Afghanistan voted decisively for change in this month’s polls



Earlier this month, Afghanistan went to the polls to elect a new president and the country’s election commission has reported that approximately seven million votes were cast.

Considering that the Taliban had boycotted the election and threatened those who chose to vote, the turnout was impressive. The fact that female turnout averaged more than 30 per cent in rural areas is (almost) unbelievable. So, why did the Afghan peoples turn out in such numbers?

I have repeatedly pointed out that the American insistence on talking only to Mullah Omar was elevating him to a status he did not deserve. And that US interests, as well as Afghan interests, would be better served if America reached out to the leadership of all Afghan tribes across the ethnic divide.

I have also said that support for the Taliban has been on the rise over the past few years. But this fact was more a rejection of the inept Karzai government, rather than a proper show of support for the Taliban.

In the past year or more, other developments began to overshadow negotiations with the Taliban. Mr Karzai’s refusal to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement, BSA, won him some recognition.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s insistence on “non-interference” in Afghanistan and the US sidelining of Pakistan while negotiating with the Taliban, rendered Pakistan increasingly irrelevant to Afghanistan’s future.

But this fact, coupled with the US’s lack of success in negotiating with the Taliban, suddenly gave the Afghan people hope that this election might be converted into a very real opportunity; an opportunity for the Afghans to chart their own future, without interference from “interested” friends and enemies.

The fact that the US now wanted China to play a role in Afghanistan’s future served to reinforce this view. Being a neighbour, China has always been interested, but it has never been properly engaged in the process. It has never sought to design the mosaic of the political landscape in Afghanistan and, what is more, even if it wants to, it lacks the capability to influence events.

Perhaps the only “interested” friend that opted not to use its albeit limited influence was Pakistan. The rest – including US, Russia, Iran, and India – often acted at cross-purposes with each other and with Afghanistan.

All of the supposed front-runners in this election – Abdullah Abdullah, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Zalmai Rassoul – were, at one time or the other, beneficiaries of Mr Karzai’s rule. Indeed, Mr Rassoul was known to be the one Mr Karzai was backing.

Mr Abdullah has Pashtun blood in him. In fact, one of his female ancestors belonged to the same tribe as Mr Ahmedzai.

While his support base was essentially among the non-Pashtun minorities, it was expected that he would, as he did, also get some support from the Afghan Pashtun.

Mr Ahmadzai was reasonably expected to get the bulk of the majority Pashtun vote. Quite obviously, both are the real front-runners in this election.

While Mr Ahmadzai was quick to raise the issue of vote-rigging, there is a strong rumour that he and Mr Abdullah have an agreement that whoever wins might appoint the loser to be his deputy. There is another strong rumour that both have assured the US that they would sign the BSA.

It is against this background that the people of Afghanistan went to the polls on April 5.

Because the US had insisted on negotiating with Mullah Omar, a real fear existed among Afghans that the Taliban might return to political power.

They went to the polls this time to take advantage of the opportunity created for them to chart their own future. The choices available might not be the ones the Afghans really wanted, but it was their opportunity to tell the world who they did not want.

Since Pakistan posed no threat to them, they went to the polls, not just to declare their independence from the Taliban, but also to let Pakistan know that they had picked up the Taliban gauntlet.

They went to the polls to ensure that there would not be another US puppet to misrule them; nor is Mr Rassoul acceptable to them.

Even if he was not a US puppet, particularly since he is not rumoured to have assured the US of his signature on the BSA, Mr Karzai’s support made him unacceptable.

They went to the polls to ensure the defeat of these forces. They are prepared to live with either of the other two. They have shown the world their rejection of the Taliban and all external forces.

While many analysts fear unrest in Afghanistan if the future government is unable to negotiate with the Taliban, I hope that the future Afghan leadership understands the result of this poll and reach out to all Afghans, thus diluting adversarial influences.

Brig Shaukat Qadir is a retired Pakistani infantry officer

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

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Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

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Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

Company%20Profile
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

FIXTURES

December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

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

KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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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