The Bureau of Near East Affairs at the State Department announced three appointments on Thursday, with Hady Amr and Dan Benaim named as deputy assistant secretaries for Palestine and Israel, and the Gulf Region, respectively.
The bureau announced the appointments in a tweet two days after Antony Blinken was confirmed as secretary of Ssate.
Also announced was Asha Castleberry-Hernandez's appointment as senior adviser to the assistant secretary on Near Eastern Affairs.
“Their regional and policy expertise will play an important role in advancing America’s mission in the Middle East," the State Department tweeted.
Mr Amr, an Arab American who advised the Biden campaign during the transition, is intimately familiar with the Palestine-Israel situation and worked on it during the Obama administration. Between 2014 and 2017 he served as the US deputy special envoy for Palestinian-Israeli negotiations after joining the team in the summer of 2013.
Before that, he served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant administrator for the Middle East at the US Agency for International Development.
After leaving government, Mr Amr was a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he worked on a range of socioeconomic and geopolitical issues.
His appointment is another indication of the Biden administration's intention to refocus efforts on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
On Tuesday, the Biden team announced that it would seek to renew relations with the Palestinians and reverse decisions by the Trump administration to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority and close its diplomatic outposts.
Mr Benaim replaces Tim Lenderking in Arabian Gulf affairs while Mr Lenderking takes over as deputy assistant secretary for Iraq, Iran and regional multilateral affairs.
Mr Benaim was previously a policy speech writer and Middle East adviser to Mr Biden during his vice presidency until 2015. He also worked as a policy adviser to the White House, State Department and US Senate.
After leaving government, Mr Benaim became a senior fellow at the Centre for American Progress.
Ms Castleberry-Hernandez worked with the State Department at the US mission to the UN during the Obama administration and served as the Kuwait desk officer for international military affairs.
She also worked on the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve during the Obama administration.
Ms Castleberry-Hernandez is also a veteran who completed a 30-month posting in the Middle East.
The Biden team is trying to emphasise diversity in its appointments. Mr Amr is at least the sixth Arab American to join the administration, after Bechara Choucair was named White House vaccinations co-ordinator and Kelly Razzouk was named deputy chief of staff at the US Mission to the UN.
Mr Biden also appointed Reema Dodin as deputy director of the White House office of legislative affairs, Dana Shubat as senior legal affairs adviser and Maher Bitar as director for intelligence at the National Security Council.
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)
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
