Western allies “will not waver” in defence of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden pledged on Wednesday at the Nato summit in Lithuania, as he hit out at Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The US President cast the struggle against Russian aggression as one of the world's central challenges requiring a broad coalition of countries to stand in defence of freedom.
Mr Putin had expected Nato to “break”, but “he thought wrong”, Mr Biden said in the courtyard of Vilnius University.
“The defence of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. It's the calling of our lifetime – of all time,” he said.
“Our unity will not falter. I promise you.”
He added that Lithuania knows the “transformational power of freedom” after spending decades under Moscow's thumb.
Mr Biden drew parallels between the country's struggle to escape Soviet rule and Ukraine's ongoing fight to repel Russia's invasion, highlighting the importance of rallying allies to take on the challenge.
“America never recognised the Soviet occupation of the Baltic,” he said to an outpouring of cheers from a crowd of thousands in the university's courtyard, draped with American and Lithuanian flags.
Mr Biden has spent two days in Vilnius for the annual Nato summit, where members of the western military alliance pledged more support for Ukraine but stopped short of extending an invitation to the besieged country to join the alliance.
After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who entered the summit demanding a clear path for his country to joining the alliance – something that was initially promised back in 2008 – Mr Biden said that other security guarantees agreed to at the summit would be even more significant.
Day two of Nato summit in Lithuania – in pictures
“One thing Zelenskyy understands now is that whether or not he’s in Nato now, it’s not relevant as long as he has commitments,” Mr Biden said, comparing the situation to how the US ensures Israel's security edge over its neighbours.
The President pointed to the US and allied response to Moscow's invasion as a model for how to respond to other global challenges, from climate change to the rise of China, saying nations' positions are stronger when they “build the broadest and deepest coalition”.
“Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken,” he said. “We will stand for freedom today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes.”
Mr Biden will head next to Finland, the newest member of Nato, for a meeting of Nordic leaders.
During his speech, Mr Biden hailed an agreement to advance Sweden's membership in Nato after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to drop his objections.
“President Erdogan kept his word,” Mr Biden said.
But the US President's enthusiasm for expanding Nato has not extended to Ukraine.
He has expressed concerns over the country's readiness to join the alliance as well as fears that the West could be drawn into a wider conflict with Russia.
The competing priorities in the midst of Europe’s bloodiest war in generations created an undercurrent of friction even as Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy projected a united front when they met earlier on Wednesday.
Their public encounter had the vibe of two leaders clearing the air and each heaped praise on his counterpart.
Mr Biden lauded Mr Zelenskyy and Ukrainians for their courage by saying they have “been a model for the whole world to see”.
Mr Zelenskyy thanked Mr Biden and the American people for the billions of dollars in military assistance, saying that “you spend this money for our lives”.
Wearing a tie bearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag, Mr Biden acknowledged that Mr Zelenskyy has occasionally been unsatisfied by unfulfilled requests for weapons.
“The frustration, I can only imagine,” Mr Biden said.
“I know that you're many times frustrated about whether things get to you quickly enough, what's getting to you and how we're getting it. But I promise you, the United States is doing everything we can to get you what you need.”
Mr Biden also said the war had created a sense of unity about opposing international aggression.
“It’s bringing the world together,” he said.
“It’s a hell of a price to pay, but it’s bringing the world together.”
The meeting came after a few other encounters between Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy at the summit. They sat close to each other at the inaugural meeting of the Nato-Ukraine Council, a new forum that aims to give Kyiv a greater voice within the alliance.
And they shared the stage as the Group of Seven, which includes the world's most powerful democratic countries, announced plans for long-term security assistance for Ukraine.
But Wednesday afternoon was the first opportunity for Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy to sit down privately with their advisers after their public comments.
And by then, Mr Zelenskyy had softened his tone considerably.
En route to Vilnius on Tuesday, he had blasted Nato's vague plans for Ukraine's eventual membership, tweeting: “It’s unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership.”
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said everyone “needs to look squarely at the fact” that allowing Ukraine to join Nato at this point “means war with Russia”.
“That is an inescapable fact,” he told CNN.
Mr Sullivan credited Mr Biden with ensuring that Nato is “more unified and more determined and more decisive than at any point”.
“That’s President Biden’s legacy when it comes to Nato, and it’s one that he can be very proud of,” he said.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Canada
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
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
Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Ferrari
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More on animal trafficking
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Kandahar%20
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Racecard
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ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
