National Security Advisor Michael Flynn boards Air Force One at West Palm Beach International airport in West Palm Beach, Florida US, February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn boards Air Force One at West Palm Beach International airport in West Palm Beach, Florida US, February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

Future of Trump adviser Michael Flynn in doubt over Russia sanctions discussion



WASHINGTON // Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn is facing growing questions about his future after reports that he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy before Mr Trump’s inauguration.

Top White House officials reviewed over the weekend Mr Flynn’s contacts with the Russians and whether he discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia once Mr Trump took office.

Such a conversation could potentially break a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

Mr Flynn is a retired US army general and former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. An early supporter of Mr Trump, he has been a leading advocate to improve US relations with Russia.

Mr Flynn had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russians in the weeks before Trump took office on January 20 and Vice President Mike Pence went before the television cameras to repeat the denial and defend Mr Flynn.

When a Washington Post report emerged last week quoting officials saying the subject of sanctions had in fact come up, Mr Flynn left open the possibility that he had discussed sanctions but could not remember with 100 per cent certainty, an administration official said.

A second administration official stressed that Mr Pence made his comments based on a conversation with Mr Flynn. Mr Pence is said to be troubled by the possibility of being misled.

Mr Flynn has apologised to Mr Pence and others over the incident.

A third official said the uproar prompted White House chief of staff Reince Priebus to review the matter with other top officials as Mr Trump played host to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend in Florida.

There was no indication from transcripts of Mr Flynn’s conversations that he had promised to lift the sanctions but rather he made more general comments about hoping for better US-Russian relations with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has yet to weigh in on the subject, promising on Friday that he would look into it.

*Associated Press and Reuters

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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
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Sector: Sustainability
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Number of employees: 4
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Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

All about the Sevens

Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales

HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia

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Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Director: Laila Abbas

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.

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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

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