"Crimes against humanity." It is with these three words that the US Vice President Kamala Harris used her keynote speech at the Munich Security Conference to further escalate the rhetoric against Russia. Ms Harris said Russia had committed grave crimes, a matter she called an “undisputed fact”, stressing the continued “trans-Atlantic” commitment to help Ukraine.
The 59th Munich Security Conference has largely been dominated by the war as it approaches its first anniversary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the main hall on the first day calling for further support, while the leaders of Germany, Chancellor Olaf Sholz, and France, President Emmanuel Macron, were among others who expressed their continued commitment to the country. The mood in Munich amongst Ukrainian and Western representatives on Russia is clear: no diplomacy or compromise.
Yet, the mood is different towards China. While there appears to be continued US escalation, particularly after the shooting down of a reported Chinese surveillance balloon, the European position appears more nuanced. Ms Harris was preceded on stage by Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee and China’s top diplomat, who described the US shooting down of the “balloon” as “hysterical”, while stressing the importance of ties with Europe.
China came with a message of collaboration, stressing that not only is the world in need of North-South co-operation, but also South-South co-operation. In addition to diplomatic representation, a number of leading Chinese analysts were in attendance. Having been cut off attendance due to Covid-19, they came with a clear message that “China was opening up” and wanted to work with the world, but particularly Europe. That was also the message Mr Wang also conveyed in Paris, where he was ahead of coming to Munich.
China is looking to solidify its relations with Europe at a time of heightened tension with Washington. The White House read out of Ms Harris’s meeting with Mr Macron and Mr Sholz said that she "discussed challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, including the importance of upholding the rules-based order, and agreed to remain closely aligned”. As the Munich conference was taking place, the Pentagon's top China official, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase arrived in Taiwan, according to Reuters.
China was present in a number of sessions in Munich, including in a discussion on microchips, but also in sessions entitled “#WarTok- (Social) media as a game-changer in warfare”, in a clear play on Chinese-owned Tiktok and another, “Balloons, quantum &co.. what else do we not know about Chinese technology?”.
While Ukraine and China dominated, there were two main sessions on Saturday related to the Middle East. The first was in a packed townhall on the future of the protest movement – and regime – in Iran. Reza Pahlavi, the oldest son of the former Iranian Shah, actress Nazanin Bonaidi (who is also an Ambassador for Amnesty International) and Iranian activist Masih Alinajad were among the speakers urging Western leaders to isolate the Iranian government. No Iranian official was invited and the message from Munich appears to be that talks with the Iranian government for the EU and the US are stalled without a horizon to restart.
The other key session was that of the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani who declared that “there is no longer ISIS presence in Iraq... only troublesome individuals”. He spoke of his government’s priorities, while denying the influence of Iran on the country, calling questions about it part of a campaign “to confuse matters”.
Mr Al-Sudani was a sought after man this weekend, with back-to-back meetings, including with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The Munich Security Conference - in pictures:
The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
The years Ramadan fell in May
Jetour T1 specs
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Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
The First Monday in May
Director: Andrew Rossi
Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars
PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
