Seven dead after avalanche at Massif des Ecrins in French Alps

PHOTO: The massif is an easy-to-access 4,015-metre-high mountain popular with climbers. 

Seven people were killed when an avalanche swept them away in the French Alps, a local official says, the deadliest snowslide to hit the popular mountain range this year.

"The toll has increased — seven people have died," said the official, Pierre Besnard, who had earlier put the number of deaths at five, with two people missing.

He added that rescuers were continuing their search to make sure there were no other victims.

The avalanche struck around noon (local time) at the Snow Dome in the Alps' Massif des Ecrins, an easy-to-access 4,015-metre-high mountain that is hugely popular with climbers.

It swept away eight people, among whom were foreign climbers, police said, adding they did not yet know their nationalities. One person was injured.

Climbers and skiers are sporadically caught in avalanches in the popular Alps, particularly during the winter season, but this is the deadliest accident so far this year.

In January, six skiers were carried away by an avalanche in the Queyras mountain range of the Alps, and just over two months later three died in the Massif des Ecrins.

Christian Flagella, a member of the police force in the Hautes-Alpes region where the mountain is located, said the avalanche was likely triggered when a layer of snow separated and hurtled down the hill.

"The conditions are winter-like at the moment," he said.

New Ebola Death Prompts Quarantine in Sierra Leone

A healthcare worker dons in protective gear before entering an Ebola treatment center on Oct. 16, 2014 in the west of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The announcement marked another setback in ending Ebola transmission

(FREETOWN, Sierra Leone)—Sierra Leone on Monday announced a new Ebola death in a northern district that had gone nearly six months without reporting any infections.

The announcement marked another setback in ending Ebola transmission in Sierra Leone, which has totaled nearly 4,000 Ebola deaths during the worst outbreak ever recorded.

In August, Sierra Leone’s last known Ebola patient was released from a hospital after recovering, a milestone that allowed the West African nation to begin a 42-day countdown toward being declared free of Ebola transmission.

But less than a week later, officials confirmed that a 67-year-old woman had died of Ebola in the northern Kambia district.

The latest fatality is a 16-year-old who died on Sunday in Bombali district, about 150 miles northeast of the capital, Freetown, according to a statement from the National Ebola Response Center issued Monday.

A swab from her body tested positive for Ebola, but the source of the infection is unknown, the statement said.

The village where she died has been placed under quarantine.

Monday’s statement expressed confidence that Ebola could be contained in the district.

“Bombali District has not reported a case for 169 days, however, this does not mean it is not ready to respond,” it said.

Officials said last week there were four Ebola patients receiving treatment in Sierra Leone, all of whom were believed to be relatives of the woman who died in Kambia district. A niece of the woman who officials think may be at risk of Ebola has not been located.

2015 Man Booker Prize Shortlist Is Announced

Only two British novelists made the cut

The shortlist for the 2015 Man Booker Prize has been announced, whittling down the contenders to a total of six—only two of them British.

For the second year, the prestigious literary prize is open to any book published in English in the U.K., rather than just those written by authors from the U.K., the Commonwealth, Ireland and Zimbabwe. The shortlist includes two American authors: Hanya Yanagihara and Anne Tyler. This is British author Tom McCarthy’s second time on the shortlist.

Marlon James (Jamaica) — A Brief History of Seven Killings

Tom McCarthy (U.K.) — Satin Island

Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria) — The Fishermen

Sunjeev Sahota (U.K.) — The Year of the Runaways

Anne Tyler (U.S.) — A Spool of Blue Thread

Hanya Yanagihara (U.S.) — A Little Life

Each of these finalists will receive £2,500 ($3,848). The Man Booker winner, who gets an additional £50,000 ($76,955), will be announced on Oct. 13. Check out the longlist

Jarryd Hayne says he will learn from NFL debut for San Francisco 49ers

PHOTO: Jarryd Hayne says he will learn from his NFL debut after making his first appearance for the 49ers.

Hayne's dream of a code-jump from NRL football to a career in gridiron became a reality in Santa Clara as the Niners beat the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 on Tuesday afternoon, but his first touch of the pigskin was far from ideal.Jarryd Hayne has said he will learn from his debut NFL appearance after making a shaky but ultimately solid start to life in American football.

He fumbled the ball on a first quarter punt return for the 49ers, handing the ball to the Minnesota Vikings on the opening play of his NFL career.

After an injury to veteran Bush late in the opening quarter, Hayne assumed a support role to running back Carlos Hyde.

The NFL debutant said after the match he was furious with himself for the fumble, but was pleased with how he adjusted as the match went on.

"I can't go back in time," Hayne said.

"I just needed to move ahead.

"I definitely learned from this game. My first professional game. Started a bit shaky, but it was good to get a couple of runs."His second chance to return a punt came early in the second quarter, but the swirling wind at the 49ers' stadium in Santa Clara pushed the punt out of bounds.

