Abu Dhabi’s Abrahamic Family House is set to become a symbol of hope and unity, representing the country’s commitment to embracing diversity and promoting interfaith dialogue. This pioneering multi-faith complex comprises a mosque, church, and synagogue, allowing Muslims, Christians, and Jews to worship under one roof.
Opening on March 1, this groundbreaking development is named after Abraham, the prophet revered in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The three houses of worship on Saadiyat Island lead to a central garden under which sits a museum and education center, promoting mutual understanding and respect among different faiths.
Designed by renowned architect David Adjaye, the Abrahamic Family House is a beautiful complex of buildings that seamlessly blends modernity with tradition. It not only complements the flourishing Cultural District on Saadiyat Island but also serves as a shining example of the UAE’s tolerance and acceptance.
As a nation that welcomes over 200 nationalities, the UAE recognizes the importance of embracing diversity and celebrating differences. The Abrahamic Family House is a testament to the country’s values of inclusivity and coexistence, serving as a beacon of hope for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Back in September, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed arrived in Tel Aviv for an official visit to Israel, marking two years since the countries signed the so-called Abraham Accords.
The UAE has taken bold steps in promoting interfaith dialogue and hosting the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula in 2019. The Abrahamic Family House reflects the country’s continued commitment to building bridges between different religions and promoting a more peaceful world.
The Abrahamic Family House is a groundbreaking development that celebrates the beauty of diversity and the importance of coexistence. It sends a powerful message of hope and unity, showcasing the UAE’s values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. As we look towards a future of greater understanding and compassion, the Abrahamic Family House will stand as a reminder that our differences are what make us unique and beautiful.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons 2022
In reaction to the U.S. and Israel’s joint maneuvers, the Iranian military has exposed a large underground facility to demonstrate its air power.
Broadcasted by state television, a video was shown on Tuesday of a range of fighter jets and drones at a base referred to as “Eagle 44”. The precise whereabouts of this base are unrecognized.
The base was placed within the mountains to shield it from any ordnance that could be dropped by American strategic bombers, which can break through defensive measures.
At the event, high-ranking military individuals were present, and it was less than two weeks after a joint exercise between the United States and Israel that included thousands of soldiers, aircraft, naval ships, and artillery. This training was seen as a way of sending a message to Iran amid heightened tensions.
Iran recently held exercises to demonstrate their military capabilities, which was shortly followed by a combined drill.
The state television reporter remarked that perhaps Iran’s original message had not been correctly understood, adding that the country was now transmitting it again. “This is the sound of rumbling from within the mountains,” he said, as a fighter jet flew by in a tunnel behind him.
Broadcasts by state television featured jets departing for training maneuvers during daylight and after dark, emphasizing “the point of these operations is that our air power is now indisputable in the region”.
Iran’s armed forces recently presented their newest missile named the Asef. It has been described as a long-range, air-launched cruise missile that can be installed on Sukhoi Su-24 jets from Russia and can break through adversary defenses.
Recently, it has been reported that Iran’s partnership. Although Iranian military personnel has shown interest in the plane, no one has specified when the delivery is likely to happen.
At an underground base, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the leader of the Iranian army, declared on state television that the bases would soon be home to new fighter jets, however, he did not go into more detail.
Mousavi commented that, should our foes, who tend to misjudge, discern any of these capacities, it can help bring about more tranquility in the world and the vicinity.
Mohammad Bagheri, the leader of the Iranian armed forces, declared that any country in the vicinity which is employed by Israel to initiate an attack on Iranian terrain will additionally suffer a massive attack, alongside Israel.
Iranian state television reported that the Iranian military has multiple other functional bases, amongst them Eagle 44, which can launch attacks, hold aircraft for an extended period, and utilize electronic warfare capabilities.
The Iranian military recently revealed a drone base above ground, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has made public a few of its underground missile and drone bases in an attempt to send a message to the US and Israel.
In less than four days, over 114 Filipino maids had flown out of Kuwait in the aftermath of the savage murder of Jullebee Ranara last month, according to multiple regional media outlets.
In Kuwait, a 17-year-old male was taken into custody for allegedly raping and setting ablaze Ranara, a 35-year-old woman.
Last month, the domestic worker told her kin that she was scared of her boss’s son. Then, the next day, she was found dead in a desert, her skull shattered and her body burned.
The Philippine state announced last week that it will be taking measures to evaluate and stop any mistreatment and rape of Filipino employees in the Gulf region, including assault and maltreatment.
