Insurgents in Iraq root for Obama win



DAMASCUS // Iraqi insurgents have said they hope Barack Obama is elected as the next US president because he is more likely than his rival John McCain to withdraw American troops and restore peace. "Whether there can be a peaceful, political end to this or just more violence depends on who wins the US election," said Meshaan al Jabourey, a renowned Iraqi figure blacklisted by the American authorities for playing an active role in the insurgency. "If Obama is chosen, then we see there is a time for negotiations. If McCain is president, it will just be more blood and more resistance. I hope for the path of less bloodshed." Mr Jabourey, a Sunni, was an elected MP before being expelled by the Iraqi parliament for his backing of militants. According to the United States he provides "financial, material, and technical support for acts of violence that threaten the peace and stability of Iraq". The Bush administration this year imposed sanctions on him, accusing him of working as part of an al Qa'eda group, the Mujahadin Shura Council, and of recruiting fighters for Islamic extremist organisations in Iraq. Based in Damascus, Mr Jabourey, 50, works as an adviser to Al Rai television. The station has made enemies of both the US and Iraqi governments for showing clips of insurgent attacks and for giving fighters airtime to talk about opposing the US occupation. "I resist the Americans with all means possible," Mr Jabourey said, although he criticised al Qa'eda for their role in sectarian fighting. "And I confirm to you frankly that we [Al Rai] are a mouthpiece for the resistance, for the resistance groups and their leaders." Before the 2003 invasion, Mr Jabourey called for the toppling of Saddam Hussein, something he says he is now ashamed of, saying it ushered in a worse era under US domination. He warned that violence in Iraq was likely to rise again soon - after recent reductions - unless a new US president changed the course followed by the Bush administration. "Things are changing and so much depends on who is elected," he said. In a separate interview, Abu Mohammed, a member of the Iraqi Baath Party and senior member of the National and Islamic Front in Iraq - an umbrella group of insurgents - said he expected better tactics from Mr Obama. "American presidents have the same overall strategy, which is to support American interests," he said. "But Obama and McCain will follow these in a different way. Obama has made clear his opposition to the war and his opposition to the lies and stupidity of the Bush administration. In fact, it is that which helped him get the nomination as Democratic candidate for president. "We hope to see the next American president continue this perspective, and I'm talking about Obama particularly. But for either Obama or McCain the best way forward is to talk with the resistance and to recognise Iraqis' rights and to withdraw from Iraq." Abu Mohammed - he asked that his real name not be published - said that insurgents would continue to fight any occupation forces and that, regardless of how long it took, the Americans would be forced to leave. "There is resistance only because there is occupation," he said. "The solution is to end the occupation and leave Iraqis to decide on the future of Iraq." The two US presidential candidates have had some of their fiercest clashes over foreign policy, and Iraq in particular. In the first live televised debate between the pair, shown in the Middle East in the early hours of yesterday morning, Mr Obama was highly critical of Mr McCain's record on Iraq. Mr McCain insists his opponent has little foreign policy experience, and was against the troop surge, a policy widely credited with cutting down the sectarian violence in Iraq and quashing a civil war that threatened to tear the country apart. Mr Obama has said he would, subject to military advice, pull out all US troops from Iraq by the middle of 2010, a policy that mirrors that of Iraq's own government. Mr McCain has refused to set deadlines, saying they would embolden insurgents. psands@thenational.ae

Director: Laxman Utekar

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

Rating: 1/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now

THE SPECS

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors

Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode

Power: 121hp

Torque: 142Nm

Price: Dh95,900

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.
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

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

Rating: 2/5

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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.
 
 
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
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

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

Rating: 4/5

 

FIXTURES

UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
 

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: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
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  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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The Cairo Statement

 1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations

2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred

3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC  

4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.

5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.

6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security

The Lowdown

Kesari

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra

 

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The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

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