President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on his re-election. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on his re-election. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on his re-election. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on his re-election. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters

UAE leaders congratulate Congo's President Tshisekedi on landslide re-election


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President Sheikh Mohamed has congratulated Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on his election victory.

Sheikh Mohamed sent a telegram with well wishes on Monday, Wam reported.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President of the UAE and Deputy Prime Minister, sent similar congratulatory messages.

Mr Tshisekedi won a second term as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a landslide on Sunday, after he won 73 per cent of the vote in a single-round presidential ballot. Turnout was 43 per cent.

The UDPS party won 66 seats in the December parliamentary election, placing it ahead of 44 other parties that won one or more seats in the 500-member house.

The results enable Mr Tshisekedi to maintain his ruling big-tent Sacred Union coalition, giving him the majority needed to name a new government.

The UAE and the Republic of Congo have a strong non-oil trade relationship.

The Republic of Congo is the UAE's 12th-largest trading partner among non-Arab African countries. The Emirates is the Republic of Congo's eighth-largest export market and 13th-biggest import market, as per 2022's official data.

The Emirates also accounts for about 72 per cent of the Republic of Congo's non-oil trade with Arab countries.

Last month, the two nations concluded the terms of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) to boost trade and investment, and build stronger ties.

The deal also builds on growing bilateral co-operation between the two countries.

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1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
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Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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Updated: January 15, 2024, 6:22 PM