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The accession of Finland and Sweden to Nato would boost the alliance's military and naval access in the Baltic Sea against Russia and transform regional “geometry”, President Joe Biden's nominee to become Nato's next supreme allied commander in Europe said on Thursday.
Gen Christopher Cavoli, currently the commander of US Army Europe-Africa, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Nordic countries' membership in Nato would immediately help the alliance.
“From a military perspective, each of those militaries brings quite a bit of capability and capacity to the alliance from day one,” he said.
Given their strategic coastline — particularly Finland’s 1,300-kilometre border with Russia — their membership “would create a very different geometry to the area”, Gen Cavoli said.
“It provides a bunch of different dilemmas, almost geometric dilemmas that Russia does not have right now as they sail forth from St Petersburg to Kaliningrad,” the US military commander said.
He especially emphasised the strength of Finland’s military, which is equipped with F-18 and F-35 fighter jets, and pointed to the country's previous experience fighting Russia in the 1930s.
Gen Cavoli described Sweden’s naval assets in the Baltic Sea as being of “enormous military significance” to the alliance.
The two Nordic countries officially submitted their bids to join Nato this month in response to Russia' invasion of Ukraine.
Nato member Turkey, however, has so far blocked their entry, saying their failure to label the Kurdish militant organisation the PKK a terrorist group is unacceptable. It has also expressed frustration over restrictions on military exports from the countries to Ankara.
US officials are hopeful these issues can be resolved diplomatically.
Gen Cavoli did not comment on the negotiations but stressed that he looks forward to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.
On Ukraine, the US general, who speaks fluent Russian, said that Nato has three goals in the war: that Ukraine emerge from the conflict as “independent and free”, that the alliance stay “unified and strong as ever” and that these goals be attained without Nato “engaging in a war with Russia”.
He also assessed that “there are about 22 million tonnes of grain in Ukraine waiting to be pulled out”, but that they have been blocked because of Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea.
On Thursday, a senior US defence official told reporters that Russia has increased its air defence systems on Snake Island in the Black Sea.
“It gives them additional options, it gives them additional flexibility in the northern Black Sea,” the official said.
The Pentagon assessed that Russia has lost almost 1,000 tanks, at least 50 helicopters, three dozen fighter-bomber aircraft and 350 artillery pieces in the three months since it invaded Ukraine.
The official pointed to incremental Russian gains in the eastern part of the country but argued that the fighting could drag on for a long time.
“It is, in fact, very much an artillery duel. And now it's a scrap over smaller pieces of earth and it could go on for quite a while,” the official said.
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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The burning issue
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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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Price: From Dh149,900
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Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
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The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
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Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
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How to help
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