President Joe Biden is in Europe to take part in the Group of Seven summit in Italy where, with the help of allies, he plans to shore up support for the defence and rebuilding of Ukraine, and put more pressure on Russia.
Mr Biden will join leaders from France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan on Thursday in the Puglia region, where they are set to announce new sanctions on Russia aimed at pressuring President Vladimir Putin to end his two-year invasion of Ukraine.
“Our commitment to Ukraine will continue to be right upfront and clear,” White House National Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters
“We're going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine.
“This week, we will announce an impactful set of new sanctions and export control actions.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the G7 leaders would announce 300 new sanctions and export control measures that would take aim at people and entities who have helped Russia to finance its war.
“These actions heighten the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russia's war economy [and] close down avenues for evasion, while diminishing Russia's ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software and IT services,” Mr Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday.
The US has imposed sanctions on more than 4,000 Russian businesses and people since the war began, in an effort to block the flow of money and munitions to Moscow.
Mr Sullivan said that on the sidelines of the three-day summit, Mr Biden would meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sign a bilateral security agreement aimed sending a clear message to Russia about US commitment to Kyiv.
“We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we will continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow but out into the future,” he said.
Officials said that Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy would hold a joint news conference after their meeting.
Mr Biden has been pushing for a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using Russian frozen assets. The French presidency announced on Wednesday that leaders had come to an agreement send the funds to Kyiv by the end of the year.
During his visit, he is also expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Mr Biden last week visited France where he commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
His son Hunter was convicted on federal gun charges, dealing a personal and political blow to Mr Biden, 81, who is running for a second term in office in November.
He has sought to focus his re-election campaign on protecting the US from the return of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was last month convicted of 34 felonies.
While in office, Trump championed the idea of an “America First” approach to US foreign policy.
In March, he said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they wanted” to Nato countries that did not spend enough on defence.
Mr Biden has opposed that approach and has sought to advance his vision for continued US engagement with the world.
Three years ago at the G7 summit held in Cornwall, England, Mr Biden in his speech declared that “America was back”.
Polls show the US election headed for a tight race, and global leaders are concerned that Trump could once again be president.
The development comes after far-right parties in Europe made significant gains in parliamentary elections this week.
Leaders are also expected to address the continuing Israel-Gaza war, climate change, migration and other issues during the G7 summit.
Pope Francis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are also expected to join the gathering.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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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Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Fixture and table
UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
- 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
- 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership – final standings
- Dubai Exiles
- Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Jebel Ali Dragons
- Dubai Hurricanes
- Dubai Sports City Eagles
- Abu Dhabi Saracens
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
