When it comes to foreign election interference, the US has historically been the one to tamper rather than be tampered with. AP
When it comes to foreign election interference, the US has historically been the one to tamper rather than be tampered with. AP
When it comes to foreign election interference, the US has historically been the one to tamper rather than be tampered with. AP
When it comes to foreign election interference, the US has historically been the one to tamper rather than be tampered with. AP

News

US

How Iran, Russia and other nations try to influence US elections

American democracy facing 'existential crisis' in 2024, which foreign agencies are happy to exploit

Sara Ruthven
Sara Ruthven
Washington

August 21, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

The FBI and other US intelligence agencies this week officially blamed Iran for a recent hack on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, which prompted fears of attempts by foreign actors to influence the November elections.

“Iran has … demonstrated a long-standing interest in exploiting societal tensions through various means, including through the use of cyber operations to attempt to gain access to sensitive information related to US elections,” the agencies said in a statement.

Tehran has denied involvement.

When it comes to foreign interference, the US has historically been the one to tamper rather than be tampered with: from assassinations to covert advertising campaigns, the US has frequently tried to influence political outcomes in countries around the world.

But foreign actors have become increasingly involved in trying to influence US elections – and this year is no different.

An Iranian hack job?

“Iran has always been a significant actor on the stage,” Philip Lieberman, founder and president of Analog Informatics and a noted cybersecurity expert, told The National.

“There have been public examples of them exerting their capabilities worldwide on anybody that displeases them. They're competent at this.

"The thing is that the tools themselves for doing these attacks are available on the dark net and are readily available to anybody with money.”

Under Mr Trump's administration in January 2020, the US carried out a strike in Baghdad that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force leader Qassem Suleimani. Iran has vowed revenge, but insisted it will pursue justice through legal action.

After the hack of his campaign, Mr Trump blamed Iran but claimed that the hackers had stolen only “publicly available information” from “one of our many websites”. It is still unclear what documents were taken.

Although the FBI has declared Iran responsible for the hack, there is not much that can be done in terms of punishing the attackers.

“Even if they investigate it and the criminal is offshore, they don't have the ability to reach out and deal with it, and so it begins to drop into the State Department's purview, depending on the size of it, of the incursion and its political implications,” Mr Lieberman told The National.

“There's a certain fundamental under US law: a citizen cannot take action against their attacker, because that would be a declaration of war – and in fact, warfare against another country.

"So the FBI becomes the spokesperson for the nature of the attack and its implications, and briefs the president as to what action they believe should be taken.”

US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned of Iranian attempts to influence elections.

“Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their efforts, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions, as we have seen them do in prior election cycles,” Avril Haines, director of National Intelligence, told a Senate hearing this year.

US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned of Iranian attempts to influence elections. PA
US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned of Iranian attempts to influence elections. PA

“They continue to adapt their cyber and influence activities, using social media platforms, issuing threats and disseminating disinformation. It is likely they will continue to rely on their intelligence services in these efforts and Iran-based online influencers to promote their narratives.”

The lies that blind

But high-stakes hacks of political campaigns is only part of a much bigger picture.

Foreign actors looking to influence US elections aim to “pollute the environment” so Americans can be confused about matters ranging from how to submit mail-in ballots to politicians' connections with shadowy organisations intent on world domination.

While everyone is susceptible to disinformation, people on the extreme ends of the political spectrum are more likely to buy into false information, be it intentionally false (disinformation) or unintentionally (misinformation).

And the issues of 2024 are much more significant that those of previous elections.

Sarah Oates, a professor at the University of Maryland whose current research focuses on Russian political influence in the US, told The National that many voters have come to feel “unmoored” when it comes to getting reliable information.

“Politicians lie all the time,” Ms Oates said. "Trump was quite extraordinary in that he deliberately uses disinformation as part of his political process and he was sort of the first US president to do that.”

She said Mr Trump's essential undermining of several US institutions, including the media, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention during the Covid-19 pandemic and more recently the Justice Department, has affected how Americans view the validity of information.

And foreign actors looking to influence elections are taking advantage of this atmosphere of uncertainty.

Marek Posard, as sociologist at the Rand Corporation, a Washington-based think tank, told The National that because the “cost of entry” is so low, many countries and actors engage in election influence operations.

“There are certain issues surrounding contentious topics that they can amplify and twist, and the issue is, it's hard to figure out who's doing it,” Mr Posard said.

Ms Oates, author of the book Seeing Red: Russian Propaganda and American News, said: “We're not really dealing with electoral disinformation or propaganda in the normal way in 2024.

“We're actually dealing with an existential crisis about democracy … 2024 is not about who wins or loses, it's about whether the system holds together.”

Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division. All photos: US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division. All photos: US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division
Foreign actors aim to exploit and amplify existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division

Democratising the undermining of democracy

Disinformation can be spread in a variety of ways – through videos, news articles and social media posts.

