The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) government has issued a statement promising to cover the food and accommodation costs for stranded tourists in hotels across the country, following Iran's military strikes on US bases in the region.
Iran's retaliatory strikes came after the United States and Israel launched what they called "major combat operations" against Iran, which led to the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a number of senior officials, and a large number of civilians. Iran's retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and U.S. facilities across the region, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE government issued a notice to hotels on Sunday, stating that given the current special circumstances, some tourists, although past their original check-out date, are unable to leave the country due to force majeure. The statement requests all hotels to extend the stay of these guests until they can leave the country smoothly, noting that the relevant costs will be borne by the government.
Previously, the UAE News Agency issued a statement saying that due to the large-scale cancellation of flights, the closure of airports nationwide, and the blockade of airspace, the UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation would be responsible for paying for the food and accommodation costs of thousands of stranded tourists.
Chinese tourists stranded in Abu Dhabi told China Media Group reporter that they were pleasantly surprised to receive assistance from the UAE government.
"It was quite unexpected, because logically it shouldn't be provided by them; it's more like an extra service for tourists. An announcement from the UAE Department of Culture and Tourism said that stranded people can be provided with free accommodation until flights resume. The hotel provides three meals a day, and daily laundry service. We saw it on Ctrip; it's a four-star hotel, one of the better chain hotels recommended by the platform," said a Chinese tourist.
UAE to provide free accommodation, food to stranded tourists following Iranian attacks
Colombians are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president. The country's constitution prevents the current President, Gustavo Petro, from running for a second term.
Yet, many see this election as a referendum on the policies of Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president.
There are 14 candidates on Sunday's ballot, but the polls show it will likely be a tight three-way race.
The frontrunner is Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old three-term senator, representing President Gustavo Petro's party, the Historic Pact coalition. Cepeda has vowed to defend and deepen Petro's progressive reforms and social justice policies to reduce inequality. He also promises to continue the government's controversial "Total Peace" strategy to negotiate the disarmament of remaining guerrilla groups and criminal gangs.
"True prosperity comes from equality, from access to rights, and from transforming the peripheral and excluded territories of the rural world," Cepeda said at a campaign rally.
Running as a political outsider and independent is Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer, nicknamed "The Tiger." He has presented himself as the "authority and order" candidate who will reduce state spending by up to 40 percent in the next four years.
"(First,) we must fight insecurity. Colombia is suffering today from a pandemic of insecurity. Crime is out of control: extortion, cattle theft, smuggling, drug trafficking," he said to his supporters at an election event.
According to polls, the third candidate with strong support is Paloma Valencia. The 48-year-old senator represents the Democratic Center party led by popular former President Alvaro Uribe Velez. Her candidacy is backed by politicians and economists who are concerned with growing levels of public debt. They want to see a return to more conservative fiscal policies.
"I don't want to be a president who governs alone, locked away in glass offices. I want to be a president who stands with citizens, who embraces them, who reaches out to them, who has a team, and who governs to transform Colombia," the candidate said at the campaign event
According to polls earlier in the year, many voters are expressing concerns about unemployment, rising living costs, corruption, and, above all, public security.
The election comes after a turbulent year that the International Committee of the Red Cross has called "the worst humanitarian consequences of armed conflict over the past decade."
"(We arrive at this election in a tense atmosphere - tense) because of the economic situation, because of the security situation, and because of the narratives that have been built around the country's main problems. On top of that, emotions, ideas and social media have all helped raise (the tone,)" said Eduardo Velosa, associate professor from International Studies Javeriana University.
If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two finishers on June 21st.
Colombians prepare to choose their next president
