Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
Saudi Arabia has struck what the White House has called the “largest defence sales agreement in history”, agreeing a $142 billion deal that will include missiles, armoured vehicles and aircraft.
In a major boost for the kingdom’s armed forces and American defence companies, a significant part of the deal will be 1,000 advanced air-to-air missiles as well as 2,000 “precision kill system” rockets and will include upgrades to the Thaad (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) system and more Patriot PAC-3 air defence missiles.
The deal will also encompass new space capabilities, maritime and coast security as well as a modernisation programme for the land forces.
Saudi Arabia is also expected to purchase armed SeaGuardian drones that will allow it to step up patrols over the Arabian Gulf and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft that are ideal for short landing strips in desert operations.
It is understood that the Saudi National Guard will receive a significant upgrade to its ageing equipment, including new eight-wheeled armoured vehicles, probably the highly effective US Strykers.
The agreement was announced towards the end of US President Donald Trump's tour of Saudi Arabia, before he headed to Qatar and the UAE.
There have been discussions about the potential for Lockheed's F-35 stealth jets, which Saudi Arabia has been interested in for years, but a deal to supply the platform is no longer imminent. Military expert Francis Tusa, editor of the Defence Eye website, said the deal would modernise the armed forces.
“This overall package should keep Saudi Arabia’s armed forces relevant and well-defended for a long time. They've always got an eye on Iran and there's never a time they're not going to be looking north.”
The package included “extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services,” the White House said. The agreement is part of a broader package that the White House said will total $600bn.
Air-to-air missiles
One thousand AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraam) will be ordered in a deal with an estimated total cost of $3.5 billion. The AIM 120s are a highly capable “beyond visual range” missiles similar to the Chinese made PL-15 that is thought to have shot down at least one Indian air force Rafale jet last week.
It has a range of 160km, with a 20kg warhead, travels at Mach 4 and is capable of all-weather day or night operations.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,” the US's Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) stated.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian
Designed to fly independently for more than 30 hours, the SeaGuardian will give Saudi Arabia’s armed forces not only excellent surveillance capabilities but the ability to strike at enemies if required.
With significantly improved power, the MQ-9B can carry eight Hellfire precision missiles or two Paveway-II 230kg bombs allowing strikes on targets of opportunity.
Circling at 12,000 metres, it has the ability to track Iranian shipping movements in the Gulf or potential Houthi drone attacks. However, the Reaper version of the $33 million aircraft has proven to be vulnerable to air defences with an estimated 15 US aircraft lost over Yemen since 2023.
Lightweight rockets
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) are laser-guided lightweight rockets fired from either helicopters or fighters.
They have a range of up to 11km and a high speed of 1,000 metres per second. The 15kg weapon, the size of which means its warhead causes minimum collateral damage, costs $22,000 each. Saudi Arabia has ordered 2,000 of them, along with support systems.
“The proposed sale will improve the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and give it the ability to precisely engage targets with much less risk of collateral damage than other guided missile systems,” DSCA stated.
Stryker wheels
The armoured personnel carrier is eight-wheeled highly versatile and battle-proven weapon that has formed the backbone of US brigade combat teams for three decades.
The 18-tonne vehicle can carry nine soldiers and is armed with a .50 calibre heavy machinegun or can be mounted with a 105mm gun.
The first Stryker brigades were deployed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and were also used in the Afghanistan campaign. They are still in use by US special forces in their fight against ISIS in northern Syria.
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
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
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECystic%20fibrosis%20is%20a%20genetic%20disorder%20that%20affects%20the%20lungs%2C%20pancreas%20and%20other%20organs.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIt%20causes%20the%20production%20of%20thick%2C%20sticky%20mucus%20that%20can%20clog%20the%20airways%20and%20lead%20to%20severe%20respiratory%20and%20digestive%20problems.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPatients%20with%20the%20condition%20are%20prone%20to%20lung%20infections%20and%20often%20suffer%20from%20chronic%20coughing%2C%20wheezing%20and%20shortness%20of%20breath.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELife%20expectancy%20for%20sufferers%20of%20cystic%20fibrosis%20is%20now%20around%2050%20years.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
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%3Cp%3EThe%20BaaS%20value%20chain%20consists%20of%20four%20key%20players%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsumers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20End-users%20of%20the%20financial%20product%20delivered%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDistributors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Also%20known%20as%20embedders%2C%20these%20are%20the%20firms%20that%20embed%20baking%20services%20directly%20into%20their%20existing%20customer%20journeys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Usually%20Big%20Tech%20or%20FinTech%20companies%20that%20help%20embed%20financial%20services%20into%20third-party%20platforms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProviders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Financial%20institutions%20holding%20a%20banking%20licence%20and%20offering%20regulated%20products%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
