Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
President Sheikh Mohamed on Monday met Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, in Abu Dhabi during which the British leader spoke of efforts to bolster trade ties in the Gulf and welcomed the collapse of the "brutal" Assad regime in Syria.
During the meeting at Al Shati Palace Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Starmer discussed areas of co-operation and the importance of historical ties.
Mr Starmer congratulated Sheikh Mohamed after the UAE celebrated Eid Al Etihad, its national day, last week. They also discussed their desire for peace in the Middle East.
Also in attendance were Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser. Mr Starmer stressed the need to forge a path to progress in Syria, and emphasised the importance of maintaining the Lebanon ceasefire and bringing an end to violence in Gaza, in an interview with Sky News Arabia.
"The people of Syria have lived under a brutal regime for far too long, so I welcome the fact that Assad is gone. I think the whole world welcomes that," he told the broadcaster.
"What we now need is a political way forward, a rejection of violence, rejection of terrorism … and the protection of civilians and minorities. So it is a really important moment, a really significant moment."
Hopes for peace in region
The UK Prime Minister told of his hopes that a peace deal could be brokered in Gaza to alleviate a worsening humanitarian crisis amid the continued war with Israel.
"I think there is now the potential in Gaza for that ceasefire," Mr Starmer said. "We've long been calling for it, but there are intense discussions going on now which are intended to, and I hope will, lead to a much-needed ceasefire, which will allow the remaining hostages to be released, will allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to go into Gaza and open the door for the only solution in Gaza, which is a political solution."
In a bid to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the UK will provide the Lebanese Armed Forces with training and kit.
The package supports the initial training of hundreds of recruits and provides equipment through contractors to bolster the LAF’s ability to maintain security in southern Lebanon.
The UK has also increased work to support the Palestinian Authority as part of the drive to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine question.
Keir Starmer visits the UAE - in pictures
Turning to his visit to the Emirates, Mr Starmer underlined the significance of the UAE-UK partnership and stated his commitment to furthering well-established ties.
"UAE is a major and strategic and important partner to the UK," said Mr Starmer. "It is significant. This is my first Gulf state as Prime Minister that I've visited.
"And my reason for being here is to try to create the opportunity to enhance that partnership, whether that's on trade and investment, whether it's on defence and security, energy, AI.
"I think the potential is there, but this is a very important strategic partnership and I'm very pleased to be here."
Gulf tour
Mr Starmer's visited the landmark Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Monday, where he was received by Yousef Al Obaidli, director general of the mosque, who showed him around the site.
He arrived in the UAE on Sunday. He travelled to Saudi Arabia late on Monday for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He was greeted at King Khalid International Airport by the deputy governor of Riyadh region, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Crown Prince Mohammed later received Mr Starmer at Al Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital, where an official reception was held in his honour before the two men held "extensive talks", SPA said.
Keir Starmer visits Saudi Arabia - in pictures
During the meeting the British leader discussed the shared challenges and opportunities between the two countries, including in defence and security, growth, and research and development
Mr Starmer said Saudi Arabia is already playing a central role in supporting growth and job creation in the UK, especially through the green energy sector, and the leaders agreed that the relationship between the two countries is also central to regional stability.
On Gaza, he pushed for more aid to reach the enclave and welcomed Prince Mohammed’s reflection on how the suffering on all sides could be ended. At the end of the meeting, Mr Starmer invited Prince Mohammed to visit the UK, adding he hoped the leaders would be able to watch a game of football in between meetings.
No 10 hopes the visit will help consolidate partnerships focused on “driving high-quality growth”, with UAE investment in the UK valued at £23 billion ($28 million). British trade with Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is thought to be worth £17 billion.
“Driving long-term growth at home requires us to strengthen partnerships abroad,” Mr Starmer said.
He and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim last week agreed on a long-term green energy partnership, pledged to deepen defence and security ties and discussed the importance of regional stability. The UK Prime Minister is also expected to travel to Cyprus, where he will meet President Nikos Christodoulides in the capital Nicosia on Tuesday, before meeting British troops on the Mediterranean island who are posted over Christmas.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
