Western powers widened their sanctions on Russia on Friday, aiming to increase pressure on the Kremlin a year since it invaded Ukraine.
China, meanwhile, weighed in with a 12-point peace plan that won a guarded welcome from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Germany said any peace talks would come once Russian President Vladimir Putin saw his invasion as doomed to fail.
Leaders of the G7 countries — Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the US, Canada and Japan — agreed to chase down sanctions loopholes in talks on Friday.
They announced a goal to curb Russia's diamond exports and warned of “severe costs” for third countries aiding Russia.
Britain said it was banning the export of “every item Russia is using on the battlefield”, including aircraft parts and electric components.
The US took aim at Russia's mining and metals sector, with sanctions on four companies meant to stem a Kremlin revenue source.
But EU diplomats had yet to reach a deal on a tenth package of sanctions, with Poland complaining the proposed curbs did not go far enough.
“We must sustain the pressure so that Russia returns to the domain of international law and finally sits down at the negotiating table,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Although the sanctions have not so far dissuaded the Kremlin from waging war, the US and Britain said the curbs were hampering the Russian war effort.
“Our sanctions have had both short-term and long-term impact, seen acutely in Russia’s struggle to replenish its weapons and in its isolated economy,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
“Our actions today with our G7 partners show that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The G7 leaders were joined by video link by Mr Zelenskyy, who urged countries beyond the West to back a Ukrainian peace formula.
As western leaders expressed solidarity with Ukraine, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said life was “a living hell” for the country's people.
Support for Ukraine on anniversary of Russian invasion — in pictures
Sweden said it would send 10 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, while Germany raised its offer from 14 to 18.
With three coming from Portugal, it means those three nations can provide a complete 31-strong battalion, Germany said.
Poland said four of its Leopards had already arrived.
China, meanwhile, called for an end to western sanctions as part of its own 12-point peace proposal, which urged Russia and Ukraine to enact a ceasefire.
Mr Zelenskyy said he agreed with some parts but not others and said it was no bad thing that China was taking an interest.
Russia said it was open to talks but said any peace deal would have to recognise “new territorial realities” in Ukraine after it occupied parts of the country.
Western allies responded sceptically to the Chinese plan, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying China had already sided with Russia.
Ms von der Leyen is seeking a new batch of EU sanctions covering spare parts for Russian machines and jet engines, but the bloc's 27 members had yet to reach a consensus on Friday.
“We are not happy with it because it is too soft, too weak,” Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.
The G7 countries said they were "committed to preventing Russia from finding new ways to acquire advanced materials, technology, and military and industrial equipment".
They said they would work on new measures to reduce Russia's "significant revenues" from diamond exports.
The new package of British sanctions is based on intelligence suggesting Russia is struggling to produce equipment and having to scrounge for parts, the government said.
The hundreds of listed goods include radio equipment and components of military drones, while dozens more people linked to Russia's defence industry were hit with sanctions.
They include senior figures at Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom alleged to have “deep connections” to the Russian military-industrial complex.
“Ukrainians are turning the tide on Russia but they cannot do it alone. That is why we must do more to help Ukraine win,” said Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
“Today we are sanctioning the elites who run Putin’s key industries and committing to prohibit the export to Russia of every item Russia has been found using on the battlefield.”
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC radio the sanctions were designed to prevent Mr Putin from refurbishing an army that “has been incredibly damaged by this illegal invasion of his”.
“And I also think it is important to send a strong message that the international community, through sanctions, is not going away any time soon, which is another calculation that Putin was hoping for,” he said.
“Some of those individual sanctions are banning individuals but some of them are starting to recognise that there are countries, there are companies that are active in Russia and we don’t want them to be active in Russia, because Russia is taking their capabilities and using them, or using them into their military or to help the fight.”
Speaking to Times Radio, he said Britain was prepared to supply fighter jets to Eastern European allies to enable them to release their Soviet fighters to Ukraine.
Nato allies have been reluctant to release modern western aircraft to Kyiv, arguing that it would take too long to train aircrew.
“Those countries in Europe that have Russian Soviet fighter jets — MiG 29s or Su-24s — if they wish to donate, we can use our fighter jets to backfill and provide security for them as a result,” Mr Wallace said.
“They are already configured to fight in a Nato way, where, of course, Ukraine isn't.”
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The%20Mandalorian%20season%203%20episode%201
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
The%C2%A0specs%20
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
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