In elections around the world different politicians in different countries make different promises. But wherever one is, or whoever we vote for, from the US to India to the UK (all countries that had elections in 2024) one issue beats every other. The universal issue is simply whether you and I believe we have enough money in our pockets or in savings to provide for ourselves and our families. That was neatly summed up by Bill Clinton\u2019s Democrats in the 1990s with the campaign slogan \u201cIt\u2019s the Economy, Stupid\u201d. It always is. <\/p>\n
Higher wages, lower prices, the standard of living we can enjoy are the keys to how we vote and the issues on which political parties win or lose power. The promise that beats every other may not be so crude as to tell voters \u201cVote for me and you\u2019ll get rich,\u201d but every election one way or another usually turns on variants of that simple slogan. And that\u2019s why there is a huge degree of nervousness in political and financial circles worldwide right now that a stock market boom may end with a worldwide economic bust and political instability. <\/p>\n
Pew Research in the US noted that the key issue for American voters in the 2024 presidential election was not newspaper stories about whether America was ready for a woman president nor whether Americans thought Donald Trump would bring peace to Gaza. It was that \u201ceight-in-ten registered voters (81 per cent) say the economy will be very important to their vote in the 2024 presidential election.\u201d The Democrats lost, and Mr Trump won \u2013 as the saying went, on the economy, stupid. <\/p>\n
In Britain, there was a lot of talk about immigration, but it was voters\u2019 belief in Conservative party mismanagement of the economy and high inflation that lost them election. The hope was that Labour might do better. In India Narendra Modi\u2019s BJP performed less well than many expected in what was the biggest democratic vote in world history. The BBC reported at the time that Prime Minister Modi saw the BJP returned to power but with a \u201csignificant drop in seats\u201d. Commentators explained the drop was \u201clinked to joblessness, rising prices, growing inequality.\u201d Yes, it was the economy, again, in India too. <\/p>\n
Those three elections in three very different democracies find echoes around the world. Whether you are Elon Musk counting his billions or a factory worker in Bhopal, an oil worker in the North Sea or a beef rancher in Texas, the political ideology that matters most to people is their self-interest. <\/p>\n
And that\u2019s why, despite the glowing, even at times astonishing, performance of stock markets reaching new heights in the past year, there remains a degree of nervousness right now from investors and politicians about the potential for what some fear could be a stock market crash. That has led to nervousness in governments about the likely effect on their economies and their citizens. <\/p>\n
Numerous reasons for this nervousness have been cited. One is the boom in Artificial Intelligence investments and fears that markets are over-excited, over-priced and therefore overdue for a fall<\/p>\n
Search online for whether you should be worried about a crash and there\u2019s no end of scare stories. \u201cAre we really heading for another 1929?\u201d was one British newspaper headline. \u201cNobody knows\u201d is the correct answer. Reuters had a more reasonable headline – \u201cG20 risk watchdog warns of potential for financial market crash.\u201d Then the head of JP Morgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, told the BBC that he was \u201cfar more worried than others\u201d about what is euphemistically called a stock market \u201ccorrection\u201d. <\/p>\n
Numerous reasons for this nervousness have been cited. One is the boom in Artificial Intelligence investments and fears that markets are over-excited, over-priced and therefore overdue for a fall. Others point out the good news that Mr Trump (for now at least) seems to have avoided a full-scale trade war with China over tariffs. <\/p>\n
But whatever the stock markets do, what concerns politicians in many countries is that ordinary people – voters – feel poorer and left behind by the stock market boom. In Britain inflation – most recently at 3.4 per cent – is lower than a year ago but the price of the weekly shop continues to rise. Pay has gone up 20 per cent since 2021 but prices have gone up 28 per cent. Fuel bills are high and getting higher. Pollsters conclude that more than half of Britain\u2019s homeowners may turn their thermostats down and have colder homes this winter. <\/p>\n
The boom or bubble in investments in AI and the gloom about a potential bust on Wall Street makes for sobering headlines, but for most of us around the world it\u2019s the prices on our local high street that really make a difference. <\/p>\n
Economic volatility leading to political volatility inevitably therefore has seen the rise of populist parties from Argentina to Europe and beyond. That\u2019s because populist leaders essentially promise to bring us relief in difficult times. But whatever our views about the promises of politicians or the pumped-up stock markets may be, we should all take note that the price of gold was $2700 an ounce a year ago. It is now more than $4000 an ounce. Why? Well, it\u2019s the economy, isn\u2019t it? <\/p>\n
