The Odias living in the UAE celebrated the Odisha Divas at the Indian consulate in Dubai on April 16. It was attended by India’s consul general Dr. Aman Puri who thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Bhubaneswar-Dubai direct flight scheduled to start from May 15.

The counsel general said, “Today, it is a very special celebration. Today, we are celebrating India’s best kept secret being connected with Dubai, which is a shining example of how trade, tourism and investment can transform the lives of people. Today, we are connecting Bhubaneshwar with Dubai, which will enable people of Orissa to be connected to the world, through this amazing hub of Dubai not just for tourism, but also trade and the employment opportunities in different parts of the world and for seeking investments. We are also going to be enabling people living in the Middle East, our Emirati brothers and sisters and our brothers and sisters from over 200 nationalities, who consider UAE their second home, to have a seamless experience of visiting Bhubaneshwar, in India’s best kept secret.”

Dr Puri said that he considered himself blessed as he visited Bhubaneshwar a few months ago. The warmth of the hospitality of the people there deeply touched him, he said.

Dr. Puri welcomed the Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra, Minister of Science and Technology Ashok Chandra Panda, the private secretary to the Chief Minister, the secretary and the delegation from Orissa. The consul general also welcomed delegates from the UAE, representatives of Indian community living in the UAE and the other countries in the Gulf region.

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United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo is in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi for talks in the wake of the US-brokered UAE-Israel peace accord. Pompeo landed in the UAE on August 26 afternoon on the fourth leg of his regional tour, after having visited Israel, Sudan and Bahrain in the past few days. His next destination is Oman.

H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, and Secretary Pompeo reviewed a number of regional and international issues of concern in addition to the prospects of further consolidating the strategic relations between the two friendly countries.

Morgan Ortagus, Spokesperson for the US Department of State, told Emirates News Agency (WAM) that there were “incredibly positive conversations going on” between the US, Israel and UAE with regard to selling F-35 warplanes to the latter. She said Secretary Pompeo is here as more agreements have to formalise between the UAE and Israel, but the first step has been taken and other steps will fall in place.

“With respect to the F-35 or any military hardware or infrastructure, it is important to know that the UAE and US’ military and security relationship is robust and has been there for decades. Since the Gulf War, the US had sold military aircraft and hardware, F-16s, and others to the UAE,” she said. “This is not a new relationship; this is a sophisticated relationship that we have had for decades.”
Ortagus is accompanying Pompeo who, in his meetings this week with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi had been “pretty firm in his commitment to both the UAE and Israel.”

She said, the US was letting all allies in the region know that its commitment to strengthen the UAE militarily is incredibly important.
Ortagus said that the August 13 peace accord showed the UAE’s “strength and power on the international stage.”

She expressed happiness that Israeli and Emirati children will grow up going on vacation in the other’s country and Emirati children will be able to visit the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It is historic that our children will grow up in a society that is different from the prejudiced one we grew up in, she noted. What is normal is not for people to hate each other, she pointed out, but that there should be peace between Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Earlier on August 25, Mohammed bin Ahmad Al Bawardi, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, held a teleconversation with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz regarding the peace deal.

Both ministers expressed conviction that this accord will enhance chances of peace and stability in the region. Both looked forward to strengthening communication channels and establishing solid bilateral relations for the benefit of their countries in particular and the region as a whole.

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Our Correspondent
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has officially inaugurated the Route 2020 Project, Wam reported.
The project involves the 15 km extension of the Dubai Metro Red Line from Jebel Ali Station to Expo 2020 Station. The AED 11-billion Route 2020 project, which links seven stations, will be open to the public in September this year.
Developed by Emirati talent with the support of international expertise, these projects meet the highest global standards, Sheikh Mohammed said on the occasion. Upon arrival at Jebel Ali Metro Station, Sheikh Mohammed and his entourage watched a video about the Route 2020 Project built as part of the leadership’s vision to promote the sustainable development of the emirate. The project was focused on building globally benchmarked infrastructure and services that meet the UAE’s aspirations themed ‘Towards the Next 50 Years’.
The project is part of Road Transport Authority’s (RTA) master plan to provide integrated multi-modal mass transit systems comprising of the metro, tram, buses and marine transport. The video shed light on the communities served by Route 2020 – The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investment Park and the Expo 2020 site, which have a combined population of about 270,000.
The track has 11.8 km elevated track and 3.2 km underground track and links seven stations (one Interchange station with the Red Line, one iconic station at EXPO 2020 site, three elevated stations and two underground stations).
At Jebel Ali Station, an interchange station that spans 8,800 sq. m in area with total capacity of 320,000 riders a day, Sheikh Mohammed boarded the new metro train, which features some modifications to the interior design of the metro carriages. The train stopped at Expo 2020 Station, which boasts a unique design featuring the wings of an aircraft, signifying Dubai’s future drive towards greater innovation.
The design of the new stations enables integration with the public transportation system. Every station has bus and taxi bays as well as stops for pick-up and drop-off.
There will be a key train service to link Terminal 1 Station and Terminal 3 Station of the Dubai International Airport with Expo 2020 Station. There will be a bus service for passengers departing from Expo Station to the Terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport to ease the movement of riders between the two airports. In the near future, Route 2020 will be extended 3.4 km from Expo 2020 Station to Al Maktoum International Airport to ensure a modern metro link between the two airports.
With the opening of Route 2020, the total length of the Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines will increase to 90 km. At the same time, the total length of rail networks in Dubai will rise to 101 km (90km for the metro and 11km for the tram).

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