Huma Abedin, formerly Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff and author of ‘Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds’, speaking at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
Huma Abedin, formerly Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff and author of ‘Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds’, speaking at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
Attendees listening to the speakers at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi.
Attendees listening to the speakers at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi.
Cathie Wood, the founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of ARK Investment Management addresses the Forbes 30/50 Summit.
Cathie Wood, the founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of ARK Investment Management addresses the Forbes 30/50 Summit.
The Forbes 30/50 Summit is taking place March 6 to March 9, taking in International Women’s Day on March 8.
The Forbes 30/50 Summit is taking place March 6 to March 9, taking in International Women’s Day on March 8.
Naheed Farid, former member of the Afghanistan Parliament.
Naheed Farid, former member of the Afghanistan Parliament.
This year's event draws from the under 30 and over 50 age groups.
This year's event draws from the under 30 and over 50 age groups.
Pamela Winn, Founder and President, RestoreHER speaking at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi.
Pamela Winn, Founder and President, RestoreHER speaking at the Forbes 30/50 Summit at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi.
The Forbes 30/50 Summit aims to showcase the experience, wisdom and leadership skills of women around the world.
The Forbes 30/50 Summit aims to showcase the experience, wisdom and leadership skills of women around the world.
Randall Lane, chief content officer of Forbes, moderating at the summit.
Randall Lane, chief content officer of Forbes, moderating at the summit.
(L-R) Diane Brady, assistant managing editor at Forbes with Jenny Johnson, president and chief executive of Franklin Templeton.
(L-R) Diane Brady, assistant managing editor at Forbes with Jenny Johnson, president and chief executive of Franklin Templeton.
Maggie McGrath, editor of Forbes Women.
Maggie McGrath, editor of Forbes Women.
Forbes said it wants to create 'the greatest global event for women in history'.
Forbes said it wants to create 'the greatest global event for women in history'.
Hanan Sayed Worrel, author of 'Table Tales, The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi' showing her book at the Forbes 30/50 Summit.
Hanan Sayed Worrel, author of 'Table Tales, The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi' showing her book at the Forbes 30/50 Summit.
The audience listens to the speakers at the summit.
The audience listens to the speakers at the summit.
HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said, talks about mindfulness.
HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said, talks about mindfulness.
Forbes says it wants to 'use this event as a catalyst for change'.
Forbes says it wants to 'use this event as a catalyst for change'.
Mentoring is one of this year's important themes.
Mentoring is one of this year's important themes.
Fatima Bin Safwan, singer and songwriter, performs at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Fatima Bin Safwan, singer and songwriter, performs at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Speakers this year will include Jenny Just, Loren Gray and Lexi Underwood.
Speakers this year will include Jenny Just, Loren Gray and Lexi Underwood.
Yuliya Tychkivska, executive director of the Aspen Institute of Kyiv, addresses the audience.
Yuliya Tychkivska, executive director of the Aspen Institute of Kyiv, addresses the audience.
Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and adviser.
Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and adviser.
Solamia Boretska, chief executive and cofounder of LendoBox.
Solamia Boretska, chief executive and cofounder of LendoBox.
Tyra Banks, entrepreneur, supermodel and Emmy Award-winning television producer.
Tyra Banks, entrepreneur, supermodel and Emmy Award-winning television producer.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth.
Loren Gray, singer, model and online content creator.
Loren Gray, singer, model and online content creator.
Princess Lamia bint Majed Saud, secretary general and member of the board of trustees at Alwaleed Philanthrophies.
Princess Lamia bint Majed Saud, secretary general and member of the board of trustees at Alwaleed Philanthrophies.

UAE

Ukraine war and post-pandemic woes signal 'new world reality', Abu Dhabi summit hears

Political instability, populism and rampant inflation likely to last for years

Kelly Clarke
Kelly Clarke

March 07, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

As Ukraine crisis pushes Europe further into its worst conflict since the Second World War, the sanctions imposed on Russia by countries around the world mark an epochal change in the geopolitical scene.

The continuing conflict coupled with fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic will have far-reaching consequences for politics and the global economy, leading political advisers said in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Speaking at the Forbes 30/50 Summit, Huma Abedin, chief of staff to former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and adviser, gave a warning that the short-term impact of the Russian incursion in Ukraine would likely be rising prices and intensified deglobalisation.

I think that the period of time where people from rich, industrialised countries don't have to pay attention to politics is probably over
Tina Fordham,
geopolitical strategist and advisor

“I think that the period of time where people from rich, industrialised countries don't have to pay attention to politics is probably over,” said Ms Fordham.

“Now, we're in an inflationary environment. We're in a tightening environment, where commodities, prices and supply chain risks are coming out of the pandemic.

“So if we take the combination of factors here, we have both the pandemic, which was a massive deglobalising event and now this conflict.

“I think it's the beginning of a new geopolitical epoch because the other conflicts that have taken place in our personal and professional lifetimes haven't been systemic.”