In the absence of Bush, San Francisco continued to stick with Hyde for the running game.

However, Hayne eventually entered the game on offence and made a one-yard run.

Two plays later he caught a pass out of the backfield from quarterback Colin Kaepernick, stepped past one defender and made seven yards on the play.

Smuggler held with alcohol bottles in 12 pockets

Customs officer foils attempt as man was on his way into Saudi Arabia

Saudi customs have arrested a man who was attempting to smuggle 12 bottles of alcohol in secret pockets he made in his trousers.

Fahad Al Otaibi, the head of the Saudi customs on King Fahad Causeway that links Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said that an officer had suspicions about a traveler, prompting him to search him.

He found the 12 bottles in 12 pockets that had been added to the pants, six in the front and six in the back.The smuggler wore a loose fitting traditional white thobe that concealed the bottles, Saudi news site Sabq reported.

Comments mainly labeled the smuggler as “naïve” and “stupid” for his attempt, even though it was highly unusual.They said he should have known that it would be difficult for him to walk straight and that experienced officers who asked male drivers and passengers to get off the vehicle would easily notice him.Cars going from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia go through customs only at the Saudi side, while vehicles entering Bahrain are checked at the Bahraini side of the causeway.

The 25-kilometre King Fahad Causeway, opened in November 1986, is used by more than 30,000 people every day to travel or commute between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, making it one of the busiest traffic sectors in the Arab world.Smuggling attempts via the causeway have included explosives, weapons, detonators, drugs, wild animals, and birds often stashed in wooden boxes.

Europe migrant crisis: Hungary seals border as EU fails to agree on quotas

Hungary has effectively sealed its border with Serbia to stem the massive influx of asylum seekers, as EU ministers failed in an emergency meeting to agree on sharing the migrants around the bloc.

PHOTO: A wagon blocks a former route used by asylum seekers along a rail track on the Serbian-Hungarian.

On Monday afternoon (local time) Hungarian police had closed the main unofficial crossing point — a 40-metre gap in a razorwire barrier for train tracks — and directed migrants to a nearby official crossing point.Budapest's move came after Austria and Slovakian authorities followed Germany's lead in reimposing border controls, a further blow to Europe's cherished passport-free Schengen zone as the continent grapples with one of its biggest migration crises since 1945.

But the next morning witnesses said this official entry point was also closed, leaving several hundred migrants queuing with no apparent hope of entering the EU member state.

"The border was shut and has yet to re-open," said UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch.

"Our staff do not have access and the Hungarian authorities have not let us know about any schedule they have for re-opening the border."

The closure came as harsh new Hungarian laws came into effect criminalising "illegal border-crossing" with up to three years in prison.

Hungary, which has seen some 200,000 migrants enter the country this year, is also building a controversial fence four metres high along the 175-kilometre border with non-EU Serbia.

Poland said it was considering sealing its border, while the Netherlands said it would have "more patrols" on its frontiers.

Lena Dunham Wants You to #AskYourMother About Abortions Before Roe

Actress Lena Dunham attends the 6th Annual L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade at UCLA on September 12, 2015 in Los Angeles.

Because talking about it keeps it from being shameful"

Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner asked two septuagenarians about life before Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, and they want young people across the U.S. to do the same.

In a preview from the Girls masterminds upcoming digital newsletter Lenny Letter, Konner and Dunham argue that the stories of women and men who experienced abortion before it was legal are important given the recurring interest in stopping the practice. Several states have already placed restrictions on the procedure, many in the south. Congressional Republicans are seeking to defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of a series of secretly-taped videos that anti-abortion activists say show officials from the organization discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood has repeatedly written the videos off as deceptive and misleading and denies profiting from fetal tissue donations.

In Tuesday’s letter, which comes a little under two weeks before the 15th anniversary of the introduction of the abortion pill, Konner’s mom Ronnie Konner, 72, shares the story of her pre-Roe abortion. Konner traveled across the U.S.-Mexico border alone to get an illegal abortion, paying a man she’d never met $300 and hoping for the best.

The abortion experience wasn’t bad in itself, but the ride down was a nightmare. On the trip with me were a cheerleader and her boyfriend. She cried for the 300 miles to Ensenada. And there was another girl that never said a word, who was also with her boyfriend. We had to have the sunglasses in our left hands so we could find this young Mexican guy who would show us the way to the doctor’s.

Dunham and Konner think that by having young people inquire about peoples’ experiences before the practice was legal because “talking about it keeps it from being shameful.”

BMW CEO Collapses During Presentation at Auto Show

CEO of BMW Harald Krueger is assisted after fainting during a presentation at the 66th IAA auto show in Frankfurt on September 15, 2015.

He fell on his back during the first five minutes of BMW's presentation

FRANKFURT, Germany — BMW CEO Harald Krueger collapsed Tuesday during a news conference at the Frankfurt auto show and was helped off stage by staff. His condition was not serious, the company said later.

