Advance of AIDS in Middle East and North Africa continues

The advance of AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa has continued with latest estimates showing that 67,000 people became infected with HIV in 2005. Approximately 510,000 people are living with HIV in the region. An estimated 58,000 adults and children died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005. Available evidence reveals trends of increasing HIV infections in countries such Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Somalia. The main mode of HIV transmission in this region is unprotected sexual contact, although injecting drug use is an increasingly important factor and is the predominant mode of infection in Iran and Libya.

Except for Sudan, national HIV prevalence levels are low in all countries of this region. However, most of the epidemics are concentrated geographically and among particular at-risk populations, including sex workers and their clients, drug injectors, and men who have sex with men.By far the worst-affected country in this region is Sudan, with the highest infections levels found in the south. However, there are recent signs that HIV may be acquiring a stronger presence in the north than previously thought. Among women attending sexually transmitted infection clinics in the capital, over 2% tested positive in 2004, while HIV prevalence of 1% has been found among university students and internally displaced people in states both in the north and south of the country.

According to a recent behavioural study In Sudan, only three quarters of pregnant women have ever heard of AIDS, and fully one fifth of the surveyed women believed they could acquire HIV by sharing a meal with an HIV-positive person. Only 5% knew that condom use could prevent HIV infection, and more than two thirds of the women had never seen or heard of a condom.

Research conducted in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh indicates that about half of HIV infections have been occurring during heterosexual intercourse. Most women were married and had acquired the virus from their husbands, while most men had been infected during paid sex. A large proportion (26%) of infections found in the study were attributed to the transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products early in the epidemic.

Official data from Egypt indicate an epidemic that is driven mainly by unprotected sex—with heterosexual intercourse accounting for about one half of HIV cases noted, and sex between men for a further one fifth. Injecting drug use was the mode of transmission in just 2% of HIV cases. Yet, researchers have encountered high levels of risky behaviour among injecting drug users in Cairo, for instance, with more than half the surveyed injectors saying they used non-sterile injecting equipment in the previous month.

Although still very low, HIV prevalence in women attending antenatal clinics in Morocco doubled between 1999 and 2003, when it reached 0.13%. Among sex workers and prisoners, prevalence was considerably higher, at 2.3% and 0.8% respectively. Algeria recorded twice as many new HIV cases in 2004 (266 diagnoses) compared with the year before. The highest infection levels recorded to date have been among sex workers: 1.7% in Oran, in the north, and as high as 9% in Tamanrasset, in the south, where has risen sharply from the 2% found in 2000.

In Libya, injecting drug use is the main driver of an epidemic that has sent HIV infections surging among young men in recent years. As many as 80% of the almost 10,000 HIV cases officially reported by end 2004 have occurred since the turn of the century—and the majority of those infections appear to be the result of injecting drug use.

In Iran, HIV is circulating widely among drug injectors, of whom there were an estimated 200,000 in 2003, and looks set to spread further. One new study among users attending public drug treatment centres in Tehran suggests close linkages between HIV and drug injecting, incarceration and sexual practices. Most of the drug injectors who participated in the study were sexually active, many either bought or sold sex and only 53% had ever used a condom. About 600-1,000 people are believed to be living with HIV in Jordan, where adult HIV prevalence appears to be very low (about 0.02%).

In Yemen, HIV transmission is believed to be occurring largely through paid sex, while injecting drug use appears to be a more prominent mode of transmission in Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. In several countries of this region, a combination of inadequate surveillance data and strong socio-cultural taboos against sex between men could be hiding sex between men as a factor in HIV transmission. Little is known about HIV transmission in prisons, although available data point to elevated risk in those settings. HIV prevalence of 18% has been reported in prisons in Tripoli, Libya, 2% in Sudan in 2002 and almost 1% in Morocco in 2003.

Knowledge of AIDS in the region is generally poor, and preventive practices are rare, even among populations most at risk of becoming infected. Substantive efforts are clearly needed to introduce more effective HIV prevention strategies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Tanmia signs MoU with Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) for employing 1,060 Nationals

Tanmia will support DCA's Emiratisation drive by offering its services for training and employing the selected candidates from its database

November 23, 2005 Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) today (Tuesday, November 23, 2005) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia), for employing 1,060 UAE Nationals registered with Tanmia. The MoU also aims at enhancing mutual cooperation and creating more employment opportunities for UAE Nationals at DCA.

The MoU was signed by Ayesh Al Barghouti, Director, Employment and Skills Development Center, Tanmia, and Thani Binjarsh, Director of Human Resources, Dubai Civil Aviation at Dubai International Airport. Commenting on the MoU, Al Barghouti said, "Tackling the problem of unemployment among UAE Nationals is crucial to ensure the all round progress of the country in the medium and long term. Tanmia has been tasked with finding the right employment opportunities for UAE National job seekers in the private and government sectors. However, without the full commitment of companies within both sectors, to provide job opportunities for Nationals, little can be achieved."

