German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Fort de Bregancon, southern France, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 AP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Fort de Bregancon, southern France, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 AP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Fort de Bregancon, southern France, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 AP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Fort de Bregancon, southern France, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 AP

Macron and Merkel vow to preserve European sovereignty and rule of law in Eastern Mediterranean


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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would assert European sovereignty and the rule of international law in the Eastern Mediterranean after their talks in southern France.

At his summer retreat after meetings with Mrs Merkel, Mr Macron said they wished to show their solidarity with Greece and Cyprus while continuing talks on growing tension caused by Turkey's exploratory drilling in the area.

He has been pushing for Brussels to take a stronger line on Ankara, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. In a tweet after the discussions, Mr Macron also targeted another aspect of Turkey's regional activities when he demanded new rigour from the European naval coalition that is patrolling the seas off Libya. The Irini mission was launched to intercept shipments of weapons bound for Libya.

Germany's navy, along with France, Italy and Greece, is a direct participant in the Irini naval mission to uphold the UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 2292 prohibiting arms shipments to Tripoli. Turkey has used the sea lanes across the Mediterranean to supply its allies in western Libya with both an arsenal of weapons and personnel recruited from extremist battalions from the Syrian conflict.

Earlier this month France also boosted its military presence in eastern Mediterranean region amid flaring tension between Athens and Ankara after a Turkish seismic research vessel, the Oruc Reis, was sent into waters off eastern Greek islands.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Fort de Bregancon, in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, on August 20, 2020 Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Fort de Bregancon, in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, on August 20, 2020 Reuters

Mrs Merkel said it was important that Europe spoke with one voice about the Eastern Mediterranean while seeking a multilateral solution to the dispute.

"We need stability there and not tension," she said. "We have a very critical situation.

"I am convinced that if Germany and France join forces here, we will find good solutions that will hopefully make co-operation possible, but that will also make clear we will not accept attacks on the sovereignty of member states of the European Union.

"We are in favour of solving problems through discussion and not by escalating tensions, and that applies to all parties involved.”

Mrs Merkel was the first German chancellor to the visit Fort de Bregancon in the south of France since her country’s reunification.

She was greeted on arrival by Mr Macron and his wife, Brigitte, who exchanged bows instead of handshakes.

"The best place in the world," Mrs Merkel told her hosts in English as they pointed out the features of the fortress.

They then put on surgical masks and went inside to start their talks.

Map shows competing maritime borders according to agreements made by Athens and Cairo, Tripoli and Ankara
Map shows competing maritime borders according to agreements made by Athens and Cairo, Tripoli and Ankara

Mrs Merkel has become the principal mediator between Turkey and Greece, which along with Cyprus has borne the brunt of Turkey’s aggression.

At least once in July she was forced to intervene at the 11th hour to stop a direct confrontation between Greek and Turkish naval ships.

Before the meeting, in an interview with the French news magazine Paris Match, Mr Macron railed against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He said Mr Erdogan was pursuing “an expansionist policy that mixes nationalism and Islam, which is incompatible with European interests".

Paris has sought punitive action against Ankara since June, when it said its navy ship, the Courbet,  was harassed by Turkish warships as it tried to inspect a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship suspected of being used by Turkey to flout the EU's arms embargo on Libya.

Despite rebukes from the Brussels over its actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and calls for sanctions from Greece, Turkey has sent a second drilling ship, the Yavuz,  into Cypriot waters.

Meanwhile, Nicosia has accused the EU of appeasing Turkey by failing to introduce sanctions.

EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss possible sanctions against Turkey at the end of next week.

On Wednesday night, after a meeting of EU leaders, Mrs Merkel called for dialogue and restraint while asserting support for Greece and Cyprus.

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Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

RESULTS

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

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The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books

ALL THE RESULTS

Bantamweight

Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.

Catch 74kg

Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.

Strawweight (Female)

Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.

Lightweight

Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

GCC-UK%20Growth
%3Cp%3EAn%20FTA%20with%20the%20GCC%20would%20be%20very%20significant%20for%20the%20UK.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20My%20Department%20has%20forecast%20that%20it%20could%20generate%20an%20additional%20%C2%A31.6%20billion%20a%20year%20for%20our%20economy.%3Cbr%3EWith%20consumer%20demand%20across%20the%20GCC%20predicted%20to%20increase%20to%20%C2%A3800%20billion%20by%202035%20this%20deal%20could%20act%20as%20a%20launchpad%20from%20which%20our%20firms%20can%20boost%20their%20market%20share.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Famous left-handers

- Marie Curie

- Jimi Hendrix

- Leonardo Di Vinci

- David Bowie

- Paul McCartney

- Albert Einstein

- Jack the Ripper

- Barack Obama

- Helen Keller

- Joan of Arc

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

While you're here
NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets