Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken predicted on Wednesday that Russia will suffer a “long, bloody, drawn-out mess” as it proceeds with its invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Blinken added that the war would become a strategic failure for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If his goal is to impose some kind of puppet regime by displacing the existing government and putting in place one to his liking, I think it’s pretty evident by the response of the Ukrainian people that they will never accept that if he tries to enforce such a puppet regime by keeping Russian forces in Ukraine,” Mr Blinken said at a press conference in Washington alongside UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
“It will be a long, bloody, drawn-out mess through which Russia will continue to suffer grievously.”
He added that the US and its Nato allies would continue to support the Ukrainian military while exerting economic pressure on Russia to persuade Mr Putin to “change course”.
“The measures that we’ve taken have erased 30 years of progress integrating Russia into the world,” said Mr Blinken.
“This dramatic exodus of virtually every international company from Russia as we speak is having a profound impact — not just today — but over the long term.”
For her part, Ms Truss called for a full ban on Russian banks from the Swift financial system and a halt to Russian energy imports among all members of the G7, the group consisting of the world’s largest advanced economies.
Several Russian banks have already been banned from Swift, restricting their access to much of the global economy. French Finance Minister Brun Le Maire has described a Swift ban as a last resort, likening it to a “financial nuclear weapon".
Ms Truss added that the UK has vowed to halt Russian energy imports by the end of the year and touted the London’s announcement on Wednesday that it would supply Ukraine with its Starstreak air defence system.
However, both Mr Blinken and Ms Truss firmly highlighted their countries’ limits over support to Ukraine for fear of sparking a broader conflict between Russia and Nato's nuclear-armed powers.
They both firmly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for a no-fly zone over the embattled country.
“The reality is that setting up a no-fly zone would lead to a direct confrontation between Nato and Russia,” said Ms Truss. “And that is not what we are looking at.”
Mr Blinken also said that the US and its allies would have to “work through” an arrangement to ensure that Ukraine receives the fighter jets that Mr Zelenskyy had requested after Poland blindsided Washington with a proposal to do so this week.
The Pentagon has called that proposal “not tenable”.
Without consulting Washington, Poland announced on Tuesday that it would had over 28 Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets into US custody at Nato bases in Germany for their eventual transfer to Ukraine — a proposal that Mr Blinken said raises “serious concerns".
“It’s not clear to us as to the rationale for doing it in the way that was put forward yesterday,” said Mr Blinken.
“What we’re doing right now is consulting mostly with Poland, with other Nato allies on this and the logistical challenges.”
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Calls
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
4/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
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
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
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
