My visit to Tunisia this week confirmed that while the country is continuing to develop its fledgling democracy in important and inspiring ways, there is no underestimating the potential dangers ahead. Everyone in the country is naturally delighted that the national football team has qualified for next year's World Cup in Russia and drawn a relatively weak group with England, Belgium and Panama, which raises the possibility of advancement to the second round.
Otherwise, the most striking constant is the extent to which Tunisian perceptions radically differ, not only about where they think their country should go (a universal manifestation of essentially healthy political differences), but also much more significantly and unusually in their assessment of the national condition. Most of those associated with the political organisations that are benefiting from, and essentially thriving under, the new system, including Ennahda and several major secular parties, are generally upbeat and at least cautiously optimistic. That’s because things are going relatively well for them personally and politically.
But many other close observers are far less sanguine. Profound anxiety, sometimes bordering on alarm, characterises the sceptics' perspectives. Most concerns focus on the economy, which tends to be the first subject that comes up in almost any conversation about the national condition. In recent years Tunisia has suffered a series of devastating economic blows, including a collapse of foreign investment and the devastation of the tourism industry following two major terrorist attacks against foreigners.
These difficulties exacerbated both a drain of talent due to emigration and of foreign exchange reserves, which have now fallen to a mere 92 days of imports. That places Tunisia in the dangerous category of cash reserve insecurity. Economic woes are particularly acute in the more impoverished south and west, where angry demonstrations are frequent. Another major issue is the chronic unemployment among university graduates throughout the country.
Economic insecurity not only fuels discontent and unrest but also undoubtedly contributes strongly to the appeal of terrorist groups who have been disturbingly successful at recruiting Tunisians, especially in marginalised areas. There are profound fears about the potential impact of returning ISIL extremists now that the group has been driven out of Iraq and Syria. Border regions with Algeria and especially Libya remain lawless and volatile.
Yet there are some positive indicators. Flashes of entrepreneurial success demonstrate what can be accomplished by business start-ups. The tourism sector might be poised for a comeback as memories of terrorist violence fade, assuming there aren't any additional major extremist attacks.
The de facto junior partner in the governing coalition, Ennahda continues its slow and non-linear process of transforming into a post-Islamist party. The long-term success of this transformation is almost as significant for the future of Arab political culture as is Tunisia’s overall experiment with democracy.
Religious conservatives, after all, are not going to disappear from Arab societies or opt out of politics. Therefore, a legitimate vehicle and political instrument for these sentiments, that is acceptable to the rest of society, must be developed. By working to shed the conspiratorial, subversive, authoritarian and, most importantly, transnational aspects of traditional Muslim Brotherhood-style Islamism, Ennahda is demonstrating what that might look like.
The organisation, though, is wrestling with a three-way split. The first is between a majority who support the changes and a substantial minority who don’t. Among those who supported this reincarnation, there is an obvious divide between those who take it seriously on its own terms and those who see it as purely rhetorical and tactical.
The relative strength of the parties in this second division is much harder to gauge. But to remain politically viable within Tunisia’s democracy, Ennahda knows there is no going back to a political approach that amounts to religiously reactionary Islamist Leninism.
The organisation is quietly confident about its chances in upcoming municipal and local elections, which will test its strength against president Beji Caid Essebsi’s Nidaa Tunis party. The two have been in an uneasy governing alliance for the past three years but Mr Essebsi has recently been expressing doubts that Ennahda has genuinely transformed from an Islamic identity group into a bona fide civic party, as it claims.
Ennahda is particularly at odds with prime minister Youssef Chahed, who is spearheading a painful and deeply unpopular austerity programme demanded by the International Monetary Fund that involves raising taxes and laying off public employees. When the alliance finally breaks completely, Ennahda is likely to blame Nidaa in general, which could prove a very effective election tactic.
Nidaa and its allies have been pushing back on one of Ennahda’s biggest weaknesses, which is gender discrimination, by promoting the right of women to marry non-Muslims, combating violence against women, mandating equal inheritance for all siblings and similar measures. It’s another crucial area in which Tunisia is blazing an all-important trail for the rest of the Arab world.
Tunisia needs and deserves the greatest possible international and regional support because everyone who cares about the future of the Arab world has a large stake in all the components of the Tunisian experiment – building democracy, Ennahda's transformation, defeating terrorism, championing women's rights and the economic recovery on which all that depends.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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.
Mountain%20Boy
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Company%20profile
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
INFO
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
Company%20profile
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Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
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.”
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
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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
Racecard
6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m
8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.