The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nation's ambassadors to Kuwait and Oman, filling two key posts as Washington seeks to avoid the Israel-Gaza war from spilling into other countries in the Middle East.
Karen Sasahara and Ana Escrogima were confirmed as ambassadors to Kuwait and Oman by voice vote.
“It is important we have ambassadors in critical places,” said Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer.
“We will continue working to get more critical diplomats confirmed.”
Ms Sasahara has been a career member of the Foreign Service and was previously the deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa.
She had also served as the interim charge d'affaires in Jordan from March 2019 to August 2020.
Ms Escrogima, also a career member of the Foreign Service, was most recently the consul general in Montreal. She also held positions in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Syria.
At the time of her nomination, the State Department said her “considerable experience as a policymaker for the Middle East and North Africa, and her ability as an Arabic speaker make her a well-qualified candidate” to serve as ambassador to Oman.
The Senate is also trying to move quickly to confirm Jack Lew's nomination as US ambassador to Israel. Mr Lew was grilled by lawmakers on Tuesday.
The US ambassadorial post for Egypt remains vacant. President Joe Biden nominated diplomat Herro Garg in March. Her confirmation hearing is set for Thursday.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
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.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
More on Quran memorisation:
All Black 39-12 British & Irish Lions
