"All Islamist terrorists are Muslim, and terrorism is our first enemy today, so why don't we judge people on the basis of their religion?" This is just a snippet from the load of offensive statements typical of the New York Republican congressman Peter King, according to Aisha Abdullah Tareem in the comment section of the UAE newspaper Al Khaleej.
"A member of the national security commission, King has been using the theme of terrorism to unleash his hatred for Islam." He even criticised the Obama administration for not using the word "terrorism" enough. In 2008 he called for the boycott of an advertising campaign on "Islamic awakening" meant to inform people about various aspects of Islam.
After the failed attempt to blow up a Northwest Detroit-bound airplane last December, Mr King predictably endorsed the decision to reinforce security measures in US airports. But what caused a major shock in the ranks of the American Muslim community was Mr King's statements during a radio broadcast when he proposed a special law to scan Muslims only, including a full-body X-ray for whoever bears a Middle Eastern name.
Mr King has many followers who are trying to talk him into running for president in 2012. If he wins, that would be the ultimate affront to Muslims the world over.
The US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has scolded China for its restrictions on the use of the search engine Google and declared the US commitment to defend freedom of speech in cyberspace, wrote Tariq al Homayed, the editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al Awsat.
Given that the US congress is currently pushing for a decision to ban Arab satellite channels that allegedly foment terrorism, one has a hard time making sense of this freedom that the US secretary of state is talking about. "Aren't the internet and satellite channels means of communication and expression that ought to be equally free?"
During the post-election riots in Iran, Mrs Clinton considered as "a bill of indictment against the Iranian regime" the pictures circulated on the internet of the murdered girl, Neda, who bled to death after being hit by bullets from the Iranian security forces. The US labels the broadcasting of material calling for resistance against the wrongs of the Israeli occupation as incitement to terror.
"This is a real predicament for the US administration. It sticks up for free speech on the web but urges Arabs to shut down satellite channels that are purportedly inciting terrorism. Where exactly is the line drawn between freedom in TV space and cyberspace? And who can define 'freedom' and 'incitement' in today's super-tangled world?"
France is keenly interested these days in issues related to Islamic attire such as the hijab, the niqab and the Afghan burqa, wrote Mohammed S al Abboudi in the Emirati newspaper Al Bayan.
It is only a matter of days before the French parliament passes a law banning the Afghan burqa, an all-body garment that Afghan women have worn since time immemorial to cover themselves when they go outside. This article of clothing has become like any other national dress: the dishdasha, the abaya, the western suit, the Moroccan caftan, the Japanese kimono, the Hindi sari or the Scottish tartan.
In fact, this war of fashion - which excludes the chic European necktie or the essentially-worn-by-nuns headscarf that Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe used to sport or any other item worn by European men and women - actually started 20 years ago in France when a conflict over the hijab worn by some Moroccan girls at school topped the headlines.
The ban on the Afghan burqa will not, however, be effective only within government schools, but throughout the French territories because, according to parliamentarians, it goes against the republic's motto: liberté, égalité, fraternité.
"It's a fashion war after all, but would Arabs and Muslims, who are keenest on French clothes, ever retaliate?"
Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi, the prominent Egyptian cleric and president of the international association of Muslim scholars, has been targeted by an intense media campaign conducted by parties from within the Arab world over the past few days because he has condemned the steel wall that the Egyptian authorities are building on the border with Gaza, commented Abdelbari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of the London-based newspaper Al Quds al Arabi.
The main accusation levelled at Sheikh al Qaradawi is that he is politicising religion. His detractors seem to want him to "either stay within the confines of his little mosque, unconcerned by the Israeli carnage in Gaza and the chaos in Iraq or indeed get involved in politics. He is only to put his seal on all government decisions and sanction the blockade on Gaza."
"Yes, we are in favour of the separation between religion and politics, but only when there are political leaders who want to see their nations move towards a more prosperous and dignified future."
* Digest compiled by Achraf A Elbahi
aelbahi@thenational.ae
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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.
LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Company%20Profile
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What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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SPECS
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SPEC%20SHEET
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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.”
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The%20specs
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5