As CIA director Michael Pompeo predicted more attempts by Russia to interfere in this year's US midterm elections in November, the Trump administration said no new sanctions would be put in place and that the current regime is enough.
According to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) signed in 2017, Monday was the deadline for both the state and the treasury departments to comply with the law and announce more sanctions. But neither did, and state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that CAATSA in its current form is working as a deterrent, preventing the need for more measures.
“If the law is working, sanctions on specific entities or individuals will not need to be imposed because the legislation is, in fact, serving as a deterrent,” Ms Nauert said.
The treasury was expected to designate a group of Russian oligarchs close to President Vladimir Putin. That list may come, but as far as the state department action that would target non-Russian entities dealing with Russian defence and intelligence, none came on Monday.
The state department pause in enforcing new sanctions followed a classified briefing that the administration gave to Congress.
“Today, we have informed Congress that this legislation and its implementation are deterring Russian defence sales,” Ms Nauert said, estimating that “foreign governments have abandoned planned or announced purchases of several billion dollars in Russian defence acquisitions.”
“Given the long time-frames generally associated with major defence deals, the results of this effort are only beginning to become apparent,” she said.
Still, the treasury could roll out the oligarchs list as required by the CAATSA law. "The department of treasury does plan to act today to issue a report and take this process the next step forward," White House principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah told CNN on Monday morning. But shortly before 9pm in Washington, there was no sign of a new list.
Separately, Mr Pompeo told the BBC that he expected Russia to continue its attempts to interfere in US elections. Asked if such attempts will be made to meddle in the congressional midterm elections this November, he said: “Of course. I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that, but I’m confident that America will be able to have a free and fair election [and] that we will push back in a way that is sufficiently robust that the impact they have on our election won't be great.”
Mr Pompeo said the CIA has not seen “a significant decrease in their [Russia’s subversive] activity”.
Asked if he has to walk a fine line in briefing President Donald Trump, who dismissed reports of Russian meddling in the 2016 election as “fake news”, Mr Pompeo said: “I don’t do fine lines, I do the truth.”
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
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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)
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
THE SPECS
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Power: 325bhp
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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