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Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and US President Joe Biden stressed transatlantic unity in the unprecedented western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine at a White House meeting on Tuesday.
“The ties between our two countries will always be strong and, if anything, this war in Ukraine has made them stronger,” Mr Draghi said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “thought he could divide us — he failed”, Mr Draghi told Mr Biden. “We stand together.”
While calling out Russia's “butchery” in Ukraine, Mr Draghi said it was time to “think deeply” about arranging a ceasefire.
“People want to think about the possibility of bringing a ceasefire and start engaging in credible negotiations,” he said.
Mr Biden, who hosted Mr Draghi in the Oval Office, also praised western unity, saying in comments while reporters were present that “Putin believed he could split us, but we've all stepped up”.
Despite Italy's dependence on Russian gas and Rome's traditionally friendly ties with Moscow, Mr Draghi's government has been a staunch supporter of efforts to punish Russia for its assault on Ukraine.
Along with western allies, Rome has sent weapons to support Kyiv, although there is increasing unease about the move within Mr Draghi's national unity government.
Mr Draghi has also pledged support for any European Union sanctions on Russia's energy sector despite the risks — 40 per cent of Italy's natural gas imports come from Russia.
The EU is currently debating a phased ban on Russian oil imports, although this move would not touch Moscow's huge gas exports.
Germany has ruled out an immediate embargo on all Russian energy, especially natural gas, although it aims to end Russian oil imports by the end of this year.
The meeting at the White House comes before crucial G7 and Nato summits in Europe next month.
Beyond Ukraine, the leaders were expected to discuss the global economy and climate change.
Mr Biden, who has made a priority of repairing tattered US-EU ties after former US president Donald Trump left the White House, told Mr Draghi that “a strong European Union is in the interests of the United States”.
“It's good for everyone,” he said.
Mr Draghi has particularly close ties with the US.
He did his doctorate at MIT and worked for both the World Bank and US investment bank Goldman Sachs. He was also president of the European Central Bank for eight years.
While in Washington, Mr Draghi will receive an award from the Atlantic Council for distinguished international leadership.
It is scheduled to be presented by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at a ceremony on Wednesday.
HAJJAN
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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