The United States has called Greece a key partner in both the eastern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans at the start of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s five-day tour of Europe.
Mr Pompeo arrived in Greece early on Monday morning as the US State Department emphasised the importance of ties between Athens and Washington.
“Greece is a critical partner with which the United States shares key strategic goals,” the US statement read.
“The United States considers Greece a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans and a vital partner in bolstering security and prosperity in the region.
“We are committed to supporting Greece’s security, prosperity, and continued democracy,” it added.
Mr Pompeo’s two-day visit to the Hellenic Republic comes amid a critical dispute between Greece and its long-time rival and neighbour Turkey. The two nations have come close to an all-out conflict in recent months over maritime border disagreements.
Nato, of which Greece and Turkey are both members, has designs to expand its mission in the eastern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans with plans to bolster Greece’s naval base on the Greece island of Crete.
Mr Pompeo’s visit will emphasise the two countries' “shared commitment to advance security, peace, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans, as well as celebrate the strongest US-Greek relationship in decades”, the state department said.
Under the 2019 defence agreement between Athens and Washington, the two nations have expanded bilateral activities at Larissa and Stefanovikio to sustain cooperation at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on Crete where significant US military forces are deployed.
The United States is also working together with Greece on expanding regional cooperation, through the “3+1” diplomatic mechanism with Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
Match info
UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai
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The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Arsenal 4
Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'
Fulham 1
Kamara 69'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jawan
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The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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