Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan, the new chairman of the International Monetary and Finance Committee, on Friday called the rise in geopolitical tension "concerning", as the Gaza war threatens to spill over across the region.
During a press conference at IMF headquarters in Washington, Mr Al Jadaan noted such tension could have negative consequences for the world economy.
But he added that the IMFC was not the forum to resolve geopolitical issues.
“While recognising the IMFC is not the forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues and these issues will be discussed in other forums, IMFC members acknowledged that these situations have significant impacts on the global economy,” he said in a statement, referring to issues such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Red Sea shipping disruptions
He added that “today’s era must not be of war and conflict”.
Mr Al Jadaan's comments came at the conclusion of a week in which missile and drone strikes by Iran against Israel sparked fears that the Gaza war could draw other countries in the conflict.
Israel reportedly responded with an attack on a military base in Isfahan on Thursday night, but Tehran has so far played down the attack and signalled it would not retaliate.
Against the backdrop of geopolitical tension, higher interest rates and uneven economic activity, the IMFC said it remains important for countries to achieve price stability and strengthen their fiscal buffers.
“Obviously, advanced economies and emerging markets are in a lot better position than low-income countries. And basically, the focus is resilience,” Mr Al Jadaan said.
“We need to make sure that we provide that support. The IMFC members will continue to look for ways to provide our low-income country members with the support that is needed.”
Mr Al Jadaan added that IMF precautionary balances reaching 25 billion special drawing rights – an international reserve asset – will provide “a very good buffer” for the fund to use.
He also said the IMFC had agreed to finalise its domestic approvals from the October meetings by November.
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva, meanwhile, welcomed the commitments the UAE has made to the Resilience and Sustainability Trust.
“Much work to to follow on, but I … came out from the meeting really impressed by the ability of the membership to come together and I'm sure that we will build on today's momentum because the world needs that,” she said.
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Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
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Article 15
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Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
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- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Our legal consultant
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1. |
United States |
2. |
China |
3. |
UAE |
4. |
Japan |
5 |
Norway |
6. |
Canada |
7. |
Singapore |
8. |
Australia |
9. |
Saudi Arabia |
10. |
South Korea |
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