, extraordinary assists, incredible saves, great defensive actions and, of course, the golazos that millions of fans around the world celebrate.

Designed to embody the awe-inspiring spirit of LaLiga action and its players combined with the passion of its fans worldwide, LaLiga Golazos will bring fans closer to the sport they love through digital video collectibles called Moments. “Golazos” comes from the Spanish word that describes a spectacular goal, but given the popularity of the beautiful game worldwide, its meaning today has transcended borders and language.

LaLiga Golazos features the most iconic plays from all the clubs part of LaLiga Santander since the 2005-2006 season, as well as the key plays from each matchday of the current season, available in both Spanish and English. Moments capture the highlights of  competition: amazing dribbles and skills, extraordinary assists, incredible saves, great defensive actions and the golazos that millions of fans around the world celebrate.

“LaLiga is steeped in history, tradition, and legendary moments and our fans are some of the most passionate in the world and we are excited to offer a new way for them to experience the moments they love,” said Óscar Mayo, Executive Director at LaLiga. “LaLiga Golazos allows fans to own and collect LaLiga plays and moments from 2005-present. We are constantly innovating new ways to bring LaLiga, its Clubs, and Players closer to our fans and with our partner, industry-leader Dapper Labs, we can give them the ability to truly be a part of this fanatical experience.”LaLiga and Dapper Labs have unveiled LaLiga Golazos – the name of their officially-licensed digital collectible platform –and the launch date of its closed beta and first drop, October 27.

Fans participating in the closed beta will be able to access the first drop of LaLiga Golazos packs on October 27, which is dedicated to Moments of legendary plays and players from LaLiga’s fiercest and most timeless rivalries including ElClásico (FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF), the Madrid Derby (Real Madrid CF vs Atlético de Madrid), El Gran Derbi (Real Betis vs Sevilla FC) or the Basque Derby (Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club), among others.

LaLiga stars Ansu Fati (forward at FC Barcelona), João Félix (forward at Atlético de Madrid), Luka Modrić (midfielder at Real Madrid CF) and Marc-André ter Stegen (goalkeeper at FC Barcelona) have been appointed as the faces of LaLiga Golazos during its launch, and will be featured in promotional content introducing fans to the digital collectible platform, as well as welcoming them to the burgeoning LaLiga Golazos community being built around the platform.

“We are excited to partner with LaLiga to provide global football fans with a digital collectible experience that is designed to match their passion for the game. LaLiga Golazos will enable fans to own a piece of LaLiga history and participate in a whole new kind of football community that recognizes and rewards them for their fandom,” said Jorge Urrutia del Pozo, General Manager of LaLiga Golazos for Dapper Labs. “We are thrilled to have Ansu Fati, João Félix, Luka Modrić and Marc-André ter Stegen serve as the face of LaLiga Golazos at its launch, and can’t wait to share these players’ own iconic LaLiga Moments with fans later this year.”

In addition to the broadcast replay and different angles of the most outstanding plays and the reactions or celebrations of the players and fans on the pitch, LaLiga Golazos Moments will include the play-by-play narration along with statistics of the match and the player’s performance in both Spanish and English, making it the first fully bilingual product developed by Dapper Labs.

LaLiga Golazos will offer different types of packs throughout the season. Fans in the closed beta will be notified in advance what the pack composition will be, the exact number of Moments in each pack, along with edition sizes and different rarities. LaLiga Golazos Moments are classified by four levels of rarity: Common, Uncommon, Rare and Legendary. Rarer Moments have a lower mint count. Each Moment features the official LaLiga marks that guarantees its authenticity and its ownership, all recorded on-chain.

LaLiga Golazos is built on the Flow blockchain, the easy-to-use and environmentally friendly blockchain originally designed by Dapper Labs to support consumer experiences at scale. Flow has the blockchain of choice for leading sports organizations and leagues around the globe, and is the home to NBA Top Shot, NFL ALL DAY and UFC Strike. Fans will be able to buy, sell or trade any of their LaLiga Golazos Moments through a dedicated Marketplace on Flow, as well as showcase their new digital collections on their social media profiles.

This partnership was arranged by LaLiga North America, the joint venture between LaLiga and Relevent Sports that represents the league in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

To learn more about LaLiga Golazos and register for the closed beta, fans can visit www.laligagolazos.com.

About LaLiga:

LaLiga is a global, innovative and socially responsible organisation which is a leader in the leisure and entertainment sector. It is a private sports association composed of the 20 public limited sports companies (SADs) and clubs of LaLiga Santander and the 22 of LaLiga SmartBank, and is responsible for organizing professional football competitions in Spain. LaLiga is the football competition with the most social media followers in the world, with over 164 million followers across 17 platforms in 20 different languages. With its headquarters in Madrid (Spain), it is present in 41 countries through eleven offices and 44 delegates. The organisation carries out its social work through its Foundation and was the world’s first professional football league to establish a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LaLiga Genuine Santander.

About Dapper Labs:

Dapper Labs uses blockchain technology to bring NFTs and new forms of digital engagement to fans around the world. Since it was founded in 2018, Dapper Labs has given consumer enthusiasts a real stake in the game by bringing them closer to the brands they love, building engaged and exciting communities for them to contribute to, and producing new pathways for them to become creators themselves. Dapper Labs’ current studio partners include the NFL, NFLPA, NBPA, WNBA, WNBPA, LaLiga, Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, Genies and UFC. Notable investors in Dapper Labs include Andreessen Horowitz, Coatue, Union Square Ventures, Venrock, Google Ventures (GV), Samsung, and the founders of Dreamworks, Reddit, Coinbase, Zynga, and AngelList, among others. For more about Dapper Labs’ products and mission, visit dapperlabs.com.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915016/Dapper_Labs__Inc__LaLiga_and_Dapper_Labs_Unveil__LaLiga_Golazos_.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1915017/Dapper_Labs__Inc__LaLiga_and_Dapper_Labs_Unveil__LaLiga_Golazos_.jpg

Media contact: LaLiga Communications Department, prensa@laliga.es / T +34 912 055 000 / M +34 616 035 335; Dapper Labs, press@dapperlabs.com

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Occupation forces arrest a Fatah official, steal money in Tuqu

Israeli occupation forces arrested a Fatah official and stole a sum of money last night after raiding the village of Tuqu, to the southeast of Bethlehem, according to Palestinian security sources.

Forces raided the home of Mohammad Saleem Bedn, 31, a local official of Fatah Movement, and arrested him after searching his home and stealing an amount of 10,000 shekels ($3,000) from his home. They also arrested his brother, Fadi, 33, after raiding his home.

The attacking forces further raided and searched other homes in the village, including the home of Hazem Mohammad Nawwarah where they stole 7,000 shekels (about $1,900), the sources added.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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B’Tselem urges ICC Prosecutor to prevent an Israeli war crime in Masafer Yatta

Israeli human rights group B’tselem has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan to urgently intervene to stop Israel from evicting Palestinians from their homes and land in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli occupation authorities are planning the eviction of some 1,000 Palestinian inhabitants of Masafer Yatta, a rural area located south and east of the town of Yatta, in order to create a military firing zone, or training ground for Israeli occupation forces.

Eight villages, including four schools, clinics and hundreds of other structures in the area are slated for demolition.

Israel has been trying to drive these communities out for decades, but has recently escalated its actions – in scope, severity, and frequency – following the May 2022 ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court.

The ruling, which contravened international law provisions and basic moral principles, reached the conclusion that the residents have no right to live on the land and there is no legal impediment to expelling them.

“Israel has made the residents lives a nightmare: they suffer daily threats by soldiers and settlers to their bodies and property, as well as noise and pollution hazards, routine damage to infrastructure, incessant invasion of their privacy and constant uncertainty over their future,” said B’Tselem in a statement.

“Israel is also working to cut these small communities off from their surroundings, with the military placing roadblocks, confiscating cars and hindering activists, journalists and diplomats from accessing the area,” the statement addded.

The rights group said it had attached to the letter an addendum detailing dozens of incidents in the area since June 2022, which illustrate the violent, day-to-day, reality Israel is imposing on these communities.

In its letter, B’Tselem emphasized that while Israel has since 1999 avoided direct expulsion, it is subjecting the residents to intolerable living conditions in an indirect bid to drive them away. “This implicit tactic might better obscure Israel’s intention to commit a war crime, but there’s no ambiguity about it: it is the same objective, and it is the same crime.”

B’Tselem’s Executive Director Hagai El-Ad, who signed the letter, explained that Israel’s apartheid regime is forcing “1,000 or so Palestinian residents of the South Hebron Hills [Masafer Yatta] into a humiliating bare-bones existence, making their lives miserable enough so that they will leave their homes and land, and the state will take over the area.”

He added: “We request your urgent intervention in this case in order to allow these communities to live with dignity, basic security and certainty about their future. When Israel sought to expel the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar (located east of Jerusalem), intervention by the Office of the Prosecutor (October 2018) stopped Israel”.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Weather: Mild autumn conditions, drop in temperature

Weather today in Palestine is partly cloudy and moderate in daytime with a drop in temperature, to be slightly below the seasonal average, according to the Palestinian Meteorological Department (PMD).

Weather tonight is partly cloudy and relatively cold in mountains and moderate in other area. Winds are northwesterly to southwesterly, moderate to active.

Temperature in the capital, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem is expected to reach a high of 26°C and a low of 16°C, and in Ramallah and Hebron a high of 22°C and a low of 15°C are expected. In Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley temperature is expected to reach a high of 34°C and a low of 23°C, while it is expected to reach a high of 25°C and a low of 19°C in Gaza and the coastal areas.

