UAE President to begin official visit to Russia on Thursday
During the visit, His Highness will discuss with Russian President His Excellency Vladimir Putin various aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries and ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, investment, energy, and other areas that serve joint development, in addition to regional and international issues of common interest.
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The National
8 minutes ago
- The National
UAE calls for end to Sudan civil war as 'deliberate propaganda' campaign hampers peace efforts
The UAE on Sunday issued a renewed call for an end to the deadly civil conflict in Sudan amid a rise in 'deliberate propaganda' which it said served to undermine hopes of a ceasefire. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Emirates said it stood with the Sudanese people in their 'pursuit of peace, stability, and a dignified future'. The ministry said that it has backed regional and international efforts to halt a war which has raged since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rival Rapid Support Forces. 'Since the onset of the civil war, the UAE has consistently supported regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for violations committed by all warring parties,' the ministry statement said. 'The UAE remains committed to a civilian-led process that places the needs of the Sudanese people above the interests of any faction.' The country is now effectively split into two parts, with the army holding Port Sudan and Khartoum, and the RSF holding the south. The UAE said it had noted a 'marked increase' in misinformation from the Port Sudan Authority, which represents the Sudanese army. 'These escalating fabrications form part of a calculated pattern of deflection – shifting blame to others to evade responsibility for its own actions – intended to prolong the war and obstruct a genuine peace process,' the ministry said. The UAE has in recent days rejected allegations made by the Port Sudan Authority over its role in the civil war. In recent days, the Sudanese army-linked government accused the UAE of hiring Colombian mercenaries to be sent to Darfur in support of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The UAE on Thursday refuted a claim made by Sudan's military that it destroyed an Emirati plane carrying Colombian mercenaries into the country. 'The UAE reaffirms its unwavering commitment to working closely with partners to foster dialogue, mobilise international support, and contribute to initiatives that address the humanitarian crisis and lay the groundwork for sustainable peace,' the ministry said. 'These efforts will assist in building a secure and stable future for Sudan that meets the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people for peace and development. About 150,000 people are estimated to have been killed during the war, with 12 million Sudanese displaced. The UN said in 2024 that both sides may have committed war crimes. In June, the UAE announced it would allow Sudanese citizens with less than six months left on their passports to obtain or renew residency visas in a show of solidarity at a time of war in their homeland. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said the decision was aimed to help people regularise their status in the face of 'exceptional circumstances'. Applicants must typically have at least six months remaining on their passport to secure residency in the Emirates. The civil war in Sudan has hampered the efforts of its citizens based overseas to renew their passports.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Trump has weaponised tariffs against friends and enemies
US President Donald Trump appears to be succeeding in coercing allies, partners and adversaries alike to rethink their traditional policies and comply with his administration over thorny issues. Russia and the US have agreed for their two leaders to meet next week – a move seen by Mr Trump's team as payoff for its sanctions threat if Moscow doesn't comply with its deadline to cease military operations against Ukraine. A US partner, India, is in a dilemma after Mr Trump announced plans to double tariffs on Indian exports to the US to 50 per cent if New Delhi continues to purchase Russian oil, despite western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Brazil has also faced its share of weaponised US tariffs after Mr Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro – a Trump ally who is accused of orchestrating a failed coup against the current establishment in Brasilia. Meanwhile, Iran is preparing for possible US sanctions aimed at encircling it with measures targeting China, and most likely, renewed military action to thwart any attempts to revive its nuclear programme. So the question now is: who has adapted to Mr Trump's threats, who has defied them, and who has buried its head in the sand? Even as Mr Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, the two countries' stands on Ukraine remain far apart. At best, an agreement could be reached to cease military operations and initiate peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. The sanctions Mr Trump has threatened to impose on Russia – failing to agree to a ceasefire – could be far-reaching, perhaps amounting to a financial blockade. Oil sanctions have a significant impact on Russia, yet imposing sanctions on banks dealing with the country would mean that these banks will no longer be able to pay Moscow its oil revenues. This may have contributed to Russia reconsidering its position. India receives about 40 per cent of its oil imports from Russia, and along with China, the two Asian countries account for