Krueger stumbled backward and fell on his back during the first five minutes of the presentation of the German auto house’s new lineup.

Staff rushed to help Krueger back on his feet, and he rubbed the back of his head, looking stunned as he was lifted up and led off stage by staff.

BMW spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl said that 49-year-old Krueger had been recently traveling a lot, and was not feeling well ahead of the presentation but decided to go ahead with it.

Schoeberl said Krueger, who took over as BMW’s CEO earlier this year, was seen by a doctor following the incident, who recommended that he cancel his other appointments for the day and rest at home.

“His condition is not worrisome, they’ve ruled out anything serious,” Schoeberl said.

A round table Krueger was to hold with journalists was instead conducted by the company’s CFO

Carson Closes Gap on Trump in Poll

Dr. Ben Carson is introduced to the crowd during the Eagle Forum's Eagle Council Event on Sept. 11, 2015 in St. Louis.

The two political newcomers are dominating the GOP field

Riding a wave of momentum, Ben Carson gained on Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in a new presidential primary poll that crystallizes the two political newcomers’ dominance of a crowded GOP field.

The New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday showed Trump maintaining his national lead with 27%. Carson was the choice of 23% of respondents, up from just 6% in a similar CBS News survey taken before the first GOP debate.

The remainder of the GOP field is closely bunched. Former Govs. Jeb Bush of Florida and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas earned 6% in the poll, as did Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz notched 5%, while businesswoman Carly Fiorina got 4%. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul were the choice of 3% of respondents. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie got 1%.

Aunt of Drowned Syrian Boy Says It Is Not Too Late To Save Other Refugees

Tima Kurdi, right, aunt of late brothers Alan and Ghalib Kurdi, is comforted by her husband, Rocco Logozzo, as she speaks during a memorial service for the boys and their mother in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on, Sept. 5, 2015.

Tima Kurdi feels responsible for the deaths of Aylan Kurdi, his brother and their mother

Tima Kurdi awoke on Sept. 2 at home in Vancouver to dozens of missed calls on her phone from relatives in Syria. The news was grim: Her brother Abdullah’s wife and two children had drowned crossing the Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece. And within hours, her nephew — three-year-old Aylan Kurdi — would become the world’s most famous casualty, a dead toddler in a red T-shirt and black sneakers washed ashore on a Turkish beach. “Every day kids have drowned,” Kurdi says, sitting in a Brussels hotel room on Monday. “But before Aylan died, people read it and moved on. That boy, that picture, meant something.”

Two weeks on, it has become clear how much Aylan Turki’s death meant. The image of Aylan’s body, in his neat clothes and a fresh haircut, jolted leaders into action after months of dithering over one of the biggest refugee crises in about 70 years. Within days the U.S., Germany, and France offered to settle tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, for the first time in the five-year war. On Monday and Tuesday European Union ministers met in Brussels to discuss Europe’s first unified asylum policy. Although they battled to agree on binding quotas to host those who’ve flooded across E.U. borders, refugee advocates says Aylan’s death has nonetheless marked a sharp turning point for Europe. “If Aylan had not happened I don’t think Europe would be having this existential discussion,” says Sam Barratt, campaign director for the New York-based activist organization Avaaz, which financed Tima Kurdi’s Brussels trip. “Without that photo, the E.U. would have kicked the issue into the long grass.”

For Aylan’s aunt, 44, who works as a hairdresser in Vancouver, it has been a bitter price to pay. Sunk into an armchair, Kurdi wrings her hands as she describes how the loss of Aylan, his brother Galib, 5, and their mother Rehana, has shattered her family, leaving them exhausted with grief and uncertain about their future

Fresh Prince Turns 25: The Show’s Creators on Will Smith, Reboots and Race

Quincy Jones, Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz reflect on the legacy of the first major sitcom to star a rapper

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a show about a street-smart teen from West Philadelphia whose mom sends him to live with his conservative relatives (the Banks family) in Bel-Air, California, premiered 25 years ago this week. The sitcom, which ran from 1990 to 1996, launched the career of its star Will Smith, known as the rapper The Fresh Prince, along with many others.

With reruns still airing and the theme song still playing on dance floors andbeing remixed on YouTube, TIME catches up with award-winning composer and record producer Quincy Jones, 82, who was the show’s executive producer, and its creators (who were married at the time) Andy Borowitz, 57, author of the satirical column The Borowitz Report, and Susan Borowitz, 56, a former writer for Family Ties and the author of When We’re in Public, Pretend You Don’t Know Me. In separate interviews, the trio talks about why NBC was scared to run a show starring a rapper, how the show influenced pop culture and why not to get your hopes up for a Fresh Prince reboot.

