Jen Psaki, President-elect Biden's choice for White House press secretary, delivers a daily briefing at the US State Department when she was working for former US president Barack Obama. AFP
Jen Psaki, President-elect Biden's choice for White House press secretary, delivers a daily briefing at the US State Department when she was working for former US president Barack Obama. AFP
Jen Psaki, President-elect Biden's choice for White House press secretary, delivers a daily briefing at the US State Department when she was working for former US president Barack Obama. AFP
In 1992, James Carville, a strategist in former US president Bill Clinton’s election team, coined the famous phrase “it’s the economy, stupid”. These words were allegedly posted around his campaign office, a reminder of the importance of economic wellbeing for American voters.
For President-elect Joe Biden, the phrase is as relevant as it was in 1992. But in 2020, one could say “representation” merits equal consideration.
President Donald Trump achieved much in office, but few disagree that his term left America divided.
Some women in America have felt alienated during this administration. Despite him choosing some women for senior roles, an estimated 4.6 million people across the US joined the Women’s March in January 2017. The protest was officially advocating social change. Mr Trump also failed to win a majority among female voters in both 2016 and 2020.
In contrast, Mr Biden has assembled the most diverse presidential team in history. And now he is expected to announce an all-female communications team. He will hope this brings a greater range of Americans back into the political fold.
Appointments include, among others and all pending Senate approval, Jen Psaki as White House Press Secretary. Psaki will be the face of the new administration, tasked with informing the American public, especially important during the Covid-19 crisis.
With significant media experience, she will also likely try to re-involve traditional outlets. News organisation will welcome this, after four year of President Trump branding them the “lamestream media”.
Yesterday, reports emerged that Mr Biden was also expected to announce women for senior economic posts.
These include Neera Tanden as head of the Office of Management and Budget, as well as Princeton economist Cecilia Rouse to Run the Council of Economic Advisers. Again, this will depend on whether the Senate will approve them, particularly in the case of Ms Tanden, disliked by both the Republicans and the left of the Democratic Party.
Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, is expected to be nominated as President-elect Biden's pick for the White House budget chief. AP
Mr Biden has assembled the most diverse presidential team in history
Regardless, Mr Biden’s focus on female appointments is a moral decision, as well as a strategic move to widen his support base.
A similar phenomenon is taking place in the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently appointed former newsreader Allegra Stratton to head the government’s Covid-19 briefings.
Ms Stratton is said to be part of a group within Downing Street, reportedly led by the Prime Minister’s partner Carrie Symonds, that is successfully pushing back against the previous, male-dominated communications team previously led by Dominic Cummings.
Greater representation now seems to be a possible factor in political success. But this only lasts if those appointed are the best people for the job. Some will criticise this as simply trying to win over feminist lobbies.
A look at the professional record of these women, however, proves this to be false. With this level of expertise, they are first and foremost experienced and capable professionals.
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
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
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
