Key deals made as President Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with Indonesia's Joko Widodo


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President Sheikh Mohamed on Wednesday hailed Indonesian President Joko Widodo's state visit to the UAE as the culmination of sustained efforts to deepen ties between the nations.

Sheikh Mohamed praised Mr Widodo's contributions to bolstering ties as the two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements aimed at furthering co-operation across the environment, tourism and renewable energy during talks in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed reflected on Mr Widodo's "tireless efforts" to foster closer links between the UAE and Indonesia during his decade-long presidency.

He said high-level discussions had explored ways for the allies to expand economic partnerships and join forces to combat climate change and improve global education.

The Indonesian President will leave office in October at the end of his second and final term.

"We explored opportunities to further expand our economic partnership, boost collaboration in key development areas, enhance climate action efforts, and advance global education initiatives," Sheikh Mohamed said on X, formerly Twitter.

"I extend my sincere thanks to President Widodo for his tireless efforts during his time in office to strengthen the bonds between our two nations."

Mr Widodo concluded his visit on Wednesday, state news agency Wam reported.

Sheikh Mohamed earlier hosted Mr Widodo at an official reception at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Widodo inspected a guard of honour and witnessed renditions of the UAE and Indonesian national anthems.

The ceremony also featured performances by Emirati folk groups, a 21-gun artillery salute and a fly-past by the UAE's Al Fursan aerial display team, which lit up the sky with a trail of smoke in the colours of the Indonesian flag.

Indonesian leader honoured

Sheikh Mohamed presents the Order of Zayed to Mr Widodo at Qasr Al Watan. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / Presidential Court
Sheikh Mohamed presents the Order of Zayed to Mr Widodo at Qasr Al Watan. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed presented Mr Widodo with the Order of Zayed for his efforts in strengthening UAE-Indonesian relations.

It is considered the highest civilian honour in the UAE and is bestowed upon world leaders and heads of state.

Sheikh Mohamed said the award was testament to Mr Widodo's valuable contribution to advancing relations.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed also presented the Order of the Union to Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment for his work to boost ties.

An Emirati welcoming party at the reception included Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and a number of other ministers and senior officials.

Mr Widodo was accompanied by a delegation of leading Indonesian ministers and officials.

Building on decades-long friendship

Mr Widodo's visit is a landmark moment in a long-standing friendship spanning 47 years.

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, visited Indonesia in 1990, a tour which was viewed as pivotal to relations, Wam said on Tuesday.

The allies already enjoy close links across various fields, including trade, investment and the environment.

Discussions between the two leaders centred on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) signed between the countries in July 2022, which is crucial to joint efforts to advance sustainable development.

Sheikh Mohamed said on Wednesday the agreement was a major milestone in a growing economic partnership.

Non-oil trade between the two countries from 2014 to 2023 reached Dh101.91 billion ($27.75 billion), with consistent growth in recent years.

The Cepa is projected to increase non-oil trade to more than $10 billion within five years, from about $3 billion in 2021.

Key tenets of the strategic partnership, which came into force last August, include reducing or eliminating tariffs on various goods and services and working to create new opportunities for exporters and businesses from both countries.

Deals struck during visit

The UAE and Indonesia finalised an agreement to install solar energy systems on industrial and commercial rooftops in Indonesia and to co-operate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The countries also agreed to a partnership on a public budget management plan and to develop smart banking systems.

The UAE Presidential Court and the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment will establish the Joko Widodo Mangrove Research Centre in Bali, Indonesia.

Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and Eagle Hills Properties will work in tandem in real estate development, tourism investment and the management of airports and hotels.

A framework agreement was also made on the development of a maritime patrol aircraft.

Mr Widodo left the UAE on Wednesday afternoon. He was seen off at the Presidential Airport by Sheikh Khaled.

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Multitasking pays off for money goals

Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.

That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.

"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.

Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."

People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.

"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."

Roger Federer's 2018 record

Australian Open Champion

Rotterdam Champion

Indian Wells Runner-up

Miami Second round

Stuttgart Champion

Halle Runner-up

Wimbledon Quarter-finals

Cincinnati Runner-up

US Open Fourth round

Shanghai Semi-finals

Basel Champion

Paris Masters Semi-finals

 

 

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4.15pm: Italy v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: Egypt v Mexico (Group B)
6.45pm: UAE v Japan (Group A)
8pm: Iran v Russia (Group B)

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

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Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR

Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps

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Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

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Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Transmission: CVT auto

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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

PSG's line up

GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)

Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)

Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)

Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)

Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)

Players Selected for La Liga Trials

U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian

Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco

Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French

Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian

U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco

'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

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Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'

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Updated: July 17, 2024, 1:39 PM`