BERLIN // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, yesterday for talks on issues including the nuclear standoff with Iran and the situation in Syria.
"The topics discussed were bilateral relations, possibilities for cooperation in the economy, energy, the environment, education and research," a spokeswoman for the German government said.
"The dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme and the situation in Syria were of particular interest."
The European Union imposed sanctions on seven Syrian cabinet ministers on Tuesday for their roles in the bloody crackdown on the opposition, in the latest move aimed at pressuring the president, Bashar Al Assad, to step down.
Sheikh Mohammed, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Mrs Merkel had lunch together but no details of the discussions were given.
There was no comment on whether they had talked about the euro crisis or a possible financial contribution by the UAE towards bailout funds for struggling economies in the single- currency area.
The EU has been trying to secure support for the euro rescue from leading economies outside the bloc, especially China, as the crisis enters its third year with no sign of abating.
There are growing doubts in Germany, Europe's largest economy, about whether the crisis management is working.
An opinion poll published in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper this week showed almost two thirds of Germans, 62 per cent, were opposed to granting more aid to Greece. Mrs Merkel faced a backbench revolt on Monday in a parliamentary vote on a second, €130 billion (Dh638.76bn) rescue package for the beleaguered southern European nation.
The bill was passed with a large majority thanks to opposition support, but the chancellor fell short of the symbolically important absolute majority of all seats in parliament.
Commentators say Mrs Merkel has been politically weakened by dissent in her centre-right coalition, and by signs of a rift in her cabinet on euro policy.
Her position has been complicated further by Ireland's decision on Tuesday to hold a referendum on the new EU fiscal discipline pact she had hoped would be implemented quickly, and which represents a cornerstone of her strategy to end the debt crisis.
Germany has long been wooing investors from Gulf states including the UAE, which it values as reliable, long-term partners.
Recently, Etihad came to the rescue of Air Berlin when it agreed in December to become the largest single shareholder, with a stake of almost 30 per cent and a €73 million injection of capital.
The investment has led to strategic cooperation including codesharing and will help Etihad to expand its business in Europe.
Germany is also hoping the UAE will become involved in offshore wind-farm projects that have been suffering delays because undersea cables linking the turbines to the mainland grid are behind schedule.
Masdar, the green energy company owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, has said it may be interested in investing in German offshore wind power if the returns improve.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
