European Council President Charles Michel and President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the end of first day of the Special Summit on Ukraine in Brussels on Tuesday. EPA
European Council President Charles Michel and President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the end of first day of the Special Summit on Ukraine in Brussels on Tuesday. EPA
European Council President Charles Michel and President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the end of first day of the Special Summit on Ukraine in Brussels on Tuesday. EPA
European Council President Charles Michel and President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the end of first day of the Special Summit on Ukraine in Brussels on Tuesday. EPA

EU leaders agree to phase out Russian oil with pipeline imports exempt


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

European leaders reached a late-night deal on Monday to ban oil imports from Russia by sea, breaking a weeks-long deadlock that exposed cracks in western unity over the war in Ukraine.

The deal announced shortly before midnight by European Council President Charles Michel came after hours of negotiations in Brussels on a sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Oil delivered by pipeline will initially be exempt from the ban, in a major concession to Hungary and its outspoken Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had for weeks held EU sanctions in limbo.

Other countries will be granted grace periods to find alternatives to Russian oil, after landlocked, pipeline-reliant nations such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic asked for special treatment under the deal.

The compromise agreed to by the EU’s 27 leaders will need to be converted into a legal document and signed by officials from each country. It will then be phased in over a period of months.

But the political agreement sets a “very precise framework” for a final sanctions package, and a legal text will follow as soon as possible, an EU official said.

  • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to media before an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security at the Europa building in Brussels. AP
    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to media before an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security at the Europa building in Brussels. AP
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for the second day of the summit in the Belgian capital. Reuters
    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for the second day of the summit in the Belgian capital. Reuters
  • A representative listens to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking virtually at the special meeting of the European Council. EPA
    A representative listens to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking virtually at the special meeting of the European Council. EPA
  • Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (in pink tie) and French President Emmanuel Macron in discussion. Bloomberg
    Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (in pink tie) and French President Emmanuel Macron in discussion. Bloomberg
  • The bloc's foreign affairs and security chief Josep Borrell arrives. AFP
    The bloc's foreign affairs and security chief Josep Borrell arrives. AFP
  • European Council President Charles Michel speaks to media. AP
    European Council President Charles Michel speaks to media. AP
  • Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi in attendance. Bloomberg
    Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi in attendance. Bloomberg
  • Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (L) and her Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin at the summit. EPA
    Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (L) and her Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin at the summit. EPA
  • Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen converse at the end of first day of the Special European Summit. EPA
    Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen converse at the end of first day of the Special European Summit. EPA
  • Josep Borrell speaks to the media as he arrives. Reuters
    Josep Borrell speaks to the media as he arrives. Reuters

The long-awaited unity came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU to show unity and agree to the embargo on oil, at a time when Russia is probing for cracks in the western alliance.

Leaders then agreed a common position on Ukraine over talks that stretched through dinner and deep into the evening. Debates went beyond energy and covered food security and frozen Russian assets, an official said.

The sixth sanctions package will also isolate more Russian banks and add to the list of prominent political and military figures covered by EU sanctions. European companies will be banned from insuring Russian shipping.

Leaders agreed in principle to make €9 billion ($9.7bn) available to fill Ukraine’s financial gaps. But Mr Zelenskyy’s request for Ukraine to be admitted to the EU will be delayed until the next European Council summit in June, an EU official familiar with the conclusions said.

“We need political leadership in these extraordinarily difficult times,” Mr Michel said in a media briefing shortly before 1am Brussels time.

“More than ever it’s important to show that we are able to be strong, that we are able to be firm, that we are able to be tough in order to defend our values.

  • Rescuers carry the body of civilian from a residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
    Rescuers carry the body of civilian from a residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, is feeling the strain after coming under heavy Russian bombardment. Reuters
    Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, is feeling the strain after coming under heavy Russian bombardment. Reuters
  • Ukrainian troops help an elderly man out of a damaged apartment building after an air strike in the city of Slovyansk in Donbas region. AFP
    Ukrainian troops help an elderly man out of a damaged apartment building after an air strike in the city of Slovyansk in Donbas region. AFP
  • A school bus carrying Ukrainian refugees leaves Kharkiv. EPA
    A school bus carrying Ukrainian refugees leaves Kharkiv. EPA
  • The pain of war hits this woman hard shortly after her apartment building in Slovyansk was damaged by Russian shelling. AFP
    The pain of war hits this woman hard shortly after her apartment building in Slovyansk was damaged by Russian shelling. AFP
  • A crater scars the road surface in Slovyansk, Donbas. AFP
    A crater scars the road surface in Slovyansk, Donbas. AFP
  • A Russian soldier oversees the loading of steel on to a Russian ship at Mariupol port in Ukraine. AP
    A Russian soldier oversees the loading of steel on to a Russian ship at Mariupol port in Ukraine. AP
  • European Council President Charles Michel, right, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, left, talk before the second day's session of an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security, in Brussels. AP
    European Council President Charles Michel, right, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, left, talk before the second day's session of an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security, in Brussels. AP
  • Rescuers extinguish a fire at a meat factory, amid fighting in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Reuters
    Rescuers extinguish a fire at a meat factory, amid fighting in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A man waits to collect water in Mariupol. AFP
    A man waits to collect water in Mariupol. AFP
  • Ukrainians cross a makeshift bridge built next to a destroyed structure, in the Kharkiv region. EPA
    Ukrainians cross a makeshift bridge built next to a destroyed structure, in the Kharkiv region. EPA
  • A destroyed tank in Mariupol. AFP
    A destroyed tank in Mariupol. AFP
  • People charge electronic devices outside a theatre building, in Mariupol. Reuters
    People charge electronic devices outside a theatre building, in Mariupol. Reuters
  • Pensioner Gennady Ivanov, 83, sits outside a residential building heavily damaged by shelling, in Mariupol. Reuters
    Pensioner Gennady Ivanov, 83, sits outside a residential building heavily damaged by shelling, in Mariupol. Reuters
  • Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a house that was hit by Russian strikes, in Kharkiv. AP
    Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a house that was hit by Russian strikes, in Kharkiv. AP
  • Russian Navy sailors of the Black Sea Fleet prepare to raise a sunken Ukrainian warship at the sea port, in Mariupol. AP
    Russian Navy sailors of the Black Sea Fleet prepare to raise a sunken Ukrainian warship at the sea port, in Mariupol. AP
  • A Ukrainian soldier in the city of Lysytsansk, in the eastern region of Donbas. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier in the city of Lysytsansk, in the eastern region of Donbas. AFP
  • A boy, Yarik, plays in a playground in front a building destroyed during attacks, in Irpin. AP
    A boy, Yarik, plays in a playground in front a building destroyed during attacks, in Irpin. AP
  • Two Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a tender off-duty moment near the village of Stoyanka, Kyiv region. GettyImages
    Two Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a tender off-duty moment near the village of Stoyanka, Kyiv region. GettyImages
  • A girl in Kyiv looks at Russian weapons used in the attack on Ukraine. Reuters
    A girl in Kyiv looks at Russian weapons used in the attack on Ukraine. Reuters
  • Children play on a destroyed car in a residential area of Mariupol. AFP
    Children play on a destroyed car in a residential area of Mariupol. AFP
  • Demonstrators hold Ukrainian flags at a charity telethon in support of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters
    Demonstrators hold Ukrainian flags at a charity telethon in support of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters
  • Ukrainian servicemen near Zaytseve village in Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
    Ukrainian servicemen near Zaytseve village in Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
  • A shell hole near a destroyed building in Zaytseve village. EPA
    A shell hole near a destroyed building in Zaytseve village. EPA
  • In the Saltivka district of Kharkiv, writing on the vans reads "warning, shelling" and "warning, passing by for civilians is prohibited". AFP
    In the Saltivka district of Kharkiv, writing on the vans reads "warning, shelling" and "warning, passing by for civilians is prohibited". AFP
  • A heavily damaged residential building in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv. AFP
    A heavily damaged residential building in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv. AFP
  • Ukrainian servicemen inspect a Russian amphibious vehicle near Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. AP
    Ukrainian servicemen inspect a Russian amphibious vehicle near Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. AP
  • A rocket launcher belonging to a "Donetsk People's Republic" militia is fired from its position not far from Panteleimonivka, eastern Ukraine. AP
    A rocket launcher belonging to a "Donetsk People's Republic" militia is fired from its position not far from Panteleimonivka, eastern Ukraine. AP
  • The damaged building of the economics department of Karazin National University in Kharkiv. AFP
    The damaged building of the economics department of Karazin National University in Kharkiv. AFP
  • Karazin National University in Kharkiv came under heavy Russian bombardment. AFP
    Karazin National University in Kharkiv came under heavy Russian bombardment. AFP
  • Ukrainian troops approach a destroyed military vehicle in the village of Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
    Ukrainian troops approach a destroyed military vehicle in the village of Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
  • A bridge is a destroyed near Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
    A bridge is a destroyed near Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
  • A building after a Russian military strike in the town of Marinka, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region. Reuters
    A building after a Russian military strike in the town of Marinka, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region. Reuters
  • An employee mows the lawn near a destroyed warehouse refrigerator, belonging to the Chanta factory, in Novi Petrivtsi, near Kyiv. AFP
    An employee mows the lawn near a destroyed warehouse refrigerator, belonging to the Chanta factory, in Novi Petrivtsi, near Kyiv. AFP
  • Defiant Ukrainian service members ride on top of a military vehicle, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on the road connecting Kostiantynivka and Bakhmut, in Donetsk region. Reuters
    Defiant Ukrainian service members ride on top of a military vehicle, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on the road connecting Kostiantynivka and Bakhmut, in Donetsk region. Reuters
  • Vladimir Mihailovich, a solar plant manager, surveys a crater after the business in Merefa on the outskirts of Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling. Reuters
    Vladimir Mihailovich, a solar plant manager, surveys a crater after the business in Merefa on the outskirts of Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling. Reuters
  • A KA-52 helicopter gunship fires rockets on a mission at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. AP
    A KA-52 helicopter gunship fires rockets on a mission at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. AP
  • Locals walk past a road damaged by shelling in a residential area in Kharkiv. EPA
    Locals walk past a road damaged by shelling in a residential area in Kharkiv. EPA
  • Diana, on the train, waves to her mother Viktoriya and sister Kseniya as she leaves Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. AP
    Diana, on the train, waves to her mother Viktoriya and sister Kseniya as she leaves Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. AP
  • Yana Skakova and her son Yehor, who fled from Lysychansk, sit in an evacuation train in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine. AP
    Yana Skakova and her son Yehor, who fled from Lysychansk, sit in an evacuation train in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine. AP

