Assad regime has failed and must go


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The Assad regime has failed in preserving the unity of Syria and it must go immediately

As the Assad regime exhausted all possible methods of oppression, arrest and murder without successfully curbing the Syrian people's revolution, Syria is scurrying into direct and all-inclusive civil war, said the columnist Abdullah Iskandar in the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat.

"Political solutions prove out of the question and the voice of armed confrontation has become overpowering. The only option on the table is military resolution, which means more killing and destruction," said the writer.

It is clear also that the Syrian political opposition is still incapable of bringing any change to the power balance in a way that forces Russia, China and Iran to reduce their support to the regime. Once isolated on the regional and international scenes, the regime would be compelled to review its strategies.

The language of weapons is running the conflict on both sides, especially now that the Free Army has become better equipped to transfer the armed confrontations to any location in Syria, including the capital.

Yesterday, shortly after the Free Syrian Army declared that it would be transferring the confrontations into the heart of Damascus, a bombing operation targeted the national security headquarters in Damascus during a meeting of senior security chiefs killing many, including the defence minister General Daoud Rajha and Assef Shawkat, the deputy defence minister and president Bashar Al Assad's brother-in-law.

"This critical development that brings the battle into Damascus signals that the FSA has switched strategies from the defensive to the offensive. Such a change in strategy follows a surge in the free army's power as a result of the recent large-scale defections and the acquisition of weapons, from the regime's warehouses and from abroad, which imposes a level of parity in direct clashes," suggested Iskandar.

Thus, the material elements for a civil war have become available with all the humanitarian, political and economic disasters that come along with civil strife.

It is indeed a grim scene and now that the conflict has reached the streets of the capital city, matters are at a point of no return.

Should the political solution remain unreachable as a result of the obstinate Russian stance, it is likely that the confrontations would lead the warring sides to gather their respective forces in determined areas. This would bring about a demographic distribution as well as geographical segmentation.

"This was the regime's intended course all along since it chose to respond violently to the first popular protest," added the writer.

Even if the world were to believe the regime's tale of extremist groups attacking civilians and troops, the reality is it failed in defeating them and protecting the country.

Israel must stop killing African migrants

Even destitute countries like Sudan and Yemen do not completely shut doors on African migrants fleeing civil wars and famine, while Israel, which likes to talk big about its western-style democracy, seems to have no qualms about its hard-line policy on migrants which amounts to killing, commented the pan-Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi.

Israel announced that a man was killed and another injured by the Israeli border police while trying to cross the Egyptian border into Israel. Both were unarmed.

To hide the crime, the Israeli authorities did not reveal the identity of the two men, to avoid admitting that they were "two Africans seeking political asylum and sustenance in a country they wrongly deemed humane and democratic".

Under the Mubarak regime, the Egyptian border guard would do the dirty work for Israel, shooting the African migrants in protection of the Israeli borders, but it seems that this role - inappropriate for Egypt's civilisation - has come to a halt under the revolution.

The irony is that Israel, a country built by Jewish immigrants from all over the world, following forced displacement of Palestinians, is refusing to receive migrants like other European countries do.

"The Israeli authorities detain migrants and put them into racist camps … and started, in recent weeks, to deport thousands of refugees from South Sudan."

Shoe-hurling displays contempt for leaders

Recently, Arabs seemed to have a knack for throwing shoes to express contempt and opposition to the target, Ikram Abdi wrote in the London-based daily Asharq Al Awsat.

In Syria, shoes were thrown at live images of President Bashar Al Assad while he was delivering a speech, to show disrespect to him and his entourage.

Recently, a fight broke out in Jordan's parliament over the electoral law that developed into a member throwing his shoes at another.

At the height of Egypt's presidential elections, the tirade between supporters of candidate Ahmed Shafiq and those of the revolution quickly turned into an exchange of show throwing. A shoe was hurled at Mr Shafiq himself when he was casting his ballot.

But the most famous of all show-throwers is the Iraqi Muntadar Al-Zaidi who hurled his shoes at former US President Bush during a news conference, in a show of disrespect to a president who excelled in the industry of death in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Mr Bush ducked to avoid the "Iraqi missile which probably matches, in its symbolism and destruction, the Cruise and Patriot missiles", she said sarcastically.

* Digest compiled by the Translation Desk

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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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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology

Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India

Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur

How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993

Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters

Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

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Three stars

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Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

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Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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Director: James Gray

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones

Five out of five stars 

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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

RESULTS

Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)

Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)

Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)

Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)

Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)

Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)

Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)

Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)

Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)

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Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5