"The Emiratisation drive in the country received a boost in recent months, with an increasing number of decision makers realizing the role they can play in taking this initiative further. We are glad that DCA has committed to significantly increase the number of Nationals employed within the organisation," he added.Following the MoU, DCA will hire 1000 Nationals as Security Screeners and 60 Nationals to work within the Customer Service Support Department. Tanmia will liaise with Dubai Civil Aviation to identify its job requirements and agree on detailed specifications for the job openings, including job title, educational level and gender.

"We fully support Tanmia's mission to identify job opportunities for UAE Nationals and we are strongly committed to raising the number of Nationals working in DCA. This agreement will help us leverage Tanmia's recourses and training solutions to recruit the right people for the available vacancies at DCA," said Binjarsh said. "We believe there are several areas in which DCA and Tanmia could work together. This MoU represents the start of a fruitful and rewarding collaboration that will not only ensure increased employment of Nationals within DCA but also enhance support to Tanmia's initiatives," added Binjarsh.Tanmia will be responsible for nominating a selection of candidates from which DCA will select the most suitable ones to undergo a training programme consisting of classroom and on-the-job training to meet skill and competency gaps of the chosen candidates. Tanmia and DCA will then choose an institution to provide training to the selected Nationals, who will join DCA upon successful completion of the training programme.

Midnight launch for Paris Gallery at Ibn Battuta Mall

November 23, 2005 -Al Fahim Enterprises celebrated with esteemed members of the media, a midnight opening of the very first New Generation Paris Gallery department store at Ibn Battuta Mall.The event took place at the store which is located in the mall’s Persia Court, particularly appropriate due to the history of Paris Gallery. The new look of the store seamlessly blends with the authentic 14th Century design of the Persia Court and overall architectural concept of Ibn Battuta Mall.While the guests took time to go through every feature of the department store’s brand new ‘shop-in-shop’ concept, a violinist serenaded guests with popular pieces throughout the evening. More than 60 members of the press, including two major TV stations, were prominent throughout the evening and all guests were encouraged to take advantage of the Paris Gallery shisha tent situated outside the Persia Court, where coffee, dates and shisha were available. Hot chocolate was also sampled courtesy of Le Marron Chocolates, who have opened their very first chocolatier in Dubai at the Ibn Battuta Mall store.

Marvin B. Shaire, Chief Operating Officer of Nakheel Retail Corp, said: “We are delighted that Paris Gallery has arrived at Ibn Battuta Mall. We are particularly proud of the diverse blend of retailers at the mall and Paris Gallery will provide some additional class and sophistication to our existing high-end stores.“The soft opening was enjoyed by all those attended and it was pleasing to see the press embrace the ‘New Generation’ concept, which I expect to be extremely successful. The midnight launch provided an excellent prelude to the major launch activity that will take place later in the year – Paris Gallery is currently working on some really exciting plans to announce the arrival of its inaugural ‘New Generation’ store to the public, so watch this space.”

Having firmly established itself as the foremost retailer of luxury goods and services in the Middle East, Paris Gallery has embarked on the next stage of its evolution with the ‘New Generation Paris Gallery'. The shop-in-shop concept incorporates several luxury shops within the store, offering a range of luxury brands and services, many of which are exclusive to Paris Gallery in the region. The store offers a new look, new product offerings, and an entirely new concept for the interior and exterior design. Leading edge design principles and unique architectural features have been developed to give the brand a distinct retail language, while still retaining the characteristic Paris Gallery feel.

JORDAN: Rights groups concerned over anti-terror draft laws

AMMAN, 17 November (IRIN) - New anti-terror legislation in Jordan, proposed in the wake of recent deadly terror attacks in the capital Amman, will serve to curtail civil liberties and will represent a step backwards in terms of democracy, a leading Jordanian rights group warned on Wednesday."We don't need these kinds of laws," said Nizam Assaf, director of the Amman Centre for Human rights Studies. "Jordan already has many mechanisms for fighting terrorism." The new bill, which will be debated by Parliament on 1 December, lays down stiff punishments for anyone seen as condoning or supporting acts of "terror."In addition, article 14 of the draft states that all citizens renting apartments or office space to non-Jordanians must report specific details about tenants to the authorities within 48 hours after the signing of any leases.

Required personal information will include names, nationalities and passport numbers. Those who do not comply will "face penalties", according to the draft law.Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also expressed concern over the proposed law: "HRW will be even more concerned over the situation of the undocumented Iraqi population in Jordan who have no refugee status," Christoph Wilcke, researcher
for HRW said from New York.Since terrorist attacks in the coastal area of Aqaba'last August, Jordan has been 'systematically expelled undocumented Iraqis from the country, back to Iraq',according to Wilcke.

