These pages have long argued that the Arab world must rise to meet the challenges it faces and take control of its own fate. And now, in an increasingly unpredictable world, that stance is more important than ever. Across the Middle East, conflict and its aftermath remain decisive threats to stability. Just days ago, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces defeated ISIS in Baghouz, the group's last stronghold, but Syria's future remains deeply uncertain. The Assad regime has vowed to retake all of the country – including SDF-controlled territory – which threatens to plunge Syria into another cycle of violence and render it fertile ground for an ISIS comeback. In the background looms the need to resolve Syria's humanitarian crisis and rebuild it and neighbouring Iraq. Arab states must play a proactive role in Syria's future - and in Iraq's - as regional powers vie for influence there.
Tehran remains a destabilising force throughout the Middle East. In war-torn Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have plunged the nation into civil war, while Hezbollah's influence has pervaded the highest echelons of Lebanon's government. Luckily, US and EU sanctions are undermining the endeavours of Iran and its proxies. Elsewhere in recent days, US President Donald Trump's recognition of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli, and ongoing Israeli shelling in Gaza, have pushed one of the region's most intractable conflicts back into the spotlight. The US stance clearly favours Israel, making it all the more crucial for Arab states to rally behind Palestinians and Arab interests. Meanwhile, Libya remains war-torn and divided as it stumbles towards precarious elections this year and in Algeria and Sudan, thousands have taken to the streets demanding a change of leadership.
There can be no better solution to these problems than a strong Arab regional order. During the Ideas Abu Dhabi Forum, held this week at New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash urged more cross-border unity in the Arab world amid divisions within Europe and between the US and China. As the region's challenges mount, there is an increased urgency for Arab states to safeguard their people from internal struggles and malign foreign influence.
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
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Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Read more about the coronavirus
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
