From left, Britain's Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and France's Emmanuel Macron take their seats to attend a meeting at Elmau Castle, southern Germany. AFP
From left, Britain's Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and France's Emmanuel Macron take their seats to attend a meeting at Elmau Castle, southern Germany. AFP
From left, Britain's Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and France's Emmanuel Macron take their seats to attend a meeting at Elmau Castle, southern Germany. AFP
From left, Britain's Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and France's Emmanuel Macron take their seats to attend a meeting at Elmau Castle, southern Germany. AFP

G7 pledges $4.5bn to ease global food crisis


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

G7 countries on Tuesday promised $4.5 billion of new financial firepower to ease an evolving hunger crisis worsened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Leaders also announced they would help vulnerable countries to increase food production and called on nations with large stockpiles of food to make some available.

A joint statement on the final day of the summit in Germany called on Russia to unblock the Black Sea and end what it called a “geopolitical motivated attack on global food security”.

The western leaders said Russia's war in Ukraine was “dramatically aggravating” the food crisis, which is in danger of throwing more than 320 million people into hunger, according to the World Food Programme.

Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's largest agricultural exporters and the war has brought grain shipments via the Black Sea to a standstill, a situation the two sides blame on each other.

Ukraine's western neighbours have salvaged some of the stranded grain by road and rail, but these routes cannot handle the same volume of food and face problems including Ukraine's Soviet-era infrastructure.

Exports of grain are expected to reach about two million tonnes this month, up from 1.2m in April - but this is still still less than the pre-war volume handled by the port of Odesa alone, said French President Emmanuel Macron.

“We will step up our efforts to establish alternative routes,” building on the EU's so-called solidarity lanes via countries such as Romania and Poland, the G7 statement said.

“We commit to sustainably increase the availability of agricultural products including through strengthening agricultural productivity in the most affected countries.”

A Russian soldier guards a pier with grain stored in the background, at Mariupol Sea Port in eastern Ukraine. AP
A Russian soldier guards a pier with grain stored in the background, at Mariupol Sea Port in eastern Ukraine. AP

It comes after the European Union suggested a plan to increase fertiliser production in Africa, similar to the way that vaccine manufacturing was encouraged there during the coronavirus pandemic.

The additional $4.5bn, bringing the total committed this year by G7 countries to $14bn, is earmarked for “protecting the most vulnerable from hunger and malnutrition”.

Tuesday's announcement came a day after G7 leaders were joined by the head of the UN, the African Union and partner countries for talks on the food problem.

Western countries are looking to counter the narrative being pushed by the Kremlin that sanctions on Russia are to blame for the problem.

The G7 said it had put no sanctions on food and the leaders said they would work to stop any spillover effects.

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The biog

Date of birth: 27 May, 1995

Place of birth: Dubai, UAE

Status: Single

School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar

University: University of Sharjah

Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.

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LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

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All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.

What are the influencer academy modules?
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Director: Majid Al Ansari

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The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

Mica

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4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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