When the British political comedian Mark Thomas announced he was publishing a book about rambling, it's likely many of his fans were a bit bemused. After all, this was a comic - or "libertarian anarchist" as he sometimes calls himself - who once persuaded an Indonesian military chief to admit to torture on camera by posing as a public relations agency representing dictatorships. Over the past few years, Thomas has tied himself to a bus taking arms dealers to a weapons fair, put a bounty on the head of George W Bush, and been added to the Guinness World Records for attending more demonstrations in one day (20 protests in 20 different locations). Rambling seemed a bit on the mild side.
But Thomas's walking tour wasn't your average affair. It was in the West Bank, following Israel's illegal separation barrier from one end to the other, a hike that would involve tear gas, demonstrations and a whole lot of military checkpoints. A controversial wall dividing an even more controversial region of the world was definitely Mark Thomas territory (not that it stopped a fellow comedian asking him why he couldn't just stand up and tell a joke, like everyone else in the profession).
"It was a mixture of devilment and curiosity," says Thomas on what first gave him the idea. "Curiosity because I didn't think I knew enough about what was happening there, and there seems to be a lot of liberal fudge where people cringe and say they don't want to talk about it."
So, over eight-and-a-half weeks in 2009, Thomas and his cameraman journeyed the length the wall from the north-easterly tip, where the River Jordan meets the Jordan Valley, to the very bottom. The adventure is described in Extreme Rambling, his book recently published by Ebury.
Working out the logistics for such an expedition didn't involve simply buying an Ordnance Survey map and a compass. Thomas first did a reccy in East Jerusalem, meeting Palestinian groups and Israeli activists and speaking to solicitors, human rights organisations and media fixers. Hotel bookings proved tricky. The first night he slept in a barn, the second in a garage. After a few days he landed in Jenin and visited the Freedom Theatre in the city's refugee camp. Here, Thomas met the theatre's charismatic director Juliano Mer-Khamis (who was tragically murdered by gunmen earlier this year), and he used the theatre for a base for the first section of the ramble.
"We'd set out each morning and go to the wall and then turn and start hiking, eventually hooking up with our translators. Normally, we'd have an interview with someone, and after that we'd start the ramble. But inevitably something would happen, things would occur and we'd be faced with something we hadn't thought of. For the first week it was a real struggle getting from A to B."
Among the incidents he found himself immersed in were the weekly demonstrations at Bil'in, a village near Ramallah that in 2009 forced an order by the Israeli High Court of Justice for the army to reroute the wall, which has swallowed half its land. The army has not adhered to the court order and every Friday, protesters made up of Israeli anarchists, Palestinian youths, scout bands and even people dressed as clowns march to the wall. And almost every time they get forced back by tear gas. Thomas found himself stuck with one of the clowns as the gas canisters landed. "I had to help him up the hill because he had big shoes on."
On his travels he also came across those who have made their living under the lawlessness that the wall brings, including illegal scrap heaps letting out toxic fumes - things that exist because the Israeli army don't care and the Palestinian police won't come near it because of the wall.
He also witnessed the humiliation of Palestinians trying to pass from one side of the wall to the other, usually to access the land that was theirs before it was carved up by the concrete. In one spot he saw people queuing up at the barrier at 2am for its 5am opening simply so they can get to work on time.
One of the most interesting things he noticed was the inconsistency of the wall, put up supposedly for security reasons. "In the south, there are bits where it isn't finished, where we actually managed to sneak across a few times," he says, adding that he met many who crossed illegally all the time. "So there's a paradox here with the idea that this stops suicide bombers."
Naturally, in a land littered with military checkpoints, Thomas got stopped rather a lot of times, which helped him perfect his technique of dealing with the inevitable questions regarding his motives. "I just used to say that we were making a book about rambling, which is true. After a while the army would ask: 'Is it just about walking? Are you talking to people too?'"
Another major disruption to Thomas's schedule proved to be the endless rounds of coffee and tea laid on by locals in the West Bank, something he calls the "Palestinian roadblock". Because of this hospitality he says he actually went home having put weight on.
Despite admitting that optimism isn't "in big supply", Thomas is clear about how the situation should end. "Without doubt, the wall has to come down and the occupation has to end. This wall is a brutal extension of the occupation and is an evil and humiliating thing." He points to the growing boycott movement, plus the non-violent community groups and Israeli activists as positive tools to that end.
As for Thomas, he might not be hanging up his politically minded boots just yet. In fact, with rambling and conflict he might just have found himself a subject worth exploring further. "When I got back home I got a call from a friend asking, 'What are you doing next?' I think there's something going on in Burma.'"
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Company%C2%A0profile
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
More from UAE Human Development Report:
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
Pathaan
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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.”
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
SPEC%20SHEET
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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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