Japan Floods as Heavy Rain Overflows Rivers

Residents wait for rescue helicopters at a residential area flooded by the Kinugawa river in Joso, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, on Sept. 10, 2015

Rescue workers used helicopters to pluck out resident

As heavy rain pummeled Japan for a second straight day, the Kinugawa River broke through a flood berm, sending a wall of water into Joso, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Japan’s capital.(TOKYO) — Helicopters plucked dozens of residents from the tops of their homes in Japan on Thursday, but rescue officials said they were unable to keep up with all the pleas for help after raging floodwaters swamped parts of a city north of Tokyo.

National broadcaster NHK showed aerial footage of rescuers lowered from helicopters and clambering onto second-floor balconies to reach stranded residents. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.

In one dramatic scene, the rescuer could be seen descending four times from a military helicopter over a 20-minute period to lift up four people one-by-one, as a deluge of water swept around their home.

Nearby a man clung to a utility pole as the waters rose, before being taken up by a rescuer who had to be first lowered into the water so he could make his way over to the man.

Others waved cloths from their decks or roofs to get attention as torrents of water washed away cars and knocked buildings off their foundations. Photos from Japan’s Kyodo news service showed people waiting for help on top of cars and a 7-11 delivery truck, surrounded by water that nearly submerged the cars.

Kyodo reported that 39 people had been rescued by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, as its military is called, and rescue work was continuing.

Akira Motokawa, a city evacuation official, told NHK that rescuers have been unable to respond to the volume of calls for help.

The Transport Ministry estimated that 6,900 households have been affected by the flooding, Kyodo said, adding only about 2,500 of the city’s residents had been evacuated beforehand to shelters. The floodwaters reached at least 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the breach.

Tokyo was drenched with rain, but the hardest-hit area was to the north in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. One woman was missing hours after a landslide hit houses at the foot of a steep, wooded incline. Bullet train service was partially suspended.

The rains came on the heels of Tropical Storm Etau, which caused similar flooding and landslides Wednesday as it crossed central Japan.

The Fire and Disaster and Management Agency said 15 people were injured by Etau, two seriously, both elderly women who were knocked over by strong winds.

Judge Rules Freddie Gray Trials to Stay in Baltimore

Baltimore police officers form a line at the Inner Harbor on Pratt St. as protestors gathered, blocking traffic on Sept. 2, 2015 in Baltimore.

Judge Barry Williams said the 6 police officers could get fair trials in Baltimore

(BALTIMORE) — A judge has ruled the trials of six Baltimore police officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray will be kept in Baltimore.

Judge Barry Williams ruled Thursday, saying the officers could get fair trials in Baltimore despite days of protests, rioting and a weeklong city-wide curfew after Gray’s death. Gray died in April after he was critically injured in police custody.

Protesters cheered outside the courthouse. “The trial stays here,” they said repeatedly.

Attorneys for the officers had argued that a million-dollar settlement the city reached with the Gray family sways jurors, along with other pre-trial publicity

McDonald’s to Switch to Cage-Free Eggs

A McDonald's Egg McMuffin and hash browns.

The move will hasten a transition occurring across the industry

McDonald’s will transition to using eggs from cage-free hens in its restaurants in the U.S. and Canada over the next decade, the company announced Wednesday.

Given the company’s scale, the move promises to hasten a transition by egg producers to improve animal welfare that has been years in the making. McDonald’s purchases more than 2 billion eggs each year in the U.S. alone, or about 5% of the total number of eggs produced in the country.

Caged egg farms have come under criticism from animal rights activists who describe them as inhumane. Chickens are often housed in cages with floor space the size of an iPad, which prevents them from spreading their wings. Even the cage-free standard has been questioned by animal rights activists, since it often means hens are just put in larger cages.

Apple Just Announced the Biggest iPad Ever

Beck Diefenbach—ReutersPhil Schiller, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Apple Inc, speaks about the new iPad Pro during an Apple media event in San Francisco, on Sept. 9, 2015.

Meet the iPad Pro

Apple announced a new big-screen iPad at an event in San Francisco, Calif. Wednesday. The new iPad, the iPad Pro, will have a 12.9-inch screen with a 2732 X 2048 resolution.

The long-rumored tablet will be the most powerful iOS device ever released, Apple marketing exec Phil Schiller said at the event. The iPad Pro’s A9X chip will be 1.8 times faster than the A8X in the iPad Air 2. The device will also have a 10-hour battery life and a four-speaker audio system for improved sound performance. The iPad Pro is 6.9 mm thick, just a bit thicker than the iPad Air’s 6.1 mm, and also features an 8 megapixel camera.

The cheapest model the iPad Pro will cost $799 and have 32 GB of storage. A 128GB version will cost $949, and a 128GB version with LTE capability will cost $1,079. The device launches in November.

The company is also building a set of iPad Pro-specific accessories, including a keyboard that will allow for faster typing than pecking at the device’s touch screen (costing $169) and a stylus called Apple Pencil (costing $99). The new tablet will be able to make use of many of the new features in iOS 9, such as split-screen view and multi-tasking, which allow people to use multiple apps at once. Apple is positioning the product as a tool aimed at professionals. Companies such as Adobe and 3D4Medical provided demos of iPad Pro apps that will be useful for art designers and doctors.

