Several new ambassadors to the UAE were sworn in before Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai witnessed the oaths of diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Portugal, Chad, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka and Ivory Coast.
Those taking the oath were Mohammed Al Sahlawi, the UAE Ambassador to Portugal; Ahmed Al Hamli, Ambassador to Turkmenistan; Rashid Al Shamsi, Ambassador to Chad; Ali Al Nuaimi, Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Khaled Al Ameri, Ambassador to Sri Lanka; Matar Al Neyadi, Ambassador to Kuwait, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
In a physically-distanced ceremony at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed also received and approved the credentials of new foreign ambassadors. These included ambassadors Mudhafar Al Jubouri of Iraq, Muizz Binameem of Tunisia, Dhamika De Silva of Sri Lanka and Dr Ahmed Al Busaidi of Oman.
The ambassadors conveyed the greetings of their countries' leaders to President Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed.
During their speeches, they said they were keen to strengthen the relationship between their countries to serve their national interests.
Sheikh Mohammed welcomed them and wished them a good stay in the UAE, saying they would receive all necessary support to perform their duties.
"The interests of people are connected to their ambassadors, who are experts in the art of renewal, development and strengthening social and diplomatic relations," Sheikh Mohammed said.
The diplomats wore face masks and maintained an appropriate physical distance as part of Covid-19 safety measures.
Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; among other senior officials. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, attended the ceremony through video conferencing.
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Results
2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili
3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