"This is very worrying", he added, "because it goes against all human rights conventions". "These people came to Jordan escaping the war and now they are being sent back there again". There are an estimated an 400,000 Iraqis living in Jordan. Jordan's King Abdullah II has assured foreigners living in the kingdom, particularly Iraqis, that no unwarranted action would be taken against them. The king referred to Iraqi expatriates as "our dear brothers," who enjoyed the right to "live in dignity in their second homeland."He added: "Their security is our security, and we will not accept that any harm should come to them."The draft law comes in the wake of a series of explosions on 9 November in the capital, which targeted the Grand Hyatt, Radisson and Days Inn hotels. The explosions killed 59 and injured nearly 100, according to reports by security officials.

The "Al-Qaeda" terror group allegedly claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were perpetrated by suicide bombers, some believed to be of Iraqi origin.Assaf urged the authorities to make the proposed legislation public so it can be discussed with local and international human rights organisations before being presented to parliament."The government makes more mistakes by minimising the rights of citizens because of the attacks," Assaf warned.

Dubai, November 20, 2005

Kingfisher Airlines selects the ATR 72-500 aircraft

ATR has been selected by Kingfisher Airlines to provide 20 firm ATR 72-500 aircraft, plus an option for 15 additional aircraft. This was announced on the occasion of a joint press conference held today in Dubai between ATR and India’s first Full Service True Value carrier, Kingfisher Airlines.The value of the contract, excluding options, is US $350M.

The 20 firm aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between March 2006 and August 2008. Equipped with the “Elegance” cabin, incorporating all the latest developments in passenger comfort and amenities, the ATR 72-500 aircraft will also be fitted with the newest technological innovations in the field of communications and navigation aid tools, and IFE (in-flight entertainment).

The ATR 72-500s will be used as feeder aircraft on smaller domestic routes to link Kingfisher Airlines’ four hubs that are Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Bangalore.

"It goes without saying that the entire company is excited with our acquisition and is very much looking forward to welcoming the ATR aircraft that we will have in service by March 2006. This aircraft will also feature a series of firsts in the Indian market including the IFE system which is a key differentiator for Kingfisher Airlines and puts us ahead of our competitors. These aircraft will allow us to develop our network and introduce new routes not previously served and we are excited to be bringing the Kingfisher Airlines experience to more cities throughout India,” stated Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and Managing Director, Kingfisher Airlines.

“We have fully evaluated competing turboprop and regional aircraft and chosen the ATR as it offers the best in-country support, having serviced India for the past number of years, operating economics, which are important as it enables us to manage our costs as an expanding airline and fuel burn as in today’s environment fuel price is the single largest contributor to operating costs. The ATR72-500 is the ideal choice. We are delighted to induct this Aircraft into our fleet next year”, said Nigel Harwood, Chief Operating Officer, Kingfisher Airlines.

“I’m especially proud that Kingfisher Airlines made the choice in favour of ATR“, Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, stated. “This new contract asserts our leadership in India’s regional market and confirms the suitability of ATR aircraft in that country. With the ATR 72-500, Kingfisher Airlines will operate state-of-the-art aircraft which combine both jet-like comfort with unmatched operating economics.” ATR currently holds a market share in India of 75% in the 50 to 70-seat regional market and of the turboprop sector the market share is 95%

Filippo Bagnato also commented: ”From the beginning of the year 2005, ATR logged 90 new aircraft sales, and the Indian market has been an important part of our record sales. This commercial success is evidence of the strong revival of the turboprop aircraft in the regional aviation market.”In the Asia Pacific area, 109 ATRs are currently operated by 23 airlines. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 778 aircraft (398 ATR 42 and 380 ATR 72).

The ATR 72-500 is the latest development of the ATR 72 with a proven average dispatch reliability of more than 99.6%. This version shares the same power-plant, six-bladed propellers, the same interior design and soundproofing techniques of the ATR 42-500, thus offering the same excellent comfort and passenger appeal. Its standard capacity is of 68 seats. The ATR 72-500 has the lowest seat mile costs, recognised as a benchmark for the regional market. The increased power and aerodynamic refinements provide excellent take-off and landing performance. The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) was increased by 300 kg, from 22,500 to 22,800 kg, end of 2004.
All ATR models are compliant with noise regulations and have a large margin with regard to future Chapter IV (ICAO) noise regulations, effective 1st January 2006. The advanced six-blade propeller provides remarkably low outside noise levels. Low fuel burn and gaseous emissions contribute to make the ATR environment friendly.

Kingfisher Airlines is India's first and only private airline to commence operations with a brand new fleet of aircraft. Kingfisher Airlines offers Full Service at True Value and promises an unparalleled experience to the Indian air traveller. For the first time in the Indian skies, Kingfisher Airlines offers world-class in-flight entertainment with personal video screens for every seat. There’s a wide selection of 5 video channels and 10 audio channels available on-board. Also on offer are extra-wide seats and spacious leg room, delicious gourmet meals, international-class cabin crew and a whole host of comforts and delights. Kingfisher Airlines also facilitates doorstep delivery of tickets on guest request.