Former US president Donald Trump has been compared to Adolf Hitler by a top military general who said he was preaching “the gospel of the Fuhrer”.
In a new book titled I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J Trump's Catastrophic Final Year, Washington Post reporters Carol Leonning and Philip Rucker describe how Gen Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the highest-ranking military officer in the US, and other officials planned to step down from their positions.
They refused to be linked to Mr Trump, who they considered to be “dangerous” and “illegal”.
Following Joe Biden’s election win, Gen Milley recalled a friend warning him that Mr Trump and his allies were attempting to “overturn the government”, the book says.
Gen Milley reportedly said: “They may try, but they’re not going to … succeed. You can’t do this without the military. You can’t do this without the CIA and the FBI. We’re the guys with guns.”
Prior to the US Capitol riots on January 6, Gen Milley met House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike.”
On January 6, when the Electoral College results were officially announced, Mr Trump’s supporters attacked Congress. Five people died in the violence, including a Capitol Police officer.
Gen Milley warned his aides that America was facing a “Reichstag moment”, in reference to the arson attack on the German Parliament in 1933, which the Nazis used to consolidate their power.
Shortly after Mr Biden’s victory, which Mr Trump baselessly claimed was possible due to electoral fraud, Gen Milley was greatly concerned for the country’s stability as the transfer of power approached.
Long before the attack on government buildings, Gen Milley believed that Mr Trump “was stoking unrest, possibly in hopes of an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act and call out the military”.
The book gives a “definitive behind-the-scenes story” of Mr Trump’s final year in office following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which the government had failed to contain, as well as the presidential elections.
It is expected to be released on July 20.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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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.
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
