ABU DHABI // The former president of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, has stressed the urgent need for UAE financial aid to help with the crisis in Somalia.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Centre for Technology and Economic Development conference in the capital yesterday, Mr Rawlings said: "Africa is Africa and you don't turn down any opportunity to assist your brothers and sisters."
The two-day annual event, organised by New York University in Abu Dhabi, focused on how to enhance economic development in African countries through technology and innovation.
Food security, energy, education and health care were at the top of the agenda.
Mr Rawlings, the African Union envoy to Somalia, said he was thankful for the "occasional assistance" towards the famine but stressed the need to go beyond that.
In the past year Somalia has been plagued by famine, drought and violence from the conflict between the armed forces and the Islamist insurgent group Al Shabab, which last week announced its official allegiance to Al Qaeda.
The former military dictator who became elected president, and who ruled Ghana for two decades, said making a change would not be easy, but would be possible with aid from the UAE Government and the international community.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the Minister of Foreign Trade, who inaugurated the conference, said the Government was making big investments in the field of technology and was excited about the considerable trade opportunities Africa represents.
Non-oil trade between the Emirates and African countries more than octupled between 2001 and 2010, to US$14.5 billion (Dh53.2bn) from $1.7bn, Sheikha Lubna said.
A self-professed "techie" with a degree in computer science, Sheikha Lubna said she had seen how technology had influenced the growth of the UAE economy.
"This is something I would like Africa and other developing regions in the world to experience as well," she said.
Sheikha Lubna said many of the fastest growing nations in the world were in Africa, including Ghana, which was last year the second-fastest growing economy in the world at 13.6 per cent.
She said it was important to understand the "full spectrum" of the various African governments and industries to be able to properly adapt and optimise technology to the continent.
"This is the rationale behind today's gathering: to share our experiences as nations, governments and industry leaders in technology-enabled growth," Sheikha Lubna said.
molson@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA