
Syrian gratitude for global support in a challenging time
The situation in Gaza requires urgent intervention
I write in reference to Nada AlTaher's article Israeli civilians try to stop aid lorries from entering Gaza (May 21): by killing women, children and elders, the situation in Gaza is further worsening, and those involved in these atrocities are losing support and sympathy from their partners around the world.
From a humanitarian perspective, it is especially worrying when supplies are being prevented from entering the conflict zone. Such attempts are a shame for all human beings around the world.
It is certain that this conflict cannot resolve the root cause of the Palestine-Israel issue. And so, while the world community has so far been unable to resolve it peacefully, the UN and the US, together with the Arab world, must continue to find ways in doing so.
Ramachandran Nair, Kerala, India
Sanctions relief for Syrians
I write in reference to Khaled Yacoub Oweis's report EU set to lift sanctions on Syria's central bank (May 20): we really appreciate the European Union and the efforts of the rest of the international community. Gratitude from Syria.
Rima Alhabash, Damascus, Syria
Agritech's future in the East
I write in reference to Rachel Kelly's article China-UAE AgriTech Dh120 million megaproject to launch in Al Ain (May 19): this is an exciting move in agritech. This Al Ain hub boosts food security and highlights UAE-China synergy in agriculture innovation. It's a huge step towards a sustainable future.
Ahmed P, Cairo, Egypt
Tackling chronic disease in Abu Dhabi
I write in reference to Shireena Al Nowais's article Abu Dhabi launches campaign to cover costs of chronic disease care (May 19): it is outstanding to see Abu Dhabi champion health care for all. Such forward-thinking support for chronic illness uplifts citizens and expatriates alike. It's a proud moment for the UAE community.
Wassim A, Sharjah
Beirut's cultural recovery
I write in reference to Robert McKelvey's article Beihouse: Upscale community hub rises from the ashes of the Beirut Port explosion (May 16): how nice it is to see the way Beihouse is reviving the cultural pulse of Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighbourhood. This is heritage and innovation in dialogue, and truly speaks to the city's memory.
BC, Granada, Spain
Dubai a global educational hub
I write in reference to the article Number of university students in Dubai surges by 20% (May 19): over the years, Dubai has evolved into a prominent educational hub, home to several globally recognised universities. This growth highlights the emirate's impressive standing in the international arena. Today, it offers vast opportunities for international students across all academic fields, making it a truly global destination for higher education.
All of this progress is a result of the forward-thinking policies aimed at not only advancing the lives of Emiratis but also welcoming students from around the world. Kudos to Dubai for its commitment to education, diversity and global excellence.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, Indi a
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


UAE Moments
an hour ago
- UAE Moments
Israel Retracts Claim About Bushehr Nuclear Plant
Israel claimed on Thursday, June 19, that it struck Iran's only functioning power plant along the Gulf coast; however, an Israeli military official backtracked on the statement, creating confusion over what happened. The military official said, "It was a mistake" to say that they had hit the Bushehr Nuclear Plant. The confusion happened after Israel targeted nuclear sites in Iran, following the latter's missile attacks on Israel earlier on Thursday, on the seventh day of the Iran-Israel war. Israel attacked the nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Arak in Iran, according to an Israeli military official. The Bushehr power plant is located near the UAE and employs technicians from Russia. It is the only functioning nuclear power plant in Iran and uses Russian fuel, which Moscow takes back to cut down proliferation risk. An attack on this nuclear plant would be a big step; when the Israeli military official was asked about the attack on Bushehr, he said that he could neither confirm nor deny it. The CEO of Russia's nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said, "If there is a strike on the operational first power unit, it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl." Likhachev confirmed that Russian specialists had been removed from the nuclear power plant, but hundreds of people from the workforce remained on site. Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists on Thursday that Israel had promised him that Moscow's workers at the Bushehr site will be safe.


Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
UAE, Bahrain and Oman evacuate citizens from Iran; more than 20 countries including India, China and US step up repatriation
The UAE, Bahrain, Oman and countries from across the world have stepped up efforts to evacuate citizens from Iran amid rising tensions in the region. The UAE evacuated a number of its nationals and residents from the Islamic Republic of Iran, in coordination with the relevant authorities. As part of its unwavering commitment to the safety of its nationals and residents, and in swift response to emergencies, the UAE successfully executed evacuation operations, which were coordinated and facilitated by the Iranian side, to ensure their safe return home. UAE among countries to evacuate citizens from Iran Furthermore, the UAE continues to engage in intensive calls and diplomatic consultations with the relevant and strategic partners, to de-escalate tensions and restore peace, stemming from a steadfast commitment to diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable path forward. This reflects the UAE's broader vision of fostering stability, justice, and prosperity for the peoples of the region. Meanwhile, Oman, in continuation of the efforts made by the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the repatriation of citizens from Iran, announced the safe return of 193 Omani nationals from Bandar Abbas Port to Khasab Port. The repatriation was secured as part of the third phase of the approved evacuation plan. In a humanitarian cooperation effort, this phase also included the repatriation of 158 nationals of other countries who were able to transit through Oman under the current circumstances. Additionally, 155 Omani citizens and a number of foreign nationals were safely repatriated by air from Iraq to Oman, as part of ongoing coordination with relevant authorities and the Omani Embassy in Baghdad. The Ministry, in cooperation with Oman's diplomatic missions abroad, continues to implement the evacuation plan to ensure the safe and secure return of all Omani citizens to their homeland. For its part Bahrain, in its ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of Bahraini citizens stranded abroad in countries affected by current developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deployed a team of Bahraini diplomats to Turkmenistan. The diplomats are overseeing and coordinating with the relevant Turkmen authorities to streamline entry procedures for Bahraini citizens stranded in the Islamic Republic of Iran, enabling their transit through Turkmenistan and onward travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain via Gulf Air, the national carrier. The Ministry also arranged transportation by bus from the city of Mashhad for citizens wishing to depart Iran by land. The regional repatriations come as more than 20 countries around the world are taking measures to evacuate their citizens from Israel and Iran as the two nations enter the seventh day of their air war and airspace in the region remains closed. Some countries temporarily closed their embassies, according to Reuters. Australia: Around 1,500 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance, with another 1,200 Australians in Israel seeking to leave Austria: 48 Austrians left Israel and about 100 Austrians asked to leave Iran Bulgaria: Sofia has evacuated 17 of its diplomats and their families from Iran to Azerbaijan and is planning to repatriate them by land and air, the Bulgarian government said on Thursday. It said an administration at the Bulgarian embassy in Tehran was moving temporarily to Baku China: China has evacuated more than 1,600 citizens from Iran and hundreds more from Israel, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday The Czech Republic: A plane carrying 66 people evacuated from Israel landed near the capital, Prague France: Paris will arrange convoy by the end of the week to get French nationals without their own means of doing so to the Turkish or Armenian borders from Iran to access airports in those countries, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday. French citizens in Israel will be able to board buses starting Friday morning Germany: The German Foreign Ministry said that 345 Germans left the Middle East after the country provided charter flights Greece: Greece has evacuated 16 of its nationals and their families by land from Iran to Azerbaijan and is now working on their repatriation to Greece, the foreign ministry said on Thursday India: So far 110 Indian students have been evacuated from northern Iran, having crossed over into Armenia on June 17, India's foreign ministry said Italy: 29 of the about 500 Italian nationals left Iran on Wednesday with assistance from the government, a diplomatic source said Japan: Japan's top government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Thursday Japan would send two Self-Defence Forces transport aircraft to Djibouti in eastern Africa in preparation for the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Iran and Israel. He also said the Japanese embassies in Israel and Iran were preparing to evacuate Japanese nationals to neighbouring countries by bus, with plans to implement evacuation as early as Thursday New Zealand: The government has temporarily closed its Tehran embassy and evacuated two staff and their family by land to Azerbaijan Poland: A group of Polish citizens evacuated from Iran landed in Warsaw on Thursday morning, ending the evacuation from the country, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson told journalists. The first plane evacuated from Israel landed in Warsaw on Wednesday morning and a second one is expected on Thursday afternoon from Amman, with 65 people on board Portugal: has temporarily shut its embassy in Iran and evacuated four of its citizens via Azerbaijan. It has received 130 repatriation requests from citizens in Israel and is organising a repatriation flight, expected to land in Portugal later on Thursday, the foreign ministry said Serbia: A group of 100 Serbs have fled Israel via Egypt, ambassador Miroljub Petrovic said on Thursday Sierra Leone: 36 of its citizens were evacuated to Armenia Slovakia: The first evacuation flight arrived in Bratislava on Monday, carrying 73 people, 25 tourists and five family members of diplomats working in Tel Aviv South Korea: Eighteen South Korean nationals and two of their family members who are Iranian nationals were evacuated by land from Iran, South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday United States: The United States is working to evacuate U.S. citizens wishing to leave Israel by arranging flights and cruise ship departures, U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee said in a post on X

Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
Sudan: Türk warns of catastrophic surge in violence
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned today of the disastrous consequences stemming from ongoing and escalating hostilities across the North Darfur and Kordofan regions in Sudan, where civilian casualties, sexual violence, abductions and looting have been reported in multiple areas. 'The recent fighting and grave risk of further aggravation in an already brutal and deadly conflict raise severe protection concerns, amid a pervasive culture of impunity for human rights violations,' the High Commissioner said. On 15 June, after a year-long siege, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a further attack on El Fasher, following months of increased mobilisation of fighters, including the recruitment of children, across Darfur. The operation, with its ground offensive to capture the city, mirrors the RSF's offensive on the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in April, which led to hundreds of civilian deaths, widespread sexual violence and a humanitarian catastrophe. In South Kordofan state, civilians also remain trapped by the fighting between the parties vying for control of the strategic town of Al Debibat. Meanwhile, in North Kordofan state, the RSF have reportedly surrounded the city of El Obeid, currently held by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied groups, and may attack it in the coming days, as announced by the RSF commander. 'We know where further escalation will lead,' Türk said. 'For too long already, the world has witnessed the unbound horrors unfolding in Sudan and the untold suffering of its people. Civilians must be protected at all costs. Violations and crimes must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held to account,' he added. 'I urge the parties to ensure civilians can safely leave El Fasher, Al Debibat, and El Obeid, as well as other places where civilians may be trapped by the conflict. All parties must refrain from attacking civilian objects, ultimately lay down their weapons and put an end to hostilities,' Türk said. 'I call on all States to exert their influence to press for a durable political solution, and to ensure respect by the parties to the conflict for international humanitarian law. I also urge them to press for an end to the flow of arms into the country, and to restrain the business interests sustaining this conflict.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).