Ukraine was poised on Thursday to be granted candidate status by the European Union, an important symbolic step in its quest to free itself once and for all from Russia’s unrelenting grip.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the expected decision would take Ukraine “into the light from the darkness”, after lobbying EU leaders to give hope to his people at a traumatic time for the country.
Moldova is also set to be named a candidate, with both countries told that progress towards joining the EU will depend on rooting out corruption and other reforms to meet the bloc’s standards.
The process could take many years and the leader of impatient fellow applicant Albania said the Ukrainian people should have no illusions about a rapid accession to the EU.
But EU leaders meeting in Brussels said candidate status for Ukraine would be a “historic moment”, as European Council President Charles Michel put it, and a show of solidarity while it fights Russia’s offensive.
“History is on the march,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as the 27 fully fledged members prepared to give their verdict on Ukraine’s application.
All 27 need to approve candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova but no country signalled in preliminary talks that it would block the process.
A senior EU official said surprises were always possible but that they did not foresee any problems. Hungary, which has angered allies with its hardball diplomacy over sanctions, has said it supports Ukraine’s application.
Ukraine applied in February and immediately won support from many countries in the former Soviet sphere of influence but senior figures in western Europe were unwilling to tear up the EU’s rule book.
But countries including Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, which initially expressed reservations, have said they are willing to take the first step on Ukraine’s candidacy.
Germany wants to see language in the conclusions of this week’s EU meeting reflecting the fact that the bloc must also be ready to absorb new members, government sources said.
The commission recommended last week that Ukraine’s application be taken forward on the understanding that it strengthens the integrity of its courts and tackles the “excessive influence” of wealthy oligarchs.
Georgia, another former Soviet country seeking EU membership, is likely to be told it is not yet ready for candidate status like Ukraine or Moldova, but can realise its ambition if it makes the necessary reforms.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Georgia “should not look at that in a negative way … now they have a clear path”.
Ukraine has long sought Nato as well as EU membership, although it has indicated it could drop that demand in any peace deal with Moscow. Preventing Ukraine's western drift was widely seen as the ultimate goal of Russia's invasion in February.
Balkan countries that have been in the EU’s waiting room for longer did not express resentment towards Ukraine’s rapid progress but said it was time their applications were taken forward, too.
Albania and North Macedonia are candidate countries but progress on their applications is effectively blocked by Bulgaria, which has a variety of historical and political grievances with North Macedonia.
That logjam was only made more complicated when the Bulgarian government was defeated in a confidence vote on the eve of Thursday’s summit.
“It’s a disgrace that a Nato country, Bulgaria, kidnaps two other Nato countries … in the midst of a hot war in Europe’s backyard,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
He said it was “a good thing to give candidate status [to Ukraine] … but I hope the Ukrainian people will not make many illusions”.
EU officials have spoken of trying to offer applicant countries some of the benefits of being in the European fold before their accession is complete.
Leaders were expected to discuss French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a looser geopolitical community that could include Ukraine or even Eurosceptic countries such as Britain.
But Vjosa Osmani, president of fellow applicant Kosovo, expressed hope that Ukraine’s candidate status could provide momentum to the long-stalled applications from the Balkans.
“I don't see any harm whatsoever towards the Western Balkans if Ukraine and Moldova move on, quite the opposite,” she said.
“I believe that by opening their doors to Ukraine and Moldova, the European Union is sending a strong message that this is of geostrategic importance, it's a geopolitical decision and that's exactly what the Western Balkans needs.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)
Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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HERO%20CUP%20TEAMS
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
LEADERBOARD
%3Cp%3E-19%20T%20Fleetwood%20(Eng)%3B%20-18%20R%20McIlroy%20(NI)%2C%20T%20Lawrence%20(SA)%3B%20-16%20J%20Smith%3B%20-15%20F%20Molinari%20(Ita)%3B%20-14%20Z%20Lombard%20(SA)%2C%20S%20Crocker%20(US)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESelected%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E-11%20A%20Meronk%20(Pol)%3B%20-10%20E%20Ferguson%20(Sco)%3B%20-8%20R%20Fox%20(NZ)%20-7%20L%20Donald%20(Eng)%3B%20-5%20T%20McKibbin%20(NI)%2C%20N%20Hoejgaard%20(Den)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