RECORD%20BREAKER<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Barcelona%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%20years%20and%20290%20days%20v%20Real%20Betis%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20La%20Liga%20starter%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2038%20days%20v%20Cadiz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20register%20an%20assist%20in%20La%20Liga%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2045%20days%20v%20Villarreal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%20v%20Georgia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20goalscorer%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20score%20in%20a%20Euro%20qualifier%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
EA Sports FC 26<\/p>\n
Publisher: EA Sports<\/p>\n
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4\/5, Xbox Series X\/S<\/p>\n
Rating: 3\/5<\/p>\n
The specs<\/p>\n
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo<\/p>\n
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm<\/p>\n
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm<\/p>\n
Transmission: 9-speed auto<\/p>\n
Fuel consumption: 6.9L\/100km<\/p>\n
On sale: Now<\/p>\n
Price: From Dh117,059<\/p>\n
Specs<\/p>\n
Engine:\u00a0Duel electric motors
Power:\u00a0659hp
Torque:\u00a01075Nm
On sale:\u00a0Available for pre-order now
Price: On request<\/p>\n
Killing of Qassem SuleimaniCompany%20profile<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESplintr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammad%20AlMheiri%20and%20Badr%20AlBadr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20and%20Riyadh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epayments%20%2F%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10%20employees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%20seven-figure%20sum%20%2F%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eangel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
\nGeorge Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as \u2018Millionaires\u2019 Row\u2019.
\nThen came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
\nTurkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for \u00a350m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost \u00a380m.
\nOther residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney\u2019s former wife Heather Mills.\u00a0
\nHunting park to luxury living
\nLand was originally the Bishop of London’s hunting park, hence the name
\nThe road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
\nIts earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA<\/p>\n
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi<\/p>\n
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser<\/p>\n
Rating: 4.5\/5<\/p>\n
The biog<\/p>\n
Favourite books:\u00a0‘Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life’ by Jane D. Mathews and \u2018The Moment of Lift\u2019 by Melinda Gates<\/p>\n
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.<\/p>\n
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.<\/p>\n
Favourite quote:\u00a0\u201cIn the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders\u201d – Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.<\/p>\n
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile\u00a0<\/p>\n
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran<\/p>\n
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep<\/p>\n
COPA DEL REY<\/p>\n
Semi-final, first leg<\/p>\n
Barcelona 1 (Malcom\u00a057′)
Real Madrid (Vazquez\u00a06′)<\/p>\n
Second leg, February 27<\/p>\n
The%20specs<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
COMPANY%20PROFILE<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaldoon%20Bushnaq%20and%20Tariq%20Seksek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20100%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20to%20date%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2415%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
Getting%20there%20<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Ftravel%2F2023%2F01%2F12%2Fwhat-does-it-take-to-be-cabin-crew-at-one-of-the-worlds-best-airlines-in-2023%2F%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EEtihad%20Airways%20%3C%2Fa%3Eflies%20daily%20to%20the%20Maldives%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%20The%20journey%20takes%20four%20hours%20and%20return%20fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C995.%20Opt%20for%20the%203am%20flight%20and%20you%E2%80%99ll%20land%20at%206am%2C%20giving%20you%20the%20entire%20day%20to%20adjust%20to%20island%20time.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERound%20trip%20speedboat%20transfers%20to%20the%20resort%20are%20bookable%20via%20Anantara%20and%20cost%20%24265%20per%20person.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
The White Lotus: Season three<\/p>\n
Creator: Mike White<\/p>\n
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell<\/p>\n
Rating: 4.5\/5<\/p>\n
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)<\/p>\n
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n
Jetour T1 specs<\/p>\n
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged<\/p>\n
Power: 254hp<\/p>\n
Torque: 390Nm<\/p>\n
Price: From Dh126,000<\/p>\n
Available: Now<\/p>\n
French business<\/p>\n