The Philippine government has taken steps to protect Filipino workers by prohibiting recruitment offices in Kuwait from sending them to work there. This policy has been implemented by the Ministry of Migrant Labor in the Philippines.
The Interior Ministry of Kuwait conducted an inquiry right away upon hearing about the corpse and got to the bottom of it in a day. A Kuwaiti adolescent was apprehended for allegedly violating and murdering the domestic worker.
The Filipino community has been deeply grieved by the most recent loss of an expat Filipino worker; the passing of Ranara.
Currently, a large number of Filipinos, totaling approximately 268,000, are employed in Kuwait, many of whom are housemaids. In recent weeks, over 400 individuals from the Philippines sought refuge at an emergency center operated by the
Around 50 percent of the Filipino workers at the Philippine Embassy have gone back to Manila according to the Migrant Workers Undersecretary of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Hans Cacdac, due to labor issues.
Roughly 1 in 10 of the Philippines’ 110 million people have moved to foreign countries due to major economic issues such as joblessness and impoverishment. They are scattered across more than 200 countries and their money transfers are necessary for the Philippines’ economic stability.
In a bold move aimed at boosting the UAE’s post-pandemic economy, the government announced a new four-and-a-half day workweek starting January 2022. Many organizations followed suit and switched their workweek in line with the public sector, with some opting for a four-day workweek.
This isn’t the first time the UAE has changed its weekend, having adopted Friday as a weekly holiday in 1971 and adding Thursday to make it a two-day weekend in 1999. In 2006, the weekend was changed to Friday and Saturday.
Employees in the UAE have reported improved work-life balance and higher productivity since the switch to the UAE 4 day week, with attendance also noted to have improved by employers. Studies have also shown benefits for certain sectors such as customer service, hospitality, retail, e-commerce, delivery services, and tourism.
A recent study by the SEC reviewed the impact of the new workweek and the results were overwhelmingly positive. The study showed an increase in productivity in 88% of government entities, a 81% increase in positive communication between employees, a 74% increase in attendance, and a 46% decrease in the rate of sick leave taken by employees.
From the employee perspective, the study found a 90% increase in job satisfaction, a 90% improvement in job performance, and a 91% increase in overall happiness after implementing the new system.
The move to a shorter workweek has been deemed a success and is further proof of the UAE‘s commitment to promoting a better work-life balance for its citizens and boosting its economy. Although these findings are only from one month of a shorter working week, these findings may inspire other countries in the Middle East to adopt the UAE 4 day week as it proves that employees can be more productive in a shorter work week, as there is more time to recharge and less burnout.
Iran has been endeavoring to strengthen its military relationship with Russia, hoping to acquire Sukhoi jets, despite the lack of hope for the reinstatement of the nuclear agreement and the imposition of new sanctions due to its repression of dissenters domestically.
According to reports, Russia is considering selling the Sukhoi jets to Iran.
The relations between Iran and the West have become increasingly strained, leading to the two countries deepening their ties. This includes two phone calls between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Vladimir Putin in less than 10 days, multiple high-level visits, and the possible purchase of Russian Sukhoi fighter jets by Iran as a means to evade EU and US sanctions.
The West has expressed discontentment towards Iran since the country supplied combat drones to Russia, which are being utilized in the latter’s conflict with Ukraine. Although Tehran has denied this, with more and more proof of their kamikaze drones crashing in Kyiv, they have been unable to make the Ukrainian authorities believe them.
The Islamic Republic of Tehran has maintained long-standing cooperation with Moscow in terms of military aid. With Western sanctions in place, the Iranian air force has deteriorated and requires a major overhaul. According to Press TV, Tehran is in the process of obtaining 24 advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. This follows comments in September by army officials who first made mention of the plans. There has been speculation whether these jets are payment for Iranian drones, with Iranian lawmaker Shahriar Heydari quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying that the order could be delivered as early as spring.
The Kremlin and the Iranian presidential office both reported that Putin and Raisi had phone conversations from the 9th to the 19th of January, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations.
Between the two phone conversations, Igor Levitin, a key advisor of Putin, traveled to Tehran and conferred with Ali Shamkhani, the national top security official and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
During the same visit, Shamkhani’s office-run Nour News states that discussions were had between the Russian official and the newly appointed Governor of Iran’s Central Bank, Mohammad Reza Farzin, to explore the possibility of increasing Iran-Russia banking cooperation. Reports suggest that both countries, which have been hit by sanctions, are attempting to devise a new trade system that could replace the US dollar in their transactions.
