Live updates: Follow the latest on World Governments Summit
President Sheikh Mohamed said the World Governments Summit is taking place in Dubai at a time when humanity is facing major challenges. The President welcomed the world's governments and leaders to the summit, reported state news agency Wam.
"We welcome world leaders and governments as guests of the UAE, which is once again bringing the world together through the World Governments Summit to engage in dialogue and share visions and ideas at a time when humanity is in urgent need of concerted and integrated efforts to address major challenges that can only be tackled through joint global action," said Sheikh Mohamed.
“In an interconnected world, no one is immune from the impact of the historical transformations taking place. This necessitates the co-ordination of shared visions and efforts to harness these transformations in achieving sustainable and equitable development for all."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the aim of the World Governments Summit is to improve people's lives through strengthening global co-operation, building expertise and developing relationships. Sheikh Mohammed made his comments on the social media platform X ahead of the gathering, which begins in Dubai on Tuesday with a star-studded line-up expected over the course of the event.
“We welcome the guests of the World Governments Summit, which begins tomorrow with a record international participation,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “More than 30 heads of state and 140 government delegations, including 400 ministers, will engage with global business leaders and international organisations across more than 200 sessions covering all future sectors.
“The goal is clear: to strengthen global co-operation, build expertise, develop relationships, and draw inspiration from experiences to improve the lives of communities. Welcome to the governments of the world in Dubai and the UAE.”
Elon Musk, former UK prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, the chief executive of Google, Sundar Pichai, and the presidents of Indonesia, Poland and Sri Lanka are some of the names confirmed for this week's event, which runs until Thursday, February 13. The theme of this year's event is Shaping Future Governments.
The summit is hosting prominent thought leaders and global experts, with more than 6,000 people expected to attend. An important part of the event will be major global transformation, with a focus on resulting opportunities and challenges.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who owns X and is leading efforts by US President Donald Trump to reduce the size of federal government via the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), is taking part in a plenary session on Thursday, called Boring Cities, AI and Doge.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will be in conversation with Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, on Reimagining Technology for Government On Wednesday. Boris Johnson, another former UK prime minister, will take part in a plenary session called A Conversation with Churchill, also on Wednesday. Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, the first lady of the Philippines, will give an address the following day on climate adaptability and energy.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO
South Africa 66 (Tries: De Allende, Nkosi, Reinach (3), Gelant, Steyn, Brits, Willemse; Cons: Jantjies 8)
Canada 7 (Tries: Heaton; Cons: Nelson)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
