A satellite image shows gas from the Nord Stream pipeline bubbling up in the water following incidents in the Baltic Sea last September. Reuters
A satellite image shows gas from the Nord Stream pipeline bubbling up in the water following incidents in the Baltic Sea last September. Reuters
A satellite image shows gas from the Nord Stream pipeline bubbling up in the water following incidents in the Baltic Sea last September. Reuters
A satellite image shows gas from the Nord Stream pipeline bubbling up in the water following incidents in the Baltic Sea last September. Reuters


Is western media telling us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?


  • English
  • Arabic

October 03, 2023

We know we live in a world of “alternative facts” where objectivity is becoming ever more elusive, but America and China have just upped the ante. In the past week, the US State Department issued a report accusing Chinese authorities of spending billions per year on disseminating propaganda, while Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the US as an “empire of lies, through and through”.

There is plenty of disinformation around all right. But what I most object to is disinformation by omission and oversimplification, often spread by politicians and publications that ought to know better.

Take the case of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until fairly recently, it would be fair to say that most people outside of the region would have had trouble locating it on a map. It has been in the headlines recently, however, after an Azerbaijani military operation took control of the area and most of the ethnic Armenian population – perhaps 100,000 people – fled to the next-door state of Armenia.

Whatever view one takes of the action – and the Azerbaijan government denies accusations of ethnic cleansing – you might have thought it was rather important to mention that although the status of Nagorno-Karabakh has been in dispute since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the region is internationally recognised to be part of Azerbaijan. This paper did so. But many English-language reports have omitted this fact entirely. Readers may have been left with the impression that Azerbaijan has invaded an independent state, rather than asserted its authority over an area that is unquestionably within its boundaries.

Is it too far-fetched to think this important detail is often left out because some western media outlets prefer to take the side of Christian “European” Armenians rather than Muslim Turkic Azerbaijan?

Putting out oversimplified narratives or omitting facts that don’t suit your case are acts of disinformation

Similarly, I’ve lost count of the times I have read the words: “Taiwan, which has never been ruled by Communist China.” I would say “so what?”, except that formulation is clearly meant to delegitimise Beijing’s claim to what it considers to be a renegade province. One time, in a noted publication that I will not embarrass by naming, the game was given away. In a revealing slip, the phrase became: “Taiwan, which has never been ruled by China.” That is obviously false.

If one wanted to provide real context, rather than propagandise on behalf of the China hawks in the US, it would be necessary to point out that island’s current separation from the mainland represents the unfinished business of a civil war, when the nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan (which he certainly thought was part of China) in 1949 – and civil wars occur inside one country, not two.

When has any country willingly allowed secession to happen, especially when it is supported by an unfriendly superpower? Put like that, Beijing’s insistence on eventual reunification does not necessarily seem unreasonable. But omitting this context is handy if all you want to do is demonise China.

Another example: reports of any criticisms, or any comments at all, by American leaders relating to breaches of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court are hopelessly distorted if they fail to mention that the US has not ratified the former and is not signed up to the latter.

This isn’t about taking sides. It’s about insisting that we are provided with the facts – all of them – so we can take a fully informed view on matters of the day. But there is currently a curious unwillingness among western politicians and mainstream media to demand truth from power. On a whole range of issues, from the internal battles in Britain’s Labour party to the war in Ukraine, a new conformity of not only happily accepting but then cleaving closely to officially sanctioned narratives appear to have taken hold.

Yaroslav Hunka, right, seen in Canadian parliament last month, fought alongside the Nazis. AP Photo
Yaroslav Hunka, right, seen in Canadian parliament last month, fought alongside the Nazis. AP Photo

What about, for instance, the bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines that run from Russia to Germany? They may be majority-owned by Russia (51 per cent), but Western European nations are the other owners and were also co-financiers of the multibillion-dollar project. Right after the strike, Poland’s former foreign minister Radek Sikorski tweeted a picture of gas coming out of the damaged pipeline with the caption “thank you, USA”. He then swiftly deleted it, possibly after someone reminded him that destroying civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime.

The US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said Mr Sikorski had it right – and was then roundly rubbished as a fantasist and conspiracy theorist, for his pains. It strains credulity that officials do not know who did it. Yet still we have not been told. Where is the outcry over this outrageous concealment?

It was oversimplification that led to the scenes in Canada’s parliament last month, when a Ukrainian Nazi veteran was given a standing ovation and hailed as a hero.

Everyone – in then speaker Anthony Rota’s office, at any rate – had decided that the Russians were so awful and Ukrainians were such unalloyed saints, that no one questioned what fighting for Ukrainian independence against the Russians in the Second World War might actually mean. It meant being on the side of the Nazis, of course. But such was the determination to see the conflict in Ukraine as a fight between good and evil, that those responsible lost all contact with reality – and history.

It was a reminder that the truth is often complicated. So is history. And that putting out oversimplified narratives or omitting facts that don’t suit your case are acts of disinformation just as surely as is claiming that Donald Trump won the last US presidential election. All three are unmoored from the truth – and that is what we have the right to demand, however inconvenient it may be.

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

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)
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

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
SHAITTAN
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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester

Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)

Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder

Transmission: Continuously variable transmission

Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

The biog

Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite music: Classical

Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ways to control drones

Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.

"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.

New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.

It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.

The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.

The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.

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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008

Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

If you go...

Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m

While you're here
Three-day coronation

Royal purification

The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.

The crown

Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.

The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.

The audience

On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.

The procession

The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.

Meet the people

On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.

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Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
Updated: October 03, 2023, 3:04 PM`