SRINAGAR, INDIA// The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, begins his tour of Jammu and Kashmir today in an effort to rope in those "who are outside the political mainstream, provided they shun violence" and jump start peace talks.
He will encounter a furore, however, over accusations that youths were killed in gunfights staged by the Indian army in April, an addition to a long list of allegations of human rights abuse in the restive region. The incident has led to daily protests, which often turn violent. Scores of protesters and police have been injured.
Hours before the prime minister's arrival in Srinagar, the Indian army announced it had relieved a colonel of his command and suspended a major for their alleged involvement in the April 30 staging of the gunfight near the Line of Control.
Omar Abdullah, who as Kashmir's chief minister is its top elected official, said the prime minister would not hold direct talks with the separatist leadership but hoped that Mr Singh's two-day visit to the summer capital "will help rejuvenate the internal dialogue process".
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, an influential politician and top cleric as well as a moderate face among the separatists, said there was no room for peace talks as long as the army could kill with impunity. "Talks and genocide can't go together," he said in an interview.
Before the army scandal, Mr Mirwaiz had said he was not averse to resuming talks with New Delhi "provided it is serious in seeking a solution to the core issue of Kashmir and the dialogue ought to be result-oriented".
He also suggested that the Indian government should first take confidence-building measures such as moving troops away from populated areas, putting an end to human rights violations and unconditionally releasing political prisoners.
Mr Singh had apparently set the ball rolling by trying to arrange a meeting with separatists, but the killings seem to have wiped out any hope for that happening.
On May 28, Kashmiri police exhumed the bodies of the three victims after investigations alleged that the boys were lured to the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan, by the promise of employment and were then shot dead. The army had orginally claimed that the youth were terrorists, fuelling speculation that army officials involved were seeking cash rewards and promotions for the killings, which occurred in April.
Mr Abdullah said army officials have assured him that they will co-operate in investigations of human right violations, if there is evidence. But that promise has failed to satify a large section of people before the prime minister's visit.
A member of the state's legislative assembly, SA Rasheed, has filed a complaint to the state's Human Rights Commission seeking arrest and punishment of the army men involved in the shooting and has sought permission from the Srinagar district magistrate to hold a peaceful protest during Mr Singh's visit. His petition for the protest was denied, but he has pledged to go ahead with one anyway.
Various pro-independence groups have called for a general strike during Mr Singh's visit.
The National Conference Congress, the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, said that Mr Singh's wish to seek talks with those outside the political mainstream is "appropriate", and the opposition People's Democratic Party urged separatist political parties to "grab the opportunity to present their viewpoint in resolving the Kashmir issue".
But it is unlikely that Mr Singh's presence in Srinagar will work any miracles, according to observers.
"Kashmiris have become sceptical. On account of their previous engagements with the Indian state, this time we see even the moderates are shying away. They have said that there is no sense in talking while people continue to be slain," said Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a professor of human rights at the University of Kashmir.
"It is a loss and I'm afraid it would now rather be like being at the wrong place at the wrong time," said a local leader of India's ruling Congress Party, on the condition of anonymity.
New Delhi continues to be hopeful. Mr Abdullah told a gathering of government employees in Srinagar on Friday that "dialogue is the only way forward to resolve issues".
"I've time and again maintained that the state government would actively facilitate the internal and external dialogue processes to help restore permanent peace and address political issues," he said.
GK Pillai, the Indian home secretary, said Mr Singh's visit to Srinagar is a continuation of the Kashmir dialogue process and of paramount importance. He also claimed that "quiet diplomacy" on Kashmir initiated by the interior minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, "is working well and yielding results".
No one in Srinagar or New Delhi admits to actually being involved in "quiet diplomacy" in Kashmir, and Mr Umar, who is believed to be part of that process, denied any progress is being made.
"I've said it before and I'm reiterating it today that I'm nowhere involved in the so-called backdoor negotiations.
"How could I go for a sell-out? They are shedding the blood of our innocent youth for cash rewards and higher ranks. Do you expect me to close my eyes to that?"
@Email:foreign.desk@thenational.ae
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
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)
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
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
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
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.”
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
