Since US President Donald Trump announced he would order military action against the Syrian regime over its use of chemical weapons in Douma, a race has ensued between a "deal" and a "strike". This has echoes of the situation in which former president Barack Obama found himself in 2013, before he backed down at the 11th hour as part of a deal with Russia over dismantling Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.
That outcome forever tainted Mr Obama with hesitant leadership as he abandoned his own red line and became a spectre that haunted Trump, who takes pride in his firmness and determination. But at the same time, Trump is also known for boasting of his deal-making credentials and would certainly invoke this should he reach a worthwhile deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin. As tensions escalate, some argue the prospects for reaching a deal also increase. In truth, the two main belligerents are Russia and the United States. Because neither side is interested in a direct confrontation with the other side, the elements of the deal open to them are the fate of Bashar Al Assad, the Iranian and Turkish presence in Syria and more broadly, Ukraine and Russia's position in Europe.
There is division inside the White House and a schizophrenia within Mr Trump himself regarding Russia. Part of his administration insists on avoiding a confrontation with Russia at any cost. They believe the presence of Russian and American military assets in close proximity in Syria entails major risks that should be addressed.
The proponents of this view were the ones who advised Mr Trump to declare his intention to withdraw from Syria "soon", nearly a fortnight ago. This camp does not see Russia as the main enemy or biggest challenge to the US. For them, China is the main long-term challenge while the near-term challenge is best represented by Iran and Turkey. This faction wants neither a deal nor a major intervention in Syria beyond the limited overnight strikes carried out by the US with the UK and France.
The other traditional camp believes the only language Russia understands is the threat of military force. Accordingly, they have advised the US president to make all military preparations to underscore the seriousness of the US and reassert US prestige as a superpower, the opposite of what Mr Obama had done. This faction does not believe in soft power, especially vis-a-vis Mr Putin and believe it is time to curb Russia's overconfidence. They believe that with the threat of further military strikes, Mr Putin could back down, especially with regard to his sponsorship of Bashar Al Assad and his tolerance of Iran and Turkey's agendas in Syria.
The ball is now in Mr Putin’s court to accept a deal or otherwise face the prospect of expanded strikes. Yet even if Mr Putin refuses to give Mr Trump a ramp to abandon further strikes, both sides will ensure the armed conflict is contained away from direct Russian-American confrontation. But the danger lies in miscalculations and accidents that could lead to undesired consequences for both sides. In this context, the personalities of Mr Trump and Mr Putin do not help. Both are stubborn narcissists and their forces are too close to each other in Syria for comfort.
The coordination between the US and Russian militaries, which has not stopped since the two countries both intervened in Syria, continues. A political dialogue is also likely to be taking place in secret, even as diplomatic war is being waged in the halls of the UN, where Nikki Haley was seen kissing the Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia on the cheeks before sitting at the Security Council to lambast him and the Russian leadership.
The Security Council attempted to absorb the tensions and buy time, including by dispatching a new wave of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors to Syria on a fact-finding mission. Yet the US president ordered a strike without waiting for their mission to be concluded, targeting remote Syrian targets far from where the inspectors were present. According to reports, the western strikes also targeted Iranian positions.
Unravelling the Russian-Iranian alliance (with Turkey not far behind) remains an American objection but the strategy for what comes after in Syria as well as what kind of deals Washington will offer to the Russians, remain unclear. All indications suggest the threat of military force – or the limited military action – is part of the deal with Russia, where Russia's part of the bargain would be to isolate Iran and Turkey in Syria.
Mr Putin holds the keys to curbing Turkey and Iran in Syria as well as the fate of Mr Al Assad. If he is still convinced he can keep all three and keep Syria, then more escalation lies in store, as this would be unacceptable to Washington.
Betting on Mr Trump’s incoherence is unwise because he is not deterred by Russia’s presence in Syria. Yet if he is to avoid cultivating the same reputation as Mr Obama, he must successfully secure a Russian commitment to things that go beyond dismantling Syria’s chemical weaponry.
Mr Trump has proven he would not accept being a hesitant and weak president. What he needs after the strike is to pursue a grand barter with Russia on Mr Al Assad, Iran and Turkey. With the prospect of further strikes in Syria, the ball is in Mr Putin’s court but the US grand strategy remains in flux.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The%20specs
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Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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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.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Pakistan - Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees.
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Switching%20sides
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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.
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.