The decision by Chinese lawmakers to abolish the two-term presidential limit, paving the way for Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely, is of little surprise. So too is the near unanimity with which the decision passed through the National People's Congress. Just two of the nearly 3,000 delegates voted against the change, with three abstentions and one spoilt ballot. Those expressing genuine surprise cannot have not been closely following Chinese politics; at the Communist Party Congress last October, Mr Xi deviated from tradition when he failed to name a successor, before the party voted to enshrine his name and ideology in the constitution. He now sits on equal footing with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping in the hierarchy of Chinese leaders. Despite the backlash yesterday's decision has caused, it has been a long time coming.
It will not spark the crisis some have predicted. While the two-term rule is less than two decades old, it is the general secretary of the Communist party, not the president, who dominates Chinese politics, setting policy and controlling the military. That position, which has no term limits, is already held by Mr Xi, who is simply aligning the presidency with his party responsibilities. Nor does it necessarily mean that he will rule into his old age, despite the fact that critics in China and elsewhere suggest the move sets a dangerous precedent.
It does, however, afford modern leadership's most precious commodity to Mr Xi: time. But leadership is strenuous, and particularly so in a nation as vast and powerful as China. There are numerous examples – particularly in Africa, where China is ramping up its economic interests – of leaders who over-extended their tenures and fossilised in power. Mr Xi certainly has plenty on his agenda. He is pursuing the One Belt, One Road initiative, a colossal trading network marking the next stage of China's growth story. He is closely monitoring the neighbouring tinderbox of North Korea. Elsewhere, Mr Xi is asserting Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea, readying for a potential Sino-US trade war and supervising an anti-corruption drive that has already punished a million party members. At a time of such flux, a vote for continuity is perhaps not the worst thing.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
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.
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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)
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Company%20Profile
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AIDA%20RETURNS
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