US authorities have discovered that President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump had classified documents in their possession long after they should have handed them over, sparking a political furore and federal investigations.
Mr Biden's legal team said it had found classified documents dating back to his time as vice president at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as in an office in Washington. A special counsel has been appointed to investigate the matter.
Last year, US authorities said Mr Trump had held hundreds of government documents after his presidency ended in January 2021 and the National Archives and Records Administration had been trying to retrieve them.
Mr Trump and his team could face charges related to breaching the Espionage Act, which prohibits gathering and disseminating sensitive government documents, as well as obstruction of justice.
But how sensitive are the documents discovered? What classification levels are there and who can access them? The National takes a look.
What documents were found by Biden's team?
The White House said early this month that the President's legal team had found some classified material at his office at the Penn Biden Centre for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in November.
Mr Biden's aides then conducted searches of his homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware — “the other locations where files from his vice presidential office might have been shipped in the course of the 2017 transition”, special counsel to the President, Richard Sauber, said in a statement.
Lawyers this month found “a small number of additional Obama-Biden administration records with classified markings” in a garage at Mr Biden's home, along with a one-page document in an adjacent room.
Mr Biden's team did not reveal what kind of classification the documents had.
What documents did Trump have?
The former president kept hundreds of government documents after his presidency ended.
An FBI document justifying the agency's search of Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida in August said the National Archives had retrieved 15 boxes from his team in May. Classified documents were found in 14 of them.
A total of 184 classified and top-secret documents were found, with 67 were marked confidential, 92 secret and 25 top secret. Some documents included sensitive foreign intelligence, as well as “human intelligence” sources.
The FBI warrant stated that agents had removed about 20 boxes from Mar-a-Lago. The agency said it had identified about 100 classified documents within the boxes that held 11,000 government files.
What classification levels are there? What does 'various classified/TS/SCI' mean?
With Mr Biden's documents, CNN reported that “top secret” and “SCI” labelling were found on files in his Washington office, while the President's legal team did not confirm classification levels on the documents.
In the Trump case, there were “confidential”, “top secret” and “SCI” labelling on files retrieved by the National Archives and through the FBI search.
“SCI” stands for “sensitive compartmented information”, which covers materials that contain the most sensitive information. Those documents are closely protected and only viewable in approved facilities.
“TS” stands for “top secret” and it is the next step down from SCI.
If seen by the wrong people, SCI-labelled and top-secret documents could cause irreparable damage to US national security.
“Secret” and “confidential” documents necessitate lower security clearances, meaning more people have access to them and they would do less damage to national security if revealed.
Who can view these files?
Documents labelled “top secret” require the highest level of security clearance.
SCI material can be top secret but the documents are treated differently in how they are protected, housed and viewed.
Clearance to access-specific SCI files are an add-on to top-secret security clearance. Being approved to view a specific SCI document does not mean a person can view another elsewhere.
Federal employees or private contractors doing work for the US government can receive security clearance through a lengthy, formal background check.
US presidents, vice presidents and members of Congress do not have to undergo security screenings and are not required to have security clearance.
About four million people in the US have security clearance of some level.
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams