As winter approaches, the deserts of the UAE are becoming a popular destination for outdoor activities, picnics, and car shows. However, the surge in visitors has led to a concerning increase in litter, threatening the natural beauty and ecological balance of these pristine landscapes. In response, groups of young Emiratis have taken it upon themselves to launch volunteer-driven clean-up campaigns, transforming a simple idea into a widespread movement for environmental responsibility. What began as a small effort by two friends in 2022 has now grown into a coordinated initiative involving over fifty participants. These volunteers not only collect trash but also organize camping spots and raise awareness among visitors to ensure the desert remains clean after gatherings. The initiative has gained momentum, with local businesses and philanthropists offering support through donations and rewards. Despite the physical challenges of working in remote, rugged terrain, the volunteers remain motivated by their love for their country and pride in representing Emirati youth. Their efforts have started to yield results, with more visitors now packing up their belongings properly before leaving. The movement has also gained traction on social media, attracting attention from across the Gulf region. Volunteers emphasize the importance of safety, with many trained in first aid and emergency response. The initiative highlights the collective responsibility of preserving the nation’s natural heritage and serves as a reminder of the enduring value of volunteerism and environmental awareness.
标签： Africa
非洲
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India and SA prepare for game-changing World Cup final
A historic moment awaits as India and South Africa prepare to face off in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. This marks the first time in 25 years that a new champion will be crowned, symbolizing the growth and evolution of women’s cricket globally. Both teams carry stories of resilience and determination, making this final a transformative event for the sport. For South Africa, a victory would be a breakthrough, as they have often been the ‘nearly’ team, despite their men’s side achieving success earlier this year. India, on the other hand, seeks to capitalize on home advantage and a generational talent pool to claim their maiden title. The stakes are high, with a record prize money of £3.3 million on offer, which could significantly impact South Africa’s under-resourced cricket system. For India, the focus is on the broader cultural shift and increased opportunities for women in cricket. The match promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams having overcome significant challenges to reach this stage. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp are key players, while India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana lead a squad brimming with talent. The atmosphere at the DY Patil Stadium is expected to be electric, with a sell-out crowd rallying behind the home team. Regardless of the outcome, this final is poised to leave a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of women cricketers worldwide.
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UAE: Inside Dubai’s racing club where horses train for million-dollar glory
In a life-changing moment, an Indian expatriate residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has struck gold by winning the Dh25-million grand prize in the latest Big Ticket draw. This remarkable win not only highlights the dreams of millions of expats in the region but also underscores the allure of such high-stakes lotteries. Meanwhile, Dubai has announced the launch of its Education Expo, a significant event featuring participation from over 60 private schools and early learning centers. The expo aims to showcase educational opportunities and innovations, catering to the diverse needs of families in the emirate. These two developments reflect the UAE’s dynamic landscape, where opportunities for personal success and educational advancement continue to thrive.
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UN Security Council backs Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara autonomy
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution supporting Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara, marking a significant step in resolving the decades-long territorial dispute. The resolution, drafted by the United States, emphasizes that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be the most viable solution to the conflict between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the region. Western Sahara, a vast desert territory comparable in size to Britain, has been a flashpoint of contention since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975. The UN Security Council’s resolution calls for renewed negotiations based on Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan, which envisions local governance while retaining Moroccan control over defense, foreign affairs, and religious matters. The resolution also extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, for another year. While 11 council members voted in favor, Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, and Algeria did not participate in the vote. Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama criticized the resolution, stating that it disregarded the Polisario Front’s proposals and emphasized that the future of Western Sahara should be determined by its people. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI hailed the resolution as a ‘new chapter’ in asserting the ‘Moroccanness of the Sahara’ and called for dialogue with Algeria. Meanwhile, the Polisario Front rejected the resolution, vowing not to engage in any process that legitimizes Moroccan control. The resolution also requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to conduct a strategic review of MINURSO’s mandate within six months. The move aligns with growing international support for Morocco’s position, including backing from the US, France, Britain, and Spain, signaling a shift in global diplomatic perspectives on the issue.
