US senator Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's pick to lead the State Department, said during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that there are “historic opportunities” for the US in the Middle East, and that he is “hopeful” of an imminent ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Mr Rubio appeared to sign on to the “day-after” plan outlined this week by current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, highlighting the importance of the Biden administration's proposed six-week transitional period, “where it's going to require international co-operation to bring some level of stability in administration”.
“There are opportunities available now in the Middle East that did not exist 90 days ago, whether it's what's happened in Lebanon, whether it's what's happened in Syria, whether it's what hopefully will happen with this ceasefire and the release of hostages,” Mr Rubio said at his Senate confirmation hearing. “But these things, again, are going to be hard work, and they'll require us to take advantage of those opportunities."
Mr Rubio signalled that the new Trump administration will adopt a harder posture against Iran, doubling down on the incoming president's “America First” agenda, as well as a more antagonistic relationship with the UN and international courts. He said that during Mr Trump's first term in office, “American strength was a deterrent to our adversaries, and it gave us leverage in diplomacy".
“There were no new wars. ISIS was eviscerated. [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force Maj Gen Qassem] Suleimani was dead. The historic Abraham Accords were born, and Americans were safer as a result. Now, President Trump returns to office with an unmistakable mandate from the voters. They want a strong America,” said Mr Rubio.
The Florida senator aligned himself with a growing hostility towards the UN and international courts, a mounting trend in the incoming “Trump trifecta” in Washington. He blasted the International Criminal Court's warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the court “did tremendous damage to its global credibility” and warned that the warrants are a “test run” for whether the ICC can pursue figures in the US.
Mr Rubio described a vision of a post-Cold War order in which the US is being “manipulated” by its adversaries as Washington's enemies “hide behind their veto power at the United Nations Security Council". He has previously advocated the US halt its funding of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, a measure that is expected to be among the policy priorities as Republicans take the helm.
The Florida Republican said Mr Trump has given a “very clear” directive that US policy abroad must be driven by “three simple questions”: “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
Mr Rubio indicated he would push for a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war, and that Kyiv and Moscow should prepare for territorial concessions. “There's no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion,” he said.
“This war has to end, and I think it should be the official policy of the United States that we want to see it end. Now what that masterplan looks like … it's going to require bold diplomacy. It is important for everyone to be realistic."
Mr Rubio was in friendly company at his Senate confirmation hearing: the longtime senator was until recently a member of the Foreign Relations Committee responsible for questioning him. He is considered one of the few Trump nominees with bipartisan support – in sharp contrast to Mr Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defence, Pete Hegseth.
The committee's top Democrat, ranking member Jean Shaheen, told Mr Rubio that she believes he has "the skills and [is] well qualified to serve as secretary of state". The committee has scheduled its official vote to endorse Mr Rubio's nomination for Mr Trump's inauguration day, January 20.
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
more from Janine di Giovanni
