President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday asked the EU to relaunch talks for Turkey to eventually become a member of the bloc, on the eve of a summit focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has allowed Ankara to return to the international stage by offering its services as a mediator.
"We expect the EU to open quickly the chapters of the membership negotiations and to start negotiations on a customs union without yielding to cynical calculations," Mr Erdogan said after talks with visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Negotiations for Turkey's accession one day to the 27-nation EU, which began in 2005, have stalled in recent years over tension between the two sides.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed and Mr Erdogan pictured at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed, Mr Erdogan, and an official, tour Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
The Turkish president is in the UAE on his first official visit to the Emirates in almost a decade. Photo: Dubai Media Office -

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, hosts an official reception for Mr Erdogan at Qasr Al Watan. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, left, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, attend the reception for the official visit of Mr Erdogan. -

President Erdogan attends the reception at the palace in Abu Dhabi. -

Sheikh Mohamed meets Mr Erdogan at Qasr Al Watan. With them is Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Adviser, right -

Sheikh Mohamed hosts the official reception to welcome Mr Erdogan to the Emirates. -

Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr Erdogan on his arrival at the Presidential Airport. -

Sheikh Mohamed and the Turkish president stand for their countries' national anthems during the official reception in Abu Dhabi. -

President Erdogan signs the guest book at Qasr Al Watan as Sheikh Mohamed looks on. -

Members of the UAE Armed Forces Cavalry Division take part in the welcoming ceremony. -

Sheikh Mohamed greets President Erdogan at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. -

Traditional dancers welcome the Turkish president on his first visit to the Emirates in nine years. -

Al Forsan aerobatic team mark the visit with a colourful flypast. -

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Erdogan are greeted by a military guard of honour. -

Sheikh Mohamed and the Turkish president stand for their countries' national anthems. -

Mounted cavalry riders escort the motorcade of the Turkish president. -

Traditional dancers perform during the official reception at Qasr Al Watan.
In March 2016, the EU and Turkey agreed to a deal worth billions of euros, in which Turkey would take back migrants in exchange for visa liberalisation, which has yet to be introduced for Turks.
EU heads of state and government are set to meet Wednesday in Brussels for a summit aimed at dealing with the fall-out of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Nato will also hold a crisis summit on Ukraine on Thursday.
Mr Erdogan has hosted talks in the past week and a half with four EU leaders and Nato.
An ally of Kyiv and Nato member, Turkey has been trying since the start of the Ukraine crisis to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, while declining to join western sanctions against Russia.
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Full time contracts
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Explained
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Barbie
A Bad Moms Christmas
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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