Readers discuss the reasons why Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Mike Segar / Reuters
Readers discuss the reasons why Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Mike Segar / Reuters

Trump won by not patronising the electorate



With regard to articles such as James Zogby's Why I won't accept what just happened (November 13), I think it is ironic that political elites such as him intimate that the scare tactics of the Trump campaign are different from his incessant, year-after-year fearmongering about United States policy.

It’s also ironic that the election of Mr Trump is attributed to social media, as if that’s a bad thing. What I think Dr Zogby and his ilk are saying is that average Americans – and indeed the world writ large – are not intelligent or informed enough to choose leaders who best represent their ideals and aspirations without their esteemed and sage guidance, and that we somehow need the overeducated elite to keep us, as ignorant children, from hurting ourselves.

Actually this is precisely the opposite of the American experience. Trump tapped into concerns – not fears – of the lower-educated masses and the working class.

This election result is not just a referendum on one man but highlighted how tired Americans are of the “pat on the head” paternal rule of the supposed intellectual elites. Much to the chagrin of the intelligentsia, social media provided a level playing field for information and allowed citizens of the world to see for ourselves if our emperors are actually naked.

As is the custom in the US, over the next four years we’ll assess and evaluate the Trump administration. If found to be inadequate, the people will ensure he is a one-term president.

Stephen Suttles, Abu Dhabi

I was for Hillary. I accept the results for the love of my people and my country and to be a good citizen, a good Muslim and a representative abroad.

Name withheld by request

My simple advice to Dr Zogby is to accept it and move on – and the sooner the better.

The American people have spoken. The winds of change have blown down the career politicians in favour of business people.

Business runs business, not politicians.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

I am from Alberta, Canada, where we have a communist provincial party in power and a socialist moron as prime minister.

I am very unhappy about both, but they won the election fair and square. I don’t like them, but I respect their office and pray they don’t do too many idiotic things to ruin my province and my country.

Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi

Were Bernie fans the difference?

After reading Hussein Ibish's opinion article (After Trump's win, opinion polls are meaningless, November 13), an important but overlooked issue could be that millions of Bernie Sanders supporters were disillusioned by the nomination process and felt cheated.

Rather than vote for Mrs Clinton or Mr Trump, they didn’t vote or voted for a fringe candidate.

The loss of 10 per cent of the Democratic voters – compared to the number that voted for Barack Obama – was more than enough to give Mr Trump the victory in key states.

Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi

Once unknown, but now home

Your story, How the UAE's football team finally managed to reach the lights of Rome November 10), invoked some fond memories.

As a teenager living in Britain in 1990, I had no idea the UAE existed. As someone who loves an underdog, I adopted them as my second team – and then later, it became my home.

Matthew Penney, Dubai

Time to enforce anti-litter laws

When is something going to be done about the disgusting amount of litter on the streets of Abu Dhabi?

My office is in the city centre and I am disgusted to see the amount and variety of waste that people just toss on the pavements with impunity. Many people seem to have a culture I call “freedom to litter”.

It might help if the authorities actually imposed the fines the law allows.

The National ran a story in January headlined UAE inspectors threaten strict penalties for those caught littering. Where is the action?

I have seen many people littering but I have never seen any of them being penalised. While it would not be feasible to flood Abu Dhabi with “litter police”, it might be possible to give the Mawaqif inspectors an additional role to impose on-the-spot fines.

Let’s try to stamp out the scourge of littering and keep the streets of Abu Dhabi clean.

Jeremy Weekes, Abu Dhabi

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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Company profile

Name: Oulo.com

Founder: Kamal Nazha

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2020

Number of employees: 5

Sector: Technology

Funding: $450,000

Tickets

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

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.”

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

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

Rating: 2/5

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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. 

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
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

Sheer grandeur

The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.

A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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