With the new announcement, Apple will now be juggling three different iPad models—the 7.9-inch iPad Mini line, the 9.7-inch iPad Air line and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The larger iPad could help boost the product line’s lagging sales, which have been on a steady decline amidst increased competition from companies like Microsoft and a broader slowdown in the tablet market.

ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED RECEIVES SERBIAN PRIME

 

Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received the Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, here yesterday. 

At the beginning of the meeting, the Serbian Prime Minister offered condolences to Sheikh Abdullah on the Emirati martyrs who fell while participating in the Saudi-led Arab coalition's Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen. 

Sheikh Abdullah and Vucic discussed ways to enhance co-operation between the two friendly countries and exchanged views on the current regional and international developments. 

Sheikh Abdullah underlined the progressive relations between the UAE and Serbia which culminated in several investment projects in Serbia and a growing bilateral co-operation in economic, cultural, healthcare, tourism and agricultural fields. He said the UAE was keen on supporting development efforts in Serbia. 

The Serbian Prime Minister expressed his country's desire to strengthen co-operation with the UAE, in the light of the latter's growing development in all fields. He praised UAE's support to economic and social development plans in Serbia and the role of its investments in boosting the country's economy. 

The meeting was attended by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Juma Rashid Saif Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Serbia

MOHAMED BIN ZAYED VISITS WOUNDED SERVICEMEN AT ZAYED MILITARY HOSPITAL

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday visited a number of the Armed Forces servicemen who were wounded while performing their national duty during the Arab Coalition's 'Operation Restore Hope in Yemen, at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi. 

Sheikh Mohamed was reassured by attending doctors about the health condition of the wounded soldiers. While talking to them, H.H. praised their steadfastness, heroism and dedication they made while defending the right and supporting their brethren in Yemen. 

Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. 

The wounded servicemen said during conversations with Sheikh Mohamed that they cannot wait to recover and re-join their units in the battlefield, and pledged loyalty to their fallen brothers. 

Sheikh Mohamed praised their bravery and loyalty, and assured them that with such a spirit the UAE will overcome all difficulties, and reach its goals. He wished them a speedy recovery. 

Sheikh Mohamed said the wounds of the UAE's soldiers are medals of honour and proof of their sacrifices and gallantry in defending their country's values and principles of solidarity with their Arab brothers in support of their just cause. 

IFHC ANNOUNCES ‘INTERNATIONAL

The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) will be participating in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), which runs from Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 September for yet another consecutive year. As part of the show, the Fund has a jam-packed schedule of four days of activities for the entire family, designed to raise awareness of its work and educate attendees on the support it can provide to help protect the vulnerable species. 

"This year at ADIHEX we have designed our stand and activities to drive home the message that the IFHC is a truly international organisation. Working to conserve the Houbara bustard is no small feat, considering the migratory nature of the bird and its wide range. In light of this, a truly collaborative spirit between countries across the Houbara range is essential for the successful reintroduction of the species. The IFHC has forged many partnerships required to this end, something we wish to both focus on and celebrate this year," said Mohammed Al Baidani, Director General of the IFHC. 

In light of the theme of ‘international partnerships', the IFHC will have dedicated sections on its stand to its three most prominent country partnerships – that with Morocco, Kazakhstan and the UAE – where its breeding centres are located. Each country section will feature an ecologist to inform attendees about the work of the IFHC in each partner country, covering everything from captive breeding and release to ecological studies and socio-economic development. 

Outside of the country sections, the IFHC stand will play host to a cinema, where it will be screening a selection of videos, further highlighting its achievements thanks to the support of international governments and communities. Screening around the clock, guests are welcome to drop by anytime to rest weary feet and learn about the Fund's international conservation efforts designed to help reinstate Houbara populations to healthy numbers worldwide. 

Other main attractions on the IFHC stand will be targeted towards the younger generations in the ‘Kid's Corner', a regular feature for the Fund at ADIHEX. Storytelling, face painting, and games and puzzles from the ‘Houbara trail' to ‘Free the Houbara' have all been designed to both educate and entertain smaller guests on the subject of Houbara conservation, where a daily prize in the form of an iPad air will be gifted to one lucky participating child. 

Speaking on the kid's activities, Hamda Hamad Al Ameri, Acting Head of PR & Communications at the IFHC, commented, "We encourage children of all ages to drop by our stand during ADIHEX for a fun-filled few hours where they will have the chance to learn, play and interact with children of a similar age while learning about the importance of Houbara and Houbara conservation. We hope to drive home the message of preserving species for future generations and it is through our engagement with the youth of today that we can ensure the continuation of our work for generations to come." – Emirates News 

ADIHEX IS ALL ABOUT PRESERVING SUSTAINABLE FALCONRY, NATIONAL HERITAGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT ABU DHABI

With 40,000 square meters of exhibition space, the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) will showcase Emirati and world's heritage, culture, falconry, horsemanship and adventures in the great outdoors.

