Germany plans to renew four military missions in the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean before parliament is dissolved for a February general election.
Votes will take place in late January on extending operations involving 1,600 German troops in the Red Sea, in waters off Libya and Tunisia, in the wider Mediterranean and in South Sudan. Their deployment in UN, EU and Nato-led missions is set to expire between February and April – when Germany may be in political limbo during post-election coalition talks.
Shipping had declined by 73 per cent in the Bab Al Mandab strait as mariners take a detour from the Red Sea
German report
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government says the missions should continue at a cost of €30.6 million ($31.5 million) to secure key sea routes against smuggling, Houthi attacks and the “spillover” of violence from the Middle East. It also hopes to show Donald Trump's coming US administration that Europe is willing to do its fair share for security.
Although the missions have broad support among Germany's traditional parties, they are viewed more sceptically by left and right-wing forces tipped to gain in the election. The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, a left-populist party that could be involved in coalition talks, opposed the Red Sea mission, saying the government was “blindly following” the US.
Mr Scholz's government said in papers handed to parliament that US-UK air strikes in Yemen had only a “short-term” impact on Houthi militants' ability to attack Red Sea shipping. It quoted an EU situation report as saying shipping had declined by 73 per cent in the Bab Al Mandeb strait as mariners take the longer route around Africa's southern tip.
The German frigate Hessen fired shots at two drones, from a 76-millimetre gun and missile launcher, in one security scare last February. In addition “the danger is rising of deliberate or collateral damage to critical infrastructure in the area of operations”, such as undersea data cables connecting Europe and Asia, the German government said.
The European mission known as Operation Aspides “shows that the EU is willing and able to take responsibility in the region”, it said. “This also sends a positive signal to our transatlantic allies regarding the sharing of duties in securing freedom of navigation in the area of operations”.
The German parliament's authorisation for up to 700 troops to deploy to the Red Sea runs out on February 25, two days after the general election. Ministers are seeking an extension until October. They want to keep up to 300 troops available for a second EU mission known as Operation Irini which monitors Libya's coast for weapons smugglers.
Mediterranean tasks
The Mediterranean mission is intended to help stabilise Libya but Germany said an arms embargo continues to be breached, despite more than 600 ships being boarded under Operation Irini. Nonetheless it said the naval presence was the “only instrument with which the UN weapons embargo against Libya is enforced on the high seas”.
Ministers say German sailors are also providing intelligence to the EU on people smuggling networks in the Mediterranean. Although Operation Irini is not primarily a search and rescue mission, Germany says it is obliged to provide assistance to people in distress at sea.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called for Operation Irini to be stopped, saying it had brought “no successes” in the fight against illegal migration. Concerns it was having a “pull effect” on migrants led to an emergency brake being introduced at EU level but Germany sees “no indications” that it should be triggered.
A further Mediterranean mission, a Nato operation known as Sea Guardian, has a broader goal of counter-terrorism and surveillance in Europe's southern waters. Germany says its participation with 550 troops should continue although no ships were inspected against their will during 2024.
“International terrorism has emerged as an increased threat in the maritime domain, including in the context of the escalation in the Middle East”, the government said. “This especially means international arms smuggling. It remains necessary to prevent a spillover effect into Europe and Nato territory from the activities of terrorist groups”.
The fourth German mission is a 50-troop presence in South Sudan as part of a UN peacekeeping operation, which Mr Scholz's government called the “most important anchor of stability” in the fragile country. Elections due to take place last month were postponed as a transitional period was extended until 2027.
Germany's election was brought forward from September to February after Mr Scholz's three-party coalition collapsed, leaving him without a majority in parliament. Support from centre-right parties should mean the military operations are extended but the election is expected to shake up the party landscape.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
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The five pillars of Islam
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
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Wednesday (midnight UAE)
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