That the Winter Olympics are showcasing hopes for peace and amity in the world is exactly as it should be. The two Koreas' rapprochement – limited though it may prove to be – has turned Pyeongchang into the unity games, with even the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un describing it as "a warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue". That is no easy feat, considering toe-curling displays of American displeasure at the two Koreas' attempt to bridge a 70-year divide. US vice president Mike Pence reportedly said the Trump administration wants the warming of relations with North Korea to end when the Olympic flame is extinguished. After he left Pyeongchang though, Mr Pence indicated the US could be open to a twin-track approach towards North Korea of "maximum pressure and engagement at the same time".
American curmudgeonly attitudes aside, the state of blissful serenity is likely to continue at least until the third week of March, when the Paralympics conclude and the North Korean athletes leave the snowy climes of Pyeongchang to go home. Then the postponed US-South Korea joint military exercises may resume; Pyongyang, in a fit of pique, might lapse back into muttered imprecations and bouts of nuclear missile testing and US president Donald Trump will have much to fulminate about on Twitter.
But any return to scary business as usual will not entirely cancel out the fleeting warmth of the interactions in wintry Pyeongchang. There is a basic logic in reaching out to communicate with each other across geopolitical chasms. The effort affirms the basic human need to connect, which can prevent war, bloodshed and much suffering. There is a magic in public comity, however cynical its intent and however brief the spell it casts. It is a reminder of the wonders of our shared humanity. For six weeks, we are allowed to take the role of the little boy in the children's film The Snowman. During the Pyeongchang games, in the words of The Snowman's theme song, we will be metaphorically "walking in the air, dancing in the midnight sky and everyone who sees us greets us as we fly".
For the spectacle of Olympic unity on the divided Korean peninsula is intermittent but intense. During the 1,500-metre short track speed skating elimination heats, for example, South and North Koreans alike lustily cheered on the only North Korean in the race, 25-year-old Choe Un Song. He eventually failed to qualify but it was a reminder that in sport at least, Korean is Korean, whether it is the North or South.
There was the unified Korean women’s ice hockey team, which lost to Switzerland but overwhelmingly won gold as a symbol of hope-in-harmony. There was the blue-on-white flag carried at the opening ceremony by the temporarily united delegations from both Koreas. Arirang, a much-loved folk song known to all Koreans, is serving as a national anthem at Pyeongchang. As a song that expresses a shared identity, it is the classic anthem, an organic patriotic hymn for a riven people. And finally, there was the much-hyped visit to Pyeongchang’s opening ceremony by North Korea’s very own political princess, Kim Yo-jong. The millennial sister of the North Korean leader, Ms Kim was the first immediate member of her country’s ruling family to set foot in South Korea since the 1950-3 Korean war.
Realists and international relations pundits and players have been quick to pick on the obvious schmaltz and shameless posturing of North Korea's overtures. Before the Games, the Trump White House slammed the attempt to "hijack" them with a propaganda campaign. Mr Pence glowered in Pyeongchang and pointedly failed to cheer the unified Korean Olympic team.
But if symbolism can be said to stand for something, North Korea’s initiatives should at least be taken as they are meant – a tactical move to ensure survival for Mr Kim’s regime and for the country. Perhaps Mr Trump was not particularly discerning when he tweeted in September that “rocket man”, aka Mr Kim, “is on a suicide mission”. The Pyeongchang Games and Mr Kim’s transparent pursuit of engagement suggest quite the reverse. Perhaps it might be still possible to sprinkle around some “diplomatic fairy dust”, as one American newspaper put it.
Of course, there are larger issues at stake, not least nuclear non-proliferation. Until Mr Pence’s concession as he left Pyeongchang of possible direct talks without preconditions, the US insisted that Olympic love-fests or not, there could no real thaw and certainly no negotiation unless North Korea abandons its missile programme.
It is a fine aspiration and would be so much stronger if the US was setting an example and assiduously working towards a nuclear-free world. Former president Barack Obama declared this as a goal in 2009 but the Trump administration recently revealed plans to develop smaller, more “usable” nuclear weapons and to loosen constraints on their use.
The game of nuclear point-scoring will continue long after the alpine skiing, men’s singles luge and curling mixed doubles (a first for the Winter Olympics) are over at Pyeongchang.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
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.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
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)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
SHAITTAN
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
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