French authorities investigate a truck used to kill dozens celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. Sasha Goldsmith via AP
French authorities investigate a truck used to kill dozens celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. Sasha Goldsmith via AP

The ‘new normal’ of terror attacks



Alongside the responses of horror and revulsion at the lorry attack that killed 84 people peacefully celebrating Bastille Day in Nice was another reaction: resignation. With France having been subject to more than a dozen terror attacks in recent years, and with the average death toll increasing, many are accepting that this kind of event is "the new normal".

This is, of course, not a problem that solely affects France, although it has been the worst affected of the European countries. As we well know, Turkey, Bangladesh, Belgium, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other countries have all been subjected to recent terror attacks in which relatively soft targets – airports, bakeries, markets and places of worship – were chosen.

As we reported, France's security had been significantly beefed up for the Euro 2016 football tournament and it was concluded without any incident worse than clashes between rival fans. Other planned terror attacks on soft targets in France have also been thwarted before they could occur. But the nature of lone-wolf attacks makes it exceptionally difficult for the security services to prevent them all and the celebrations in Nice were just one of hundreds of similar events being held that evening.

There is not yet any compelling proof that Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old French-Tunisian, was anything other than a disaffected petty criminal who has, at most, used ISIL as a flag of convenience to express his anger and frustration. It is also worth remembering this new normal is not actually new. France and Spain endured decades of attacks by Basque separatist groups, while the IRA subjected England to repeated bomb attacks between 1973 and 1996.

And if there is a silver lining to these latest violent attacks, it can be found in the more nuanced public response to the attack in Nice, where there is a better appreciation that the actions of one demented person do not automatically condemn an entire religion or an ethnic group. This is scant succour but a considered rather than angry response will be key to defeating this menace.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800


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Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm


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Director: Magizh Thirumeni

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

Rating: 4/5

 

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

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

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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

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

Rating: 2/5

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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
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Number of employees: 4
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

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

Rating: 2/5

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One-and-a-half out of five stars

The specs
 
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle

Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)

How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
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  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 

The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant 

Three out of five stars

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

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Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic

John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers

Biog

Age: 50

Known as the UAE’s strongest man

Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”

Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry

Favourite car: Any classic car

Favourite superhero: The Hulk original

Cryopreservation: A timeline
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Allardyce's management career

Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)

Countries (1) - England (2016)

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

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.
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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MATCH INFO

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Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)