GCC appoints new chief of joint military command at Riyadh summit


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The GCC announced the appointment of a new chief of its joint military command on Sunday after a brief summit in the Saudi capital at which members pledged to work together to achieve regional stability and security.

The GCC also announced that the UAE would be the host of the next summit in 2019.

GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al Zayani said that Lt General Eid Awwad Al Shulaiwi will be appointed as the new military commander to the GCC Military Command in King Khalid Military City in Hafar Al Batan. He was the former commander of the Saudi Arabian Army, also known as the Saudi Royal Land Forces.

The joint military command was announced in 1984 as one several areas of co-operation for the GCC. The GCC Military Command, in its current iteration, was established in 2013

However, the proposal for a wider Middle East Security Alliance (Mesa) was not addressed at length during the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said.

Mr Al Jubeir said the alliance was "under discussions between the GCC and still evolving”.

Mesa is a “security arrangement to counter Iranian aggression and the co-operation between the US and GCC, it’s a work in progress that both sides want to see succeed."

For the second year running, the annual GCC summit was reduced to a single day, instead of the usual two to three days, as the bloc grapples with a diplomatic crisis arising from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cutting ties with Qatar over behaviour they view as reckless and meddling.

An indicator of the organisation’s struggles was the absence of Qatari Emir Tamim Al Thani at the meeting in Riyadh, while last year the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE were absent from the summit hosted by Kuwait. Kuwait and Oman have remained neutral in the dispute.

Nevertheless, closed-door talks that lasted less than an hour resulted in a joint communique from the 39th GCC summit in which the six member states placed regional stability at the top of the agenda.

Besides strengthening joint security and defence, the seven-point Riyadh Declaration called for a road map towards further economic integration, joint foreign policy to preserve the GCC's interests and avoid regional and international conflict, and a strengthening of partnerships and co-operation with international allies.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman called for political solutions to Yemen and Palestine at the opening of the 2018 GCC summit. AP. File.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman called for political solutions to Yemen and Palestine at the opening of the 2018 GCC summit. AP. File.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman spoke of the need for co-operation on regional security and stability in his opening address.

"The region goes through challenges, terrorism, and the Iranian threat which meddles in the affairs of our countries, I urge everyone to work cooperatively to create stability in the region and abroad,” King Salman said.

The Saudi king also called for a political solution to the civil war in Yemen, voicing support for the peace talks taking place in Sweden.

He said members of the Arab coalition have called on the internationally-recognised Yemeni government to "save Yemen and its people from a group of people who have turned against the legitimacy of the state and have meddled with its security and stability" referring to the Itan-backed Houthi rebels.

King Salman cited the Palestinian cause as another troubling concern, saying that the country "and its capital, Jerusalem" was still among the top priorities of the GCC.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad addressed the GCC schism head-on, saying fact that "this session has convened on its scheduled date despite the conditions that we are passing through, confirms our commitment to maintaining the GCC as an entity".

He an "alarming escalation" in the problems of the region should push member states to reinforce the unity of the GCC and strengthen co-operation.

"The most dangerous obstacle we face is the struggle within the GCC," said Sheikh Sabah, who has acted as mediator in the dispute. He said it was a "threat to the unity of our position and the interests of our people".

The emir, who played a key role in the GCC’s formation in 1981 while he was Kuwait’s foreign minister, also called for media outlets to end offensive campaigns that have harmed "our values, our principles and have planted the seeds of sedition and disunity among our people".

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Read more:

All eyes on Qatar ahead of 39th GCC summit

Yemen’s warring parties meet for first direct talks since 2016

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Prior to the opening session, officials from the states boycotting Qatar suggested that a solution to the crisis might be found in Riyadh, heightening expectations that mutual concessions could be made. However such hopes were dashed by Qatar sending lower-ranking officials instead of its leaders.

Awadh Al Qahtani, a Saudi-based analyst attending the summit, downplayed Qatar's absence and said he did not think it was a particular message.

"Qatar's attendance doesn't define the GCC. It continues to function regardless of the representation present at any one given summit it holds," he said. "We were hoping that the brotherly letter sent by King Salman would be responded to by Qatar's attendance, if nothing but to show their buy-in to the GCC.”

King Salman's letter of invitation to Qatar's emir had been seen by some as an olive branch that might lead to a resolution to the standoff, rather than simply a matter of protocol.

Mr Al Qahtani  said GCC countries have opposed one another before and was nothing new, although the unity of the bloc had to be maintained.

In 2014, another diplomatic dispute with Qatar was resolved when the late Saudi King Abdullah invited the Gulf countries to the capital and a decision was made to resume ties with Doha after an eight-month standoff.

"We hope that Qatar can return to the GCC and fix it ways. The GCC has more than 39 years as a functional body and it will continue whether or not these disagreements happen,' he said.

Besides being very brief, no foreign ministers meeting was scheduled at the Riyadh summit for the first time since 2015.

The curtailment indicates the political reality of the GCC: it functions largely as a technocratic institution that has achieved and continues to work for economic co-operation but falls short on political unity. However, the GCC has also been the most stable organisation in the Middle East — a notable feat considering the situation in several Arab countries.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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.

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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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs

Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre

Power: 325hp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

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The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

The specs

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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 

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

While you're here
Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

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Chinese Grand Prix schedule (in UAE time)

Friday: First practice - 6am; Second practice - 10am

Saturday: Final practice - 7am; Qualifying - 10am

Sunday: Chinese Grand Prix - 10.10am

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: 

  • UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
  • Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)

Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder

Gearbox  Nine-speed automatic

Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

match info

Maratha Arabians 138-2

C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15

Team Abu Dhabi 114-3

L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17

Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs

Biography

Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine

Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Favourite drink: Water

Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work

Favourite music: Classical music

Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate

 

 

 

 

 

Paltan

Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat

Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books 

if you go

The flights

Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.

The hotel

Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850

 Events and tours

There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com

For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art. 

More information

For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

The biog

Name: Marie Byrne

Nationality: Irish

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption

Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston

Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams

Brief scores:

Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf

Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)

Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17

Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)

Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Napoleon
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months