Earlier this week, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning about our new year saying that "tensions are at their highest level this century". It is fair to say the world we live in grows more complex every day and our problems more intractable, so how can we hope to solve those issues?
As individuals we will have to find deeper reserves of emotional intelligence and be better skilled than ever before to survive, let alone thrive. The same goes for societies and states, who will be required to develop innovative solutions to overcome the many roadblocks that stand in their way. The old rules might need to be redrawn at a rapid pace to do so, particularly those affecting the established principles of statecraft and diplomacy.
These pages have hosted many diverging views on that last point as contributors have often questioned whether the existing diplomatic architecture is strong enough to solve the many problems we face.
Our columnist Sholto Byrnes has repeatedly made the case for urgent reform to the UN, the body we all recognise as having the most power to affect potential change. He advocates for reform principally because the laws of governance for our 21st century world were drawn up almost 75 years ago. "Why should a settlement from 1945 stand unaltered today?", Byrnes has quite reasonably asked in the past. He returned to the subject this week while considering this present period of heightened US-Iran tensions, concluding that multilateralism needs a reboot.
Others, such as former diplomat Tom Fletcher, have a more benevolent view of the UN, reminding us that "no one has yet come up with a better idea for global co-existence and we have subcontracted to the UN many of the biggest challenges facing humanity".
There is merit in both schools of thought but there is also a new front of statecraft emerging along a third track in this region and elsewhere. This path does not seek to supplant the old order but to supplement it.
It is a welcome addition in the sense that it recognises the “turmoil” to which Mr Guterres referred to in specific reference to US-Iran tensions and preferences a mixture of restraint and dialogue to secure progress.
This week, the foreign ministers of seven nations – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt and Yemen – met in Riyadh as part of a new initiative to improve co-operation in the areas bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group of nations has vowed to work together on matters such as economic growth and security, as well as ensuring stability. The seven-member bloc signed a founding charter at the meeting, while Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi minister of foreign affairs, also said that the kingdom was "keen to confront the challenges that are surrounding us from all sides".
It is this realism and recognition of both threat and opportunity, married with forms of diplomatic crowdsourcing and brainstorming that are likely to bring the greatest dividends in the decade ahead.
Read More from Nick March
On a similar track, on Thursday, the fourth technical meeting between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia will begin in Addis Ababa. The water ministers from each country will seek progress on the Renaissance Dam issue in Ethiopia. Observers from the US and the World Bank will also be present at the latest round of talks.
It is safe to say that the road to this point has not been straightforward.
Dialogue between the three parties has brought periods of stagnation, reflection and latterly progress over a protracted period. One of the many lows of Mohammed Morsi’s disastrous brief period as president of Egypt was to suggest the use of force to resolve the issue of fair water supply.
The most recent rounds of talks have elicited a “convergence of views”, however, as the trio of nations seek an appropriate path forward.
An additional buffer has been inserted into the dialogue, which allows for another party to mediate from next week should agreement not be reached over the key points of the operation of the dam and the filling of its reservoir. Few believe it will be easy to balance the differing needs and realities for each country. But the path the trio are on suggests agreement is edging into view.
Both these discreet and geographic groupings over the Red Sea and the Nile Dam are examples of a new and positive phase of diplomacy.
As traditional alliances fade, America’s role in the world changes and the question of who manages complexity in a multipolar world gathers strength, progress will be achieved by those who seek to build commonality and partnerships. In the long-term, those who tactically meddle or sow discord and division will not advance their cause. Consensus is never easy to achieve and alliances are hard to forge, but both can help defuse combustible situations and, more importantly, ensure genuine and authentic change within a rules-based order.
Nick March is an assistant editor-in-chief at The National
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Company%20Profile
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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
WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wallabies
Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THREE
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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.
Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
