Brussels is studying a new round of sanctions against Russia including a price cap on Russian crude oil and a ban on real estate purchases for Russians, EU diplomats told The National.
The European Commission has spent the past few days consulting with the EU’s 27 member states to discuss what sanctions should be applied in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order of a partial mobilisation of his country’s armed forces to fight in Ukraine.
It is expected to announce later this week — or at the latest before the October 7 informal meeting of EU leaders in Prague — its seventh round of sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday said that “new restrictive measures, both personal and sectorial” would be issued and blasted Mr Putin’s hints at a nuclear response as an “irresponsible and cynical attempt to undermine our steadfast support to Ukraine”.
Baltic states, Ireland and Poland made a joint proposal to the Commission last week to issue sanctions that would include a ban on real estate sales to Russian citizens and companies unless they are EU residents, The Irish Times on Tuesday reported.
“We see the importance of extensive sanctions, especially after mass graves [were] found, continued Russian aggression and the announcement of mobilisation,” said an EU diplomat who confirmed the report.
The EU called for the establishment of an international tribunal for war crimes after the discovery of about 450 graves outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izium earlier this month.
Another European diplomat confirmed the joint proposal but said a new version was being drafted by the EU commission based on discussions held in the past days. It will be reviewed on Wednesday during a meeting of EU ambassadors.
'Property is a human right'
But some countries have balked at the idea of banning real estate purchases in Europe to Russians.
“The right to property is a human right,” said a third EU diplomat. “There are many sanctions ideas that have been floated that have not been implemented up to now and that’s because there were serious legal issues.”
The diplomat cast doubt on the effectiveness of further sanctions. “We’re arriving at the limit of what we can do – Europe has put nearly the entire Russian economy under sanction,” they told The National.
Yet, added the official, there is also a “momentum” for sanctions and “a desire to mark the occasion”.
The diplomat said that recent discussions had instead focused on a price cap on Russian oil that G7 finance ministers agreed to earlier this month.
“The idea would be to ban the transport and insurance of Russian oil over a certain price, meaning, in effect, a price cap” they said.
The EU will ban crude oil imports starting December and has reduced its gas imports from 40 per cent to less than 9 per cent since February.
Europe remains the biggest market for Russian crude despite a 53 per cent drop in imports since January, according to the International Energy Agency.
Another topic of discussion among diplomats in Brussels is a ban on an import of Russian diamonds, which represent roughly a third of world production.
The US Treasury in April sanctioned Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond mining company, which is owned by the Russian state.
Transparency International on Monday called for additional EU sanctions on the company and its CEO Sergei Ivanov.
But Belgium, which houses a major world diamond hub in the city of Antwerp, has reportedly lobbied against such a ban.
Belgian and Indian buyers are snapping up large volumes of Alrosa diamonds often at lucrative terms, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.
Sanctioning symbolic trades like diamonds remains important, said the third EU diplomat.
“But let’s not forget that sanctions are not a means to an end,” he added.
“They’re an instrument that are part of a wider policy, including diplomatic pressure and sometimes military intervention.”
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
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5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
