An international task force under UN protection should be used to gain access to Ukraine's grain stores and prevent a global food crisis as the conflict with Russia grinds on.
To prevent escalating food prices “becoming the trigger for social unrest in multiple locations”, a humanitarian food corridor should be created in the Black Sea using “military means”, said a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) titled “International Action to Relieve Food Security Crisis”.
Ukraine’s former economic minister welcomed the proposal, as “a really scary scenario was brewing”, with his country only currently able to export a fifth of its grain.
The steep rise in both food and fuel prices is increasing the risk of social unrest turning into violent upheaval.
“Finding solutions to global food insecurity has moved from being a humanitarian crisis to become an international security imperative,” the SIPRI paper said.
It urged the UN General Assembly to organise a fleet consisting of those countries most affected by food insecurity and with major powers such as China and India providing shipping.
“The scale and impact of the global food security crisis now justifies immediate action,” the report stated. “The obstacles preventing grain export from Ukraine by sea should be removed, including using military means if necessary.”
Russia has effectively imposed a military blockade on Ukraine's coast after attacking eight merchant ships early in the war. One ship also sank, possibly after hitting mine, creating prohibitive insurance costs.
“Major navies have played an important role in humanitarian relief operations in the past because they own some unique equipment that can be rapidly mobilised,” the report said.
“There are unarmed fast response ships owned by Nato navies in the Mediterranean that could reach [the Ukrainian port of] Odesa in less than 48 hours.”
With 20 Russian warships in the Black Sea, including up to four Kilo-class submarines, a high risk of confrontation is embedded in the Institute's proposal.
It says an armed convoy of destroyers, frigates and minesweepers could be rapidly assembled using special Nato supply vessels to carry grain out of Odesa.
The task force would also need marines to “prevent the boarding and seizure of ships” and warships with the ability to shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles, as well as preventing torpedo attacks from submarines.
But escalation could be reduced if the convoys were framed as an international humanitarian mission to resolve the global food crisis, said Dr Ian Anthony, the report’s author and director of the European Security Programme.
He highlighted the anti-piracy task force off Somalia which included Chinese warships as an example of multinational naval co-operation.
The report also referred to the 1980s Iran-Iraq war as a precedent for “naval operations to protect commercial shipping in war zones”, with US warships escorting oil tankers.
Ukraine, which provides 42 per cent of the world’s sunflower oil and 10 per cent of its wheat and barley, is vital for Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Lebanon, where food prices have increased up to 50 per cent.
But about 25 million tonnes of Ukraine’s 2021 harvest is now lying in storage facilities that will be needed for the next harvest in summer.
Aivaras Abromavicius, who farms 41,000 hectares in Ukraine and was the country's former economic minister, told The National that one million tonnes had been exported via rail and road in April and 1.5 million tonnes were expected to be exported this month — compared to five million tonnes in normal times.
“I fully welcome this proposal and it could work. When the war started, countries were a bit cautious but everyone is becoming a bit braver by the day. This is vital for the whole word, not just the West.”
He added there was no shortage of ships or crews who knew the routes well and the port infrastructure around Odesa had been largely unharmed.
But he urged the UN to move quickly.
“People might be dying as we speak so the minimum, the superpowers can do is offer military protection for a humanitarian cause,” he said.
The report suggested reassuring Moscow that the convoys will not be bringing in military equipment into Ukraine and that they should include “Russian observers”.
Another incentive to secure Russia’s agreement to the proposal would be to create a loophole in current sanctions that would allow Russia to gain some hard currency payments for its own grain exports.
SIPRI also proposed involving the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), as a convoy containing Chinese vessels “would be less vulnerable to interdiction or harassment”.
Turkey would play a major role in the proposal, as under the Montreux Convention, it can prevent ship movement via the Bosporus into the Black Sea, which it invoked in February.
But under the convention, Turkey, a Nato member, can suspend or lift the closure if it decides there is an “imminent danger” as a result of the war, the report argued.
“Turkey in itself is a major importer so I would assume it would be in their interests,” said Mr Abromavicius. “Turkey also likes to be at the epicentre of solving global issues, so I definitely see them playing a central role.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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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
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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%3Cp%3E-%20April%2017%2C%202013%3A%20A%20bipartisan-drafted%20bill%20to%20expand%20background%20checks%20and%20ban%20assault%20weapons%20fails%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20July%202015%3A%20Bill%20to%20require%20background%20checks%20for%20all%20gun%20sales%20is%20introduced%20in%20House%20of%20Representatives.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2012%2C%202016%3A%20Orlando%20shooting.%20Barack%20Obama%20calls%20on%20Congress%20to%20renew%20law%20prohibiting%20sale%20of%20assault-style%20weapons%20and%20high-capacity%20magazines.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20October%201%2C%202017%3A%20Las%20Vegas%20shooting.%20US%20lawmakers%20call%20for%20banning%20bump-fire%20stocks%2C%20and%20some%20renew%20call%20for%20assault%20weapons%20ban.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20February%2014%2C%202018%3A%20Seventeen%20pupils%20are%20killed%20and%2017%20are%20wounded%20during%20a%20mass%20shooting%20in%20Parkland%2C%20Florida.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20December%2018%2C%202018%3A%20Donald%20Trump%20announces%20a%20ban%20on%20bump-fire%20stocks.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20August%202019%3A%20US%20House%20passes%20law%20expanding%20background%20checks.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20April%2011%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20announces%20measures%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20hard-to-trace%20'ghost%20guns'.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20May%2024%2C%202022%3A%20Nineteen%20children%20and%20two%20teachers%20are%20killed%20at%20an%20elementary%20school%20in%20Uvalde%2C%20Texas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2025%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20signs%20into%20law%20the%20first%20federal%20gun-control%20bill%20in%20decades.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
