Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president, sought to shore up European support for the troubled nuclear deal that allowed his country to re-enter the global economy with official visits to Switzerland and Austria.
The Iranian leader predicted that Europe would formulate new proposals to sustain trade and investment links with Iran despite the blow suffered when President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 agreement.
Before meeting senior Swiss leaders, Mr Rouhani said Iranian expectations were high. “European nations are meant to present in coming days their suggested package to preserve the nuclear deal,” Mr Rouhani said
Meanwhile Austria, which has long been an Iranian commercial and diplomatic entry point to Europe, has taken over the European Union's six-month rotating presidency.
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Vienna is also the home of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, which monitors Iran's compliance with the accord.
Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the meeting would address Iran's role in the middle east, including efforts to spread its influence and the consequent destabilisation of its neighbours.
Mr Kurz will also find "clear words" to discuss the human rights situation in Iran, the chancellor told Austrian news agency APA.
While the nuclear deal has been the cornerstone of Mr Rouhani's promised to the Iranians to end sanctions and re-engage with the world economy, implementation of the deal has not seen benefits for ordinary citizens.
Iranians complain that foreign investment following the deal has not materialised and resources have been diverted outside the country.
Washington is expected to roll out new US sanctions against Tehran as well as pursue punitive measures against businesses from other countries that continue to operate in Iran.
High profile global businesses have announced the withdrawal from planned Iranian investments in light of the looming imposition of sanctions.
Nontheless the Iranian president is expected to sign memorandums on economic cooperation in both Austria and Switzerland.
While in Switzerland, the Iranian officials are due to sign agreements on economic cooperation, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.
Mr Rouhani met the Swiss president, Alain Berset, and his two-day visit will coincide with a bilateral economic forum on health and nutrition, believed to be the focus of the trade deals tied to the visit. Switzerland has also said it regrets the US pull-out from the deal and expressed hope it can be salvaged. "The aim is to find ways of preserving the progress made as a result of the agreement and of ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons," a Swiss government statement said.
But the Iranian government has warned it would not continue to abide by the agreement if doing so goes against its economic interests.
Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has demanded Europe provide a number of economic guarantees in order for Tehran to continue its commitment and has ordered preparations be made to quickly restart nuclear activities in case talks collapse.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, is also on a wider tour of the continent with the same objectives.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
THREE
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Results
2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)
2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
