US President Joe Biden and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr bolstered defence ties and stressed "the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" on Monday after meeting at the White House.
The meeting comes at a moment the White House called “deeply critical” for the Indo-Pacific region and marks the latest step in improved ties between Washington and Manila.
The US and its former colony are working to present a united front against China as it expands its influence, particularly in the South China Sea, and as the risk of conflict over Taiwan increases.
"The leaders underscore their unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," Mr Biden and Mr Marcos said in a joint statement.
Improved US ties with the Philippines come after years of troubled relations under Mr Marcos's predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who built closer ties with China during his tenure and left behind a track record of human rights abuses.
In their joint statement, Mr Biden and Mr Marcos announced four new sites pursuant to the US-Philippines Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement, "which will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernisation goals".
The White House also announced that it intends to transfer two Island-class patrol vessels, two Protector-class patrol vessels, and three C-130H aircraft, to Manila's Armed Forces, pending applicable Congressional notification requirements.
Security matters include defence guidelines aimed at deepening “alliance co-operation and interoperability across operational domains including land, sea, air, space and cyberspace", a White House official said.
Many Filipinos have grown frustrated by China's actions in the South China Sea.
The Biden administration said the “extremely significant” visit comes at a critical moment, pointing to “provocative acts on the part of China testing and probing into the Philippine waters”.
“Recent events have caused much greater focus in both capitals on taking the necessary steps to up our game to improve engagement on the security side between the United States and the Philippines,” a senior Biden administration official said on Sunday.
The official said Mr Biden would use Mr Marcos's visit to reinforce that “an armed attack on Philippine Armed Forces public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, would invoke US mutual defence commitments”.
The Philippines on Friday accused China's coastguard of “aggressive tactics” after an incident during a Philippine coastguard patrol close to the Second Thomas Shoal.
The Biden administration responded on Saturday with a statement of solidarity with Manila, calling on Beijing to “desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct”.
China said it was willing to handle maritime differences with countries of concern in the South China Sea through friendly consultations and warned the US against interference.
Mr Marcos recently agreed to expand the parameters of the Philippines-US Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement, which grants the Pentagon access to strategic bases across the Philippines.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday said that development was “about our ability to be better allies to one another and to better meet our commitments to each other”.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Manila in February, when the Philippines agreed to open up as many as nine bases, including some close to the South China Sea and Taiwan’s southern shores, to the Pentagon.
The Biden administration has continued a “pivot to Asia” in its defence priorities, centred on countering China.
The White House's defence budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 included $9.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which is geared towards boosting Washington's regional competitiveness against Beijing, and $37.7 billion for modernising US nuclear capabilities.
And the historic Aukus deal with the UK and Australia is aimed at sharpening western-aligned Indo-Pacific defence capabilities.
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
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Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
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Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
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If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
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A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
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Employees: 60
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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