Mr Orban had kept the talks in suspense by announcing when he arrived for Monday’s summit that no compromise was on the table, and criticising the European Commission for its haste in unveiling the embargo.

But diplomats defended the eventual compromise by saying that even the revised package would cut off two thirds of Russia’s oil exports to Europe.

EU sources said the exemption for pipeline oil would be revisited as soon as possible, with Ukraine urging Europe to go further by cutting off Russian natural gas.

“Why can Russia still earn almost €1 billion a day by selling energy resources?” Mr Zelenskyy asked leaders in a 15-minute address earlier on Monday.

Mr Orban also won assurances that Hungary's neighbours would step in if oil supplies run dry, a response to mutterings from Ukrainian politicians about blocking the 4,000-kilometre Druzhba pipeline on its way from Russia to Hungary via Ukraine. Slovakia had sought similar promises.

One back-up option is for Hungary to receive oil through a pipeline from Croatia, although it will still need to adapt its refineries to handle crude from suppliers other than Russia. EU officials did not say who would pay for these upgrades.

Senior officials said 90 per cent of Russian crude exports could end up coming to a halt, after Poland and Germany offered assurances that they would press ahead with ditching Russian oil despite in theory being eligible for the pipeline exemption.

The remaining 10 per cent travels through Druzhba’s southern arm through Hungary and Slovakia, but phasing out the rest is still a “big step forward,” said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Ms von der Leyen had proposed a ban on all Russian oil on May 4, but ut the sixth package became bogged down in negotiations after the first five passed with almost unprecedented speed.

Mr Orban, long a thorn in the side of the EU leadership, had said that an oil ban for Hungary – which obtains 65 per cent of its oil from Russia – would amount to dropping an atomic bomb on its economy.

He had been the subject of intensive lobbying from Ms von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and, shortly before the summit, fellow landlocked-country leader Eduard Heger of Slovakia.

Mr Zelenskyy, who publicly admonished Mr Orban in his last appearance before the council in March, this time made a plea for unity as Russia raises the pressure on European countries to lift sanctions.

