Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel speak at the Munich Security Conference.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel speak at the Munich Security Conference.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel speak at the Munich Security Conference.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel speak at the Munich Security Conference.

Europe vows to rearm in face of Ukraine setbacks


Damien McElroy
  • English
  • Arabic

Czech President Petr Pavel has revealed his country is seeking European funding for a purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine as the country’s officials call on neighbours to build up their military industries.

The development of a war economy in Russia to advance its invasion of Ukraine has granted Moscow an advantage it has not enjoyed in the two-year war.

Officials from across the EU expressed frustration the bloc had not moved as quick to mobilise its resources to rearm in the face of a threat on its fringes.

Mr Pavel, a former general, told an event organised by Yalta European Strategy in Munich on Saturday that the search outside Europe was driven by the shortfall from its production lines.

Russia had been able to use it artillery advantage – in some areas more than 10:1 – to conquer frontline territory. The Kremlin has eyes on Russia’s presidential election this year.

“President [Vladimir] Putin is now working with the direction in order to achieve some visible success before the elections,” Mr Pavel said. “So what we can do is to support Ukraine in deliveries of weapons and ammunition from all sources available.”

He said the rounds could be delivered “within weeks” if we find quickly funding for that activity from countries like the US, Germany and Sweden.

“The aim of this activity is to strengthen the Ukrainian defence [forces] so that they spare their human resources and they cause as much aggression to Russian forces as possible and that they hold the ground they have right now,” he said.

“It is important not to allow Russia to develop any significant success. Because as we know, this war is as much about real world fighting on the battlefield, as it is about psychological warfare.”

Pleas but no progress

Contributions to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday predicted a rapid expansion of European armouries after the failure to deliver half of the promised one million artillery shells to Ukraine last year.

Germany claims it is about to turn a corner. “We don’t do all that it takes,” said Robert Haabeck, the German Vice-Chancellor. “The phrase we have used is as long as it takes. We should do all that we can.”

Christian Lindner, the German Finance Minister, said on Saturday that the country would spend two per cent of its GDP on defence and then go higher. Berlin would also set new conditions for the expansion of the defence industry in Germany.

“The state is a client and customer of the security and defence industry, but the companies still need private investments and financing,” he said.

“That's why a second turning point is necessary that improves the reputation and framework conditions for the industry.”

Ukrainian officials have sought to move away from arguments that the country is a frontline for all of Europe and instead say the battle must be fought by every country.

“The era of peace in Europe is over,” Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukraine Foreign Minister, said on Saturday.

US despair

Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, a country that has sent its entire artillery stocks to Ukraine, said Ukraine needed air support and other tools of modern warfare.

“Ukraine cannot win a war without weapons - words are not enough,” she said.

Much of the discussion is framed around the impasse in the US to pass a new support package for Ukraine before the House of Representatives went on a recess until the end of the month. The former Democratic speaker said the funds would be released when the legislators come back.

“There is no place for any fatigue in any of this,” said Nancy Pelosi, “We want to vote, we have the votes, over 300 members support this package.”

Men from Barca's class of 99

Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer

Everton - Ronald Koeman

Manchester City - Pep Guardiola

Manchester United - Jose Mourinho

Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino

Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

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The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8 
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k

Key facilities
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england euro squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS

Biosafety Level 1

The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.

Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.

Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.

Used as teaching spaces.

Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.

Biosafety Level 2

These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.

Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.

Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1

Biosafety Level 3

These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.

Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.

Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.

Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.

Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.

Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.

Biosafety Level 4

The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.

All material must be decontaminated.

Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.

Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.

Entrance must be via airlocks.

England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand

Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince

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MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')

Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

SPECS
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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Sri Lanka's T20I squad

Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain

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Updated: February 18, 2024, 4:31 AM`