New York's King, or the rebirth of racism


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"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

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

SPECS
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Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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Bharat

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Honeymoonish
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Opening weekend Premier League fixtures

Weekend of August 10-13

Arsenal v Manchester City

Bournemouth v Cardiff City

Fulham v Crystal Palace

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea

Liverpool v West Ham United

Manchester United v Leicester City

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton v Burnley

Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

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

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

Results

5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m

Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)

6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m

Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar

7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m

Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m

Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters

Student Of The Year 2

Director: Punit Malhotra

Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal 

1.5 stars

At Eternity’s Gate

Director: Julian Schnabel

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen

Three stars

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now