Olaf Scholz (left), Green leader Annalena Baerbock and Armin Laschet, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate for Chancellor prepare to go head to head in an election TV debate in Berlin . AFP
Olaf Scholz (left), Green leader Annalena Baerbock and Armin Laschet, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate for Chancellor prepare to go head to head in an election TV debate in Berlin . AFP
Olaf Scholz (left), Green leader Annalena Baerbock and Armin Laschet, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate for Chancellor prepare to go head to head in an election TV debate in Berlin . AFP
Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat candidate running to become Germany’s new leader, has promised “moderate” solutions to fight climate change.
Mr Scholz, the country's current Vice Chancellor, topped opinion polls after a TV showdown at the weekend in which he clashed with the Christian Democrat candidate Armin Laschet and the Greens’ Annalena Baerbock on a wide range of issues.
The debate, described in the German media as “aggressive”, came just two weeks before voters will go to the polls.
“We need to get out of the combustion engine, fossil fuels,” she said.
Ms Baerbock then turned her focus to Mr Laschet, saying: “You always say you don’t like bans but it’s always a driver for innovation.”
Mr Laschet insisted his party was taking the battle against climate change seriously.
"The German auto industry is long since on the path to adjusting,” he said.
He went on to accuse Mr Scholz and Ms Baerbock of trying to hamstring industries, saying: "It won't work with laws, with bans, with regulations, but with a dynamic where everyone is keen to create something new."
A snap poll conducted after the debate showed that Mr Scholz repeated the clear victory he earned in the first debate, with 41 per cent of viewers describing him as the most convincing.
Mr Laschet won 27 per cent of the vote ahead of Ms Baerbock on 25 per cent.
Afghan refugees pictured at Ramstein air base in Germany. The security situation in Afghanistan was among the topics discussed in the election debate. AP
Coalition negotiations after the debate are likely to involve two or three parties and will decide who will be the successor of Angela Merkel, who is standing down after 16 years.
In recent weeks, poll after poll have shown Mr Scholz’s party on the rise while the CDU and the Greens lag behind.
The security situation in Afghanistan was also discussed by the three candidates, weeks after the German government scrambled to get its citizens and vulnerable Afghans out of Kabul.
German troops had earlier withdrawn from the country, along with the US and other allies.
Mr Laschet called the Taliban’s return to power “a disaster for the West, also a disaster for the German government”. He said it was time to create a national security council to improve decision-making in Germany.
Ms Baerbock accused the government of “ducking away” from decisions on rescuing Afghans.
The city of Potsdam, on the outskirts of Berlin, has become an arena for the battle to succeed Mrs Merkel.
Ms Baerbock and Mr Scholz are both running in constituency 61, which includes Potsdam.
The battle marks the first time in German history that two chancellor candidates have gone head-to-head in the same constituency – a far cry from the "safe seat" route often favoured by past political heavyweights.
Because seats in the Bundestag are filled through a combination of direct mandates and party lists, both Mr Scholz and Ms Baerbock could still become MPs even if they lose in Potsdam.
However, winning a direct mandate would be the icing on the cake.
Karl-Rudolf Korte, a professor of politics at the University of Duisburg-Essen, told AFP: "Constituency kings and queens have a special legitimacy in the Bundestag.
"Both candidates have their place secured via the list. Nevertheless, the competition is more than just symbolic."
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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)
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
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6) Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
