As the Qatar crisis ticks closer to the two-month mark, two contrasting paths are being towed by the opposing sides.
On the one hand, the quartet of nations has consistently focused on the clear presentation of the root causes of the rift and the changes that Qatar needs to make in order for the dispute to be defused.
On the other side, Doha has preferred to obfuscate. Representatives of the Gulf state have also often resorted to shrill rhetoric, which tends to focus on the hurt and outrage they feel at the quartet’s boycott, rather than addressing the reasons behind the rupture. On one side of the dispute there is clarity of thought, on the other there is the cacophony of confusion.
As Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to Washington, said recently: “Our disagreement is about what the future of the Middle East should look like ... What we’ve seen Qatar do for the past 10 to 15 years is support groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Taliban, Islamist militias in Syria, Islamist militias in Libya — exactly the opposite direction we think our region needs to go.”
Mr Al Otaiba’s statements leave no room for doubt. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain have conclusive evidence of Qatar’s support for terror and extremism. This is the root cause of the dispute.
Compare this with the elaborate smokescreen thrown up by Qatar over Hajj. In a cynical attempt to politicise the pilgrimage, Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs was reported to have suspended registration for its citizens to attend Hajj, despite Saudi Arabia making it clear that all Qatari residents would be welcomed this year, as they have been in previous years, as indeed are Muslims from around the world. There are no exceptions.
The quartet made further statements in Manama on Sunday. Once again, the same clarity of thought was on display. There is no siege or blockade, despite what Doha may say. The demands are also clear: stop supporting terrorism and commit to meaningful dialogue. Formal negotiation and settlement must replace the empty rhetoric and broken promises of Qatar’s past.
And so we wait for the response from Doha. And we worry that it is still not ready to accept responsibility for its actions or ready to follow a more virtuous path. There is concern, too, that in its pronouncements over Hajj, Doha is beginning to use the playbook of Tehran, the region’s most prominent disruptor. No good will come of using such tactics.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20will%20host%20Scotland%20for%20a%20three-match%20T20I%20series%20at%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Stadium%20next%20month.%3Cbr%3EThe%20two%20sides%20will%20start%20their%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20campaigns%20with%20a%20tri-series%20also%20involving%20Canada%2C%20starting%20on%20January%2029.%3Cbr%3EThat%20series%20will%20be%20followed%20by%20a%20bilateral%20T20%20series%20on%20March%2011%2C%2013%20and%2014.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
more from Janine di Giovanni
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