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Top diplomats from Germany, Jordan and the UK call for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan war
In a unified and urgent appeal, the foreign ministers of Germany, Jordan, and the United Kingdom have called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, highlighting the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in the East African nation. The plea comes as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur, amid reports of widespread violence, ethnic killings, and sexual assaults. United Nations officials have confirmed that over 450 people were killed in a hospital attack, though the RSF denies involvement. Satellite imagery and social media footage, however, depict scenes of mass slaughter and devastation. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the situation as a ‘truly horrifying’ humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the use of mass executions, starvation, and rape as weapons of war. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed these concerns, labeling the crisis as ‘apocalyptic,’ while Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi criticized the international community for neglecting Sudan’s plight. The ministers stressed that no amount of aid can alleviate the suffering until the violence ceases. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s government revoked The Associated Press’s accreditation to cover the summit following a story on detained activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who ended his hunger strike after receiving letters from the European Union and Denmark.
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Samia wins Tanzania election with 98% of votes amid unrest
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected for another term, securing a landslide victory with 98% of the votes, according to the electoral commission. The announcement came after days of widespread unrest, with reports of hundreds of casualties and a nationwide internet shutdown complicating efforts to verify the death toll. International observers have raised concerns over the lack of transparency and the violent clashes that have marred the election process. The government has downplayed the scale of the violence, extending a curfew to restore order. In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi also won re-election with nearly 80% of the vote, though the opposition has alleged ‘massive fraud.’ Protests erupted in major cities, with demonstrators tearing down campaign posters and clashing with security forces. Opposition leaders have accused the government of undermining democracy by suppressing their candidates, one of whom is jailed and another disqualified on technical grounds. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the government’s alleged repression, citing enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Samia, Tanzania’s first female president, assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. Her ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has dominated Tanzanian politics since independence.
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Tanzania President Hassan wins disputed election with more than 97% of vote, official results show
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a landslide victory in the country’s disputed election, garnering over 97% of the vote, as per official results announced early Saturday. This unprecedented win, rare in the region, has sparked concerns among critics and opposition groups, who argue that the election was less of a contest and more of a coronation. Hassan’s two main rivals were either barred or prevented from running, leaving her to face 16 candidates from smaller parties. The October 29 election was marred by violence, with demonstrators taking to the streets of major cities to protest the vote and halt the counting process. The military was deployed to assist police in quelling riots, and internet connectivity in the East African nation was intermittently disrupted. Tundu Lissu, leader of the opposition group Chadema, has been jailed for months on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms he deemed essential for free and fair elections. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo group, was also barred from running. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party’s decades-long grip on power was at stake, as charismatic opposition figures emerged, hoping to lead the country toward political change. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have cited a pattern of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings in Tanzania ahead of the polls. In June, a United Nations panel of human rights experts reported over 200 cases of enforced disappearance since 2019, expressing alarm at the repression ahead of the elections. The International Crisis Group noted that Tanzania’s president oversaw an unprecedented crackdown on political opponents, curbing freedom of expression through bans on platforms like X and restrictions on the Tanzanian digital platform JamiiForums, as well as silencing critical voices through intimidation or arrest. The political maneuvering by Tanzanian authorities is unprecedented, even in a country where single-party rule has been the norm since the advent of multi-party politics in 1992. Critics argue that previous leaders tolerated opposition while maintaining a firm grip on power, whereas Hassan is accused of leading with an authoritarian style that defies youth-led democracy movements elsewhere in the region.
