As the UN’s 75th General Assembly comes to a close, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, delivered an address yesterday that encapsulates the country’s vision for the future, highlighting opportunities and challenges that stand in the way of a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East.
Polarisation has increased in the Arab world, and conflicts, in the words of Sheikh Abdullah, have become “dangerously regionalised”. This trend has been particularly noticeable with respect to Turkish interventionism. From Libya to Syria and now on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ankara has espoused a bellicose approach to international affairs, taking advantage of regional instabilities to advance its own agenda.
Iran has also pursued a strategy of division, meddling in the domestic affairs of Arab nations and funding dangerous proxies. In Yemen, Tehran backs the Houthi rebels, who have waged war against the internationally recognised government for years, undermining efforts at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. Iran also backs Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a powerful terrorist group that has sent the country into political deadlock even as it faces economic and social collapse. Curbing Tehran’s influence requires concerted diplomatic efforts that a flawed nuclear deal from which the US withdrew in 2018 did not deliver. A new deal is needed that limits Iran’s ballistic missile programme and prevents the regime from funding proxies.
"Despite these mounting global threats, the UAE believes that we can transform unprecedented challenges into great opportunities," Sheikh Abdullah told the General Assembly. He repeated the UAE’s support for a global ceasefire, which the UN had called for at the onset of the pandemic, and the country’s firm belief that peace is possible, from Libya to Yemen and Syria, through negotiations and the political process.
The UAE is a strong proponent of international co-operation and multilateralism. Last month, the Emirates became the third Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, in exchange for which Israel has agreed to halt the annexation of Palestinian land.
The Abraham Accord, as the peace agreement is known, has the potential to be a foundation for a more comprehensive regional peace that takes into account the need for Palestinian statehood and Israel’s security concerns.
Overcoming difficulties takes time and preparation, and, as the pandemic has demonstrated, it also requires international co-operation and solidarity
Even as the world faces a global health crisis, an economic recession and rising tensions in the Middle East and beyond, there is still much cause for hope. The UAE has managed to overcome obstacles and continue planning for the future. For the Emirates, 2020 has been a year for planning for the country’s next 50 years, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021. This means investing in the future of education, agriculture and technology so that the UAE can be more self-reliant and prepare for a post-pandemic world. From launching a Mars probe to starting the first nuclear reactor in the Arab world, the UAE has made this a year of possibilities. The UAE has also set a mass Covid-19 testing campaign, which has helped to keep coronavirus cases under control and helped support various sectors.
Yet, overcoming difficulties takes time and preparation. As the pandemic has demonstrated, it also requires international co-operation and solidarity. The UAE has applied these lessons at home. As the region becomes increasingly divided, the success story of the Emirates can inspire others to follow in the nation’s footsteps and choose the path of peace.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
The Byblos iftar in numbers
29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month
50 staff members required to prepare an iftar
200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly
160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total
500 litres of soup is served during the holy month
200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes
350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes
5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')
Morecambe 0
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
