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UAE spots crescent Moon ; Eid Al Adha holiday to begin on June 17

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The crescent of the month of Dhul Hijjah 1445 was photographed from Abu Dhabi on Friday, June 7.

In a social media post, the UAE’s Astronomy Centre shared an image of the faint crescent as captured by the Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory at 10am UAE time (6am GMT).

UAE residents are set to get one day off for Arafah day, and three days off for the Eid Al Adha according to the government’s list of public holidays.

Islamic countries mark the start of the month of Dhul Hijjah and the celebration of Eid Al Adha by local moon sightings. The crescent Moon that signals the start of Dhul Hijjah was spotted in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, June 6.

“Friday is the beginning of the month of Dhul Hijjah, and the standing at Arafat will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024,” the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced after the spotting of the moon.

However, in Oman, the crescent moon marking the start of Dhul Hijjah was not spotted on Thursday evening. This means that Monday, June 17, will be observed as the first day of Eid Al Adha in Oman.

Eid Al Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is marked by offering special prayers. Muslims slaughter livestock — usually, a goat, sheep, cow or camel — to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith.

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We’re on par with ICC elite panel standards: Simon Taufel on DP World ILT20 officiating excellence

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The DP World ILT20 continues to grow as the region’s premier tournament, not just for players but also for match officials. With the competition bringing together top-tier talent from around the world, ensuring high-quality officiating is just as crucial as the performances on the field. Australian umpire Simon Taufel, a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, led the DP World ILT20 Season 3 match officials panel. Taufel has been instrumental in mentoring and guiding the officiating team with an aim of raising the standard of umpiring within the tournament.

Highlighting the significance of the DP World ILT20 and his role within, Taufel said, “This tournament is about growing cricket in the United Arab Emirates, and officiating is part of that objective. My role is to support the umpires, referees, and the officiating landscape here by helping create a pathway for their development and giving them access to international standards, just like the players.”

Officiating Standards at DP World ILT20

Ensuring high-quality officiating requires constant evaluation and benchmarking against global standards. Taufel provided insight into how the umpires have performed in the tournament, revealing impressive accuracy rates. “On average in this tournament, umpires have gotten 92% of their decisions right. Players only get their reviews right 22% of the time, while umpires make the correct initial decision 92% of the time. If you asked coaches and players whether they’d be happy with 9 out of 10 correct decisions, most would say yes. The ICC elite panel average is around 92-93%, which shows we are on par with that standard”, he concluded.

The Passion of UAE Officials

Match officials from the UAE, including the likes of Shiju Mannil, Akbar Khan, and Asif Iqbal played a crucial role in the tournament. Taufel was particularly impressed by their eagerness to develop their skills and adapt to the high standards of international officiating.

He said, “The passion of the officials here is like that across the subcontinent—they are incredibly enthusiastic and eager to learn. They aspire to officiate on television at the international level, and they are extremely coachable. One of our key efforts this year is to provide them with more resources to support their development. It requires significant investment and effort, particularly in performance management.”

Building on this, he explained the structured approach taken to ensure the progress and assessment of umpires, “We provide all our match officials with match-day reports for every game. I did 17 matches, and Roshan Mahanama also did 17. After each match, we compiled reports on the two on-field umpires and the third umpire—that’s a substantial amount of feedback and information.”

He further added, “We also created a development structure around the pre-tournament phase. We have a preparation day with the officials, covering playing regulations, interpretations, culture development, teamwork, and support on and off the field. It’s a lot of work, and most people don’t see that. But it’s what you do when no one is watching that makes you successful.”

The Role of Specialist TV Umpires and DRS

The DP World ILT20 has embraced the Decision Review System (DRS) to assist in ensuring accurate decision-making. For the second consecutive season, specialist TV umpires, including Paul Wilson and Leslie Reifer, were assigned to process reviews efficiently. Speaking on the significance of this role and the pressures that it brings on on-field umpires as well, Taufel remarked, “I think we all enjoy the theatre and drama of seeing a decision reviewed on the big screen. One of the key aspects we’ve introduced in this competition is specialist TV umpires who can process DRS reviews quickly and efficiently. For an umpire, having a decision dissected in front of thousands at the venue and millions watching at home can be an embarrassing experience. They have to process that instant feedback and refocus immediately, which requires immense mental strength. In fact, most of our game is mental, 99% of it.”

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Abu Dhabi T10 confirms 2025 dates for ninth edition

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The Abu Dhabi T10 will return to the majestic Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi for its seventh season in the emirate on Tuesday 18 November – Sunday 30 November 2025.

The announcement comes just two months after the thrilling conclusion of the 2024 tournament, where Jos Buttler and the Deccan Gladiators triumphed in a dramatic eight-wicket victory over Morrisville Samp Army to claim their third title, cementing their position as the most successful team in T10 history.

“We are thrilled to confirm the dates for the 2025 edition of the Abu Dhabi T10,” said Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub. “Together with our strategic partners at Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, we made a strategic commitment in 2019 to develop this international cricket event and showcase the emirate of Abu Dhabi to the wider world. The 2024 edition delivered our strongest player field to date and another impressive season of domestic and international spectator and viewership interest.”

He continued, “As we move forward, we are focused on bringing even more innovation and creativity to the tournament, while further establishing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a world-class destination for international sport.”

“Last year’s Abu Dhabi T10 was a wonderful blend of cricket and entertainment,” said T10 Global Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk.

“That came on the back of yet more expansion for the tournament to ten teams. The Abu Dhabi T10 has established itself as an important fixture on the UAE Cricket calendar, one that provides the UAE players with a fantastic opportunity to continue growing their skill set. With the announcement of the upcoming dates for 2025, we look forward to another world-class, highly engaging 12-day tournament.”

Since its inception in Abu Dhabi, the T10 has become a flagship event, firmly establishing itself as a standout fixture on both the UAE’s sporting calendar and the global cricket schedule. The 2025 edition will once again showcase the dynamic nature of cricket’s fastest format and provide UAE players with an invaluable platform to further develop their skills.

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Elon Musk joins forces with Dubai for revolutionary loop project

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Dubai has unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration with Elon Musk’s Boring Company to develop the ‘Dubai Loop,’ an advanced underground transportation system designed to seamlessly connect the city’s most densely populated areas.

The announcement was made by Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit, during a plenary session with Musk at the World Governments Summit (WGS).

“Today, we announce the joint project of Dubai Loop, a high-speed underground system that will connect Dubai’s most crowded districts, allowing people to travel seamlessly from point to point. We aim to transform the way people move,” said Al Olama.

A Wormhole-Like Experience

Elon Musk, who addressed WGS virtually during a session titled ‘Boring Cities, AI, and DOGE’, described the Dubai Loop as a wormhole-like transit system that will revolutionize urban mobility.

“It’ll be like a wormhole—you enter one part of the city, and boom, you emerge in another spot. It’s going to be amazing! I think once people try it, they’ll be blown away. It will seem obvious in hindsight, but until it exists, you don’t realize how transformative it is,” Musk said.

The Boring Company’s Vision

Founded by Musk in 2016, The Boring Company specializes in developing low-cost, high-speed underground tunnels to alleviate urban congestion. The company is known for its innovative approach to tunnel construction, focusing on fast, cost-efficient solutions for vehicles, freight, and high-speed transit.

The Dubai Loop marks a major step in integrating futuristic transportation into the city’s infrastructure, promising a fast, efficient, and seamless commuting experience.

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