Now in its 13th year, ADIHEX is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers' Club (EFC), being organised by EFC with the support of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Over a decade ago, the exhibition began with a handful of participants, committed to save the majestic wild falcon from its endangered status by promoting farm-bred falcons, right in time for the hunting season, as instructed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

As explained by Majed Ali Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of ADIHEX and Executive Director of EFC, the exhibition not only succeeded in its mission, but it became a lot more, a milestone for preserving Emirati culture, traditions and environment.

"Throughout its previous editions, ADIHEX attracted vast participations from around the world, and it became a destination for all hunting and equestrian gear producers, as well as tens of thousands of visitors and interested parties," said Al Mansouri.

"By launching its 13th edition on Wednesday morning, this distinguished status will be highlighted with the participation of more than 650 companies from 40 countries on an area of nearly 40,000 square meters, including 125 local UAE companies and official organisations," he continued.

ADIHEX is part of EFC's mission to preserve falconry - a major component of Emirati heritage - but in a sustainable manner, making a balanced use of natural resources.

This balance is being achieved through UAE initiatives such as the annual falcons' rehabilitation and release back into the wild programme or houbara conservation programmes with centres at home and abroad, all of which being explained and represented at ADIHEX 2015.

"Since 2003, ADIHEX has been a qualitative annual event as part of these ongoing efforts. Due to its excellence and popularity, it was worthy of the importance it gained. It has risen as a cultural, environmental and economic phenomenon, a gathering place for falconers, researchers, creative people and poets and for the successive generations of fans of falconry, horsemanship, camels, fishing and off-road trips," stated Al Mansouri.

Throughout the years, falconry remained at the heart of ADIHEX, a meeting point for falcon farmers and falconers from all over the world, which eventually led to a lot more international endeavours, all concentrating on sustainable falconry.

"Emirates Falconers' Club has succeeded to be the link between the falconers in the Arabian Peninsula and their peers in 75 countries that still practice falconry and preserve such ancient heritage. This particularly came to light with organising the International Festival of Falconry in 2011 and 2014, where falconers from around the world met in the UAE's capital in the largest gathering of its kind to contribute to the celebration of falconry as a human cultural heritage," said Al Mansouri.

Once again, this September 9-12, falconers from around the world, but also horse riders, camel and saluki breeders, artists, poets, weapon makers, safari organisers, camping and off-road manufacturers will meet at ADIHEX 2015.

"In conclusion, it gives me pleasure to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all ADIHEX's supporters and sponsors: Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Baynounah Channel - the event's media partner - and all those participating to attain more success for the exhibition that has become a milestone in the journey of ongoing achievements for the UAE in all fields," concluded Al Mansouri.

Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi: a unique event in the Middle East and the world, ADIHEX 2015 returns with 16 different activities. By day a trade show and by evening an explosion of culture and heritage activities, ADIHEX 2015 returns with over a dozen competitions, shows and various other events.

"The four days exhibition comes with 16 exciting events such as the competitions for the Biggest and Most Beautiful Falcons Bred in Captivity, the Best Paintings and Photographs depicting hunting, equestrian or heritage scenes or the Finest Nabati Poems describing falcons and hunters," said Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX and Projects Director of the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi.

The Arabian Saluki Beauty Competition is also back at ADIHEX this year for both short and long hair purebred saluki, and so is the K9 show, presenting the skills and abilities of Abu Dhabi Police trained dogs.

Another old favourite, the camel auction, is returning to the show too, along with equestrian shows that include horse jumping, dressage and equestrian skills presented by the Dhabian Equestrian Club, as well as shooting events from Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club.

Some of the government entities will host their own events at their respective pavilions during ADIHEX. Among them, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority will have a falconers' corner, a public market and a handicrafts' corner, in addition to live houbara and workshops about these flightless birds, presented by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.

Also here, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital will keep a check-up room opened for all falcons purchased at the exhibition, making sure they are in good health, but it will also bring along its well behaved cats and dogs, available for adoption, from the Hospital's pet centre.

"The Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee is organising in its pavilion he Fixed and the Variable over Sands photo exhibition, displaying some of the best photos taken by the French press agency Agence France-Presse photographers on the theme of UAE life and heritage in 2014," said Al Qubaisi.

"Moreover, the public will be able to visit a heritage village, have educational and cultural interactions and watch a handicrafts' live show in the Committee's pavilion, in addition to the daily poetry evenings and folklore shows," he added.

New this year are awareness competitions and lectures organised by the Bihar Programme of the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority, as well as the National Election Committee.

Reaching the status as one of the most important events on Abu Dhabi's calendar and one of the world's biggest exhibitions of its kind, was a journey of hard work, passion and perseverance.

