Donald Trump might be entering the final days of his presidency. But, to judge by his recent actions in the Middle East, he has lost none of his enthusiasm for the controversial approach to the region that has defined his presidency.
On Iran, where Mr Trump’s confrontational attitude towards the ayatollahs has transformed American policy towards Tehran, the president has imposed a new round of sanctions, this time targeting the country’s Intelligence Minister, Mahmoud Alavi, as well the Mostazafan Foundation, which is run by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The foundation, which was set up after the 1979 revolution to confiscate the property of former officials in Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s government, has 160 holdings across key sectors of the Iranian economy, including finance, energy, construction and mining sectors.
Announcing the new measures, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin claimed the foundation was being used to reward Mr Khamenei’s allies, who were responsible for the brutal suppression of anti-government protests earlier this year.
“The United States will continue to target key officials and revenue-generating sources that enable the regime’s ongoing repression of its own people,” he said.
The imposition of new sanctions, which have already had a devastating impact on the Iranian economy, comes after Mr Trump is reported to have asked the Pentagon about the possibility of bombing Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility after UN inspectors reported that the regime had acquired a stockpile of enriched nuclear material that was 12 times the size of that permitted under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal.
According to the New York Times, Mr Trump was dissuaded from taking action after senior members of his administration warned of the serious risks of escalation in the region.
Mr Trump has also been keen to demonstrate his commitment to Israel with this week’s visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which he became the first holder of his office to visit Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank and the Golan Heights, a break from prior US State Department policy regarding visits to these disputed regions.
In addition, Mr Trump has announced another reduction of American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, a move that is entirely consistent with his policy of scaling down America’s military presence around the world but one which, particularly with regard to Afghanistan, is fraught with risk.
The US has been undertaking a steady reduction in its military presence in Afghanistan since February when Washington announced a peace deal with the Taliban.
Under the terms of the agreement, the US undertook to withdraw its forces on the understanding that the Taliban would cut all ties with international terrorists and engage in a sincere dialogue with the Afghan government to formulate a lasting peace process.
While negotiations between the Taliban and Kabul were delayed until September over wrangling about the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan authorities, Mr Trump has lost no time scaling down America’s military presence in the country. Over the past year American troop strength has fallen from around 9,000 to 5,000.
Despite reaching a deal with the US, the Taliban has shown no inclination to curb its campaign against the Afghan security forces
Now Mr Trump, who pledged during the presidential election contest that he wanted all American troops “home by Christmas”, has announced a reduction of another 2,500 troops by the end of his term in mid-January, as well as reducing the American force in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500.
Both reductions are not without their risks. Washington’s military presence in Iraq is two-fold: to prevent ISIS and its affiliates from establishing new strongholds after the series of defeats they have suffered at the hands of the US-led coalition, and to contain the threat posed to the new Iraqi government of Mustafa Al Kadhimi from Iranian-backed Shiite militias.
America’s military presence in Afghanistan is deemed to be even more vital, as there are deepening fears that without US military support, Afghanistan’s beleaguered security forces will be unable to prevent the Taliban from seizing control of large swathes of the country.
These concerns are said to have been the reason why Mr Trump took the extraordinary decision to dismiss US Defense Secretary Mark Esper after he reportedly submitted a classified memo to the White House in which he argued that the conditions on the ground in Afghanistan were not suitable for a further reduction of American forces.
Mr Esper was apparently referring to the recent upsurge in Taliban violence in the country, which posed a risk for remaining US troops, as well as straining relations with Nato allies. There was also the risk that reducing troops could undermine negotiations with the Taliban to secure a landmark deal with the Afghan government.
Despite reaching a deal with the US, the Taliban has shown no inclination to curb its campaign against the Afghan security forces.
The UN reported last month that there has been no reduction in civilian casualties since the start of peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, while in some parts of the country, especially in the south, there has been an escalation of violence.
In recent weeks, the Taliban has intensified its campaign against Kandahar, while an assault on Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, was only beaten back with the help of US air strikes.
Consequently, Mr Trump’s attempts to fulfil his election pledge to end America’s military involvement in Afghanistan has prompted criticism from both senior Republicans and Washington’s allies.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned that “a rapid withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm,” while the announcement prompted a rare rebuke from Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who said that the move could result in Afghanistan again becoming a platform for terrorists to launch attacks overseas.
“We have been in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and no Nato ally wants to stay any longer than necessary,” Mr Stoltenberg said in a statement. “But at the same time, the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high.”
Mr Trump might believe that by taking these controversial decisions in the last days of his presidency he is securing his legacy. But in so far as Afghanistan is concerned, they also run the risk of handing victory to the Taliban and its extremist allies.
Con Coughlin is a defence and foreign affairs columnist for The National
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
