The USS Theodore Roosevelt is known as the ‘Big Stick’ by many who serve on board the 332-metre aircraft carrier, and it’s easy to see why as it lies in Jebel Ali Port on a brief Dubai stopover.
Described as “an implement of power” and towering 20 storeys above the waterline, the ship is loaded with more than 70 fighter planes and helicopters primed and ready for conflict.
The giant vessel has been a menace patrolling the Arabian Gulf in support of anti-terror Operation Inherent Resolve.
Since departing from San Diego in October, the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has been leading operations in Syria and Iraq – targeting strongholds in the region in the war on ISIL.
It has been a long four months for the 5,000 crew who, along with a further 1,500 sailors and marines on board supporting vessels in the carrier strike group, are not due back in the US until later this year.
America’s ambassador to the UAE, Barbara Leaf, addressed the ship’s crew, before a short break in Dubai and the next stage of combat operations in the Arabian Gulf.
“Since departing from San Diego with USS cruiser Bunker Hill, destroyers USS Sampson, Preble and Halsey the USS Theodore Roosevelt has exemplified our country’s commitment to regional security and defence co-operation in the Middle East,” she said.
“These 7,500 sailors and marines represent the most capable maritime fighting force anywhere in the world today.
“Whether for military operations with our host partners, scheduled maintenance visits or rest and relaxation stops their presence is helping strengthen security relationships with the UAE.
“It has been a profound privilege to be part of this deepening defence and security relationship between our two countries.”
Since December 2014, the UAE has had 178 port visits from carriers, destroyers, cruisers, ships, submarines and other US ships.
In that time, 130,000 sailors and marines have gone ashore to experience the culture of the UAE.
Dubai is a regular stopping point due to its strategic location, wealth of supplies and attraction as a recovery destination for crew.
Life on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of the largest ships in the US fleet, is a 24-hour operation for its crew, with the craft’s nuclear capability enabling it to remain at sea indefinitely.
Replenishment at sea is scheduled weekly with supplies jet fuel, food, repair parts and mail delivered by helicopter, cables and hoses.
“We have 5,000 people residing on this ship and it takes every single one of them to make things work,” said Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, who is Commander of Carrier Strike Group 9.
"It is an implement of power for the United States and gives us the ability to execute that power in security operations alongside all our friends and allies in the Gulf region."
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Read more:
British Royal Navy ships docked in Dubai offers insight into fight against terror and piracy
HMS Middleton prepares to leave dock at Ras al Khaimah
The deadly ISIL ambush in Kirkuk signifies the re-emergence of the terrorist group
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The 31-year-old USS Theodore Roosevelt will return to America after completing its tour of Guam, Bahrain and the UAE.
Travelling the 40,200 kilometres through the Sea of Japan at more than 30 knots, the ship can be sent to the region from US waters in less than two weeks.
“We couldn’t come to the UAE without the great partnership we have in place with this great nation to help make this place a safe place in which to live and work,” said Commander Koehler.
“This is a 24-hour operation when we are at sea, so to be able to come into port for a few days and give the crew a break is phenomenal.”
Of the 70 aircraft on board, many can launch GPS guided smart bombs to take out their targets.
Although most of the ship’s major maintenance is completed when back in dock in San Diego, the crew can resolve most issues at sea.
Kitchens supply well-fed staff on board with 18,000 meals a day, but Dubai is timely stop for the crew, who have been at sea for most of the past three months.
“Operations against ISIL have been our main objective during our time here in the Arabian Gulf,” said executive officer Capt Fred Goldhammer
“Our aircraft are flying missions into Syria and Iraq in support of those operations against ISIL, that has been our main job out here.
“We use precision guided bombs; we are very specific with the targets selected for missions in counter ISIL operations to minimise risk to civilians or any other casualties.
“Our progress against ISIL in this region has been very successful, but this has not just been a US operation; we have been working with our partners in the region.”
The flight deck’s MH-60 helicopters are used for looking for other ships and submarines to gather intelligence, while the Hawkeye command and control aircraft delivers information back to the Carrier Air Wing to help plot a route and monitor operations.
Strike fighters such as the F18 can counter other aircraft and engage in combat, as well as take on air to ground combat operations.
Nuclear power runs the ship, while electromagnetic catapults help launch aircraft from the flight deck.
Rubber catapult tracks attach to a metal shuttle that connects to aircraft, to power them down the runway at 190mph in half a second like a slingshot.
Everything is overseen by runway ‘shooter’, monitoring four catapults simultaneously to deploy fighters as quickly as possible.
“When I started flying 20 years ago, to change an engine on a fighter would take a couple of days - now it takes one hour,” said Capt Goldhammer.
“The older versions of the helicopter also took a lot longer to repair, and it was more of an art than a science – a bit like having a classic car.”
SPECS
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The%20specs
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Indika
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RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
Norwich 1
Josip Drmic 78'
2-3 on penalties
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)
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
