Turkey is accused of a calculated insult to Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, by presenting him with a bottle of hand sanitiser in a wooden box during a two-day visit to Ankara.
The high representative for foreign affairs had rebuked Turkey over its activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and its deepening crisis with France.
After encountering Turkish pushback at a news conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mr Borrell looked stunned when his host handed him the gift.
Analysts said it was a pointed gesture in line with Turkey’s increasingly assertive foreign policy.
“In a quest to assert its national sovereignty, Ankara is willing to deploy symbolic insult in conducting its diplomacy,” wrote Sinem Adar, an associate at the German Institute of International and Security Affairs.
“The gift-giving performance at the end of the press conference is an example of this.”
Mr Borrell has been reluctant to take up a French push for sanctions against Turkey.
Paris last month accused Turkish naval vessels of aggressive behaviour towards one of its frigates which was assigned to stop arms smuggling to Tripoli.
The Turkish declaration of a maritime zone shared with Libya, meanwhile, infringes the territorial waters of countries, especially Cyprus. Ankara has refused to engage with pleas for dialogue.
“It’s time to create a way forward, conducive to confidence building, dialogue, good neighbourhood relations, stability and security,” Mr Borrell said. “This cannot be done by unilateral actions.
“Currently, the situation is far from being ideal. We have a mutual interest to get out of this situation and chart a new and positive trajectory.”
Mr Borrell also met Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, who last week met his country’s allies in Tripoli.
Turkey has sent extremist fighters and weapons to territory controlled by the Government of National Accord.
With the EU set to discuss widening sanctions on Turkey at a meeting next week, Mr Borrell called for Ankara to respect Nato missions in the Mediterranean after the clash with the French.
“It’s not acceptable that between the navies of two [Nato] members these kinds of situations can happen,” he said.
Mr Borrell pressed for an overhaul of a 2016 agreement between Turkey and the EU, in which €3 billion (Dh12.42bn/$3.38bn) was given to Ankara to curb the flow of migrants from Turkey to Europe.
The arrangement unravelled in late February, when Turkey opened its border to Greece for migrants and refugees.
Greek forces retaliated, leading to scenes of chaos and violence, the deaths of at least two migrants and hundreds of injuries.
Ankara has rebuffed EU demands for a renewed commitment to the deal, claiming Brussels was siding with Greece in a localised dispute.
Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey would not accept a revision of the agreement with new conditions, such as concessions on Cyprus.
Last week, France temporarily suspended its role in a Nato maritime security operation after it accused Turkey of breaching a UN arms embargo in Libya, where the two countries support different sides.
It followed the dispute on whether a Turkish naval radar “lit up” a French frigate in June.
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