A further slight drop in temperature is expected on Saturday, paving the way to partly cloudy and moderate conditions in daytime and relatively cold conditions in nighttime. A chance of sporadic light rain is expected.

The same weather conditions are expected for Sunday. A chance of sporadic light rain is expected in the morning.

Temperature rises on Monday setting back to its annual average.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Occupation forces shut down entrance to Tuqu’

Israeli occupation forces today shut down the northern entrance to the village of Tuqu, to the southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

Witnesses told WAFA that the Israeli occupation army shut down the village’s entrance with a metal bar in order to secure a provocative rally by Israeli settlers at the main street outside the village after midday.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Israeli police, settlers kick Palestinian landowners out of lands in Jerusalem’s Wadi Rababa

Israeli police and settlers broke today into a Palestinian-owned land in the occupied Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Rababa, where they forced Palestinian landowners who were picking olives out of their lands and arrested one of them, according to local sources.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli police stormed the neighborhood and forced Palestinian farmers who were picking olives in their own lands to leave, claiming that the ownership of the lands is disputed and that far-right settler organizations have ownership claims to these lands.

The Israeli police also arrested a Palestinian landowner, Mohammad Simrin, after forcing the rest of the landowners to leave.

Earlier today, dozens of local Palestinian landowners and their families, accompanied by international supporters, embarked on picking olives in these lands after Israeli settlers broke into some of these lands during the previous two days and stole amounts of olive fruits with protection from Israeli police.

Although the olive harvest has not officially kicked off in Palestine, including Jerusalem, many Palestinian landowners in the occupied capital have decided to start the season sooner to avoid harvest thefts by Israeli settlers.

The Wadi al-Rababa lands in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem comprise about 21 hectares, on which about 800 Palestinian Jerusalemites live in precarious conditions due to harassment and attacks by Israeli forces and settlers, attempting to expel them from their lands.

In early 2018, the Israeli occupation authorities had dug the foundations for a suspension bridge, expected to be 240 metres long and 30 metres high, which would run from the al-Thawri neighbourhood, passing through Palestinian-owned lands in Wadi al-Rababa.

The bridge, which was part of a Judaisation project funded by Israel Land Authority and the Open Spaces Fund, was planned to establish Talmudic gardens and tourist parks and paths serving the colonial Israeli settlers in the city.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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As olive harvest approaches, settlers chop off olive trees in Hebron

Hardcore Israeli settlers today chopped off a number of olive trees for a Palestinian owner outside the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, to the east of Hebron in the south of the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

Abdelkarim Jaabari, a Palestinian landlord, told WAFA that a group of army-guarded Israeli settlers entered his land and embarked on chopping off olive trees of his own, as the olive harvest season is about to begin in Palestine.

Jaabari said at least 8 olive trees of his own were chopped off by the settlers, in what he said was the latest attack by Israeli settlers on his land and home.

The olive harvest is a national holiday and a main source of income for thousands of Palestinian households.

Israeli settlers have been responsible for the destruction of thousands of olive trees in the occupied territories over the years, but mainly around the harvest season to maximize the damage to the farmers and country, without anyone ever being arrested or charged with vandalism of private property by the Israeli occupation authorities.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Occupation forces injure 13 Palestinians in Kafr Qaddum

At least 13 Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation forces today during the weekly protest in the village of Kafr Qaddum, in the West Bank province of Qalqilia, against Israeli settlement construction and expansion, local sources said.

Morad Shtewi, a local anti-occupation activist, told WAFA that Israeli occupation soldiers attacked the protesters with rubber-coated rounds and tear gas canisters, injuring 13 of them by rubber-coated rounds and causing many cases of suffocation from gas inhalation.

All of the injured protesters were treated at the scene of the clashes.

For many years, villagers from Kafr Qaddum and neighboring villages have been holding weekly protests every Friday against illegal Israeli settlement construction.

More than 650,000 Israeli settlers live in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied Palestinian Territories in violation of international law.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Israeli settlers attack farmers picking olives near Nablus

Hardcore Israeli settlers today attacked Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in their own lands the village of Awarta, southeast of the occupied northern West Bank city of Nablus, according to local sources.

Ghassan Daghlas, a local Palestinian activist, told WAFA that a group of army-guarded Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian farmers while they were harvesting their olive crops and clashed with them.

This week, the West Bank witnessed a wave of Israeli settler attacks as Palestinian farmers began the year’s olive harvest.

The olive harvest is one of the most important seasons for thousands of Palestinian households in the occupied territories whose income depends heavily on the success of this season.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

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Occupation forces critically injure a teenager near Qalqilia

A Palestinian teenager was shot and critically injured today by Israeli occupation forces near the Israeli segregation barrier, north of Qalqilia city in the occupied West Bank, according to the Ministry of Health.

MoH said in a press statement that a teenager was admitted to Qalqilia Public Hospital with a critical injury from a live shot in his head, describing his condition as critical.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency