Over the past year, there has been a lot of talk about democracy being in “danger”. The joint US-German Bertelsmann Foundation warns that “democratic decline in the US and Europe is weakening the transatlantic relationship and undermining its influence around the world”. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Sweden concurs, stating that “the bedrocks of democracy are weakening across the globe, with half of countries suffering democratic declines”.
I disagree. I think the facts suggest that democracy is actually in pretty good health around the world. Let’s start with Mr Trump.
A clear majority of American voters expressed their preference for him, and he was duly elected. Last month, Mikheil Kavelashvili became Georgia’s President, after being endorsed by the country’s 300-member College of Electors, despite all the foreign pressure against him and the departing, pro-western president Salome Zourabichvili’s insistence that she was the “only legitimate president”.
South Korea has survived an attempt to impose martial law, and President Yoon Suk Yeol has just been arrested to face charges of insurrection. In Indonesia, at the beginning of last year, Prabowo Subianto won the presidency on his third attempt. As he had also stood once for the vice presidency, no one can suggest that the country’s people did not know what they were going to get; he won nearly 60 per cent of the vote.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained in power after last June’s election, but with a reduced majority. And in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are deeply unpopular, and look likely to be voted out at the next election, which must be held by October.
This is democracy working as it’s supposed to. The will of the people is expressed through the ballot box and is reflected in the results. Processes hold and the constitution prevails, as happened in both Georgia and South Korea.
There may well be a threat to democracy, and indeed to public order and governments of all kinds, from misinformation. But that’s not what those wringing their hands about “democratic backsliding” are talking about. What they mean is: people are voting for parties they don’t like.
They may well be right that a certain form of liberal democratic politics, consisting of parties nominally of the centre-left – but which have often given up on anything historically recognisable as socialism or social democracy – and the mainstream right, is in trouble in large parts of the world. That isn’t surprising given their records in government over the past quarter century.
What have they bequeathed to their peoples? Devastating drops in purchasing power for the middle and working classes. Disastrous wars of choice. Banks unpunished for catastrophic failure during the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. Their leaders celebrate disruption, but that translates to the death of job security for the ordinary people who are told to look forward to the excitement of changing careers in their lifetime; in reality, they may be holding down several jobs just to get by.
The term “populist” is often used as an insult, but it may be that so-called populists of the genuine left and genuine right are just more in tune with what a lot of ordinary people want. Part of that is a feeling that many of the mainstream political parties have lost touch with what used to be considered common sense and have an odd sense of priorities.
For me there is one example that stands for much of this. The UK is still the world’s sixth-largest economy, yet over the past 15 years more and more people have had to go to food banks. According to former prime minister Gordon Brown, the Trussell Trust provided 35 of them in 2010. “With the addition of independent food banks, today’s 2,800 food banks and emergency food suppliers are now as recognisable a feature of the British landscape as the local secondary school,” he wrote last June. “Food banks are opening as fast as high street banks have been closing down.”
I find that absolutely scandalous. The “established” UK political class evidently can tolerate that, however – otherwise they would have made it an urgent priority. But a huge swathe of them can't tolerate anyone not signing up to a gender ideology that old-fashioned feminists decry.
Take that as representative of the disconnect, and it’s clear that when people vote for Mr Trump, or Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, or Georgian Dream, or the left-wing alliance that topped the poll in France’s legislative election last summer, or Indonesia’s Mr Prabowo, they are choosing politicians who they believe are more aligned with their real interests and values. And who is to say they are wrong when, in power, they start a programme to provide free meals to nearly a third of the population that might otherwise go hungry, as Mr Prabowo has done, or attempted an audit of the US Defence Department (for the first time ever), to ensure taxpayers dollars aren’t wasted, as Mr Trump did?
If that constitutes a rejection of an established elite class of politicians who often seem to be enamoured by weird ideologies, are out of touch with the challenges ordinary people face, and whose dismal record does not deserve renewal at the ballot box, then so be it. But that is not democracy in danger. That’s democracy in action.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
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Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• 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.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
The%20specs
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The five pillars of Islam
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Wydad 2 Urawa 3
Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
