OBITUARY: The Aga Khan, who provided aid and development where others did not
Rahim Al Hussaini has been named the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's millions of Ismaili Muslims, following the death of his father this week.
The 53-year-old was designated as the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, in his father's will. His father died on Tuesday in Portugal.
The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community had announced earlier that Prince Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, died surrounded by his family.
Prince Rahim is the eldest son of the former Aga Khan. He was educated in the US, studying comparative literature at Brown University, and has served on the boards of various agencies within the Aga Khan Development Network, the spiritual leader's main philanthropic organisation.
The organisation deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for non-profit development activities.
The Aga Khan Development Network said Prince Rahim took a special interest in its work to fight climate change and protect the environment.
In 1957, the late Aga Khan was made heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili sect. Over decades, Aga Khan IV evolved into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease.
A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West despite – or perhaps because of – his reticence about becoming involved in politics.
A network of hospitals bearing the Aga Khan's name is scattered in places where health care was lacking for the poorest people − including Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Afghanistan − where he spent tens of millions of dollars in developing local economies.
Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia, before also settling in East Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and − more recently − Australia. They consider it a duty to donate up to 12.5 per cent of their income to the Aga Khan as steward.
Shenila Khoja-Moolji, an associate professor at Georgetown University who researches Muslim societies, told Associated Press that Ismailis turn to the Aga Khan in matters of faith and daily life. Prince Rahim has three siblings, two brothers and one sister.
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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
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
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Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
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