German political analysts have a joke with a punchline that seems particularly apt right now: politics is a game played by various people and in the end Angela Merkel wins.
The chancellor's firm grip on Europe's strongest economy held true yesterday as her favoured successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, prevailed in a party leadership vote.
It is now much more likely that Ms Merkel will be able to stay in power until 2021.
It was an important and rare example of centrist politics holding in a continent that, according to Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, has, in an instant, gone from being the world’s most stable region to “anything but” reliable.
The citizens of Europe's biggest countries are angry. The French are besieging Emmanuel Macron's reformist government. The British are so divided, the country still cannot decide how best to trade with its closest partners in Europe when it exits the EU in less than four months. Italy's populist leaders, meanwhile, have accused the EU of "economic terrorism" in a row over its budgetary plans.
Germany is curiously implacable in the face of so much angst. At the Hamburg convention centre last week, the largely middle-aged, middle-class Christian Democratic Union party was untroubled by any protest movement. The arena’s biggest draw for crowds was not political but an adjacent trade fair for gems dealers from across the world.
It was possible to observe, on one side of the road, dazzling displays and on the other, a slow-burning political drama playing out to an inevitable outcome.
Glittering or not, the conference events mean Ms Merkel is now in a position to secure a legacy on her own terms. That matters in relation to Europe's place in the world. Her past unflappable form suggests she will not be easily distracted by domestic crises.
Having weathered the global financial collapse after 2008, the subsequent eurozone dramas and the recent backlash against migration, Ms Merkel sees herself as a bulwark against impetuous initiatives.
Instead, she is the voice of reliability and reason for Brussels as it tries to contain the challenges it faces.
For French President Emmanuel Macron, this poses a problem to his own credibility. He is pushing for an overhaul of the EU, with a proposal that the largest economies have a greater share of liabilities and resources. Ms Merkel has responded with her own proposals for reform, which involve combining the defence capabilities of member states and building a common investment reserve.
Without a takeaway legacy from the EU, Mr Macron is simply another French president following in his predecessors’ footsteps, antagonising citizens by threatening pension and tax regulations. As increasingly disturbing images demonstrate – among them French schoolchildren being teargassed by riot police in the escalating violence over fuel price increases – the task of leading France is a thorny challenge and one where Mr Macron seems to be losing control.
Whatever his current troubles, the French president can see some hope on the horizon from the outcome in Hamburg.
More feisty than she might appear, Mrs Kramp-Karrenbauer comes from a completely different cultural background than Mrs Merkel, who was born in Hamburg but raised behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany. The new leader hails from a rust belt steel town near the border with France and 700 kilometres from Berlin. She is still spotted in the shops of Puttlingen, which has been alternatively German and French over the centuries.
Like Ms Merkel, she was born in the wake of the European Coal and Steel Community, a post-Second World War concept hatched by six countries, including Germany and France, to regulate industrialised production and develop a core European economic area. It served as a predecessor to the EU.
With the clock ticking on Mrs Merkel’s departure, Mrs Kramp-Karrenbauer will no doubt be focusing on a functioning and stable European administration in Brussels as a priority, however. Despite her affinity with the French, it is doubtful the new party leader will want to push her mentor into doing Mr Macron’s bidding.
Germany is so subsumed by Europe, the Berlin bureaucracy acts seamlessly as a backstop for the Brussels machine when the pressure grows too strong.
Expectations that European leaders will now make a dramatic push to tie a central core of states into one integrated defence, financial and political space are thus likely to be disappointed.
To retain any hopes for his futuristic ambitions, a more mature Mr Macron must first secure a second term, also in 2021.
As a footnote, there is an unhappy precedent for Mrs Kramp-Karrenbauer. The last CDU leader to win a contested election, as she has, was Ranier Barzel, who was never chancellor but held the post from 1971 to 1973.
A now forgotten figure, he was replaced by the man he first beat, Helmut Kohl. The circumstances remain murky but it was a turning point in German history.
Developments in Hamburg provide some respite for the European project – but they are far from decisive.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
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%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
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
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
