Since becoming Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in June, Prince Mohammed bin Salman has laid down a series of bold initiatives, perhaps none more challenging that his vow to return the country to the "moderate Islam" of his grandfathers
It ranks alongside decisions permitting women to drive, building new economic powerhouse cities and a much publicised anti-corruption purge. Pushing back against religious extremism has been just a part of this.
The issue of extremism has historically tainted UK and Saudi relations, but the Crown Prince's recent efforts to clamp down on religious extremism may present an opportunity for the UK to get on side with a country often seen as hindrance to counter-extremism policy.
Such strains came to a head last year, when UK Prime Minister Theresa May was accused of "burying" a report into the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK, amid fears it might damage relations between the two countries. It was widely believed the report would point the finger at Saudi Arabia for the funding of UK extremism.
A 2017 study by The Henry Jackson society, went as far as labelling the Kingdom the "foremost" funder of Islamist extremism in the UK. It noted the billions spent on textbooks, and radical speakers by the country every year both in the UK, and across the world.
Does the Prince's visit to London signal an end to Saudi Arabia's time as the pariah state of counter-extremism policy?
UK Home Office sources told The National that discussions over extremism "certainly will be a part" of the Crown Prince's 3-day visit to the UK, and experts suggest the self-assured Prince is serious about challenging both the image, and the problem.
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Read more
Saudi Crown Prince: Together we can spread moderate Islam
Mohammed bin Salman's London visit marks a key moment in Saudi Arabia's transformation programme
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As one British religious affairs expert, put it "the allegation of KSA links to extremism has been weighing down on them for so long. It would be odd not to tackle it, if you care about how your country is perceived in the world."
Najah Al Otaibi, Research Fellow in the Centre for the Response to Radicalisation and Terrorism, at The Henry Jackson society also told The National the alleged relationship was causing the country problems. "Links to extremism and the financing of terrorism have always been a significant factor in Saudi Arabia's negative image and something that has long undermined its counter-terrorism efforts."
Judged solely on his public statements, Prince Bin Salman is pushing his Kingdom in the right direction. But it was far from clear if the change in rhetoric was coupled with any consecrate changes on the ground, Michael Stephens, a Research Fellow at RUSI, a foreign affairs think tank, told The National.
"He is sounding out all the right notes, he sounds good. The actual impact of the policy is not necessarily related to what sounds good, but what does sound good, might be effective."
Ms Al Otaiba is optimistic that the reforms are concrete, and not mere rhetoric. "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recognised this complication and, since he came to office, he has taken serious measures to tackle the stigma of terrorism. First by admitting that the way Saudi Arabia has understood Islam up until now was abnormal; and then taking steps such as cutting the powers of the religious police, sacking radical imams and preventing Saudis from preaching in foreign countries without permission."
In one sign that actions may following the rhetoric, last month Saudi Arabia gave up control of Brussel's Grand Mosque, regarded by many as cauldron of extremism.
But as Mr Stephens warns, it's difficult to ascertain if Bin Salman are having any effect. "It's not possible to really get a full sense of the changes in Saudi Arabia actually bedding in among the society, because the country is still quite closed off. Those people who are trying to do surveys, data and polling, have very limited samples, they aren't able get out into far areas of the country.
"It is unclear at the moment, whether the more extreme elements of KSA religious ideology are really being curtailed, or if it's simply locking people up in jail until they play ball", he added.
"Somebody needed to do it, to tackle this problem. Every five years a generation of Saudis frustrated with the world, global politics, are turning towards an austere anti-western version of Islam. That version doesn't promote violence, but it doesn't say it is a bad thing either".
Dr Emman El Badawy, head of research at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, told The National it was important for the UK to grasp the chance to get Saudi Arabia on board with counter-extremism work.
"The UK should try to make use of this opportunity, [MBS] is a reformer within the Saudi elite. What that means from a counter-extremism point of view, is that he is willing to concede errors have been made in the past. For that to come from a Saudi elite is very important.
"One thing they [the Saudis] are good at doing, is articulating the difference between Islam as a faith, and Islamism as a political ideology. That's one of the hardest things for UK policy to achieve. Having the Saudis being able to contribute to that - who is, and who isn't an extremist, is a valuable tool."
She added "We don't know what it will mean concretely, but it's an opportunity for people who don't often got to Saudi Arabia, to begin to understand from the Crown Prince's own mouth what his own views are, and what his red lines are too."
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Mountain%20Boy
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Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
