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Expo 2020 Dubai: Global participants congratulate the UAE on its Golden Jubilee

More than 50 of Expo 2020 Dubai’s participants from across the planet have expressed their congratulations to the United Arab Emirates on its Golden Jubilee on Thursday, marking 50 years since the nation was founded.

Countries from around the world send a personal note to UAE leaders on its 50th National Day, to honor its historic unification.

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Hussain Hanbazazah, Commissioner General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said “On behalf of all at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, I wish everyone in the UAE and its landmark Expo pavilion a very happy and memorable 50th UAE National Day.”

“Yours is a land of rich traditions, where nothing is impossible. With its eyes set firmly on the future, your country embodies harmonious coexistence, the spirit of which is captured in your unique UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. We hope that this golden jubilee brings many more opportunities for your nation and people to prosper.”

Erik Linquier, Commissioner General for France at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: ”Best wishes and sincere congratulations to the commissioner general of Expo Dubai 2020, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, to Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, and to all the Emirati people working at and on Expo 2020 Dubai, on the 50th National Day of the UAE.”

Yves Iradukanda, Commissioner General of Rwanda Pavilion, said: “From Rwanda At Expo 2020 Dubai, we wish the UAE a Happy 50th National Day”

Also sending its congratulations was Korea.

Yooseok Ahn, Pavilion Director of Korea Pavilion, said: “Congratulations for Golden Jubilee of UAE! From desert to space, the UAE’s miracle is stunning. A great honor to be in this historical moment with you.”

Aboubaker Hassan Barreh, Deputy Commissioner General, Djibouti Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “I would like to convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes to the leaders and people of UAE on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary OF UAE National Day. The UAE should be proud of their incredible achievements during these five decades. May Allah bless this country with peace, unity, and prosperity for all its people.”

Ambassador Mary Mubi, Commissioner General, Zimbabwe Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: ”On the auspicious occasion of the UAE’s Golden jubilee, may I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations and good wishes to the people of the UAE on behalf of the Zimbabwe Pavilion at Expo 2020.”

Rosvi C. Gaetos, Alternate Commissioner General, Republic of the Philippines Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Congratulations on the occasion of the UAE’s 50th National Day. We look forward to stronger ties between our two countries as we work together to meet challenges and to share opportunities of the future. May the citizens of the UAE continue to enjoy peace and prosperity in the years to come.”

Carmen Bueno, Deputy General Commissioner of the Spain Pavilion, said the none of the UAE’s great achievements would have been possible without the country’s clear commitment to education, health, women’s and children’s rights and the eradication of poverty. “Without a doubt, this is the core value of the World Expo 2020 Dubai. Happy golden jubilee!”

Samantha Letang, Deputy Commissioner General, Commonwealth of Dominica, said: “Warmest congratulations on your 50th Anniversary. We continue to celebrate this achievement with you here at Expo 2020 Dubai. This platform allows for the further alignment of our two countries and we look forward to strengthening this bond into the future.”

Section Commissioner General of the Equatorial Guinea Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020 Rufino Ndong Esono Nchama, said: “I am pleased to send you a message of congratulations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates National Holiday.”

Chairman & CEO of AICEP (Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency) and Portugal’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 Dubai, Luís Castro Henriques, said “It is with great pride that Portugal participates in the Golden Jubilee, which represents a historic moment for the United Arab Emirates.”

Namory CAMARA, Commissioner General for Guinea at Expo 2020 Dubai, said the nation was “thrilled” to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee as one of the more than 190 nations taking part in Expo 2020 Dubai.

“For three decades Guinea and the U.A.E. have enjoyed bilateral collaboration rooted in our shared ideals and development aspirations. On this celebratory occasion, we wish the U.A.E. and its people many more decades of success and happiness.”

Juan Pablo Cavelier – General Commissioner of Colombia Pavilion, said: “The Colombia Pavilion is honored to be part of the biggest celebration of the founding of the UAE, a country full of cultural richness and opportunities. The UAE is an example of leadership, strength and vision, from which we can all learn.”

