French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Paris has "opened the door" to training Ukrainian fighter pilots, even if he excluded sending any warplanes to Kyiv.
Mr Macron made the announcement a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Paris on the second such trip since Russia invaded in February last year.
"We have opened the door to training pilots and this with several other European countries who are also ready," he told TV station TF1. "I think discussions are under way with the Americans.
"The training can start from now."
After months of stalemate, Ukraine has been preparing to retake ground captured by Russia and is shoring up military assistance to help make its troops more battle-ready.
Mr Zelenskyy has for months been pleading for modern fighter jets such as the US-designed F-16, but Nato members have so far drawn the line at sending any such planes.
One French official close to air force command in February said that France could in theory send 13 recently decommissioned Mirage 2000-C fighters, but that it would probably take too long to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them.
Mr Macron and Mr Zelenskyy had dinner on Sunday night, as the Ukrainian leader visited several European countries to boost his weapons stockpile.
Ukraine and Russia conflict latest - in pictures
"In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," they said in a joint statement afterwards.
Mr Macron later refused to provide more details.
"We have decided to deliver more ammunition," he said.
France also decided to help "train their troops, the battalions that will be in charge of the counter-offensive", and "repair vehicles and cannon".
"France still has the same position: to help Ukraine resist," Mr Macron said. "A lot is at stake right now, because the success of this counter-offensive will be decisive for the capacity to build lasting peace."
What are the influencer academy modules?
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
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Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
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Director: James Cameron
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Rating: 4.5/5
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Rating: 1/5
The lowdown
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
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Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
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Name: Peter Dicce
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Favourite sport: soccer
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
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Funds raised: $22 million
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
