Top Arab and western officials will meet in Manama to discuss and present their policies over pressing regional security as the conflict in Ukraine continues to affect the region.
The summit will be opened by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who will deliver the keynote address. The annual event in Bahrain is hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and is a central element of Middle East security architecture.
“How regional countries will position themselves and try to navigate those turbulent times is going to be at the heart of this year’s discussion,” said Emile Hokayem, IISS’s senior fellow for Middle East security.
“We have seen detente across the board. However, we have not seen it translate into solid agreements, security arrangements, and so the region remains in turmoil,” Mr Hokayem said.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has added a new level of geopolitical and economic strife to which the Middle East is very exposed, he said.
Leaders attending the summit will include Pentagon policy chief Colin Kahl, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak and other top regional officials.
The theme of this year’s conference is Rules and Competition in the Middle East.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had crippling effects on the Middle East and exposed geopolitical tensions between the region and the US.
“While some states are profiting from higher oil prices, the conflict has exposed both latent and new tensions in US–Gulf relations,” said John Raine, IISS’s senior adviser for geopolitical due diligence.
"For those two reasons the Arab and Gulf region is focused on the cause and outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
Iran will also be on the summit’s agenda as anti-government protests have continued for for more two months since the death of Maha Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman.
Amini was detained by the morality police for allegedly not abiding by the country’s strict dress code.
They are taking place throughout Iran and in all of Iran’s provinces.
“We are also seeing a strong response from the regime. It’s gone for both physical and virtual clampdown on the protesters,” he said.
Iran’s government is unsettled and has realised that it has “lost its legitimacy” or “is in danger of losing its legitimate appeal”.
“This is not a regime that has very many negotiation rooms,” he said.
Hundreds of people have been arrested and killed during the uprising.
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
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The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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