Turkey has extended until mid-September a controversial east Mediterranean gas exploration mission that has put it at odds with Greece and the rest of the EU.
Ankara deployed the Oruc Reis research vessel and warships to the disputed waters on August 10 and prolonged the mission twice.
Greece responded by staging naval exercises with several EU allies and the United Arab Emirates not far from smaller ones Turkey was conducting between Cyprus and Crete last week.
Turkey's most recent extension of the mission was until Tuesday, raising the possibility that a fast-escalating conflict in an energy-rich but volatile region that includes war-torn Libya and Egypt could cool off.
But in a message on NAVTEX, the international maritime navigational telex system, Turkey said late on Monday the seismic vessel's stay in the disputed waters would be extended until September 12.
The Turkish message said the Oruc Reis was being accompanied by Turkey's two other auxiliary vessels, the Cengiz Han and the Ataman.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed late Monday to continue the gas exploration work "with determination".
"God willing, we hope to get good news from the Mediterranean in a short span of time, too, as we got in the Black Sea," Mr Erdogan said.
Mr Erdogan was referring to Turkey's discovery of what officials said were 320-billion-cubic-metres of natural gas in the Black Sea, the biggest in Turkey's history.
Ankara's relations with Athens have deteriorated sharply, with strains over issues including migration and Turkey's decision to convert Byzantine-era churches into mosques.
Images published in the media last week showing Greek soldiers arriving on the island of Kastellorizo, known as Meis in Turkish, appear to have opened another front between the two uneasy Nato allies.
The island is only two kilometres from Turkey's famed seaside town of Kas in the Antalya province.
The Oruc Reis mission is being conducted near that island, with the navy also scheduling a series of live fire exercises further to the east this month.
Turkey accused Greece of trying to to "arm the island" despite a 1947 peace treaty that established its demilitarised status.
The Turkish foreign ministry lashed out at Greece's "provocative actions" at the weekend, while ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted that Athens's attempt to arm the island amounted to a "new example of piracy".
But a Greek official said soldiers are already stationed on the island of Kastellorizo and the photos were from a "routine troop rotation."
Mr Erdogan fired back and said: "We will never succumb to piracy or banditry in the Mediterranean and the Aegean."
The European Union has repeatedly urged Turkey to stop the exploration activities and threatened to slap sanctions on Ankara if it refused to solve the dispute through talks.
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
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8.15pm Talento Puma
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Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
How Beautiful this world is!
CREW
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The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
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6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
