US-Canada relations have deteriorated in recent times, in part due to the poor equation between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau. AP Photo
US-Canada relations have deteriorated in recent times, in part due to the poor equation between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau. AP Photo
US-Canada relations have deteriorated in recent times, in part due to the poor equation between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau. AP Photo
US-Canada relations have deteriorated in recent times, in part due to the poor equation between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau. AP Photo

Canada should look past the US election outcome


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The US presidential election is always a cause for consternation, and often alarm, around the world. The US is a global hegemon, with military and economic interests far beyond its borders. But the anxiety is even more pronounced in neighbouring countries, which will have to grapple with the outcome of one of the most divisive elections in generations.

The worry is palpable here in Canada, which has endured a rocky relationship with its southern neighbour and one of its oldest allies. Tensions over the past four years took the form of undiplomatic asides and tweets by US President Donald Trump against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing him of being a "phony", to more serious repercussions such as the fraying of the Nato alliance and the ethos of multilateralism, the acrimonious renegotiation of the Nafta trade deal and ongoing threats and impositions of tariffs and other economic weapons.

But the alarm here has taken on a different tone in recent months because of ongoing civil unrest in the US and the threat of violence in the aftermath of a contested election, given Mr Trump's repeated refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses and the looming threat of white nationalist groups. The election and the cacophony surrounding it such as the debates and latest controversies receive blow-by-blow coverage from the Canadian national broadcaster, drowning out by its incessant din important stories such as a recent charity group scandal involving the Prime Minister, ballooning coronavirus cases and failures in the response to them.

Prominent commentators and analysts say that Canada must plan for the possibility of serious instability in the US regardless of the outcome of the election, save perhaps for a landslide Joe Biden victory.

The existential angst is understandable, partly because of the damage that four years of Mr Trump has done to the Canada-US alliance and to the national and social fabric down south, and it can be easy to lose perspective amid the daily scandals. But Canadians can do little but watch with a sense of foreboding as election day draws closer, so near and yet so far when every day is an eternity lengthened by every outrage and the Covid-19 pandemic in the background.

That is why countries such as Canada should focus on areas where they can make a difference regardless of the occupant in the White House. Even if Mr Biden were to win, it will take a long time to undo some of the damage that the incumbent wreaked on issues such as environmental treaties, the rules-based international order, decades-old alliances that underwrite global security, and the defence of fundamental human rights.

Canada must assume leadership on the Paris climate agreement even though the US has withdrawn from it. AP Photo
Canada must assume leadership on the Paris climate agreement even though the US has withdrawn from it. AP Photo
Rebuilding alliances and defending causes through multilateralism will do more good than continuing to reel from the despondency and hysteria tearing through the US

They can do so by continuing to co-operate in fighting global challenges even as America emerges from or wallows in the throes of nationalist isolation – by continuing to work to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus and ensuring that it is widely available globally beyond the developed world, by continuing to push for adherence to the Paris climate agreement and to supporting other environmental initiatives, by continuing to advocate and mediate in persistent and intractable conflicts such as the ones in Syria and Palestine, by continuing to advocate for humane and sustainable solutions to the global refugee and migration crisis, and by continuing to stand up for the pivotal human rights issues of our times.

Rebuilding these alliances and defending these causes through multilateralism to strengthen the world more generally will do more good than continuing to reel from the despondency and hysteria tearing through the US. And that world will be there when America decides to rejoin it.

Kareem Shaheen is a veteran Middle East correspondent in Canada and a columnist for The National

'I Want You Back'

Director:Jason Orley

Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day

Rating:4/5

CREW
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

THE BIO

BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.

Why are you, you?

Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.

Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.

 Ben Okri,

Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

Intercontinental Cup

Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19

Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile

Started: 2016

Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel 

Based: Ramallah, Palestine

Sector: Technology, Security

# of staff: 13

Investment: $745,000

Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Australia tour of Pakistan

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi  

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi 

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up