President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a stern warning that "no dictator" should underestimate the United States as he started an Asian tour dominated by the North Korea nuclear crisis.
Speaking to cheering military personnel at Yokota Air Base just west of Tokyo minutes after landing, Mr Trump donned a bomber jacket and said, "No one, no dictator, no regime and no nation should underestimate … American resolve. Every once in a while in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it?
"We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defence of our people, our freedom and our great American flag."
Mr Trump's marathon trip comes with the North Korea crisis at fever pitch, as US bombers fly sorties over the Korean peninsula and fears mount of another Pyongyang missile test. According to the Washington Post, Pentagon officials have warned that the only way to locate and secure North Korea's nuclear weapons sites would be via a ground invasion.
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President Trump in Japan
North Korea itself welcomed Mr Trump to the region with a rhetorical volley via the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, warning a "spiritual instable" president against making "reckless remarks".
North Koreans 'great people'
The president's first stops are Japan and South Korea — frontline US allies in the effort to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, and the two countries with most to fear should a full-scale conflict break out.
Mr Trump touched down under clear blue Tokyo skies and stepped out with his wife Melania in bright sunshine to greet the crowds.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, he announced he would probably be meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin during the tour, as the international community scrambles for a solution to the North Korean crisis.
"I think it's expected we'll meet with Putin, yeah. We want Putin's help on North Korea, and we'll be meeting with a lot of different leaders," said Mr Trump.
He added that North Korea was a "big problem for our country and for the world, and we want to get it solved" but had kind words for its people.
"I think they're great people. They're industrious. They're warm, much warmer than the world really knows or understands. They're great people. And I hope it all works out for everybody," he said.
He told reporters earlier that a decision would be made soon on whether to add reclusive North Korea to a list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying his administration planned to take a different approach after years of what he termed "total weakness."
The next stop was a golfing date with his "friend" Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan. The two leaders have struck up an unlikely but easy rapport and the Japanese prime minister welcomed his American guest with an effusive display of friendship. The two leaders first enjoyed a leisurely, casual lunch at Kasumigaseki Country Club before taking striding out on to the fairway to play nine holes, for which they were joined by one of the world's top professional golfers, Hideki Matsuyama.
Mr Trump joked with reporters on Air Force One that they should not believe him if he claims to outhit Hedeki Matsuyama, one of the world's best players who joined the leaders on the course.
Mr Abe also appeared to have enjoyed his nine holes, tweeting: "A round of golf with a marvellous friend (president Donald J Trump), full of spirited conversation."
The two leaders, and their wives, were having an intimate dinner on Sunday night. Arriving at the upmarket restaurant where they were to dine on grilled Japanese premium beef, Mr Trump said US-Japan ties were closer than ever.
"We’ll have dinner tonight. I think we’ll insult everybody by continuing to talk about trade," he said.
But this easy-going, low-key beginning was paving for the high-stakes diplomacy in the coming days, with formal talks, a press conference and state dinner planned in Tokyo for Monday.
The Japanese leader has emerged strengthened from a crushing victory in a snap election and has firmly supported Mr Trump in his policy of exerting maximum pressure on Mr Kim, backed up with the threat of military force.
"I want to further cement the bond of the Japan-US alliance, based on our relations of trust and friendship with president Trump," Mr Abe said as Mr Trump arrived.
Mr Trump for his part described Japan as a "treasured partner and crucial ally of the US".
"Trump only has to play golf in Japan, as he knows Japan will follow [the US] whatever happens. Everything has been sorted out beforehand," said Tetsuro Kato, political scientist at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University.
'Appeasement'
After Japan, Mr Trump travels to Seoul, where his relationship with President Moon Jae-in is noticeably cooler. While Mr Trump has been in regular contact with the hawkish Mr Abe during the North Korean crisis, he pointedly failed to speak to Mr Moon for several days after Pyongyang's second intercontinental ballistic missile test in July.
Mr Trump labelled Mr Moon's more conciliatory approach to North Korea as "appeasement" on Twitter, a comment that did not go down well in Seoul's presidential Blue House.
Mr Trump will speak to South Korean MPs but not follow the well-trodden path to the Demilitarised Zone dividing the Korean peninsula — a visit derided in Washington as a bit of a "cliché".
From Seoul, Mr Trump travels to China to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping who, like Mr Abe, has solidified his grip on power after being handed a second term.
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Read more
Trump arrives in Japan ahead of marathon Asia trip
Multibillion-dollar deals lined up for Trump's China visit
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Mr Trump said before his trip that China could have a "big problem" with "warrior nation" Japan if the North Korea issue is not solved. He then travels to a Pacific Rim summit in Vietnam before heading to a gathering of Southeast Asian leaders.
Some observers have fretted that a gaffe by the famously unscripted president could send tensions rising on the peninsula.
"It will be a disaster if he speaks off the cuff and without thinking," said Professor Koo Kab-woo from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "If Trump says anything that can provoke North Korea, it could send military tensions soaring again."
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Habib El Qalb
Assi Al Hallani
(Rotana)
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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500 People from Gaza enter France
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25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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)
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
