ABU DHABI // A law allowing the anti-terror centre Hedayah to become an independent organisation has been passed by the FNC.
The facility, which means guidance in Arabic, will investigate terrorism and its roots and find ways to support victims of terrorism by working with academics and religious and community leaders.
Although the law is still to receive final approval from the President, Sheikh Khalifa, before enactment, the centre has been running for the past year.
Members were unsure why there was a need for the law if the centre was already in operation.
"There is a need for the centre - but does it need a law to work?" asked Marwan bin Ghalita (Dubai). He said similar centres were already set up in Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the United States and none was governed by a law.
Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for FNC Affairs and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the UAE committed to establishing the centre at the Global Counterterrorism Forum held in New York in 2011 and the centre was meant to be international, not Emirati. "The country studied options to open such a centre," he said. "We saw there was little legal possibility for this, so needed a law to establish this centre."
He said until the law is passed the UAE has to finance the centre. Afterwards, it will be financed by the 30 member countries of the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
"The centre will be independent, not national," he said. "Without a law giving it independency, we are paying."
Mr bin Ghalita insisted there was no need for the law.
Dr Gargash disagreed. "Right now we are paying for this, it is still under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he said. He said the best option was to give the centre - the executive director of which must be Emirati - operational independence via federal law.
The bill makes clear that the UAE will not be responsible for illegal practices committed by its staff or activists in the course of their work, but states the centre will still "fall under the jurisdiction of UAE laws and is not allowed to perform any acts that breach laws of the UAE or contradict its interests".
osalem@thenational.ae
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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