Victor Haruta, Ambassador of Moldova to the UAE, Commissioner General of Moldova at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the UAE National Day celebrations, along with the best wishes for peace and continuous prosperity. The UAE has many remarkable achievements including in infrastructure, human development, renewable energy, space exploration – thus this Golden Jubilee is a memorable and inspiring moment not only for the people of the UAE, but for the entire World.”

Maggy Nagel, Commissioner General Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, also extended the country’s best wishes.

“In the coming years, I hope that the ties between our countries will continue to grow and strengthen. On behalf of the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, I wish the people of UAE peace and prosperity.”

Harun Junid, Commissioner General of Brunei Darussalam Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “On the occasion of the 50th National Day, the Government and people of Brunei Darussalam have great pleasure in extending our best wishes and congratulations, and in wishing the best of health and happiness, and more progress and prosperity for the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates.”

Ulrich Kromer von Baerle Director of the Baden-Württemberg House at Expo 2020 Dubai Ministry of Economic Affairs, labor and Tourism; and Ulrich Kromer von Baerle Director of the Baden-Württemberg House at Expo 2020 Dubai Ministry of Economic Affairs, labor and Tourism, also shared congratulations.

“Warmest congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates. As the first world exhibition in the Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubai already boasts nearly five million visitors – a huge success, for which I’d also like to express my sincere congratulations.”

Manuel Salchli, Commissioner General at the Swiss Pavilion, said, from the Alps to the desert, Switzerland sends its best wished to the UAE on their 50th anniversary.

“We congratulate the visionary UAE leadership for their achievements. The Expo 2020 Dubai is the perfect proof and a unique opportunity to discuss global challenges and to strengthen bilateral relations with the UAE and the region.”

Any Lam Chong L., Panama Pavilion Director, said: “On behalf of the Republic of Panama Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, we extend our congratulations to the United Arab Emirates on its Golden Jubilee Year! Both of our countries are celebrating historic milestones this year— ours being Panama’s Bicentennial of Independence. We are grateful to be able to celebrate these important moments together, discovering our similarities while sharing in laughter and dance at Expo 2020 Dubai.”

Larry Ng, Commissioner-General of the Singapore Pavilion, said: “Congratulations on the UAE’s 50th Anniversary! Like Singapore, the UAE has a relatively short history as a nation but they have certainly made these years count. It is remarkable to observe the transformation of the country, and the incredible feats and milestones it has achieved along the way – including the honor of hosting the first World Expo held in the Middle East. Best wishes on this special day, and we can’t wait to see the new firsts you will attain in the next 50 years!”

Gilberto Paulino Cossa, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Mozambique Pavilion, said: “The Mozambique Pavilion warmly congratulates the United Arab Emirates on the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the National Day. Congratulations on Your successes in hosting Expo 2020 Dubai! Thank you.”

Severi Keinälä, Commissioner General, aat the Finland Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, extended its congratulations on behalf of the Finland pavilion team, saying: “We look forward to enjoying the weekends Golden Jubilee celebrations together as a global community.”

Other messages of congratulations came from Burkina Faso, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Nepal, Czech Republic, Barbados, Monaco, Lithuania, Montenegro, Indonesia, Togo, Estonia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Japan, Romania, Suriname, Vietnam, Canada, India, Lesetho, Sweden, Algeria, the UK, and Malaysia.

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Indian PM Modi inaugurates new parliament building as part of grand makeover


Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s new parliament building on Sunday, a modern complex which is part of his government’s grand plan to give a makeover to the British colonial-era architecture in the nation’s capital.
The inauguration, and the ongoing revamp of the heart of New Delhi based on Indian culture, traditions and symbols, comes a year before parliamentary elections in which Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will pitch its strong Hindu nationalist credentials, and its performance in office over the last decade, to seek a third term.