"I would like to welcome you to the 13th edition of Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, a unique event in the Middle East and the world that has achieved an ongoing success since its launch in 2003, weaving unforgettable memories through which we convey a message to everyone about the value of authentic UAE heritage," stressed Al Qubaisi.

Back in 2003, ADIHEX started out with just 40 participants and in just over a decade it grew 16 times, now hosting 650 companies from all over the world.

"The exhibition's area also increased almost seven times, as the first edition was launched on an area of 6000 square meters, while the new edition is held on an area of about 40,000 square meters, which is the largest area in the exhibition's history," he added.

Committee's pavilion: something new, something old and some things comfortably familiar The Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi is introducing a radical change to its pavilion at ADIHEX 2015. Yes, all the Emirati heritage elements are there, but they are presented in new lights, through some new events and displays.

Across an area of 1,000 square metres, the Committee's pavilion is featuring modern heritage expressions with interactive activities aiming to attract a bigger audience and more interest for Emirati traditions, but it also presents a diverse programme of shows meant to reinforce the value of authentic heritage.

"This participation comes to complement previous successful contributions in a way that serves the vision and the strategy of the Committee in the reinforcement of the values of loyalty, national belonging, and pride," said Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi.

"The Committee remains keen on consolidating the values of the Emirati heritage, notably loyalty, as well as allegiance to the leadership and the nation as an example to follow. All the activities of the Committee serve the cultural strategy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in particular, and the United Arab Emirates, in general. The top objective consists in providing an effective contribution to the cultural heritage of the UAE while conveying a civilisational and humanistic message to the different cultures and peoples of the world," he added.

A platform to document both the heritage and aspects of UAE history, but also to highlight the Emirati identity, the pavilion is shedding light on tangible and intangible Emirati traditions, from handicraft making such as sadu (weaving) to Bedouin poetry recitals.

A major area of the Committee's pavilion at ADIHEX 2015 is dedicated to a heritage museum, displaying traditional handicrafts alongside other artefacts and objects related to local customs and traditions.

One of the new and most special presentation this year is the Falcons' Corner, where a number of falconers who used to accompany late Sheikh Zayed in his hunting expeditions are invited to speak about their adventures and share their memories with visitors of the pavilion.

Another stand out event is the Agence France-Presse (AFP) photo exhibitions, displaying some stunning photographs published in the international media and awarded with prestigious prizes, all depicting Emirati lifestyle and heritage.

The main Majlis is the place to welcome guests and visitors with the customary generosity and hospitality of the Emirati people. While sipping Arabic coffee and sampling dates, the public may also learn here about the Committee's initiatives and projects.

Then there is the poetry Majlis with walls covered in verses describing the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, his people's love for him and the nation's allegiance and loyalty to the UAE leaders. Inside, all there is to know about the Poetry Academy is revealed through promotional material and lectures on the role of poetry in education, culture and heritage.

Two Emirati poets are participating in the poetry evenings here, along with two poets from the Arab Gulf region. There will also be a ceremony to sign new publications of the Poetry Academy, which will begin with writers speaking about their books, presenting the content and details of their writings.

Rababa, a popular Bedouin musical instrument, and Shallah, a traditional Emirati dance are part of the daily evening performing arts at the pavilion.

Another addition this year are lectures, not just for adults, but for children too, organised along with other fun and educational activities in the Children's Stand meant for kids between six and 12 years old. The activities include a training workshop to introduce children to the art of falconry, and they will also focus on national identity, the love for the nation and the sense of belonging.

A media partner of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, Baynounah TV, a local channel for the promotion of the different aspects of the Emirati lifestyle, has its own set up at the Committee's pavilion, running ADIHEX interviews and advertising its new September 2015 programmes.

In the Social Communication area there is a visitors' book, used to present all the different social media platforms of the Committee, where the public may also record their observations and impressions about the Committee's pavilion.

Volunteers from the FAZAA initiative of the Vocational Education Development Centre in Abu Dhabi are on standby every day of ADIHEX to help out visitors touring the Committee's pavilion and also organising a tour of the entire ADIHEX for school students.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed's Festival: ADIHEX, a renaissance for the equestrian sports For several years, HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Arabian Horse Festival (the Festival) has been closely associated, as a main partner and sponsor, with the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.

Spread across 2200 square meters, the Festival promotes an ancient Arab passion and a cultural heritage, the Arabian horse, through several modern equestrian sports. Thus, the Festival comprises the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Cup, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship, Wathba Stud Farm Cup, International Arabian Horse Championship Conference, Darley Awards "Mother of the UAE" in Hollywood, Ability Ladies Championship, World Professional Equestrian Championship supervised by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing (IFAHR) and the International Federation of Equestrian in Endurance Race.

"The suite of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for International Arabian Horse Festival offers very important documentary photographs about the Festival's events and competitions around the world, and the awards granted to the State cavalries, and Arab and foreign cavalries in the previous editions," said Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Festival.

