Debt. Crisis. Death. War. Hunger. Refugees. Terrorists. Islamophobia. Fear. Worry. Poverty. Global Warming. Disasters.
These are the words that are being used to describe 2015, a grim year filled with tragedies, including violations of human, animal and even the entire planet’s life, with the past two years recorded as the hottest in recent history.
Despite all this, there have been positive stories – the type that often get forgotten under the massive wave of negativity that sweeps through our news papers and social media.
Let us start by looking at the biggest story of the year, the refugee crisis.
Here is one example we should not forget: Abdul Halim Al Attar, a Palestinian refugee from Yarmouk in Syria, became the poster man of hope. His plight touched thousands of people’s hearts when a photograph of him selling cheap pens while carrying his daughter Reem on his shoulder in the streets of Beirut went viral online.
Today, he is running three businesses in Beirut after a crowdfunding campaign in his name collected $191,000 (Dh701,000). His life and the lives of his family and friends have changed completely, and he is now helping other Syrian refugees by employing them in his restaurant, bakery and kebab shop.
The generosity, kindness and dedication shown to refugees by humanitarians, activists and volunteers around the world should be applauded.
Then there are the sacrifices of those who protect us, keeping our homes, neighbourhoods and countries safe. We salute our men and women in uniform, and anyone who puts others before themselves. Soldiers, police, security guards, doctors, nurses, teachers, mothers and so many others make sacrifices for the rest of us.
There are also journalists who risk everything to expose injustice and give a voice to the voiceless. According to Reporters Without Borders, 110 journalists were killed around the world in 2015. They are heroes.
When it comes to terrorism, we tend to remember the attacks and the perpetrator, but not those who fight back against them.
In May, four Saudi men were killed while stopping an ISIL suicide bomber from entering a Shia mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Three were identified and hailed as heroes on social media: Abdul Jalil Al Arbash and his brother Mohammed, and their cousin Mohammad Hassan Ali bin Isa.
These young men had set up a volunteer checkpoint because of earlier attacks on Shia mosques. CCTV footage shows the suicide bomber, disguised as a woman in a black abaya, trying to enter the mosque but being stopped and pushed away before detonating the bomb. Hundreds were saved by this act of bravery.
In November, when Lebanon was reeling from twin suicide attacks that killed at least 45 people and wounded 200, news emerged of a hero by the name of Adel Termos. He was walking in an open-air market, Burj Al Barajneh, in south Beirut with his daughter when the first suicide bomber detonated his explosives. Amid the chaos, Termos spotted the second bomber preparing to blow himself up, and made the courageous move to tackle him to the ground. The bomb went off, killing Termos, but saving countless others, including his daughter.
There was also good news for the environment: rich and poor countries across the world have finally agreed to take steps to limit and adapt to climate change, a milestone reached in Paris at the Conference of the Parties, COP21.
My personal favourite story concerns what is also a dream of mine. While we have lost Jon Stewart as the host of The Daily Show this year, he now lives with his family on a 5-hectare farm that will become a sanctuary for abused factory animals.
The past year was filled with stories of kind-hearted people rescuing other people, rescuing animals and even knitting woolly jumpers for battery hens that were released from cages and could not stay warm.
Let us make 2016 even better by being more positively active ourselves. Every effort counts.
rghazal@thenational.ae
On Twitter:@Arabianmau
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
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.
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
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