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Egypt’s Grand Museum opens, displaying Tutankhamun tomb in full for first time
Egypt has officially unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a monumental cultural institution near the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza. Described as the world’s largest archaeological museum, the GEM houses approximately 100,000 artefacts spanning seven millennia of Egyptian history, from pre-dynastic times to the Greek and Roman eras. A centerpiece of the museum is the complete collection from Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his iconic gold mask, throne, and chariots, displayed together for the first time since their discovery by British Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1922. Dr. Tarek Tawfik, President of the International Association of Egyptologists, emphasized the significance of showcasing the entire tomb, offering visitors an immersive experience akin to Carter’s original discovery. The $1.2 billion museum complex, which spans 500,000 square meters, is expected to attract up to 8 million visitors annually, revitalizing Egypt’s tourism sector. The GEM also features other remarkable exhibits, such as the 4,500-year-old funerary boat of Khufu and a 16-meter-long suspended obelisk of Ramesses II. The museum’s opening has reignited calls for the repatriation of key Egyptian antiquities, including the Rosetta Stone, the Dendera Zodiac, and the Bust of Nefertiti, currently held in foreign institutions. Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former minister of tourism and antiquities, expressed pride in the museum’s completion, highlighting its role in showcasing Egypt’s cultural heritage and modern achievements. The GEM, which began construction in 2005, faced numerous challenges, including financial crises, political turmoil, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but its completion marks a new era for Egyptology and cultural tourism.
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‘I was accused of spying and beaten’ – a boy’s escape from captured Sudan city
The western Sudanese city of el-Fasher has become a focal point of the ongoing civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army. Twelve-year-old Abdiwahab, whose name has been changed for safety, recently escaped the city after it fell to the RSF. In a video shared with the BBC, he recounts being assaulted multiple times by RSF fighters, who accused him of espionage. Separated from his family during the chaos, Abdiwahab walked 80 kilometers over three days to reach Tawila, a town offering relative safety. His story mirrors those of thousands of others fleeing el-Fasher, where the UN estimates 60,000 have escaped amid reports of atrocities, including rape and mass killings. Many survivors arrive in Tawila alone, traumatized, and in desperate need of aid. Ali, a volunteer aid worker who fled el-Fasher himself, filmed Abdiwahab’s account and is now helping new arrivals at a temporary camp. The situation remains dire, with aid agencies overwhelmed by the influx of displaced people, many of whom are unaccompanied minors or suffering from injuries and malnutrition. Despite the RSF leader’s admission of ‘violations’ and promises of investigation, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, leaving over 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, trapped in el-Fasher under famine-like conditions.
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UAE’s dancing horses: Inside Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts, where stallions perform ballet
The Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts (ADREA), a groundbreaking Andalusian-style dressage facility, has officially opened its doors on Jubail Island, marking a historic moment for classical horsemanship in the Gulf region. Inaugurated by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADREA is the fifth major school globally dedicated to this centuries-old art form, blending traditional stewardship with cutting-edge technology. The opening gala featured a mesmerizing horse-ballet performance, uniting riders from Austria, Spain, Portugal, France, and the UAE, accompanied by Andalusian guitar and Arabian melodies, striking light projections, and intricate choreography. The event showcased the artistic essence of classical horsemanship, transforming movements once used in battle into balletic gestures executed with precision and theatricality. Gonzalo Marques, ADREA’s Chief Rider, emphasized the fusion of athletic training and artistic storytelling, stating, ‘It’s an art, not a science.’ ADREA’s mission is to preserve heritage while training a new generation of riders, fostering a relationship between horse and human based on trust and harmony. The facility spans 65,000 square meters and includes an Olympic arena, the Furusiyya Gallery showcasing rare equestrian artifacts, a Saddle Atelier, an equestrian library, and public spaces for exhibitions and research. The school’s curriculum offers five core programmes, ranging from a four-year rider degree to a Junior Academy for children as young as four. ADREA also integrates modern technology, such as an AI-based monitoring system that assesses horses’ physical activity, environmental conditions, and stress indicators, ensuring their welfare. The stables are strategically located away from city noise, allowing horses to rest and train in tranquillity. ADREA aims to be more than a school or performance venue; it is a cultural hub and tourist destination that celebrates the historical and cultural significance of horses. Weekly public performances and guided tours will make the facility accessible to all, fostering a deeper connection between the public and the art of classical horsemanship.