A person looks at a banner displayed at a commemoration ceremony at Iraq's Baghdad airport on January 2, 2020 to mark the first anniversary of the killing of senior Iranian military commander General Qassem Suleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in a US drone strike. Reuters
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite Popular Mobilisation Forces light candles at the site of the US drone attack on January 3, 2019 that killed the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, leader of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia EPA
Photos of Qassem Suleimani, left, and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis are placed on the road to Baghdad international airport during a commemoration of their deaths on January 2, 2020. EPA
A supporter of Iraqi Shiite Popular Mobilisation Forces lights candles at the site of US drone attack that killed Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis. EPA
Popular Mobilisation Forces and their supporters hold posters of Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis and Qassem Suleimani at Baghdad's international airport. AP Photo
Members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces and their supporters chant slogans against the United States at Baghdad's international airport. AP Photo
Supporters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces hold a candlelight vigil at the site of the US drone strike on Qassem Suleimani at Baghdad Airport. AFP
An Iraqi woman holds a portrait of late Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis and Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani at Baghdad Airport. AFP
An Iraqi girl carries a portrait of late Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis at Baghdad Airport. AFP
An Iraqi woman carries a portrait of late Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis and Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani at Baghdad Airport. AFP
Supporters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces hold a candlelight vigil at the site of the January 3, 2019 US drone strike on Qassem Suleimani. AFP
Supporters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces wave Iraqi flags at a gathering outside Baghdad Airport. AFP
An Iraqi woman carries a portrait of Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis. AFP
Iran-backed militias commemorate Qassem Suleimani at Baghdad's Tahrir Square and airport
Tense times in Iraq as Tehran seeks to show power one year after the killing of its leading general
Thousands of Iraqis thronged outside Baghdad International Airport and in Tahrir Square on Saturday night and throughout Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the deaths of Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, Iraq’s top militia leader, in a US drone strike.
Dozens of buses brought people to Tahrir Square from across Baghdad and Shiite-dominated provinces in central and southern Iraq. Fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a government-sanctioned umbrella group of mainly Iran-allied Shiite militias, were sent to search the people heading to the square before they met the government checkpoint.
Large posters featuring photos of Al Muhandis and Suleimani were posted on the Turkish Restaurant building, an icon of last year's pro-reform protests, in which many demonstrators criticised Iran's influence on Iraqi politics. A big screen mounted on a truck showed videos of the slain leaders while touring the front lines and mingling with fighters.
Some of the mourners held Iraqi and PMF flags, while others raised pictures of Suleimani and Al Muhandis, chanting anti-American slogans.
"America is the great Satan," one group of mourners chanted as they marched to the square.
Murtadha Asad, 27, arrived early on Sunday morning after attending a ceremony near Baghdad's International Airport on Saturday evening.
"The death of the two martyrs has motivated the Hashid," Mr Asad, who took part in the fighting in and around Salahueddi provinces between 2014 and 2016, told The National.
Mr Asad, who held the Iraqi flag and wrapped the PMF flag around his neck, described US troops as "occupying forces" and demanded their immediate withdrawal from the country.
"If they will not leave by political and peaceful means, we will rely on military operations to expel them."
Along with her two daughters, Umm Zainab stood holding a picture of both men and Iraqi flags.
"We want to tell our beloved martyrs that we will continue on your path and what you started will not end after your martyrdom," said Um Zainab, in black abaya and wearing a face mask and gloves.
"We will continue until we kick the occupier out of our country," she added.
To achieve that goal, she said: "We need first to get rid of its agents among us whether they are politicians or normal people. Without their help, the Americans wouldn't be able to kill our leaders."
Not all Iraqis were happy with the site of October 2019’s protests being used to mourn a Iranian general.
Although Tahrir Square is for all Iraqis, "it is painful to see politically-motivated demonstrations planned and organised from outside Iraq," pro-reform activist Hashim Al Jabouri, told The National.
He sees putting up posters around the square as "provocation mainly to the government."
Security was tight as the crowds gathered at Baghdad airport on Saturday evening, waving Iraqi and PMF flags and chanting pro-PMF slogans as women in black abayas and face masks placed lit candles and red roses at the scene.
The charred and crumpled wreckage of two cars, mounted on a round marble plinth, was unveiled on the median of the road outside the airport to serve as a reminder of the attack. Framed pictures of the two men and aides who died with them lined the wall along the road, which bore the slogan: “Here is the crime of American terrorism.”
Suleimani, the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars and policy in the Middle East including Iraq, arrived at Baghdad airport shortly after midnight on January 3 and was met by Al Muhandis, leader of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq. A few minutes after they left the airport, US drones fired three missiles at their two-car convoy in an attack ordered by President Donald Trump.
"Haj Qassem is the motivator of Hashed. He is an inspiration for steadfastness," Falih Al Fayyadh, chairman of PMF, told the crowd, using the Arabic name of the group.
He praised Al Muhandis as the “engineer” of the PMF who “established, built, organised and led” the group described by Mr Trump as “villainous”.
The gathering continued until dawn on Sunday, with the mourners often interrupting the speeches with chants such as: “No, no America. No, no Israel.”
The killing of Suleimani followed a series of tit-for-tat attacks between Iraqi militias and US forces in 2019, culminating with a siege of the US embassy in Baghdad in December by crowds of PMF supporters.
Mr Trump said he ordered the strike because Suleimani, who he described as the “number one terrorist anywhere in the world”, was planning to target American diplomats and military personnel inside Iraq.
Tension in the region has risen as the anniversary of the attack approached. Washington sent B-52 bombers to fly over the region in a warning to Iran against retaliatory attacks. Tehran have promised to avenge Suleimani's death while accusing the US of seeking grounds for another attack.
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused Mr Trump of trying to fabricate a "pretext for war" after he blamed Tehran for a rocket strike on the US embassy on December 20.
On Saturday, Mr Zarif suggested that Israel would try to provoke the US into launching attacks.
“New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans – putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli. Be careful of a trap,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs.”
On Friday, Iran’s judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi told a commemoration event at Tehran University that the US “will witness a severe revenge. What has come so far has only been glimpses.”
Iran-backed Iraqi militias have sought revenge by launching bomb and rocket attacks against the US Embassy in Baghdad, at military bases hosting American troops and at logistics convoys resupplying the bases. They have ignored the government's call to stop the attacks after the US threatened to close its embassy.
Earlier on Saturday prominent militia leaders visited the final resting place of Al Muhandis at Wadi Al Salam cemetery in the southern city of Najaf.
One of them was the leader of the Asaib Ahl Al Haq militia, Qais Al Khazali, who wrote in the visitors' book: "I swear to God that we will continue on their path and exact revenge."
Iraqi authorities have named the road to Baghdad airport after Al Muhandis. A big billboard has been set up along the route that shows Al Muhandis at the capital’s Tahrir Square with a smile on his face as he kneels to hug a child approaching him with a medal. Suleimani stands behind him in his familiar khaki uniform, holding flowers. Both men are surrounded by Iraqi men, women and children of all ages holding Iraqi and Iranian flags.
“Just for you, the symbol of heroism,” the billboard slogan reads.
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
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
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
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Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
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RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
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.”
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany - At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people - Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed - Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest - He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
