Iran shifts weight on Iraqi elections Iraq's Shiite alliance picked Nouri al Maliki last Friday as its nominee for prime minister, which denotes that Iranian power is the prevailing influence in Iraq, capable of imposing its will on the political process in the country, declared the pan-Arab daily Al Quds al Arabi in its editorial.
This endorsement by the Shiite bloc will enable Mr al Maliki to form a government including his party as well as the Sadrist movement and a number of smaller parties. It is expected however to encounter fierce opposition from the Iraqi bloc led by Iyad Allawi.
This development gives the Kurdish leaders great bargaining power, as winning their bloc would secure the new coalition a needed majority in parliament. The surprise selection of Mr al Maliki by the Shiite bloc was the outcome of an American-Iranian agreement. It is clear that Mr Obama's administration gave in to Iranian prevalence and opted for the lesser of two evils. The US wants to see the formation of an Iraqi government at the earliest possible time to avoid a political vacuum. It also wants a strong Shiite leader who could secure minimum stability and allow it to withdraw the remainder of its forces from Iraq by the end of next year.
Mr al Maliki's victory would certainly put an end to the political crisis and lead to the birth of a new government. This would breathe life into constitutional institutions.
Arab states fail to fix peace talks paralysis
The Arab League's secretary general Amr Moussa said "many alternatives are available to Arabs" when asked about the likelihood of pressing ahead with negotiations despite continued settlement activities, reported the Emirati daily Al Khaleej in its editorial.
Mr Moussa's statement might seem serious at first glance and suggests that Arabs do have a response to Israel's policy to sabotage the negotiations. It implies that they have alternatives that would compel Israel to abide by international law in order to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace. True, there are choices that the Arabs could opt for as long as they get past the illusion that the current round of negotiations might lead to an equitable settlement. They must stop wagering on US administrations as an honest mediator between them and Israel.
When Arab nations realise this fact, the scene is bound to change for they would be able to make several choices that others would have to reckon with. But, as long as they don't make the effort to materialise their "peace as a strategic choice" slogan, any talk of possible alternatives remains meaningless. Mr Moussa recognises the seriousness of the present phase and Israel's objectives from the talks, but the fact remains that the Arab League is paralysed.
Israel launches start of global cyber war
Is this the start of electronic warfare capable of paralysing nations without any recourse to bombs and missiles? asked the columnist Rajeh al Khouri in an article for the Lebanese daily Annahar.
The Stuxnet "worm" has been making headlines in developed countries where experts are trying to find effective counter-measures to stop its sabotage. Despite Israel's denial, it is believed that the worm was designed in Israel to target Iran's nuclear programme. However, after hitting Iran a few days ago, it reached China damaging more than 1,000 computers at businesses and more than six million personal computers.
The fast dissemination of the worm means that it is now possible to design programmes that could target any operating systems in the world. In the words of electronics expert David Morgan: "An electronic Pearl Harbour is now possible." A comprehensive e-attack on operating systems in any advanced country could cripple it without the need to fire a single bullet. Whole communities could wake up one day to find that their life systems are completely down: electric power, water, telephones, traffic lights and factories.
It is probably for this reason that electronic warfare and its strategic danger will be on the agenda of Nato's next summit in November.
A bankrupt strategy in Afghanistan
In an article for Qatari daily Al Watan, the columnist Mazen Hammad wrote: "Who can believe that US dollars made their way to the pockets of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan?" American international development agency investigators recently revealed that millions of dollars of US taxpayers' money were paid to Taliban militants in south Afghanistan in exchange for security for a US development project underway in that area.
There have been rumours in the past about such bribery cases, but this is the first time the public investigator has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the project in question in a local community near Jalalabad. Investigators discovered that sub-contractors were employed to protect the project, where more than $5 million was paid to local authorities to prevent any possible attacks since the $350 million dollar project was being built in an extremely dangerous war zone.
In addition, evidence of fraud and manipulation were found at the contracting company's bureau in Jalalabad. A revelation of this nature is proof of the state of chaos and confusion among US and western forces operating in Afghanistan. It is yet another proof of the West's inability to achieve victory over the Taliban.
* Digest compiled by Racha Makarem
rmakarem@thenational.ae
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.
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
Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Company%20Profile
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Company%20profile%20
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS & THE ECONOMY
Chris%20Jordan%20on%20Sanchit
%3Cp%3EChris%20Jordan%20insists%20Sanchit%20Sharma%20will%20make%20an%20impact%20on%20the%20ILT20%2C%20despite%20him%20starting%20the%20campaign%20on%20Gulf%20Giants'%20bench.%3Cbr%3EThe%20young%20UAE%20seamer%20was%20an%20instant%20success%20for%20the%20side%20last%20season%2C%20and%20remained%20part%20of%20the%20XI%20as%20they%20claimed%20the%20title.%3Cbr%3EHe%20has%20yet%20to%20feature%20this%20term%20as%20the%20Giants%20have%20preferred%20Aayan%20Khan%20and%20Usman%20Khan%20as%20their%20two%20UAE%20players%20so%20far.%3Cbr%3EHowever%2C%20England%20quick%20Jordan%20is%20sure%20his%20young%20colleague%20will%20have%20a%20role%20to%20play%20at%20some%20point.%3Cbr%3E%22Me%20and%20Sanchit%20have%20a%20great%20relationship%20from%20last%20season%2C%22%20Jordan%20said.%3Cbr%3E%22Whenever%20I%20am%20working%20with%20more%20inexperienced%20guys%2C%20I%20take%20pleasure%20in%20sharing%20as%20much%20as%20possible.%3Cbr%3E%22I%20know%20what%20it%20was%20like%20when%20I%20was%20younger%20and%20learning%20off%20senior%20players.%3Cbr%3E%22Last%20season%20Sanchit%20kick-started%20our%20season%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20with%20a%20brilliant%20man-of-the-match%20performance.%3Cbr%3E%22Coming%20into%20this%20one%2C%20I%20have%20seen%20a%20lot%20of%20improvement.%20The%20focus%20he%20is%20showing%20will%20only%20stand%20him%20in%20good%20stead.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
More on Quran memorisation:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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