The Bosphorus Strait, which opens the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, is so important that it has its own international treaty. Struck in 1936, the Motreux Convention continues to play a crucial role in global trade. It gives Turkey control over shipping traffic between the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, a stretch of water that is vital both strategically and commercially. It is one of the many reasons Turkey continues to be a crucial geopolitical player.
Today, it is hugely consequential for the war in Ukraine and its effects on global economic stability. Under the agreement, Turkey can close the straits to war and merchant ships hailing from countries at conflict with it. Russia needs the route to connect its key Black Sea naval port in the occupied Crimean city of Sevastopol. As a Nato member, Turkey has a tricky balance to strike between keeping its waters safe, while also complying with western policies that target Russia’s economy and military. The situation is complicated further by Turkey’s desire to be a peace broker in the war. For example, Turkey, along with the UN, brokered a vital grain agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
But it appears more mundane issues can also scupper the operations of this crucial waterway. On Saturday, 27 tankers were waiting to cross the route because of stringent rules Ankara brought in at the beginning of December, which require proof of insurance before entry.
A delay would be destabilising even in normal times. Millions of barrels of oil pass through the route each day. But as energy markets reel from the effects of the conflict, the results of a holdup could be critical. Leading analyst Vandana Hart has told The National that it could spark a “serious geopolitical crisis”. The US and UK are among the powers in talks with Ankara to ease the measures, with Kazakhstan also taking an interest; most of the oil being delayed is from the country.
Turkey has a sovereign right to manage its trade routes as it sees fit. In a part of the world where so many powers have a keen interest, the responsibility is a huge one. It appears Turkey is making progress on the issue. On Sunday, its national maritime authority said it would allow four tankers to cross the passage.
Turkey’s careful stewardship matters so much because it has a real impact on an already fragile energy market. Russia’s huge output is under severe western sanctions and the EU, G7 and Australia recently introduced a $60 oil price cap on Russian crude, albeit slightly after Ankara’s new insurance requirements.
This comes as a surprisingly cold winter appears to be bearing down on Europe. First thought must be given to the victims of Ukraine’s conflict, many of whom will be going without reliable energy supply during the upcoming freezing months. But even in warmer parts of western Europe, a colder-than-usual spell will hit consumers hard as prices rise, and will put national governments in a difficult political position.
How Turkey manages today’s delay will not solve these tough circumstances, but it could certainly stop them from getting worse. In 2021, the world watched as the Ever Given got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal, another vital waterway. Cairo rushed into action to open the passage, knowing the global supply chain, already stressed by Covid-19, relied on it.
If any country can manage a similar crisis, it is Turkey, with its long history of stewarding global trade. If it can do so, it will be helping the world through a tough winter.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
How Voiss turns words to speech
The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards
Arabic voice in affordable talking computer to be added next year to English, Portuguese, and Spanish synthesiser
Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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Company%20profile
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