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Early in the morning, Modi held traditional prayers outside the complex in a ceremony that was also attended by top cabinet min-isters. He then lit a traditional lamp inside parliament.
The event was boycotted by 20 opposition parties who said Modi had violated protocol to inaugurate the new complex and grab the spotlight when it should have been done by the president, the highest executive of the country.
“To open a new parliament building without the opposition, it does not mean there is a democracy in the country. It’s an incomplete event,” Supriya Sule, an opposition leader, told news agency ANI.
The Modi government has rejected the opposition argument, saying no protocol has been violated and that the prime minister respects the constitutional head of the country.
The new parliament complex is the centerpiece of a $2.4 billion project aimed at eclipsing the significance of colonial-era build-ings in the capital’s center, paving the way for modern buildings with a distinct Indian identity.
“Our new Parliament is truly a beacon of our democracy. It reflects the nation’s rich heritage and the vibrant aspirations
for the future,” Modi said on Twitter late on Saturday.
The triangular-shaped parliament complex is just across from the old, circular heritage building built by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in 1927, two decades before India’s independence.
The old parliament will be converted into a museum.
Besides modern technology, the new parliament has a total of 1,272 seats in two chambers, nearly 500 more than the old
building, and at least three times as much space to accommodate new lawmakers in the world’s most populous nation.

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Russia targets Kyiv with largest drone attack on Ukrainian capital ahead of Kyiv Day


Russia unleashed waves of air strikes on Kyiv overnight in what officials said appeared to be the largest drone attack on the city since the start of the war, as the Ukrainian capital prepared to celebrate the anniversary of its founding on Sunday.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it downed 52 out of the 54 Russia-launched drones, calling it a record attack with the Iranian-made ‘kamikaze’ drones. It was not immediately clear how many of the drones were shot over Kyiv.
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In what also appears to be the first deadly attack on Kyiv in May and the 14th assault this month, falling debris killed a 41-year-old man, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The pre-dawn attacks came on the last Sunday of May when the capital celebrates Kyiv Day, the anniversary of its official founding 1,541 years ago. The day is typically marked by street fairs, live concerts and special museum exhibitions – plans for which have been made this year too, but on a smaller scale.
“The history of Ukraine is a long-standing irritant for the insecure Russians,” Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, said on his Telegram channel.
Air Force said on Telegram that Russia had targeted military and critical infrastructure facilities in the central regions of Ukraine, and the Kyiv region in particular.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the information.
With a Ukrainian counteroffensive looming 15 months into the war, Moscow has intensified air strikes after a lull of nearly two months, targeting chiefly military site and supplies. Waves of attacks now come several times a week.
The Sunday attacks came after Kyiv said that combat clashes eased around the besieged city of Bakhmut in southeastern Ukraine, the site of the war’s longest battle.
Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, said the attack was carried out in several waves, and air alerts lasted more than five hours.
“Today, the enemy decided to ‘congratulate’ the people of Kyiv on Kyiv Day with the help of their deadly UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles],” Popko said on the Telegram messaging channel.
Several districts of Kyiv, by far the largest Ukrainian city with a population of around 3 million, suffered in the overnight attacks, officials said, including the historical Pecherskyi neighborhood.
Reuters witnesses said that during the air raid alerts that started soon after midnight, many people stood on their balconies, some screaming offensives directed at Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and “Glory to air defense” slogans.
In the leafy Holosiivskyi district in the southwestern part of Kyiv, falling debris set a three-story warehouse on fire, destroying about 1,000 square meters (10,800 square feet) of building structures, Mayor Klitschko said.
A fire broke out after falling drone debris hit a seven-story non-residential building in the Solomyanskyi district west of the city. The district is a busy rail and air transport hub.
In the Pecherskyi district, a fire broke out on the roof of a nine-story building due to falling drone debris, and in the Darnytskyi district a shop was damaged, Kyiv’s military administration officials said on Telegram.
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US President Biden, House Speaker McCarthy reach tentative debt ceiling deal