“Russia wants to see … not a united European Union, but 27 separate states, 27 fragments that cannot be put together,” he said.

Ukraine and some member states want the EU to keep pushing by discussing a ban on Russian gas. But some leaders believe it is time to take a pause after the oil discussions pushed Europe towards the limit of what is willing to do to help Ukraine.

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced it would cut natural gas supplies to Dutch trader GasTerra on Tuesday and it is considering cutting off Denmark. It has already turned the taps off to Bulgaria, Poland and Finland.

Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins said diplomats were “forgetting the big picture” and getting bogged down in details at a time when Russian missiles continue to pound Ukraine.

“It's only money, the Ukrainians are paying with their lives,” Mr Karins said. “We can and we must support them, if only out of self-interest because only when Russia is defeated can we in Europe feel safe.”

The Czech and Slovak governments had sought transition periods to step away from Russian oil, diplomats said, but distanced themselves from Mr Orban’s bombastic rhetoric.

The EU eventually “managed to stay united” and remained strong in supporting Ukraine despite concerns about western unity crumbling, said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda after the deal was reached.

“Step by step Europe will achieve full energy independence. Russia will end up completely isolated."

Funding for Ukraine’s rebuilding will be linked to reforms of its judiciary to fight corruption, Ms von der Leyen said, one of the stepping stones to meeting the criteria for EU membership.

The focus of the two-day summit will switch to food security and defence on Tuesday. African Union representative and Senegalese President Macky Sall will address leaders over the emerging hunger crisis resulting from blocked food exports from Ukraine.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE SQUAD

Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan

RESULTS

Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Feeding the thousands for iftar

Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth 

Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people

The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box

350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley

Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

T20 SQUADS

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

 

 

'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Janeen%20Damian%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Lindsay%20Lohan%2C%20Chord%20Overstreet%2C%20Jack%20Wagner%2C%20Aliana%20Lohan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other key dates
  • Finals draw: December 2
  • Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Fast%20X
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Louis%20Leterrier%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vin%20Diesel%2C%20Michelle%20Rodriguez%2C%20Jason%20Statham%2C%20Tyrese%20Gibson%2C%20Ludacris%2C%20Jason%20Momoa%2C%20John%20Cena%2C%20Jordana%20Brewster%2C%20Nathalie%20Emmanuel%2C%20Sung%20Kang%2C%20Brie%20Larson%2C%20Helen%20Mirren%20and%20Charlize%20Theron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Specs

Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now

Tips for SMEs to cope
  • Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
  • Make sure you have an online presence
  • Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
  • Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
    Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
%3Cp%3EGoogle%20wasn't%20new%20to%20busting%20out%20April%20Fool's%20jokes%3A%20before%20the%20Gmail%20%22prank%22%2C%20it%20tricked%20users%20with%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Farchive.google%2Fmentalplex%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3Emind-reading%20MentalPlex%20responses%3C%2Fa%3E%20and%20said%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Farchive.google%2Fpigeonrank%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3E%20well-fed%20pigeons%20were%20running%20its%20search%20engine%20operations%3C%2Fa%3E%20.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20subsequent%20years%2C%20they%20announced%20home%20internet%20services%20through%20your%20toilet%20with%20its%20%22%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Farchive.google%2Ftisp%2Finstall.html%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3Epatented%20GFlush%20system%3C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%20made%20us%20believe%20the%20Moon's%20surface%20was%20made%20of%20cheese%20and%20unveiled%20a%20dating%20service%20in%20which%20they%20called%20founders%20Sergey%20Brin%20and%20Larry%20Page%20%22%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Farchive.google%2Fromance%2Fpress.html%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3EStanford%20PhD%20wannabes%3C%2Fa%3E%20%22.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBut%20Gmail%20was%20all%20too%20real%2C%20purportedly%20inspired%20by%20one%20%E2%80%93%20a%20single%20%E2%80%93%20Google%20user%20complaining%20about%20the%20%22poor%20quality%20of%20existing%20email%20services%22%20and%20born%20%22%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fgooglepress.blogspot.com%2F2004%2F04%2Fgoogle-gets-message-launches-gmail.html%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3Emillions%20of%20M%26amp%3BMs%20later%3C%2Fa%3E%22.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: October 03, 2022, 2:39 PM