about 80 per cent of Russian oil exports. While China may find ways to circumvent US financial sanctions to continue purchasing Russian oil, India has begun to consider the possibility of halting or reducing oil imports from Russia. This would be a blow to the Russian economy, particularly since oil exports have dropped since the start of the year. India won't be able to replace its Russian oil imports with Iranian oil, since Tehran is also under western sanctions. Hence, the most probable alternative source will be the Gulf states. Imposing a 50 per cent tariff on all Indian exports to the US, on par with Chinese goods, means that Mr Trump makes few distinctions between friends and foes when it comes to his policies. The new tariffs on goods from dozens of countries came into effect on Thursday, signalling the US President's resolve to reshape global trade. Washington's position is that trade exchanges between the US and other countries have been unfair and needed rebalancing, and it's in no mood to compromise with other countries. Like with Russia, the US President has been inclined to turn the screws on Iran, too. He has given Tehran a deadline until the end of August to agree to a new nuclear deal with Washington. Bear in mind that Iran's leaders have categorically refused to compromise on their doctrine of projecting power using nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and armed proxies. Iran has doubled down on its support for Hezbollah's right to retain arms in Lebanon. So far, the Trump administration hasn't imposed sanctions on Tehran for its intervention in sovereign countries; the latter's regional behaviour has so far remained outside the scope of the talks between Washington and Tehran. But this could change soon, not only because Iran is exposing itself by preventing Beirut from reclaiming its sovereignty, but also because it has been using its regional cards – including Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon – as bargaining chips in its negotiations with the US. However, the Lebanese Cabinet's recent decision to disarm Hezbollah was bold, pioneering and wise. In doing so, President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and perhaps to some extent Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, may have taken a decisive step towards reclaiming the state's sovereignty. This could explain why Israel hasn't gone all out in its most recent assault on Hezbollah. It might limit its actions to targeting the group's leadership and structure – if the latter continues to refuse to hand over its weapons to the state – rather than waging an all-out war spreading across Lebanon. Circling back to the Trump tariffs, it is noteworthy that the one country the US President hasn't issued punitive measures against is Israel, despite his periodic statements seeking an end to the war in Gaza. The tragedy of Gaza is that it has been a victim of players who view it through veils that obscure the full picture. Mr Trump does disservice to his own legacy when he pretends that merely providing food after Israel has used starvation as a weapon against innocents is sufficient. He does disservice to his own vision for securing a Middle Eastern 'Deal of the Century' through his blind allegiance to Israel's rejection of a Palestinian state. For its part, the Israeli government appears to no longer care about the remaining hostages in Hamas's custody. It seems ready to withdraw this leverage from the group at any cost, with new measures – including, perhaps, a reoccupation of Gaza. Mr Trump still views Israel's actions as a response to the horrific Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023. He is, therefore, unlikely to ever impose sanctions on, or seek accountability from, Israel – no matter what crimes it commits in Gaza.
Emirates 24/7
an hour ago
- Emirates 24/7
DEWA commissions record number of 11 kV distribution substations in first half of 2025
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) commissioned a record 924 new 11 kV distribution substations across Dubai in the first half of 2025, up from 558 in the same period in 2024, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, has said. The construction and associated works involved 654,456.30 man-hours, all completed under stringent quality, efficiency and safety standards. Al Tayer stressed that the achievement reflects DEWA's commitment to strengthen Dubai's infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand driven by rapid urban, population and economic growth. 'Given that investment in infrastructure is the primary driver of the economy and comprehensive development, we are committed to strengthening the pioneering model established by DEWA in building advanced and comprehensive infrastructure that contributes to achieving the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Thanks to the directives of the wise leadership and the adoption of innovation, sustainability, the latest technologies, research and sound scientific planning, the quality and competitiveness of our infrastructure have become among the best in the world, with DEWA ranked first globally in 12 KPIs within its areas of work,' said Al Tayer. 'In 2024, DEWA recorded the world's lowest electricity transmission and distribution network losses at just 2%, compared to 6%-7% in Europe and the US. DEWA also set a world record for the lowest customer minutes lost, achieving just 0.94 minutes per year, compared to an average of 15 minutes across the European Union,' added Al Tayer. Rashid Bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution Power at DEWA, said there were now 62 33 kV substations and 64,084 medium voltage (11 kV and 6.6 kV) substations in service.
