The UAE won’t rest in the war on terror, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah stressed in a recent newspaper interview. “Our position in the fight against terrorism, by standing against terrorist acts and organisations of all forms and types, has remained clear and consistent for decades,” he said. The fight against ISIL would continue with all “necessary support”.
Now, Jordan’s King Abdullah, has reiterated just how seriously the region views the threat posed by the militants. Speaking in the US before meeting Barack Obama on Friday, the king said that the war against ISIL was a “fight between good and evil” and called for stepped up action against the group. It was clear that he didn’t speak lightly and took the broadest possible view of the poisonous hate and brutal extremism espoused by such radical groups.
In a narrower sense, of course, Jordan is severely threatened by the unrest in the region. The spillover from the Syrian civil war has swelled that small country’s population by up to 15 per cent.
But both King Abdullah and Sheikh Abdullah have highlighted the broad, dangerously existential threat posed by ISIL. Moderate, outward looking Muslim countries like Jordan and the UAE are role models that ISIL, and radicals like them, would happily see wiped out.
More than any other single topic, what is to be done about ISIL was discussed over the weekend at the Manama Dialogue, an international security conference in Bahrain. Representatives came not merely from western and Gulf countries, but from Egypt, Yemen and Iraq, all of which are threatened by the rise of radicalism.
Taken together, these developments emphasise the importance of eliminating the scourge of radicalism. What is happening in Syria and Iraq is threatening the region for two reasons. Instability is making millions homeless and driving people into refugee camps. More serious by far, is the threat that radical groups like ISIL pose to the idea of openness, innovation and equality, which characterise moderate Arab societies. This is why both Jordan and the UAE have taken such a forceful line against ISIL. Nothing would please the militants more than taking these open societies and turning them into barbaric, inward looking ones. King Abdullah and Sheikh Abdullah make clear this will not be allowed to happen.
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
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
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
