US Defence Secretary James Mattis has arrived in Oman and will meet Sultan Qaboos on Monday, with the pair set to discuss a packed agenda that includes arms trafficking into Yemen, defence relations and counterterrorism.
On his first trip to Oman as Pentagon chief, Mr Mattis said told reporters on Sunday that he would find out from his Omani counterparts "how they assess any trafficking that's going on at all" into Yemen.
Asked by a reporter if Oman is looking the other way, Mr Mattis said the Omanis "have been on the record that they want to see this civil war stopped for obvious reasons".
These reasons, Mr Mattis said, entail counterterrorism and mutual security concerns. “I’m going there to listen, like I started off with, and find out how they assess any trafficking that’s going on at all. What is their assessment? What is their view of routes and that sort of thing?” Mr Mattis said.
“I will be going in to talk to the Sultan, who obviously has a keen role in all of this, because he’s got a border with this country. And so I need to go in and find out how they assess it.”
He also emphasised past and ongoing efforts by French, Australian and US Navy forces in the area to interdict Iranian shipments to the Houthis.
The EU-funded organisation Conflict Armament Research issued a report last Spring that points to Oman as a major route by land and sea for Iran to transfer arms to Houthis.
Also discussing Yemen, Mr Mattis highlighted US-UAE joint operations fighting Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIL in Yemen. He said a small number of US forces in Yemen are working alongside their UAE counterparts fighting against AQAP.
“For example, Mukalla port was held by AQAP for a year, and the United Arab Emirates, with some American help – intelligence help principally – had gone in, organised the local tribes to take it away and Mukalla port fell in 36 hours after being held for a year,” Mr Mattis said.
His trip to Oman and on to Bahrain will also focus on the Gulf's cohesion and maintaining stability in the region. The "unity of the [Gulf Cooperation Council] has been strained, to put it mildly, and so I'm also wanting to hear what the sultan says can be done about that situation," he said, as the Trump government intensifies its efforts to resolve the Qatar crisis.
Retired general Anthony Zinni and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Tim Lenderking visited the region last week to resume US direct mediation.
Addressing his stop in Bahrain, Mr Mattis said he would be meeting King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to "reinforce a very strong defence partnership". Bahrain hosts the US 5th Fleet and has a strong military relations with the United States.
Speaking generally about Russia, Mr Mattis dismissed President Vladimir Putin’s talk about improved nuclear capability earlier this month. “I would just tell you that I saw no change to the Russian military capability ... each of these systems that he’s talking about that are still years away – I do not see them changing the military balance.”
Mr Mattis warned Russia about its role in Syria amid potential evidence emerging about the use of chemical weapons, including chlorine gas in eastern Ghouta.
He said: “I look down separately at what’s going on in eastern Ghouta, seems kind of familiar ... Russia signs up with the UN Security Council for a ceasefire, their partner proceeds to bomb, at best, indiscriminately – at worst, targeting hospitals.” He called Moscow either “incompetent or they’re committing illegal acts, or both”.
While making it clear that the US does not have damning evidence for chlorine gas use in Ghouta, which has reportedly occured four times this year, Mr Mattis said: “I am aware of the reports of chlorine gas use, and of the bombings that we’re seeing now.” He called it “a sickening replay of what we’ve seen before, in Aleppo for example, and before that in Homs”.
Mr Mattis refused to take any options off the table or to strictly define the Trump government's line for chemical weapons use in Syria. He warned, however, “it would be very unwise for them to use weaponised gas. And I think president Trump made that very clear early in his administration”.
The National has learned of coordinated US-EU efforts to gather evidence on the use of chlorine gas by the Assad regime recently in eastern Ghouta. High-level sources in Washington revealed that the Trump government is considering a whole set of options, including military strikes in Syria, if such evidence is found.
A turning point in the government’s thinking and Mr Trump’s own views on Russia’s role in the war was triggered by Mr Putin’s threats on March 1 in a video showing missiles raining down on Florida.
Those sources said no final decision had been made yet, but co-ordination had started with the Europeans on gathering evidence on the reported attacks so far this year. The change in the US and European governments' view on Moscow was also prompted by Russia breaking its commitments under UNSCR 2401 for a ceasefire in Syria that was adopted on February 24.
The Russian government voted for the resolution, only to violate it in the skies above Syria over Ghouta within hours. "This further shows Vladimir Putin's disregard for international law," a source with close knowledge of US-EU consultations told The National.
Mr Trump has called the leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom and France four times since Mr Putin’s speech to discuss the situation in Ghouta, and other issues.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
