ST PAUL // George W Bush has saluted Republican John McCain as the man to replace him, at a convention featuring assaults on Democrat Barack Obama.
Mr Bush, in a rarity for recent incumbent presidents, did not attend the party's St Paul convention to nominate Mr McCain for president, instead speaking briefly from the White House by satellite.
The stated reason for Mr Bush's absence was his need to manage the Hurricane Gustav emergency, but it could in the end have helped Mr McCain to distance himself from the unpopular president, at a time when Democrats seek to join them at the hip politically.
Mr Bush said progress in bringing stability to Iraq through a US-troop build-up was the direct result of the Arizona senator's firmness in insisting that it take place in the face of Democratic opposition and the war's unpopularity.
"The man we need is John McCain," Mr Bush said.
"He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I know," said Mr Bush, who has had an uneasy relationship with the 72-year-old presidential candidate over the years and defeated him in the 2000 race for the Republican nomination.
The Obama campaign fired back. "The man George Bush needs may be John McCain, but the change America needs is Barack Obama," said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
On the first night of convention speeches after a delay prompted by the hurricane, police used pepper spray and tear gas to drive protesters away from the downtown Xcel Energy Center where the convention was being held.
The confrontation followed a peaceful march on behalf of poor people by more than 1,000 demonstrators.
Republicans will nominate Mr McCain and vice presidential running mate, Mrs Palin, 44, as their candidates this week to face Mr Obama and his running mate, Delaware senator Joe Biden, in the Nov 4 election.
Mr Obama drew heavy fire from convention speakers who want to use the week to try to define the Democrat on their own terms after Mr Obama, a first-term US Illinois senator, got a boost in public opinion polls from his convention last week in Denver.
The Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman, a close ally of Mr McCain's, who calls himself an independent Democrat, described Mr Obama, 47, as a "gifted and eloquent young man", but said "eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times".
"I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party," said Mr Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000.
Former Tennessee Republican senator Fred Thompson, in the most fiery speech of the day, dismissed Mr Obama as "the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president".
Mr Thompson said Mr McCain's foreign policy expertise was far more expansive than Mr Obama's, citing Democratic nominee's speech before 200,000 cheering Germans in Berlin in July.
"The respect he (McCain) is given around the world is not because of a teleprompter speech designed to appeal to American critics abroad, but because of decades of clearly demonstrated character and statesmanship," Mr Thompson said.
Mrs Palin's disclosure that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant and the news that she had hired a private lawyer in an ethics probe in Alaska have triggered a media firestorm.
Some have questioned McCain's judgment in picking Mrs Palin and how thoroughly the relatively unknown first-term governor's background was examined before her selection last week.
Mr Thompson blasted "Washington pundits and media big shots" who had been critical of Palin.
"Let's be clear ... the selection of governor Palin has the other side and their friends in the media in a state of panic. She is a courageous, successful reformer who is not afraid to take on the establishment," he said.
Comparing Mrs Palin to Mr Obama without mentioning the Democrat's name, Mr Thompson said she "has actually governed rather than just talked a good game on the Sunday talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit".
Republicans like Mrs Palin's anti-abortion and pro-gun stances and her history of government reform in Alaska in her two years as governor.
Mr McCain's aides kept Mrs Palin closeted throughout the day as she prepared for a speech to the convention on today.
Mr McCain, who will arrive in the St Paul area on today, predicted a warm welcome for Mrs Palin when she addresses the convention tonight.
"America's excited and they're going to be even more excited once they see her," Mr McCain said. "I'm very, very proud of the impression that she's made on all of America and I'm looking forward to serving with her."
In Philadelphia, he defended his search. "My vetting process was completely thorough and I'm grateful for the results," he said.
* Reuters
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
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
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
The%20Witcher%20-%20season%20three
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHenry%20Cavill%2C%20Freya%20Allan%2C%20Anya%20Chalotra%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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)
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
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
