The Pentagon on Friday announced a new aid package worth up to $400 million for Ukraine, including four additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).
The latest package approved by President Joe Biden brings the total US military assistance to Ukraine to $7.3 billion since Russia invaded on February 24.
It also brings the number of Himars provided to Ukraine to 12, with eight already deployed in the country, a senior US defence official said.
The Himars is a mobile unit that can simultaneously launch several precision-guided missiles. Russia also operates multiple-rocket launchers, but the Himars has a superior range and precision, with its rockets able to fly as far as 80 kilometres.
The US has trained more than 100 Ukrainian troops on operating Himars, the Pentagon said.
The US official said there was “no truth” to Russia’s claims that its forces destroyed two of those systems. The official stressed that all eight Himars inside Ukraine are accounted for and still in use by Ukrainian forces.
"Ukraine has now been successfully striking Russian locations in Ukraine, deeper behind the front lines and disrupting Russia's ability to conduct that artillery operation," the official said.
The latest weapons package also includes more precise ammunition for howitzer artillery systems, three tactical vehicles, counter-battery systems and spare parts.
Despite Russia’s advances in Eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region, the Pentagon said the Ukrainians are defending “tenaciously”.
“All along the way they [Ukrainian forces] were inflicting significant casualties on the Russians,” the official said. The high level of casualties is forcing Moscow to “reorganise”, the US said.
“I can't imagine taking casualties on the level the Russians have taken them and not have a morale problem,” the official said.
The US latest aid package to Ukraine comes as Mr Biden visited the Central Intelligence Agency on Friday.
The visit is intended to commemorate the agency’s 75th anniversary since its founding after World War II. But Mr Biden met with CIA officers who have worked on Ukraine.
"You are clearly the best in the whole world," Mr Biden told CIA staff.
"It was thanks to the incredible work of our intelligence professionals that we were able to forewarn the world with what Vladimir Putin was planning in Ukraine."
Those leaks "punched a gigantic hole in the pretence and discredited his [Putin's] lies," Mr Biden said from Langley.
Largely accurate predictions that Russia would invade Ukraine in February generated a public boost for US spy agencies that are often criticised and facing new pressure to deliver insights on China and Russia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
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BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
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.
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