As the world transitions into a post Covid-19 era, Ms Fordham said it will face periodic disruptions for some time.

Cars are left abandoned on a road as residents flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine after days of heavy shelling. Reuters
Cars are left abandoned on a road as residents flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine after days of heavy shelling. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier helps a family fleeing from Irpin. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier helps a family fleeing from Irpin. Reuters
A bus passes the Duke of Wellington statue, which has a traffic cone in the colours of the flag of Ukraine placed on top of it, in Glasgow, Scotland. AP
A bus passes the Duke of Wellington statue, which has a traffic cone in the colours of the flag of Ukraine placed on top of it, in Glasgow, Scotland. AP
Ukrainian children sleep at the reception point at the train station in Przemysl, Poland. Reuters
Ukrainian children sleep at the reception point at the train station in Przemysl, Poland. Reuters
Smoke rises as a Ukrainian soldier stands by the only escape route used by locals to flee from the town of Irpin. Reuters
Smoke rises as a Ukrainian soldier stands by the only escape route used by locals to flee from the town of Irpin. Reuters
A man flees from Irpin. Reuters
A man flees from Irpin. Reuters
A screengrab from footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry shows a purported Russian tank unit advancement in the Kyiv region. AFP
A screengrab from footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry shows a purported Russian tank unit advancement in the Kyiv region. AFP
People walk on debris of residential buildings damaged by shelling in the Zhytomyr region. Reuters
People walk on debris of residential buildings damaged by shelling in the Zhytomyr region. Reuters
A damaged residential building after Russian multiple rocket launchers shelled the area in the southern city of Mykolaiv. AFP
A damaged residential building after Russian multiple rocket launchers shelled the area in the southern city of Mykolaiv. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers sit in their armoured vehicle after fighting against Russian troops and Russia-backed separatists near Zolote village, Luhansk region. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers sit in their armoured vehicle after fighting against Russian troops and Russia-backed separatists near Zolote village, Luhansk region. AFP
A woman offers accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine at the main railway station in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
A woman offers accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine at the main railway station in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
A soldier holds a helmet as a wedding crown during the ceremony for members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces Lesia Ivashchenko and Valerii Fylymonov, at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
A soldier holds a helmet as a wedding crown during the ceremony for members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces Lesia Ivashchenko and Valerii Fylymonov, at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian soldiers carry a woman fleeing the town of Irpin. AP
Ukrainian soldiers carry a woman fleeing the town of Irpin. AP
A factory and warehouse burn after being bombarded in Irpin. AP
A factory and warehouse burn after being bombarded in Irpin. AP
Ukrainian soldiers near Zolote. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers near Zolote. AFP
A Ukrainian refugee boy, wearing a blanket on his shoulders, warms his hands with a gas heater shortly after crossing the Siret border into northern Romania. EPA
A Ukrainian refugee boy, wearing a blanket on his shoulders, warms his hands with a gas heater shortly after crossing the Siret border into northern Romania. EPA
People demonstrate against the Russian military operation in Ukraine in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA
People demonstrate against the Russian military operation in Ukraine in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA
First responders work at the scene after a missile hit a building at Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. Reuters
First responders work at the scene after a missile hit a building at Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. Reuters
A woman at a checkpoint on the road to Kyiv after her evacuation from a nearby town. AFP
A woman at a checkpoint on the road to Kyiv after her evacuation from a nearby town. AFP
A placard in the Ukrainian colours is held up at an anti-war demonstration the Bebelplatz square in Berlin, Germany. Reuters
A placard in the Ukrainian colours is held up at an anti-war demonstration the Bebelplatz square in Berlin, Germany. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman helps an elderly woman in Irpin, 20 kilometres north-west of the capital Kyiv. AP Photo
A Ukrainian serviceman helps an elderly woman in Irpin, 20 kilometres north-west of the capital Kyiv. AP Photo
Protesters cry during a demonstration in support of Ukraine at the Plaza Catalunya square in Barcelona. AFP
Protesters cry during a demonstration in support of Ukraine at the Plaza Catalunya square in Barcelona. AFP
A man walks past a machine gun at a checkpoint next to the last bridge on the road that connects the town of Stoyanka to the outskirts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv. AFP
A man walks past a machine gun at a checkpoint next to the last bridge on the road that connects the town of Stoyanka to the outskirts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv. AFP
Ukrainian servicemen put a wounded man on a stretcher in Irpin. AP Photo
Ukrainian servicemen put a wounded man on a stretcher in Irpin. AP Photo
People board a train to return to Ukraine after getting supplies in Zahony, Hungary. AP Photo
People board a train to return to Ukraine after getting supplies in Zahony, Hungary. AP Photo
Balloons in the colors of Ukraine during a demonstration against the Russian attack on Ukraine, in Mainz, Germany. AP
Balloons in the colors of Ukraine during a demonstration against the Russian attack on Ukraine, in Mainz, Germany. AP
A Ukrainian girl helps to weave a camouflage net for the Ukrainian army, in Odesa. EPA
A Ukrainian girl helps to weave a camouflage net for the Ukrainian army, in Odesa. EPA
Molotov cocktails prepared by a group of volunteers in Odesa. Hundreds are made every day. EPA
Molotov cocktails prepared by a group of volunteers in Odesa. Hundreds are made every day. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen assist people fleeing the town of Irpin after crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian air strike. AP Photo
Ukrainian servicemen assist people fleeing the town of Irpin after crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian air strike. AP Photo
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, while assisting people fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. AP Photo
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, while assisting people fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. AP Photo
Marina Yatsko and her boyfriend Fedor comfort each other at a hospital in Mariupol after her 18-month-old son Kirill was killed by shelling. AP Photo
Marina Yatsko and her boyfriend Fedor comfort each other at a hospital in Mariupol after her 18-month-old son Kirill was killed by shelling. AP Photo
Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training in a cinema in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP Photo
Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training in a cinema in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP Photo
Residents flee the town of Irpin, near Kyiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Residents flee the town of Irpin, near Kyiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Ukrainian soldiers carry a sick woman as civilians flee Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, after Russian attacks. AP Photo
Ukrainian soldiers carry a sick woman as civilians flee Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, after Russian attacks. AP Photo
Captured Russian soldiers at a press conference in the Interfax news agency in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Captured Russian soldiers at a press conference in the Interfax news agency in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Ukrainians beneath a destroyed bridge in Irpin. AP Photo
Ukrainians beneath a destroyed bridge in Irpin. AP Photo
A woman fleeing Ukraine on a bus near the border crossing in Korczowa, Poland. AP Photo
A woman fleeing Ukraine on a bus near the border crossing in Korczowa, Poland. AP Photo
A Ukrainian soldier and a militia man help a fleeing family on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. AP Photo
A Ukrainian soldier and a militia man help a fleeing family on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. AP Photo
Smoke rises after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol. AP Photo
Smoke rises after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol. AP Photo
People at a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol. AP Photo
People at a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol. AP Photo
Displaced Ukrainians at the Resurrection New Athos Monastery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP
Displaced Ukrainians at the Resurrection New Athos Monastery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

