How does anyone solve problems as complicated as the ones that plague Iraq? The answer remains illusive.
Addressing domestic challenges, such as unemployment, endemic corruption and security breaches, is part of the solution. Iraq is in need of internal solutions and external support. The country faces inconsistent diplomacy from its western allies, which is often overhauled whenever power changes in Washington or other capitals. Iraq also endures intense foreign interference from groups with no interest in its citizens' prosperity. Strong bilateral and regional ties could benefit the country and the wider region.
Monday's visit by a GCC delegation to Iraq should give the nation hope as it deals with these problems. A 2019 visit to Baghdad by former secretary general Abdullatif Al Zayani and a subsequent spate of visits by Iraqi officials to Gulf capitals laid the foundations for closer ties. During the most recent visit, Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf said that member states will support Iraq as it tries to bolster sovereignty, stability and prosperity.
Baghdad is struggling on multiple fronts. There are fears that terrorist groups, particularly ISIS, could be using conditions created by the pandemic and general instability to increase their operations. On January 21, ISIS suicide bombers killed 32 civilians and wounded dozens in the capital. On Monday, British jets struck two targets in northern Iraq associated with the group. Last week, the Iraqi military killed a senior ISIS commander, who had claimed to be the group's "deputy caliph".
The support of a united GCC could provide timely help for the region, by the region.
Dissatisfaction at corruption and foreign interference also needs to be urgently addressed. Not doing so puts at risk the hopes for a better future among Iraqi citizens. Demonstrators have been calling for change since October 2019, with activists and protesters targeted by militias and extremists.
Diplomatic attempts to solve deeply entrenched problems are difficult to come by in Iraq. This is precisely why the GCC's renewed confidence in those efforts represents a refreshing development.
The UAE is already involved in the reconstruction of various sites in Mosul, a historically significant city devastated after its occupation by ISIS, and there have been previous efforts by Gulf states to support the nation financially. In 2018, a conference held in Kuwait on Iraqi reconstruction pledged support amounting to $30 billion.
Monday's discussions focused in part on the nature of a constructive economic support package. Mr Al Hajraf announced the GCC's desire to hold a joint investment conference. Empowering the country's private sector is vital to tackling youth unemployment rates that are said to be at 25 per cent. Bordering major economies such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gives Iraq an opportunity to open new fronts of economic activity, where it could replicate the success of its joint industrial zone with neighbouring Jordan. Delegates discussed progress on a plan to connect Iraq to the GCC's power grid, something that would provide much-needed cheap and reliable electricity to support the country's population and its economic development. Further collaboration between the two could have other major economic benefits, given their huge oil reserves and young, ambitious populations.
Editorials from The National
January's GCC summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, reinvigorated a bloc that has historically had serious diplomatic heft in the Middle East. By supporting Baghdad, the GCC imprints its constructive ambitions on the region, which offer hope and a path out of the political quagmire of recent years. Its engagement with Iraq would also balance out the more nefarious influence of other foreign actors there.
Iraq is struggling. The support of a united GCC could provide timely help for the region, by the region.
Pathaan
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MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
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 specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
The five pillars of Islam
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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More coverage from the Future Forum
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
Company%20profile
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Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
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