Outside the snow was falling as a chill had set in across Munich. The restaurant was warm and snug. The sort of place that offers a generous welcome for all who come through the door.
A buzz went round the room. Ursula von der Leyen, the defence minister and stalwart of Angela Merkel's cabinet, had chosen the modest venue for dinner.
In the long reign of the German chancellor, ultra-loyal figures such as Mrs von der Leyen have prospered. Close-up it is clear the defence minister is now on manoeuvres for her own shot at the top job.
Despite the tumultuous events of Mrs Merkel's era, the German leader had the knack of absolute calm. Two delegates at a Munich security conference held this weekend were overheard discussing when they had last met on a German election campaign trail. Was it 2007 or 2009, neither were immediately sure. What was certain was the outcome: Mrs Merkel had won.
The German leader will soon enter into a coalition government in which her Christian Democratic Union will hold just six of the 15 cabinet seats. That concession alone has finished her career. Like much of the rest of Europe, German has a transitional government. An added downside is that no one knows if the end will come swiftly or linger for years.
What is sure is the real world consequences. There is an open effort to regroup by her party colleagues.
While the Chancellor is silent, Mrs von der Leyen has stepped into an emerging trans-Atlantic row over the EU setting up its own defence force.
Washington has condemned the move. Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, was also in Munich and retorted the EU cannot feasibly hope to defend Europe. The continent's largest defence force is leaving as Britain exits the block.
Mrs von der Leyen faces her own credibility issues on the matter. The German army has been so starved of funds under her tenure, it can barely operate outside the country’s borders. Yet she has become a proponent of the European build up.
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Read more from Damien McElroy
Fake news? A better term would be a multi-headed hydra of deceit
Concerted efforts to constrain the Muslim Brotherhood are overdue but welcome
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There is no doubt that if Mrs Merkel was a strong leader that the emerging row with the US would not happening. Put it another way. The German chancellor kept a lid on the issue but now lacks the ability to do so.
The sense of entering uncharted waters is pervasive. Mrs Merkel’s party is the largest in parliament but will serve as a minority even within the new coalition.
Another rising star in the Christian Democrats, Jens Spahn has started touring the grassroots making speeches about how the Christian Democrats must seen to shape German culture. The concept of Leitkultur is designed to respond to fears of "multikulti" or that multiple cultures displace the German way of life.
In the cautious way of German politics, he has proposed that schools introduce civic lessons. These “decency, virtues, values” lessons would cohere to a unifying national concept.
The arrival of more than one million people in a wave from the Middle East after 2015 remains the elephant in the room. Shaping the impact of the new refugee population has obvious dangers.
The renewal of the grand coalition with the Social Democrats heightens the risk that the voters view the next government as the dead centre of politics.
The general election in September provided guidance that Germans were preparing for a splintering of German politics. Not only did the far-right Alternative for Germany enter parliament but the radical liberal Free Democrats returned in a new non-centrist guise.
Careerism is no longer a guarantee of success anywhere in German politics. Young activists in the Social Democrats have risen up against the proposed third grand coalition and could yet scupper the bargain.
As with the EU-Nato row, Mrs Merkel can only offer to keep a lid on shifts in the political agenda.
The lingering presence of Mrs Merkel has obvious consequences for the broader direction of Europe. To Emmanuel Macron falls the crown. The long-held Parisian ideal of a German Social Democrat government led by Mrs Merkel looks set to be his plaything.
Time will elapse quickly. It is possible that Mr Macron will be able to capitalise on a more integrationist European agenda. It is also possible that whatever happens in Germany, European voters will continue to frustrate such grand visions. Watch the elections in Italy next month for a radical shake-up that has Rome unable to go along with Paris.
Look no further than Brexit for Mrs Merkel’s loss of potency. Mr Macron has the luxury of holding out for what ever he can get from the ruins of the process. London is so desperate it would take an Angela deal in a heartbeat. Tellingly she temporises, claiming confusion over what the British really want.
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
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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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
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
