When Covid-19 took the planet by storm in the early months of 2020, forcing billions of people into lockdowns, closing borders and paralysing the global economy, it soon became clear to most people that we were living in a world forever changed. Nearly three years later, the lesson of 2022 may be best captured by the old French adage: “The more things change, the more they stay the same”.
From the invasion of Ukraine to growing Sino-American tensions, and from the rise of extremist governments in several countries to the continued challenge of reaching a viable global agreement on climate change, 2022 has shown us that the problems of the pre-Covid world, like a chronic illness, still linger. The pandemic has receded in most countries, but war, economic inequality, ideological extremism and environmental degradation have returned to the foreground.
In the Middle East, in particular, this phenomenon has been brought into sharp focus by the fact that little progress has been made in solving the region’s most persistent troubles. The war in Yemen, despite a fragile truce, remains unresolved. As does the conflict in Syria, where a stalemate has left millions of people in the country’s north in the hands of competing militias and millions around the country in dire economic conditions.
In Lebanon and Iraq, political intractability, rather than large-scale violence, has degraded everyday life, as well as the natural environment – though in both countries violence continues to play its role. In Israel, the year closes with the inauguration of the most extreme right-wing government in the country’s history. In Iran, a protest movement that has attracted international solidarity for the country’s women has yet to produce any meaningful change on a national level. And in neighbouring Afghanistan, the Taliban government has proven increasingly intent on snuffing out any hope for women altogether.
The problems of the pre-Covid world, like a chronic illness, still linger
The silver lining is that the region, like the world at large, has dealt with a particularly trying year with remarkable resilience, thanks to the persistence of those who believe in a better future. Many leaders in the worlds of business and politics have worked double-time to enhance regional integration and further the cause of diplomacy.
While February will come to be remembered as the month that Russia invaded Ukraine, it also saw a warming, after many years, of relations between the UAE and Turkey – two states whose ties will prove critical in achieving greater integration and prosperity in the region. October saw the signing of a major maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon, demonstrating once again the role of pragmatic thinking in forging a path to peace. In November, Egypt, the region’s most populous country, hosted the Cop27 climate summit, and gave new voice to developing countries in the global conversation on climate change. The UAE will progress these efforts next year as it hosts Cop28. And this month, Qatar made the Arab world proud by successfully hosting one of the most thrilling World Cups in living memory.
In 2022, the role of wise leadership was eminently clear, not only from the leaders who guided the world towards progress but also those whom the world lost. The stream of world leaders who came to Abu Dhabi in quick succession to pay their respects after the passing of Sheikh Khalifa in May highlighted the significance of such figures both at home and abroad. When Queen Elizabeth died five months later, the world was reminded again of the importance of leadership.
The more things stay the same, the greater our impetus to change them for the better. This year may have seen mixed results when it comes to our ability to achieve progress, but it has seen no diminishment in our desire for it. Throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, millions of people want to see a post-Covid world brought closer together, with greater integration, mutual understanding, tolerance and respect. It is the kind of world that may seem far as next year approaches, but if there is one more lesson to be drawn from 2022, it is that a year is plenty of time for fortunes to change.
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
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THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%203-litre%20V6%20turbo%20(standard%20model%2C%20E-hybrid)%3B%204-litre%20V8%20biturbo%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20350hp%20(standard)%3B%20463hp%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20467hp%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20500Nm%20(standard)%3B%20650Nm%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20600Nm%20(S)%0D%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh368%2C500%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Company%20profile
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Zayed Sustainability Prize
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
