As part of Britain’s continuing moves to position itself post-Brexit, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt embarked on a visit of Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Monday.
Amid talks on the UK’s future relationships with both countries, Mr Hunt will discuss the situation in Yemen and the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
On his trip he will meet King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, Yemen Vice President Ali Mohsen Al Ahmar and Yemen Foreign Minister Khaled Al Yamani.
As reported in The National last week, Mr Hunt wants to build support for the United Nations Security Council to take action to bolster the UN-led peace process in Yemen, following a meeting with UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths at the end of October.
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Read more:
UN aims for Yemen talks by year-end, not end of month
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Mr Hunt will also use his meetings to push for an investigation into Mr Khashoggi’s death, as well as raising the case of Matthew Hedges, the British academic accused of spying in the UAE.
Speaking of the situation in Yemen, the UK foreign secretary said: “The human cost of war in Yemen is incalculable: with millions displaced, famine and disease rife and years of bloodshed; the only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace.
“Britain has a unique position, both as pen-holder at the UN Security Council and as a key influencer in the region, so today I am travelling to the Gulf to demand that all sides commit to this process.
“We are witnessing a man-made humanitarian catastrophe on our watch: now is the window to make a difference, and to get behind both the UN peace process and current UK efforts in the Security Council.”
Talking of Mr Khashoggi, Mr Hunt said: “We encourage the Saudi authorities to co-operate fully with the Turkish investigation into his death, so that we deliver justice for his family and the watching world.”
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Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
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Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
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Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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