Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, shakes hands with Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar after a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, shakes hands with Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar after a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, shakes hands with Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar after a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, shakes hands with Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar after a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. EPA

Russia's Lavrov pledges more wheat shipments for Tunisia during foreign ministers' meeting


Ghaya Ben Mbarek
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has promised to increase the volume of wheat it exports to Tunisia, during a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a two-day visit.

Mr Lavrov also voiced his country’s support for the Tunisian leadership's attempts at economic restructuring.

“We support the Tunisian leadership in its endeavour to strengthen the country's economy and stabilise the state,” Russia’s Foreign Minister said on Tuesday.

Mr Lavrov confirmed a first shipment of wheat had already been delivered to the North African nation and that larger-scale deliveries were pending.

"Prospects for Russian grain purchases and how they will be delivered to Tunis were discussed," Mr Lavrov said. “The first batch has already left for Tunisia.”

The purpose of the Tunisian delegation's visit is to prepare the ground for the establishment of previously announced bilateral committees for co-operation between the two countries.

“Tunisia has always sought to maintain good relations with all its partners and we hold special appreciation for Russia and the respect it has always manifested for Tunisia vis-a-vis its history and symbols,” Mr Ammar said.

The Tunisian minister stressed that his country is open to co-operation with all and refuses to partner with one country at the expense of another.

“We have clear conditions for working with the International Monetary Fund and we have red lines that should not be crossed – we are ready to work within the framework of these lines,” Mr Ammar said in Moscow.

Stalled negotiations

Talks with Tunisia regarding an IMF bailout stalled months ago after President Kais Saied on several occasions refused proposed terms that were key to the deal.

Mr Saied rejected the fund’s conditional financial package, which sought to push his government to cut public spending.

However, the key terms Mr Saied described as “foreign diktats” were initially included in the proposal made by his government in the early stages of talks between Tunisia and the IMF for a $1.9 million bailout loan.

Due to the stalled negotiations, Tunisia has been seeking alternatives, directing its attention further towards potential partners such as Russia and China.

Mr Ammar is being accompanied by the general director of the Tunisian Cereal Office, Salwa Ben Hadid, in an attempt to redress its shortage of wheat-based products.

Ms Ben Hadid will reportedly conduct talks with Russian officials from the Ministry of Agriculture to agree on the terms necessary for Tunisia to receive more grain shipments.

This visit also coincides with the arrival of Khalifa Haftar, Field Marshal of the Libyan Armed forces, whose troops stand behind the Eastern Libyan government in Benghazi.

FM Haftar was received by Russian deputy defence minister Yunus-Bek Evkurov.

Russia expressed its intention to increase its imports of agricultural products and textiles from Tunisia.

Mr Lavrov referred to the long-standing history between the two countries. He also stressed that Tunisia was at the forefront of the African countries with which Moscow collaborates, with trade exchange reaching $1.2 billion in the first half of this year.

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)

Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

- irritability and emotional outbursts

- sadness

- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue

- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more

- impaired judgement

- excessive and continuous worrying

- irregular sleep patterns

 

Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation

Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.

Hales' batting career

Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94

ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171

T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Specs
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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.

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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.

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm

Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh317,671

On sale: now

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)

Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),

Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),

Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm) 

Benevento v Napoli (6pm) 

Parma v Spezia (6pm)

 Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)

Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)

Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)

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The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Mobile phone packages comparison
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps

THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali

Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”

Favourite TV programme: the news

Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

 

'Nope'
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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Updated: September 26, 2023, 7:57 PM