She also stated that the Festival is displaying luxurious books about the Festival's history, awards, competitions and conferences from the last 10 years, which are "highly impressive".

Now in its seventh year, the Festival's 2015 agenda includes 106 horse races, which started in Australia in January and will end in Abu Dhabi on November 8th. Among them there are 14 horse races of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and 11 races of Professional Cavalries World Championship, which were launched at the racetrack of Kentucky Horse Park in Lizington for the first time.

During ADIHEX, visitors of the Festival's suite may also learn about the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's "Darley Awards", held in Los Angeles, where 60 women were nominated for the Mother of the UAE title for the best female equestrian "bringing, breeding, owning, and training horses", in addition to the best three year old and four year old filly, the best female equestrian in the endurance races, the best female photographer, the best female journalist specialised in horses and the best female reporter.

According to Sawaya, the most important event in the Festival's agenda, also promoted at ADIHEX, is the launch of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Cup, known as the Crown Jewel, which will take place on November 8, coinciding with the Festival's finals in Abu Dhabi.

The most expensive Arabian horse race in the world, the Cup award sums up to Euro1,200,000, carrying the logo "Abu Dhabi is the world's capital of Arabian horse races".

The West shoots up in numbers at ADIHEX 2015 Not surprisingly, the majority of exhibitors at ADIHEX come from the Arab region, but there is an increasing number of companies, manufacturers, traders and artists arriving from the West, particularly Europe and SUA, bringing along products as varied as steel, artworks, weapons and hunting trips.

"We have many big American, European and New Zeeland companies participating in ADIHEX this year, which has become the biggest event in the Middle East specialised in falconry, equestrian sport, camel racing, hunting sports using firearms, open air sports, water sports, safaris, arts and antiques," said Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX.

From MP3 International, a UAE based company established in 2004, trading in firearms with imports from Europe and USA to Frankonia Handels, a German company established in 1908, hunting weapons is what most of these Western participants bring to ADIHEX 2015.

Altogether, there are 40 exhibitors in the special firearm section of ADIHEX, 15 of whom being from the UAE.

Among them, SportEar company based in USA is bringing to ADIHEX its best audible and technical requisites for the hunting journeys, meant to improve the quality of the hunting equipment's performance and add a bit of fun to the sport.

Blaser Jagdwaffen from Germany is one of the biggest hunting guns and cartridge firearms in Europe, having a list of products based on the demands of active hunters, such as the R8 hunting rifle, made with Ruthenium, which is one of the world's rarest precious metals.

Another German company, Gottfried Prechtl, is bringing to ADIHEX innovative and distinguished rifles, as well as hunting cartridges, including the M98 rifles and cartridges, known for their accuracy and long-term performance.

Robert Burchill, twice the world champion in 300 meters shooting and silver medallist in the 1952 Olympic Games, has established the Burchill Waffen company in 1948. The Swiss company is now present at ADIHEX with some of the most beautifully engraved hunting rifles and the well-known "Sig" pistols.

UK's Ellie Hook company has also joined the exhibition with its famed among connoisseurs hunting rifles and cartridge firearms, while James Birdie and Sons, another British company that has been around for 200 years, is bringing to ADIHEX a special decorated package of firearms, as well as their handmade covers and tools reflecting Britain's craftsmanship.

Also from UK, Hawke Sports Optics offers hunting enthusiasts in Abu Dhabi a full package of optical tools for hunting, shooting, exploration of nature, and bird watching.

This year, the organiser of the exhibition, the Emirates' Falconers Club with the support of Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi, has changed the rules about buying weapons at ADIHEX.

For security reasons, only buyers registered in advance and cleared by the Police may purchase firearms. August 26th was the deadline for registration and, according to the organisers, only UAE nationals of minimum age of 25 years old, who have obtained the clearance certificate of criminal record and a certificate of mastering the use of weapon, which is issued to non-military individuals through clubs licensed for this purpose, were permitted to register for firearm purchase.

Other Western arrivals at ADIHEX 2015 are Cold Steel, a US company producing bound blazers, fixed blades, daggers, axes, spears and high-tapered swords, Middle East Equestrian, a trader of well-known US equestrian brands such as Mackinder Saddles and Pampa Saddles, and Sorrel Studios, also from the US, specialising in fine art portraits of horses.

From New Zeeland, two hunting safari companies, the Manuka Point Lodge and the New Zeeland Hunting Company, are here to convince ADIHEX visitors to book adventurous hunting trips in the country's spectacular mountains and shires.

Also part of ADIHEX 2015, are Italy's BS Planet company, which, apart from various hunting products, it designs, produces, and distributes Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for positioning animals, as well as new and innovated GPS products for positioning falcons. Joining ADIHEX's Western battalion, European Spice Association from Romania brings here high quality hunting gear crafted from natural leather, as well as equestrian requisites. – Emirates News Agency,