CALCUTTA, INDIA // India's communist rebels have warned Hindus against carrying out revenge attacks on Christians, admitting for the second time that they were behind the assassination of a popular Hindu leader over a week ago.
Hindu activists were convinced that local Christians had killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four other Hindu leaders on Aug 23, sparking anti-Christian riots that have seen at least 44 people killed, hundreds of houses and churches destroyed and thousands of people driven from their homes in Kandhamal, eastern Orissa state.
Some 3,000 Christians have also reportedly been forced to convert to Hinduism at "gunpoint".
Maoist rebels, who had earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of Saraswati and the other leaders, warned of severe repercussions if the rioters did not halt their actions.
The Communist Party of India [Maoists], which has a strong base in some districts in Orissa, warned of "more punishments" if activists of the VHP [Viswa Hindu Parishad- World Hindu Council] and its allies continued to attack the country's religious minorities.
"It is a fact Saraswati was a rabid anti-Christian ideologue and persecutor of innocent Christians and was responsible for the burning down of over 400 churches and Christian-run schools in Kandhamal. So we punished the anti-people fanatical leader," a statement from the group said Sunday night.
"Now his [Saraswati's] men are engaged in violence and persecution of the poor Christians the same way. We are pledged to halt such endless persecution of the religious minorities.
"If their men do not stop their attacks on Christians immediately, we shall take severe action to halt this riot against defenceless poor people, and persecutions of poor Christians in other ways."
The statement, sent to a selected group of journalists, also said VHP leaders were stirring up sectarian tension by telling Hindus their leaders had been killed by Christians.
A senior police officer in Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state, said local authorities had heard the Maoists were possibly planning to intervene.
"If they decide to intervene in their style they will bring hundreds of comrades from all neighbouring states to pounce in these riot-hit regions where Hindu activists are active.
"With their sophisticated firearms they will wreak havoc, taking the situation to a more uncontrollable shape. The government is determined not to allow any meddling by Maoists," said the officer who did not want to be identified.
Orissa authorities have called on the federal government to immediately send at least 5,000 paramilitary forces to help fend off the Maoists and quell the riots.
Satish Gajbhiye, Kandhamal's police chief, said it was a fact the Maoists were against the activities of such Hindu organisations as VHP and RSS [Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or National Volunteer Force - the ideological fountainhead of various Hindu groups, including India's national Hindu party of BJP] and have killed leaders of both Hindu groups in the past.
"They fear if Hindu influence increases in this region of Orissa, Maoist-resistance groups will come up - what they don't want. This is why they are against the Hindu groups," said Mr Gajbhiye.
A Maoist underground leader in the neighbouring state of West Bengal said the VHP and its allies had been attacking Christians for years in Orissa and other states, which was why, for ideological reasons, the guerrillas were siding with Christians.
The leader, identified only by his nom de guerre, Swapan said: "We have many visiting comrades from Orissa among us, and we know how against their wishes the Christians are being converted forcibly by these Hindu leaders. We have targeted the Hindu leaders and their fascist activities simply because they are taking away the fundamental rights of a class of poor people.
"Some Hindu leaders are thinking we are anti-Hindu, which is not true at all. More than 80 per cent of our comrades, including myself, are Hindus. We don't care for religion. We have pledged to attack the Hindu activists in Orissa simply because they are violating human rights in Christian villages," he said.
Another former Maoist guerrilla in Malkangiri, a Maoist-dominated district in Orissa, accused police and authorities in the BJP-ruled state of supporting Hindus.
"In the field, there are two parties. On one side there are Hindu groups who are being protected by the police and government because the state's ruling party is supported by [Hindu] party of BJP. And, on the other side there are the hapless poor Christians who have got the Maoists guerrillas for their protection.
"Obviously the first party is stronger and so the Maoists will fight tooth and nail to protect the Christian rights," said Soorya, 32, a Hindu, who left the rebel group some years ago for health reasons.
Orissa, one of India's poorest states, has had outbreaks of religious violence in the past decade amid accusations by the Hindu majority that Catholic groups bribe or force marginalised groups to change their faith. Graham Staines, an Australian missionary, and his two young sons were killed when a mob set fire to the vehicle in which they were sleeping outside a church in Manoharpur, a tribal village in Keonjhar district, in Jan 1999. Hindus account for 83 per cent of India's more than 1.1 billion population, while Christians make up 2.4 per cent.
Addressing the riots for the first time since they broke out, Manmohan Singh, the India prime minister, reassured Christians that those responsible for rioting would be brought to justice. The federal government has taken a "very serious note of the happenings in Orissa", and Mr Singh has "personally spoken to the chief minister to ensure communal harmony and bring to book the culprits behind the violent incidents", his office said yesterday in an emailed statement. The federal government will also provide assistance to the families of those who died in the riots, according to the statement. The government said it will also help repair houses that were damaged.
* The National
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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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.”
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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
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
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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- Keep an open mind
MO
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ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
THE SPECS
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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
