Update: Leticia Carvalho won the election on August 2
A crucial vote for the next head of a UN-affiliated body that plays a key role in the future of the world's oceans is due to take place on Friday.
The winner will be able to steer the timing of deep-sea mining of metals essential for batteries in products such as electric cars.
The vote has divided opinion in Pacific island nations over how the seas should be treated and led to mud-slinging between opposing camps.
Michael Lodge, 64, a lawyer from the UK, is seeking re-election as secretary general of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which is based in Kingston, Jamaica. It is governed by 168 member countries plus the European Union, with a mandate to authorise and control mining “for the common heritage of all mankind” and to protect the marine environment from harm.
Mr Lodge, who is keen to finalise regulations that would kickstart the potentially multibillion-dollar industry, is pitted against a rival who favours a more cautious approach.
Leticia Carvalho, a 50-year-old Brazilian ocean scientist and UN official, says finalising the regulations may take years of further negotiations to protect the deep sea from the most harmful effects of mining.
Reserves of metals are estimated to be worth anywhere from $8 trillion to more than $16 trillion, much of them at the bottom of the Pacific, but nations are split between those opposed on environmental grounds and others that see the economic benefits.
At the sharp end of this debate is the tiny nation of Palau, which has a population of only 18,000 people, where sea levels are set to rise throughout this century. It is regularly battered by surging storms and its coral reefs are dying.
Surangel Whipps, President of Palau, which wants a halt on deep-sea mining, told The National he believes Mr Lodge's re-election would prompt an acceleration in deep-sea mining, leading to a potentially devastating environmental impact on his nation.
“In our view, we see he's very pro-mining,” he told The National in an exclusive interview.
After running unopposed in 2020, Mr Lodge has overseen more than 1.3 million square kilometres of seabed exploration by private and state-backed metals companies. So far 31 licences have been awarded to explore the oceans for minerals.
“We can only assume that is going to continue,” said Mr Whipps.
He said Mr Lodge should be commissioning more scientific studies to ensure deep-sea mining does not harm the environment.
“As a small-island developing state, we are the front line of climate change. We think we need to look at all the scientific information,” he said.
He described Ms Carvalho as “a great candidate” and added: “I think ISA is at a point where it needs somebody that can bring more transparency and better governance. Change is good.''
Island legend
For the President of Palau, the debate is more than about economics, it concerns his nation’s deep cultural relationship with the environment.
He cited the example of Palau in the 1970s, when there was a proposal to build a huge port and oil storage depot on the island, which would have brought substantial wealth but was ultimately rejected due to its potential environmental impact.
"Fortunately, those young people at that time, my father among them, were able to stand up and say ‘this is this not good, we have to do better, we have treasures down there that we need to protect, not only for us but for our children’,” he said.
“You know, in the Palauan legend of the creation, we came from the sea. So culturally, we're an ocean people.”
Palau has been vocal in its calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining and was the first nation to sign a UN High Seas Treaty, which states activity in oceans can take place only if it is consistent with conservation objectives.
Mr Whipps addressed last year's Cop28 climate summit in the UAE, which included a day of talks devoted to nature, land use and oceans, to make a plea for protecting the seas.
“Our ocean feeds us, protects us and defines us. We must protect it in return,” Mr Whipps told leaders in Dubai. “A healthy ocean is a healthy planet.”
Island leaders left the summit with $225 million in seed funding for a Pacific conservation plan, from donors including the Bezos Earth Fund.
The final text agreed at Cop28, known as the UAE Consensus, invites countries to “preserve and restore oceans and coastal ecosystems” as part of their national 'go-green' plans.
Mining industry plans
Under the most common type of mining, contractors such as Canada’s The Metals Company (TMC) hope to use remote-controlled machines the size of lorries "to scoop up rocks sitting on the sea floor".
These rocks, known as polymetallic nodules, are crushed and processed to release metals such as cobalt, manganese and nickel, which are found in lithium-ion batteries used in everything from vapes to laptops, from mobile phones to, perhaps most crucially, electric cars.
Scientists last month published findings that polymetallic nodules found in one of TMC’s mining areas actually produce a type of oxygen known as "dark oxygen", an extraordinary discovery some ISA delegates say means mining efforts should decelerate.
Mr Lodge has pushed to finish the so-called Mining Code as soon as this year, ahead of the ISA’s official 2025 target to adopt new regulations.
But environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), oppose deep-sea mining, while 27 nations support a precautionary pause, moratorium or ban.
Carbon reservoir
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, deep-sea mining can cause disruption of the ocean floor, which is by far the largest carbon storage reservoir on Earth.
This can lead to reduced carbon removal as well as the release of large amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane, exacerbating the climate crisis.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the leadership team of Cop28, recently described the oceans as the "lungs" of the Earth.
The WWF says deep-sea mining presents an unacceptable risk to marine life.
Mr Whipps said as well as being vulnerable to rising sea levels, his nation also depends on the ocean for fishing, to feed itself and for exports.
He singles out the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, and area of 1 million square kilometres in the Pacific – where 16 deep-sea mining companies have been awarded contracts for exploration – to warn of the effect deep-sea mining could have.
“We have to be careful about what we're doing. The size that they want to rip up is huge," he said.
“We also know that whatever happens in one part of the Pacific has an impact on the other part and the way they're proposing the deep-sea mine could have catastrophic impacts to all of us.
“It’s our shared backyard, it belongs to all of humankind and to those of us that live in the Pacific.”
While Palau, along with Tuvalu and Vanuatu, are sceptical about deep-sea mining, other Pacific nations such as Kiribati have embraced what they see as its potential.
The Pacific archipelago, which has a population of 120,000 scattered across 32 tropical atolls, has its own mining company which holds an ISA contract to explore and potentially mine 75,000 square kilometres of the Pacific seabed.
Separately, Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga have teamed up with The Metals Company, which says it will apply for permission to mine later this year.
In a twist that has injected controversy into the ISA race, Kiribati nominated Mr Lodge, after his former backer, the UK, withdrew support after it had sponsored him for two terms, which he has completed.
He has been the public face of the ISA for decades, joining as legal officer in 1996 and rising to deputy secretary general before being elected to the top post in 2016.
The nation has stated its support for him based, in part, on his commitment to finalising international mining regulations so commercial exploration of cobalt, nickel and other metals in the deep sea can begin.
Pacific divide
Ms Carvalho's pitch is as the first woman and scientist to potentially lead the ISA.
The former federal environmental regulator and an official with the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi says her priorities as secretary general would be transparency and accountability.
She claims she was offered a senior position in the ISA by Teburoro Tito, Kiribati’s UN ambassador, in return for dropping out of the race. He maintains it was merely “a suggestion”.
Ms Carvalho has also made claims about Mr Lodge, including that he used his position inappropriately to campaign.
Mr Lodge has not spoken about his candidacy but in a statement to Bloomberg he said the allegations against him "lack any probative weight and persuasive force".
Mr Lodge has been approached separately by The National through the ISA.
Mr Whipps is scathing about the secretary general’s association with Kiribati.
"I'm glad that the UK understands that their term is up and they're not putting his name forward again. It's unfortunate Kiribati is now taking up his name.
“He has already served his time and so his term is up.”
Andrew Thaler, a Maryland-based deep-sea scientist and consultant who closely follows the ISA, said the new secretary general will have an "enormous" role to play, as the commercialisation of deep-sea mining is being held up by the stalled finalisation of regulations.
He said several nations believe Mr Lodge is on the side of the mining contractors.
Mr Thaler said Mr Lodge has “a preference towards commercial deep-sea mining as quickly as possible”.
“It certainly seems like he very much views it as his legacy as the secretary general to be the person who gets the mining code done during his tenure,” he said.
But while there maybe two different approaches by the candidates, he said: “I don't see a conceivable path where it would be put on ice.”
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
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.”
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
The%20specs
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Spec%20sheet
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD%204
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UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Indika
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HWJN
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
The years Ramadan fell in May