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Even as regional escalation dims hopes of achieving a ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza, the US Congress is moving to boost the Abraham Accords with two bipartisan bills aimed at enhancing intelligence sharing and relationship building.
Republican Senator Joni Ernst, co-chairwoman of the congressional Abraham Accords Caucus, this week introduced two bills alongside Democratic senators Jacky Rosen and Kirsten Gillibrand to bolster the alliance and strengthen its posture against Iran, as the regional spillover from Israel's war in Gaza continues to spread.
Ms Ernst does not see peace in the region “coming quickly”, but believes it is critical for Washington to “build upon these alliances, even in dark days like this”, she told the Atlantic Council on Wednesday.
During her remarks, she announced the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Allied Collaboration for Crucial Operations, Research and Development Act (AI ACCORD) Act, which seeks to ensure Abraham Accords nations will “be able to utilise the most advanced technology to deter Iranian aggression and maintain regional stability”.
The bill will require the Pentagon to submit a strategy for improved co-operation between US allies and partners in the Middle East “to combat the use of cyber and artificial intelligence tools by Iran and its proxies”.
The announcement unfolded amid a second wave of attacks on Hezbollah members in Lebanon, after a thousands of pagers exploded on Tuesday in a deadly operation thought to have been conducted by Israel.
Earlier this week, Ms Ernst introduced the Learning Integrated National Knowledge, or LINK Act, alongside Ms Rosen, which aims to establish a “military expert exchange programme” with Abraham Accords countries and other regional partners “to connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders and strengthen security and military partnerships”.
The two bills “are throwing the weight of the US Congress behind” the accords, said Ms Ernst.
“We are formalising these agreements, and we are saying, with the weight of the Congress and the State Department, we are going to invest in these strategic partnerships, collaborations, exchanges. And so it's not just maybe a one off that's designed by a unit commander or even a combatant commander, but it is a formalised agreement that shows the rest of the world that the United States is committed to these countries,” she added.
The landmark agreements established relations between Israel and four Arab countries. The UAE and Bahrain signed the accords – brokered by the US – in September 2020 to establish formal ties with Israel. Morocco and Sudan signed later on.
A largely pro-Israel Washington sees the country's normalisation with its Arab neighbours as an important strategic step in tempering threats from Iran, as well as bolstering US posture against a growing Chinese presence in the region.
In the run-up to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza, there had been growing optimism in Washington that Saudi Arabia would soon sign on to the accords. President Joe Biden's regional priorities had almost completely centred on clinching the official establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
But the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 41,200 Palestinians and spilt over into fighting and proxy attacks in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Yemen, derailed that sense of momentum.
Ms Ernst believes the relationship-building and information-sharing focus of the LINK and AI ACCORD acts will help to eventually foster a dynamic where “someday, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has military officers or non-commissioned officers that will be serving alongside troops in the IDF [Israeli military]”.
For Ms Ernst and a large portion of Congress's more hawkish foreign policy leadership, the chaotic moment requires enhanced efforts from Washington to ensure the security and expansion of the accords, and a continued focus on the Middle East despite attempts by several administrations to pivot their foreign policy focus away from the region.
She pointed to the UAE as an example of “an incredible partner”.
“The soldiers from UAE have served alongside American soldiers in every conflict in modern history, and yet, when the Houthis attacked the UAE just a handful of years ago, there was no response from the White House, not even a phone call to say we're very sorry for your loss,” Ms Ernst said, referring to the 2022 attack by the Yemen-based rebels on Abu Dhabi.
“So not maintaining these relationships, not continuing to court the people that have stood beside us, I think, is a great failure of leadership.”
Ms Ernst said she hopes to pass the bills through the National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the annual national defence budget, as partisan rifts in Washington threaten to derail the budget process.
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
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
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
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Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
