Marco Rubio, the former senior senator from Florida, officially began his tenure as the 72nd Secretary of State on Tuesday and vowed to carry out President Donald Trump’s America First foreign policy agenda.
Mr Rubio, flanked by his wife and four children, addressed staff at the State Department’s sprawling headquarters in Washington, saying that his and the department's job "in some ways will be different", in that there is now a "very clear mission" when it comes to foreign policy: "to ensure that our foreign policy is centred on one thing, and that is the advancement of our national interest".
He said the State Department’s focus will be on making the US stronger, safer and more prosperous.
Mr Trump said on Monday during his inauguration that he wants to "stop all wars" and to be a "peacemaker", and Mr Rubio said that the State Department will be critical to achieving those goals.
"That's what we endeavour to do – to promote peace around the world – because that's in our national interest," he said. "Without peace, it is hard to be a strong nation, a prosperous nation, and one that is better off."
Mr Rubio was confirmed unanimously by Congress on Monday and was sworn in early on Tuesday. He received bipartisan praise over the course of his brief confirmation process, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying he "was thorough and quick with his background checks and documentation. He did it the right way"
"We can all rest easier knowing that with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Sun has set on the America Last status quo and a new day of strong American leadership has dawned," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said.
Mr Rubio inherits a department that has struggled internally over the previous administration's policies towards the Israel-Gaza war. Several State Department officials resigned over the concern that the department was allowing Israel to carry out a deadly campaign in Gaza with impunity.
Mr Trump has said that he is the most pro-Israel president in history. In his previous role as senator, Mr Rubio criticised his predecessor Antony Blinken for issuing sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria, the biblical name for the region.
Mr Rubio was expected to meet the foreign ministers of India, Australia and Japan later on Tuesday.
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
