EUROPE // Italy's hopes that fellow European states would take more of the wave of migrants sailing to the continent across the Mediterranean were dealt a blow yesterday.
A meeting of EU interior ministers in Talinn issued a statement of support for the Italian government, but made no pledges to take action to help their southern European counterpart, which took in 180,000 migrants last year and has already taken in 85,000 so far in 2017.
According to The Times, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands turned down Italian demands that other countries with Mediterranean coasts took in more migrants who had been picked up by rescue boats, a plan reported in The National on Monday.
Instead, in what is being portrayed by the Italian opposition as a calculated rebuke to the country, these EU states backed a plan that would see millions of euros funnelled to Libya, the prime point of departure for refugees fleeing Africa for Europe.
Matteao Salvini, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, bemoaned that "Italy was [becoming] a giant refugee camp". While fellow EU states such as Austria were moving soldiers to their borders to stop migrants coming in, to "barricade and defend", Italian ministers "discussed" the problem.
Renato Brunetta of Forza Italia decried "another postponement. The invasion continues from week to week, the emergency continues, and our country is transformed ever more into a ticking time bomb."
The interior ministers recognised Rome's plight in a strongly worded communique at the end of the summit: "The situation in the Central Mediterranean and the resulting pressure on Italy is of great concern to all member states."
They committed to measures including a rescue coordination centre which would integrate efforts by European and NGO missions and the Libyan coastguard, and offer the latter more training and better equipment, moves hailed by Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.
"There has been a recognition of the question raised by Italy," he said.
"Italy is not alone and will not have to act on its own," Estonian Interior Minister Andres Anvelt told reporters after the meeting which was one of the first events to take place under their holding the rotating presidency of the European Union.
There was also an admission that the activities of NGOs, which have been accused by some as acting as a 'pull factor' for refugees because they rescue migrants from coastal waters near to Libya and thus encouraged people smugglers to send off flimsier vessels, needed policing.
"We have no problem with NGOs," European Union Commissioner for Refugees Dimitris Avramopoulos said. "The idea is to better our working relationship using more coordinated efforts," a reference to a proposed code of conduct for the agencies.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
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
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Book%20Details
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