“We're not necessarily going to have central banks able to suppress volatility, which has allowed us all to not have to pay attention to politics or price rises or other things,” she said.

“It's going to be difficult for leaders, and I think that there will be repercussions and consequences across sectors and geographies.”

Ms Abedin, who has worked alongside Ms Clinton for more than two decades, said the Russian attacks in Ukraine have highlighted the brunt that women and children face in the midst of war.

“[On the news] I watched a family killed on a bridge [in Ukraine] yesterday. A mother and her two children,” she said.

“Our hearts and minds are very much on what's happening in the world right now, but simultaneously seeing the defiance and the strength of the Ukrainian people has been just extraordinary.

“I think we're learning from Ukraine, both the leadership and also the citizens, of what it is to fight, to be a patriot, to fight for your country, to fight for what you believe in, to fight for your truth.”

Calling the crisis “the world’s new reality”, Ms Fordham and Ms Abedin said this was a war of information and misinformation.

They said the widespread protests across Russia are especially notable, considering that you can be imprisoned for 15 years for protesting, while at the same time there is a fair amount of public support for this conflict by Russians.

“I think that leads to another point, this isn't just a kinetic conflict, it's an information war,” said Ms Fordham.

“And that's another weapon that we saw to a very detrimental effect during the pandemic, that information can be used and people can be mobilised around, to the extent to which we can have a significant proportion of a population living literally in a parallel universe.

“Family members living in Ukraine and Russia are having entirely different conversations. I mean, Russians are not hearing the truth.”

On Monday, as Ukraine accused Moscow of intensifying shelling in the country, the Russian Defence Ministry said humanitarian corridors will be opened in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy.

The ceasefire — at 10am Moscow time (11am UAE time) — came at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Interfax reported.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

On Women's Day
UAE rugby season

FIXTURES

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers v Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Division 1

Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II

Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II

Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens

Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II

Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II

 

LAST SEASON

West Asia Premiership

Winners – Bahrain

Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership

Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners – Dubai Hurricanes

Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference

Winners – Dubai Tigers

Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Multitasking pays off for money goals

Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.

That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.

"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.

Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."

People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.

"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."

More on this story:
'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Tomorrow 2021
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
On Women's Day
LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

UAE currency
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

More on animal trafficking
Tomorrow 2021
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20three%20212.7kWh%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2C000bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%2C600Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20530km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh500%2C000%2B%20est%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eearly%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Takestep%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohamed%20Khashaba%2C%20Mohamed%20Abdallah%2C%20Mohamed%20Adel%20Wafiq%20and%20Ayman%20Taha%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20health%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2011%20full%20time%20and%2022%20part%20time%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20pre-Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
While you're here

SPECS

Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh184,500

On Women's Day
Updated: March 08, 2022, 5:32 AM`
RussiaUkraineUAE