Iran and Russia are preparing to hold joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea, including rescue and anti-piracy drills, according to the commander of the Iranian navy.
The two countries held naval drills in the Caspian Sea before, including in 2015 and 2017. Iran and Russia are already close allies, particularly in Syria where they both back President Bashar Al Assad in the country’s civil war.
“Tactical, rescue and anti-piracy war games between Iranian and Russian naval forces are being planned and will be implemented in the near future,” Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi told Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
“The co-operation between the naval forces of Iran and Russia ... has been strengthened in recent years,” he said.
He offered no timetable for the drills.
Adm Khanzadi repeated Iran’s opposition to the military presence of any country from outside the region in the Caspian Sea, saying: “All countries around the Caspian have the same approach.”
He said that countries bordering the landlocked sea between Asia and Europe would counter the presence of any “transregional states”.
The opposition to the military presence of outside states in the Caspian is part of a convention signed last year by the countries bordering the sea.
This agreement between Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan was meant to define the legal status of the Caspian but some issues, such as marking territorial waters, remained unresolved.
Besides calling for more talks to resolve the division of the Caspian, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded that the exclusion of any foreign military presence should also apply to the shipment of military cargoes. Although he did not offer any examples, he was thought to be referring to a US arrangement for shipping cargo between Azerbaijan and Kazakh ports.
Russia said last year it was committed to deepening ties with Iran despite a US decision to quit an international nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran.
The new drills mean that Moscow and Tehran will boost their co-operation at sea. They are already closely connected through co-operation in Syria. Iranian and Russian officials have shuttled between Tehran and Moscow in recent years, boosting a relationship that previously had little history.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
