DUBAI // Officers raided 38 flats, mostly around Deira's Gold Souq, and arrested 29 people allegedly selling fake sunglasses and watches, among other products, since the middle of last year. The announcement by Dubai Economic Department (DED) was intended to highlight its campaign to stamp out the sale of counterfeit goods. The department valued the confiscated goods, which also included mobile phones, clothes and shoes, at about Dh1 million (US$272,400), and said the problem had become especially endemic around the souq, which is popular with tourists.
It launched the clamp down, it said, after growing complaints from the public. "This practice has developed into a trend in the Gold Souq of Deira, which is a main tourist attraction and the target group of these people are mainly tourists," said Omar Bushahab, the DED's chief officer of commercial compliance and consumer protection. "It is important to limit this phenomenon to protect copyrights and to protect consumers."
He said the most recent raid on a flat was two weeks ago, and resulted in two arrests. "People who are involved in these trade are the new model of streets vendors," Mr Bushahab said. "Initially, streets vendors used to carry around their products and that made them more noticeable and limited their movement, but now they have developed new ways where they store their products in apartments and take the customers to them instead."
The raids were carried in conjunction with the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department.
wissa@theational.ae
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
SPECS
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FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5