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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Ankara on Wednesday in the leader's first visit to the country since taking office in 2021.
The visit aims to ease tension between the two countries, with the leaders scheduled to discuss relations as well as the war in Gaza, where Israel is intensifying its aerial attacks on the enclave's south.
Mr Raisi said the trip would also focus on economic developments, with Tehran hoping to boost bilateral trade to $30 billion. Mr Raisi and Mr Erdogan will also hold a meeting of top tradesmen and economists from both countries, state outlet IRNA reported.
The Iranian President added that Turkey and Iran share a common stance on Palestine, saying that “lifelines” to Israel must be cut off to stop its attacks on Gaza.
Also on the agenda is the presence of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) in northern Iraq's mountain ranges.
Designated a terrorist group by Ankara, both Turkey and Iran have launched frequent attacks the PKK and exiled Iranian Kurdish groups in the country.
Mr Raisi has twice cancelled planned talks in Turkey, scheduled for November and January, amid the war in Gaza and an ISIS attack on the city of Kerman that killed 94 people.
The twin bombings took place at the tomb of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force commander Maj Gen Qassem Suleimani, the architect of Iran's regional proxy activity.
Maj Gen Suleimani was killed in a US air strike at Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.
The two leaders will hold a press conference after the discussions, which will also touch on political and economic matters, Ankara said.
Turkey and Israel made steps to strengthen ties in 2022 after years of frosty relations centred on Ankara's relations with Hamas. However, the war in Gaza has overturned the thaw.
President Isaac Herzog undertook the first visit by an Israeli leader to Turkey since 2008, and Ankara vowed to maintain relations with Israel despite the victory of Benjamin Netanyahu paving the way for its most right-wing government yet.
In November, Ankara recalled its envoy to Israel in light of the “unfolding humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza.
Last week, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant accused Turkey as acting “as an arm of Hamas” after it detained an Israeli footballer who expressed solidarity with hostages held in Gaza.
Ankara is a staunch supporter of Hamas, and thousands of Turks have taken to the streets to protest against Israel's war in Gaza.
Turkey has taken in injured Gazans for medical treatment, and Mr Erdogan has compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
However, Iranian media has reportedly criticised Turkey for maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel as the war in Gaza continues.
Iran's regional proxies are active in the war, with the IRGC also launching strikes on the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Erbil, killing several civilians, including an 11-month-old baby.
Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdish officials have fiercely denied Tehran's claims that its target was a Mossad headquarters.
Other disputes between Tehran and Ankara centre on Iran's support for Armenia and opposing alliances in Syria, but experts say this is overshadowed by the current fighting in Gaza.
“It is possible that Raisi and Erdogan might declare some symbolic measure about Palestine out of the meeting,” Arash Azizi, lecturer at Clemson University, told AFP.
“But I think their focus will be mostly on how to contain the conflict and make sure it doesn't expand further, something that Ankara and Tehran both want.”
Company%20Profile
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Book%20Details
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
