Youngsters run through a banner bearing words of tolerance and unity in the Multifaith Future Leaders forum at Kyneton.
Youngsters run through a banner bearing words of tolerance and unity in the Multifaith Future Leaders forum at Kyneton.

Youngsters unite to build faith in the future



MELBOURNE // A bold project to bring together a new generation of leaders from Australia's diverse Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities has been held at a rural retreat near Melbourne. It is in an effort to dismantle stereotypes and promote greater understanding at a time when both domestic and international pressures have strained relations between religious groups. The Multifaith Future Leaders Programme is the work of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission, a Jewish organisation based in the southern state of Victoria, which invited more than 30 young professionals and students to a three-day seminar at an outdoor activity centre on the outskirts of the historic town of Kyneton.

Organisers said this was the first course of its kind in Australia aimed specifically at the 18-to-26 age bracket, where Catholics, Baptists and other Christians have shared their ideas and fears with orthodox and non-orthodox Jews along with young Muslims from a range of countries. "From the Muslim community we didn't want 10 people who have come from the Arab Middle East, so what we got is a couple from South-east Asia, Africa as well as the Middle East.

"So, we're getting a real broad representation of the Muslim community," said the executive officer of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission, Ari Morris, whose grandmother survived being imprisoned as a child at the Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp. "Not getting on is a potential recipe for disaster and a lack of dialogue can lead to discord, disagreement and worse. We all know that. "One might have feared that the participants might have sat in their own groups but, no, it is enlightening to see over dinner them breaking down those barriers and to talk about music, sport, food or whatever. It's nice to see."

There was also a deep conviction that those who aspire to be standard bearers of their faith in the future should adopt a more inclusive attitude to different religions than their predecessors. "I think the younger generation seems to be more civilised," said Lukman Arbi, 19, from Indonesia, who is studying commerce in Melbourne." Their parents came here to make a living but it's the burden of the young to carry on the will of their parents, get an education and live smarter and better than their parents and in the process be able to work between the faiths."

Eroding age-old suspicions and replacing misgivings with trust will inevitably take time, according to another participant, Heba Ibrahim, a board member of the Islamic Council of Victoria. He said: "In Australia, although we're a secular society, the only religion recognised is Christianity. It's celebrated in public schools and everywhere else. "People do not know about the other faiths around them. That's the problem.

"People are not brought up to understand what their neighbour's beliefs might be." Vilified and abused after the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the Bali bombings a year later, Australia's 350,000-strong Muslim minority has often felt demonised in a country that prides itself on a generous multicultural spirit but where bigotry and antagonism lurk beneath the surface. Mr Ibrahim believes, though, that a dismal situation has been slowly changing and negative stereotypes of Muslims gradually diminished thanks to youthful vitality.

"The Muslim community [in Australia] is a young community. Fifty per cent of us are under the age of 25. "So, we've come from being a non-established community where we didn't have halal food or Islamic gatherings to one where we've got young people who are going to university, educating themselves, getting into all sorts of fields and every Muslim as they grow up are giving something back to the society. As we get older, the more we learn, the more organised we are and the more established we get."

The residential course - set amid the leafy expanses of a country estate where cream-coloured cabins sit at the end of cinder pathways that cut through eucalyptus forests - has provided a tranquil forum for some heavyweight discussion. "Gaza has been mentioned among the participants but the way in which people hold themselves and engage with one another has been particularly mature," said Caroline Mense, a young Jewish woman studying law at Melbourne's Deakin University.

The Christian student Yalenka Clement, 21, said despite a general sense of goodwill there had been some testy moments. "We were having a big discussion about September 11 and one of the girls got quite defensive because she felt she had to apologise on behalf of the Muslim community," she said. "I haven't had that many close Muslim friends and it's good to come here though and mix more with Muslims and get a better understanding of them."

The event's overall spirit of acceptance was perhaps best highlighted when the group ran through a large banner bearing words of tolerance and unity - a tradition usually reserved for sporting teams as they take to the field in Australian Rules Football. "We're here to build trust and look at ways to develop as young Australians," Mr Morris said. pmercer@thenational.ae

Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan

Four stars

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PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

RESULTS

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.

Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.

Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.

Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.

Women & Power: A Manifesto

Mary Beard

Profile Books and London Review of Books 

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

MATCH INFO

Europa League final

Marseille 0

Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')