Follow the latest updates on Afghanistan here
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call on G7 leaders to stand by the Afghan people and increase humanitarian aid and support for refugees.
The Nato and UN secretaries general have been invited to join the online meeting on Tuesday that Mr Johnson will chair.
He will urge international partners to match the UK’s commitments on aid and resettling those most in need.
But UK defence minister Ben Wallace said on Tuesday it was unlikely the US will delay the evacuation of their troops from Afghanistan, as the August 31 withdrawal deadline draws closer.
He said as that date approaches “it gets more and more dangerous".
While an extension would allow more people to be evacuated from Afghanistan, the Taliban has made it clear a delay would be a red line.
“I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely,” Mr Wallace told Sky News.
“It is definitely worth us all trying and we will.”
But he hit back at those who said the UK could do more to secure Kabul's airport and therefore evacuate more people.
“It’s not about effectively whether I could fly in thousands of troops and secure the airport.
“Yes I could do that, I could probably secure the airport for a few months, or maybe a year or two,” he told the BBC.
“But for what purpose? For them to be shot at, attacked, people not to get to the airport and to trigger just a permanent fight? I don’t think that is a solution.”
France will also end its evacuations later this week if the US sticks to its current plan, a foreign ministry official said. Almost 2,000 French nationals and Afghans have been rescued and flown to France via a military base in Abu Dhabi.
Spain said it would not be able to rescue all Afghans who served Spanish missions.
“It is a very frustrating situation for everyone, because even those who reach Kabul, access to the airport is very complicated,” defence minister Margarita Robles said.
G7 leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to protect the gains made in Afghanistan over the past 20 years, in particular on girls’ education and the rights of women and minorities.
Their discussions will cover a collaboration on evacuations at Kabul airport and longer-term work to secure a more stable future for Afghanistan, as well as ensuring any new government is inclusive and abides by its international obligations.
“Our first priority is to complete the evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the past 20 years,” Mr Johnson said.
“But as we look ahead to the next phase, it’s vital we come together as an international community and agree a joint approach for the longer term.
“That’s why I’ve called an emergency meeting of the G7, to coordinate our response to the immediate crisis, to reaffirm our commitment to the Afghan people, and to ask our international partners to match the UK’s commitments to support those in need.
“Together with our partners and allies, we will continue to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever to safeguard human rights and protect the gains made over the last two decades.
“The Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words.”
This week, Mr Johnson set out a five-point plan to address the risk of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The plan includes immediately helping those to whom the UK has direct obligations and protecting the country against any threat from terrorism.
Mr Johnson has also placed importance on supporting Afghan people through humanitarian and development assistance, and creating safe and legal routes to resettle Afghans in need.
The plan also includes developing a clear plan for dealing with the new Afghan regime in a unified and concerted way.
Mr Johnson also chaired a meeting of his emergency national security committee on Monday afternoon where ministers discussed the latest situation.
The UK has secured the evacuation of around 8,600 people out of Kabul in the past 10 days, which includes British nationals and their dependants, embassy staff, and Afghan nationals under the Relocation and Assistance Policy programme.
Last week, the British government doubled the amount of humanitarian aid to the region, committing up to £286 million ($392.2m) with immediate effect.
It also announced a new resettlement scheme that will relocate up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghans.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
Teaching in coronavirus times
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Read more about the coronavirus
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
