Over the years, the Future Forum has changed its agenda, but without achieving its initial goals of promoting democracy and culture of human rights in the Middle East, wrote Reem Khalifa in an opinion piece for the Qatari newspaper Al Raya.
This year's edition emerged with new set of low profile objectives that focused on such issues as individuals empowerment and building the future. "The US secretary of state, Hilary Clinton, argued that the US president Barack Obama was seeking to crystalise his vision of a new relationship with the region. She maintained that enabling individuals to secure their rights and involving others in sustainable partnerships could emerge to be beneficial for the region.
To achieve this broad plan of action, Ms Clinton assured the participants that the US would coordinate efforts with all stakeholders, adopting a long term approach and engaging governments and non-governmental organisations to provide local resources for comprehensive development.
What Ms Clinton put forward sounds more poetic lyrics than reality. This is because even if the individual is empowered, his or her political and civil rights are likely to remain out of reach. The evolution of societies occurs only through local dynamism, which can be reinforced by political openness and enlarging margins of freedoms.
It is easy to wage wars but it is hard to silence guns, especially when conflicts are spreading everywhere," noted Youssef al Kuweilt in a lead article for the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh.
The Houthis would like to establish a state - with the capacity for expansion - within an established state, inspired by an irrational ideology. In this they resemble traditional revolutions, which all collapsed because of their own unrealistic systems of thought.
The facts on the grounds suggest that the war in Yemen is most likely being masterminded, under variety of pretexts, by a regime that is "still living on the memories of old, dead civilisations. In many aspects, it resembles the one waged by the Taliban, al Qa'eda and other terrorist groups, a conflict that may have far-reaching effects on the whole region."
It seems that some Arab and Muslim groups are still obsessed with absurd deadly disputes, and the Houthis are just the by-product of such a mode of thinking. As the Houthis started the war against the kingdom, one can notice how an internal dispute has extended to a neutral state, forcing it to hit back in self-defence. It is clear that the the Houtis are not the main player but they are used to fight as a proxy for the Iranians. The same thing is happening elsewhere in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq, while Tehran would like to defuse its internal crises.
Abdul Rahman al Rashed, in a comment piece for the London-based newspaper Al Sharq al Awsat, wrote that no matter who is the president in the West Bank, the person chosen will be the guardian of the Palestinian cause and a legitimate representative of Palestinians in various political venues.
"The decision of Mahmoud Abbas, president of Palestinian Authority, came as a surprise, leaving no room for various parties to fully verbalise their reactions. Yet, most probably, it seems that the US as well as Arab countries would like him to stay in office, or at least until Palestinian internal conflicts are settled".
Yet, one may ask whether it is possible that next January will come without Mr Abbas as president. The answer is yes. The transition is likely to be hard because political succession is a very critical process in a community that is accustomed to the top-down appointment of leaders. A democratic culture has not yet taken deep roots, and it is likely that elections would bring about adverse effects as happened in the last Palestinian polls.
"Mr Abbas's decision has thrown political leaders into a quandary because they had assessed the next phase of the political process on the basis that he would the president. The pressing question now is who will be the next president?" So far, there is no consensus over a single leader.
It is crystal clear that the US administration is not serious enough to bring a solution to the pending issues of the region because it is under the influence of Israeli lobbyists in various US institutions, argued the UAE newspaper Al Khaleej.
"There is no doubt that US attitudes go hand-in-hand with those of the Israeli government. As such, Arabs who insist on a peaceful solution and have no intention to resort to showing all their cards yet need to lead a diplomatic surge towards establishing an independent Palestinian state."
They need especially to pull the Palestinian cause away from the unfruitful mediation efforts led by George Mitchell, the US envoy for the Middle East, which are stalled by the issue of settlement expansion."But how can the Arabs achieve that? They need to present the UN Security Council with a well-prepared proposal to set up a Palestinian state, and push for a resolution related to this. The plan must specify the state's borders, the scope of authority, laws and regulations, the capital city and the sovereignty over its territories. This way they can test to what extent the international community is genuine in its pursuit regarding the Palestinian cause.
* Digest compiled by Mostapha Elmouloudi
melmouloudi@thenational.ae
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The specs
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)