US President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy reached a tentative deal to suspend the federal government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Saturday evening, ending a months-long stalemate.
However, the deal was announced without any celebration, in terms that reflected the bitter tenor of the negotiations and the difficult path it has to pass through Congress before the United States runs out of money to pay its debts in early June.
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“I just got off the phone with the president a bit ago. After he wasted time and refused to negotiate for months, we’ve come to an agreement in principle that is worthy of the American people,” McCarthy tweeted.
Biden called the deal “an important step forward” in a statement, saying: "The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want. That’s the responsibility of governing.”
The deal would suspend the debt limit through January of 2025, while capping spending in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, claw back unused COVID-19 funds, speed up the permitting process for some energy projects and includes some extra work requirements for food aid programs for poor Americans.
After months of back-and-forth, the tentative agreement came together in a flurry of calls. Biden and McCarthy held a 90-minute phone call earlier on Saturday evening to discuss the deal, McCarthy briefed his members later in the evening, and the White House and the House leader spoke afterward.
“We still have more work to do tonight to finish the writing of it,” McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill. McCarthy said he expects to finish writing the bill on Sunday, then speak to Biden and have a vote on the deal on Wednesday.
Biden and McCarthy have to carefully thread the needle in finding a compromise that can clear the House, with a 222-213 Republican majority, and Senate, with a 51-49 Democratic majority — meaning it will need bipartisan support before the president can sign it.
Negotiators have agreed to cap non-defense discretionary spending at 2023 levels for one year and increase it by 1 percent in 2025, a source familiar with the deal said.
“It has historic reductions in spending, consequential reforms that will lift people out of poverty into the workforce, rein in government overreach – there are no new taxes, no new government programs,” McCarthy said.
The deal will avert an economically destabilizing default, so long as it succeeds in passing it through the narrowly divided Congress before the Treasury Department runs short of money to cover all its obligations, which it warned on Friday will occur if the debt ceiling issue was not resolved by June 5.
Republicans who control the House of Representatives have pushed for steep cuts to spending and other conditions, and were sharply critical of the deal as early details were reported.
Republican Representative Bob Good, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, tweeted that he was hearing the deal would raise the debt by $4 trillion, and added “IF that is true, I don’t need to hear anything else. No one claiming to be a conservative could justify a YES vote.”
North Carolina’s Dan Bishop described the deal earlier Saturday as “utter capitulation in progress. By the side holding the cards.”
One high-ranking member of the House Freedom Caucus said they were in the process of gauging member sentiment, and unsure what the vote numbers might be.

Taxes vs spending cuts

Republicans say they want to cut spending to slow the growth of the US debt, which is now roughly equal to the annual output of the country’s economy. Biden and Democrats have pushed to increase taxes on the wealthy and companies to shrink the debt while increasing spending on programs like free community college.
The long standoff on raising the debt ceiling spooked financial markets, weighing on stocks and forcing the United States to pay record-high interest rates in some bond sales. A default would take a far heavier toll, economists say, likely pushing the nation into recession, shaking the world economy and leading to a spike in unemployment.
Biden for months refused to negotiate with McCarthy over future spending cuts, demanding that lawmakers first pass a “clean” debt-ceiling increase free of other conditions, and present a 2024 budget proposal to counter his budget issued in March.
Two-way negotiations between Biden and McCarthy began in earnest on May 16.
The work to raise the debt ceiling is far from done. McCarthy has vowed to give House members 72 hours to read the legislation before bringing it to the floor for a vote.
That will test whether enough moderate members support the compromises in the bill to overcome opposition from both hard-right Republicans and progressive Democrats to reach a simple majority vote.
Then it will need to pass the Senate, where it will need at least nine Republican votes to succeed. There are numerous opportunities in each chamber along the way to slow down the process.
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US debt ceiling standoff ‘unnecessary’ for world economy: IMF head

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