Politics can be a bruising business. But in a 2012 charity boxing match, the man who this week became Canada’s new prime minister-designate proved he could take the blows and, more importantly, dish them out.
If Justin Trudeau’s muscular opponent, the Conservative senator Patrick “Brass Knuckles” Brazeau, had done his homework, he might have thought twice about taking on his Liberal challenger, widely mocked in the right-wing media for his boyish good looks, foppish hair and the ballet lessons he took as a child.
True, the tattooed Brazeau had, as the TV commentators pointed out, come from a far tougher neighbourhood than the privileged son of Canada’s former prime minister, Pierre Trudeau.
But by the time the fight was stopped in the third and final round, the bloody and battered Brazeau, the commentators who had mocked Trudeau as an “overacting, ballet-dancing shiny pony” and the rest of Canada understood they had seriously underestimated the former high-school drama teacher turned political heavyweight.
In fewer than six minutes in the ring, punched his way out from the considerable shadow cast by his father’s political legacy.
Born on Christmas Day, 1971, Trudeau Jr knew privilege and expectation from the moment he took his first breath. His father, a lawyer, had become prime minister three years earlier, in 1968, and would remain in office until 1979. In 1980, he would return again, for a further four years.
Trudeau was acclimatised to the rare atmosphere of power and politics from an early age. At a state dinner in 1972, the American president Richard Nixon humorously yet presciently toasted the child as “the future prime minister of Canada”.
World leaders and world trips were a regular feature of his young life. Once, Ronald Reagan arrived for lunch at 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister's official residence in Ottawa, and taught the 9-year-old Trudeau a poem he loved, but which his intellectual father regarded as mildly inappropriate – Robert W Service's saloon-bar ballad The Shooting of Dan McGrew.
Following a motion of no-confidence in Canada’s Liberal government in 1974, Trudeau Sr successfully sought re-election, aided on the campaign trail by his wife, young son, not yet 3, and his 1-year-old brother, Sacha. A third brother, Michel, would arrive in 1975.
Life as a young Trudeau was nothing if not worldly. Before his marriage in 1971, his father had dated Barbra Streisand, and when he took power in 1968, was described by the Vancouver Sun as a "swinging young bachelor".
His mother, Margaret Sinclair, 30 years younger than Pierre and something of a jet-setting flower child, made repeated appearances in the press for behaviour deemed inappropriate for the wife of a prime minister. Clearly incompatible, the couple’s separation in 1977, followed by divorce in 1984, seemed inevitable.
The children stayed with their father and, despite the demands of his day job, "Papa" – father and sons always spoke French together – was "an engaged, hands-on father [who] introduced us to almost every physical activity available", Trudeau Jr recalled in his 2014 autobiography, Common Ground.
Trudeau Sr, an active outdoors man until near the end of his life, taught his three sons to sail, swim, climb, canoe, ski and – as Brazeau would later discover to his cost – to box. He also taught his future political heir some important life lessons.
By about the age of 8, Trudeau Jr had begun to think of his father as “the boss of Canada”. But in 1979, when the Liberals lost the federal election and the family had to move out of 24 Sussex Drive, he “understood that the real boss of Canada was the Canadian people”.
They weren’t gone long – his father returned to power in 1980. But in 1984, realising his waning popularity was threatening his party’s grip on power, Trudeau Sr decided to retire.
The three brothers left the capital, where they had spent their childhoods, and moved with their father to his home city of Montreal, where the 13-year-old Trudeau Jr was enrolled in Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, his father’s old school.
It was character-building stuff. He discovered that while Ottawa and Montreal were only two hours apart by car, “the culture gap between the two cities was closer in distance to a light-year”.
At school, he was teased about his mother’s appearances in the media. At Brébeuf, he would later write, he learnt “not to give people the emotional response they are looking for when they attack personally.”
He also determined that he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps, either as a lawyer or a politician – and despite Nixon’s prediction, for many years it seemed that would be the case.
After Brébeuf, he pursued a career as a schoolteacher, graduating from McGill University with a degree in English literature in 1994, and via a spell as a snowboard instructor, with a teaching degree from the University of British Columbia in 1998. He spent the next four years teaching subjects including drama, French and English to pupils at two schools in Vancouver – one public, the other private.
In November 1998, Trudeau’s brother Michel, 23, was killed in an avalanche while skiing in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. It was an experience that reinforced his religious beliefs.
Further grief followed in 2000 when, after a brief battle with Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer, his father died.
It was a watershed moment for Trudeau. His remark during his moving eulogy at the state funeral that “this is not the end … It’s all up to us, all of us, now” was interpreted by one commentator as “the first manifestation of a dynasty”.
In 2005, he married Sophie Grégoire, a Quebec TV and radio host. Their son, Xavier, was born in 2007 on October 18, Trudeau Sr’s birthday. A daughter, Ella-Grace, followed in 2009, and was joined last year by another brother, Hadrien.
In 2007, after an unsuccessful two-year attempt to reinvent himself as an engineer, Trudeau bowed to the seemingly inevitable. The turning point was the Liberal Party’s 2006 leadership convention in Montreal, which Trudeau attended and found invigorating.
“Until that point,” he wrote in his autobiography, “I was not yet convinced that I was interested in a career in politics.”
The example of his mother had warned him of “the incredible personal costs to a politician’s life”. He was also wary of following in his father’s footsteps, which he feared might be interpreted as “harbouring the notion that as the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, I somehow deserved a role based on that qualification alone”.
Yet the response he received from party members at the convention “surprised and enthused” him, and the experience taught him that “I had political skills independent of my last name”.
That year, against some strong party opposition, he sought and won the nomination for the Montreal riding, or constituency, of Papineau, a former Liberal stronghold that had fallen to the Bloc Québécois party in 2006. In the federal election of 2008, he recaptured the seat for the Liberals by a narrow margin.
In 2009, Trudeau dismissed suggestions that he should run for the leadership of the party. But he thought again after the Liberals suffered a massive defeat in May 2011, reduced to 34 seats and third-party status from a high of 172 seats in 2000.
The party, he concluded, had spent a decade in power “focused on itself rather than on the Canadians who supported it” and, as a result, Canadians had given the party “the drubbing it had earned”.
It was while considering his options that the idea of the charity bout with Brazeau surfaced. A keen boxer since his youth, Trudeau saw the political capital it might earn him. Friends or colleagues thought it wasn’t a good idea, but “when I signed on”, he later recalled, “the party was still reeling, and hurting”. Trudeau recruited a top trainer and trained hard for six months. He beat Brazeau “because I had a better team behind me, I had a better plan, and I had trained harder to make that plan reality”.
Fresh from his victory, Trudeau, driven by a growing conviction that Canada deserved a better government than that of the Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, was now thinking seriously about fighting for the leadership of his party. In July 2012, he finally took the plunge.
On Monday, 47 years after his father first came to power, the Liberals were back, ending nine years of Conservative rule with a crushing defeat. “This,” Trudeau told his supporters, “is what positive politics can do.”
It was a tough fight, with the Conservatives dismissing Trudeau in campaign ads as “just not ready”, but the Liberals’ knockout comeback won 184 seats to the Conservatives’ 99.
At 43, Canada’s 23rd prime minister will be the second-youngest to take office, and the first to follow a parent into office. Next month, when he takes office, Trudeau will set about delivering the Liberal vision that has so dramatically re-energised a nation. The Trudeaus, and Trudeaumania, are back.
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
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BLACKBERRY
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Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Leading all-time NBA scorers
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
