US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747 that Qatar has given as a gift to President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Mr Hegseth had accepted the aircraft in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.
“The Department of Defence will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States,” Mr Parnell said.
Mr Trump was asked about the $400 million plane on Wednesday while he was in the Oval Office with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“They're giving the United States Air Force a jet, OK? And it's a great thing,” Mr Trump said, before insulting the reporter who had asked about the gift.
Mr Trump has drawn scrutiny for accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign country.
The luxury plane, a Boeing 747-8, would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the US government, and the donation has caused a backlash from Democrats and others.
The Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution, an important anti-corruption measure, prevents federal office-holders from receiving gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
But Mr Trump this month said it would be “stupid” to reject the offer from the Qatari ruling family to give him a jumbo jet to use as Air Force One, brushing aside ethical concerns about taking such a large donation from a foreign state.
He has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars.
“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for free,” Mr Trump posted on his social media site during last week's trip to the Gulf.
Mr Trump says the Qatari plane is needed as a stopgap until two new aircraft that can serve as Air Force One are completed. It will take several months or potentially more than a year to retrofit the Qatari jet to make it suitable for the President.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
