The UN Security Council unanimously renewed sanctions on Sudan’s Darfur region on Wednesday, extending an arms embargo, asset freezes, and travel bans for 12 months.
All 15 members of the council voted in favour of the resolution, which extended measures first adopted in March 2005 against people and entities involved in the Darfur conflict.
The renewal, a technical rollover of sanctions last extended in March 2023, includes individual sanctions - asset freezes and a travel ban - on three people, and an arms embargo.
A panel will continue to monitor compliance and report findings to the Council.
Robert Wood, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, highlighted the “danger” and “desperation” facing the people of Darfur, citing intensified fighting, restricted humanitarian aid, human rights violations and mass displacement.
“This adoption sends an important signal that the international community remains focused on their plight and is committed to advancing peace and security in Sudan and the region,” Mr Wood said.
China and Russia, permanent members of the Security Council who abstained the last time the embargo was renewed, in 2023, this time voted in favor.
China's ambassador, Dai Bing, noted that with no de-escalation in sight and a worsening humanitarian crisis, the renewal of sanctions would help stem the flow of illicit arms and contribute to calming the situation on the ground.
He said the sanctions were "a means, not an end. They must not replace diplomacy."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing widespread war crimes and atrocities in Sudan’s conflict.
The rights group urged the UN Security Council to expand the arms embargo and restrictions from Darfur to all of Sudan and hold culprits accountable.
Jean Baptiste Gallopin, senior researcher at HRW, called the Council's decision to renew sanctions limited to Darfur a “missed opportunity.”
He urged the Council to “correct this failure as soon as possible” and expand arms restrictions across Sudan to curb the flow of weapons and prevent further atrocities.
In its most recent report, the International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, established by the Human Rights Council, had called for extending the Darfur arms embargo nationwide to curb the flow of weapons and financial support to the warring parties.
However, during the Council’s June meeting on Sudan, Russia warned that expanding sanctions beyond Darfur would not help bring peace to the region.
War erupted in April last year between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF over a transition to free elections.
The UN has said nearly 25 million people – half Sudan's population – need aid, famine is looming and some eight million people have fled their homes.
Sudan's UN representative, Al Harith Mohamed, urged the restoration of “balance in Darfur to prevent the negative consequences affecting the government's efforts to protect civilians.”
Mr Mohamed said civilians in El Fasher are being attacked by militias, and called for the enforcement of Security Council resolutions, specifically 1591, which prohibits states from supporting armed groups.
He also again accused the UAE of supplying weapons and support to the RSF.
UAE ambassador to the UN Mohamed Abushahab responded to the “baseless allegations” made by the Sudanese representative.
“The repetition of baseless allegations does not make them true, whether repeated in the media, in this council or elsewhere, there is simply no credible evidence these ludicrous accusations have been dispelled in our letters to the Security Council on this matter,” he said.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Results:
5pm: Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Tahoonah, Richard Mullen (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m | Winner: Ajwad, Gerald Avranche, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: Duc De Faust, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m | Winner: Shareef KB, Fabrice Veron, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,500m | Winner: Bainoona, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.