US President Donald Trump began his second term this year with a broad vision for the Middle East: ending the war in Gaza, promoting the Abraham Accords, strengthening political and economic ties with the Gulf and keeping Iran in check.
Here are the people he has charged with implementing and shaping that agenda:
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a traditional Republican with significant time spent in the Senate. He is in favour of assertive US foreign policy in the Middle East, being tough on Iran, and supporting Israel and the Gulf states.
Although Mr Rubio accompanied Mr Trump on his first trip abroad to the Gulf in May, he has been oddly sidelined in foreign policy issues, particularly those in the Middle East.
Last month, Mr Rubio was named interim National Security Adviser, replacing Mike Waltz.
Steve Witkoff
Steve Witkoff is the US special envoy to the Middle East. Before joining the Trump administration, the billionaire property developer and long-time friend of Mr Trump had no known diplomatic or Middle East experience.
Mr Witkoff, 68, is now perhaps the most influential official on US policy in the Middle East. He played a key role in reaching the temporary ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which took place right before Mr Trump's inauguration.
He is leading nuclear talks with Iran and worked with Omani mediators to secure a deal with Yemen's Houthis, who had been launching attacks on Red Sea shipping. Mr Trump also appointed him to lead negotiations on Ukraine.
Morgan Ortagus
Morgan Ortagus was appointed as deputy special envoy to the Middle East and was overseeing the Lebanon portfolio.
However, she appears to have left the position or is about to. The State Department on Thursday refused to say who is responsible for the Lebanon file.
"We see a whole host of people that are involved in this issue," department spokesman Tommy Pigott told reporters. "We have no personnel announcements to really announce at this time."
Laura Loomer, who is close to Mr Trump, said on Thursday that Ms Ortagus had been terminated as deputy special envoy to the Middle East and was hoping to become ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
During the previous Trump administration, Ms Ortagus was State Department spokeswoman. She has been an intelligence analyst at the Department of the Treasury and as a public affairs officer at USAID. She is also an officer in the US Navy Reserve.
Thomas Barrack
Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, was recently appointed to also serve as special envoy to Syria. The appointment is critical after Mr Trump ordered the lifting of all sanctions on Damascus.
Mr Barrack is a billionaire and a long-time friend of Mr Trump, and the grandson of Lebanese-Christian immigrants.
Joel Rayburn
Mr Trump recently nominated Joel Rayburn to serve as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, the top Middle East position at the State Department.
He would replace Tim Lenderking, who was appointed under president Joe Biden as special envoy for Yemen, and is now in the position as a caretaker.
Mr Rayburn is a military veteran and seasoned diplomat focused on Middle Eastern affairs. He was in Mr Trump’s first administration as a special envoy for Syria. He was also senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon at the National Security Council.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LAST 16
SEEDS
Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Valencia, Juventus
PLUS
Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Chelsea
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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New schools in Dubai
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Match on Bein Sports
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
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Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
Honeymoonish
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