Amber Heard leaves Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. Reuters
Amber Heard leaves Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. Reuters


The legacy of the Depp-Heard trial is divisive and profound



June 03, 2022

What Amber Heard's defeat means for men and women

With reference to Sara Ruthven's report Johnny Depp wins defamation case against Amber Heard (June 2): as a woman, I object to what Amber Heard has done, not only to Johnny Depp but to all women who are victims of domestic violence. Ask any person who has dealt with victims of abuse and they will tell you that no victim ever reacts the same. However, there are certain signs and reactions that are consistently evident. Ms Heard relied on people’s usual response whenever such claims are made. I hope this is the end of the ordeal, but I think she’ll continue to claim Mr Depp got away with it due to his influence and power. He is by no means an angel, but at least he owns up to his mistakes and bad behaviour.

Anzel du Buisson-Spies, Dubai

I would say to Amber Heard that people might curse and say bad things about you. It's OK, stay strong. You will still have many supporters. I am one of them.

Koo Yie, Malaysia

I am glad this process is finally over. Hopefully the saturated news coverage of this circus will end.

Darren Banner, Canada

Remembering Sidhu Moosewala

With reference to Taniya Dutta's article Sidhu Moosewala: Indian pop singer-politician killed in 'inter-gang violence' (May 30): I condemn the killing of one of India's most promising pop stars. An investigation is on and I hope the perpetrators are caught and tried. The Punjab state government has rightly beefed up security for about 400-odd individuals based on their profile and importance. But it is only fair to ask why the government reduced the security personnel for a number of these people, including, unfortunately, Moosewala. It is a sad time for India, given that, shortly after Moosewala's killing, fellow singer "KK" – a household name for at least two decades – died of a heart attack not long after performing at a concert. We should mourn the demise of both these men.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

The US must not make the situation in Ukraine worse

With reference to the report What is Himars and how will the US rocket system affect the Ukraine war? (June 1): this war will continue until Ukraine turns to dust. I fear the US will then walk away, saying that they have liberated Ukraine. History never lies. Look at all the countries supposedly liberated with the help of the US. Are any of them better off?

Wong Noon Kong, Kuala Lumpur

A simple solution to overcoming chaos in British airports

With reference to Damien McElroy and Laura O'Callaghan's report UK travel upheaval caused by airlines selling flights they could not deliver (June 1): this could be solved overnight. Bosses should get in touch with every former employee of the airport and offer them a £5,000 or more tax-free golden handshake to come back immediately. That would get the job done.

Ananda Balan, UK

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.”

MATCH INFO

Southampton 0
Manchester City 1
(Sterling 16')

Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: June 03, 2022, 3:00 AM