“Social media is essentially the cheap pipeline to do this, in any way,” Mr Posard said. “We've democratised the undermining of democracy with social media, so you can pump out targeted content and lots of different ways on lots of different mediums simultaneously.”

Foreign actors aim to exploit existing fault lines in American society – such as race and foreign policy – to cause greater division.

The aim, Mr Posard said, is to increase divisions and “muddy the waters” to drive people to extremes.

Mr Posard was part of a team analysing the threat of foreign election interference in the 2020 race to become California's governor.

“We found pretty convincing evidence, for example, that Russia was targeting both the right and the left simultaneously, and so they would try to get on both sides of the aisle,” he said.

But it is hard to ignore highly influential people who are either intentionally using disinformation or have been duped into spreading it.

Ms Oates says that some politicians – especially Trump-supporting Republicans – are repeating and amplifying Russian talking points, especially with regard to Ukraine.

“Russia has these grand narratives … that they want to push out in the world,” she said– one of them being that Nato is “out to destroy Russia”.

“I think [President Vladimir] Putin and the Russians are just gleeful at the way in which Trump has become a conduit for their propaganda right into the heart of American politics.”

Mr Lieberman said that “it is war all the time” in the cyber world – and all governments are involved.

“All governments influence all elections in all other countries in the cyber realm, that's just reality,” he said.

“All countries use their cyber tools in order to promote their agendas. And that's always been the case. The issue is to what degree and how effective they are.”

He said they are generally not all that effective – “but generally speaking, it's ubiquitous”.

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

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15

Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered

UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered

Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered

Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered

Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered

Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered

THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

PSL FINAL

Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
NEW%20UTILITY%20POLICY%3A%20WHAT%20DOES%20IT%20REGULATE%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Agreements%20on%20energy%20and%20water%20supply%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Applied%20service%20fees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20data%20and%20information%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Prohibition%20of%20service%20disconnections%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20complaint%20process%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Management%20of%20debts%20and%20customers%20in%20default%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Services%20provided%20to%20people%20of%20determination%20and%20home%20care%20customers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Znap%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarted%3A%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Uday%20Rathod%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%241m%2B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EInvestors%3A%20Family%2C%20friends%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fixtures

Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA

Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland

Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland

Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA

Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland

Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland

Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free

RACE RESULTS

1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps

More on Yemen's civil war
Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE

Looking for a new family pet? Here are the links to visit when it comes to adopting... 

Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi

Rescue of Abu Dhabi

Feline Friends Abu Dhabi

Adopt-a-Cat UAE

Naema's Kittys 

Jackie's Cats UAE

Animal Action UAE

Animal Welfare Al Ain

Yanni Animal Welfare

Animals and Us Fujairah

Arabian Saluki Center of Dubai (Ascod)

38 Smiles

Emirates Animal Welfare Society

Red Paw Foundation 

KittySnip

Saluki International Rescue

K9 Friends Dubai 

Amanda's Animal Rescue UAE

Ahmed's Animal Rescue

Al Mayya K9 Adoptions 

New Life Rescue

Rescue Animals in Need United Arab Emirates

Stray Dogs Center UAQ

Sniff - Strays Needing Interim of Furever Friends

PARA UAE - Protection of Animal Rights Association

Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre

Shepherd Rescue Arabia

Friends of Rakawc 

UAQAC Umm Al Quwain Animal Care

Tomorrow 2021
More on Quran memorisation:
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Ticket prices
  • Golden circle - Dh995
  • Floor Standing - Dh495
  • Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
  • Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
  • Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
  • Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
  • Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
  • Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The biog

Age: 59

From: Giza Governorate, Egypt

Family: A daughter, two sons and wife

Favourite tree: Ghaf

Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense 

Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How%20champions%20are%20made
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%20Baniyas%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(PA)%20Dh97%2C500%20(Dirt)%201%2C400m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Alajaj%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%20(jockey)%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%20(trainer)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.35pm%3A%20The%20Pointe%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C200m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Awasef%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%2C%20Doug%20Watson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.10pm%3A%20Palm%20West%20Beach%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C400m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Long%20Kiss%2C%20Jose%20da%20Silva%2C%20Antonio%20Cintra%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.45pm%3A%20The%20View%20at%20the%20Palm%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh87%2C500%20(D)%201%2C200m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Ranaan%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Bhupat%20Seemar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.20pm%3A%20Nakheel%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh105%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Raaeb%2C%20Antonio%20Fresu%2C%20Musabah%20Al%20Muhairi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.55pm%3A%20The%20Club%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh95%2C000%20(D)%201%2C900m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Qareeb%2C%20Sam%20Hitchcock%2C%20Doug%20Watson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E9.30pm%3A%20Palm%20Beach%20Towers%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh87%2C500%20(D)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Falsehood%2C%20Adrie%20de%20Vries%2C%20Musabah%20Al%20Muhairi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

More from Colin Randall
Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

While you're here
Updated: August 23, 2024, 9:09 PM
US election 2024RussiaIranChina