Here are some recent
editorials I wrote for The Gulf Today. (Posted for my records):
Dubai a cradle of
innovation
Dubai is a city of
superlatives. The pursuit of happiness through hard work and the fondness for
the Number 1 slot make Dubai the world’s most inspiring and sought-after
destination.
The inspiration springs
from the leadership. The objectives of The Fifty-Year Charter, which aims to
speed up the journey of prosperity, progress and sustainability in Dubai, well
reflect the visionary zeal of the leaders.
Vice President, Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid
Al Maktoum has made it clear that Dubai is determined to cement its position as
global business capital. Once a goal is set, track record proves that Dubai
never fails to achieve it, however hard the path may be.
Sheikh Mohammed’s vision
for the next 50 years focuses on building upon the accomplished achievements,
to reach a fully integrated city of law and the spirit of mercy and compassion,
where its inhabitants enjoy prosperity and progress, as well as creating a
conducive environment for future generations.
Foresight is a crucial
word in a fast changing world. Whether it’s individuals or nations, those who
procrastinate or fail to anticipate are bound to lose.
As Sheikh Mohammed points
out, the new era requires keeping abreast of the changes that are taking place
in today's world with creative thinking that anticipates the future challenges
to ensure that Dubai will maintain its achievements and influential position to
become a centre of the world.
The city’s magnetic appeal
is also due to its year-round calendar of festivals, events and shopping
experiences.
Figures speak volumes
about the success story. The Emirate saw 1,777,913 passengers pass through its
sea, air, and land ports from Dec.23, 2018 through Jan.1, 2019.
Constant upgradation and
innovative initiatives, coupled with service par excellence by the staff have
paid off, with the Dubai International Airport receiving its one billionth
passenger last month. A billion people have taken Dubai to their destination. Dubai
is a part of their story for a billion people. And that’s an awesome
achievement.
No wonder, the Emirate
remains on track to becoming the most visited city for global travel, business
and events.
All factors indicate that
Dubai is making sustained progress towards its Tourism Vision 2020 goals of
welcoming 20 million visitors per year by 2020.
“We must look forward and
anticipate the future, so that our country lead globally,” once stated Sheikh
Mohammed. That vision is paying rich dividends.
New year should see
end to trade war
The year gone by cannot be
termed as great for global trade. While trade frictions between China and the
United States affected business confidence and investment, political
uncertainty and slower global growth added to the worry.
In fact, several global
stock markets suffered their worst year in a decade. Wall Street advanced in low-volume trading on
Monday as revelers gathered to ring in 2019, marking the end of the worst year
for US stocks since 2008, the height of the financial crisis.
December was a particularly testing time for US equities. The S&P
500 saw its worst December since the Great Depression and the Nasdaq confirmed
it was in a bear market, or 20 per cent below its high.
Asian and European markets
too suffered similar losses during the year.
The 2018 Asia-Pacific
Trade and Investment Report, earlier issued by the UN’s development arm in the
region, ESCAP, cautioned that an escalating tariff war and resulting drop in
confidence next year could cut nearly $400 billion from the global gross
domestic product and drive regional GDP down by $117 billion.
The report underscored
that neither China nor the US could win a trade war, explaining that both would
see significant economic losses.
Washington and Beijing imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on more than $300
billion worth of goods in total two-way trade last year, locking them in a
conflict that has begun to eat into profits.
The International Monetary
Fund too cut its global growth forecast in October to 3.7 per cent for both
2018 and 2019, down from 3.9 per cent projected in July.
Fortunately, there is some scope for optimism.
The presidents of China and the US have exchanged messages vowing to
boost cooperation despite the bruising trade war on the 40th anniversary of the
countries' diplomatic relations.
US President Donald Trump, who has frozen the latest planned tariff
hike, has indicated "big
progress" after a call with his counterpart Xi Jinping. Xi too has
underlined the importance of working with the US "to advance China-US
relations featuring coordination, cooperation and stability."
Moving the globe further
away from an open, fair and rules-based trade system cannot be termed sensible.
Protectionist and unilateral approaches on trade are not the best way
forward and only tend to fuel uncertainty and fear among investors. Uncertainty
is a bane and huge hurdle to progress. Co-ordination is anytime better than
confrontation.
German hack exposes
cyber vulnerability
While technology brings
with it huge advantages, there is a dangerous flip side to it. Private data that has been stolen from hundreds of
German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, and released online
indicates the extent to which damage could be inflicted by unscrupulous hackers
on individuals and organisations.
The fact that the information, which comprised home addresses, mobile
phone numbers, letters, invoices and copies of identity documents, was
published via Twitter in December but only came to light this week shows that
the world needs to recognise the vulnerability of the virtual world and act
more vigorously to counter such malicious activities.
The extent of the damage
could be surmised from the fact that among those affected were members of the
Bundestag lower house of parliament, the European Parliament, as well as those
from regional and local assemblies. Deputies from all parties represented in
the Bundestag were also affected, as well as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Beyond politicians, the leak also exposed the private data of
celebrities and journalists.
Some consolation comes
from the fact that preliminary investigation
indicated no sensitive information or data from Merkel's office had been
leaked.
It may be recalled that last year, the country’s domestic intelligence
service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said there had been
repeated cyberattacks against MPs, the military and several embassies that were
allegedly carried out by Russian Internet espionage group "Snake."
Computer networks belonging to the German government came under sustained
attack and data from foreign ministry staff were stolen.
The fact that no
right-wing politicians in the country were targeted in the latest cyber attack
gives a twist to the controversy, which needs to be analysed by the
investigative agencies.
It is true that such
digital attacks are something most countries will have to adapt to in future.
The susceptibility of such a powerful nation to cyber attacks hints at problems
countries with much lesser facilities and infrastructure could face.
Such cyber crimes are not acceptable anywhere in the world and can
only be perceived as an attack on democracy and institutions. Whichever
individual or organisation is behind such act should be identified and made
accountable.
"Cyber
vandalism," as former US president Barack Obama once dubbed such actions,
needs a stronger response. What is called for is an effective system that could
help utilise the benefits of digital technology even while protecting against
negative impacts.
Give peace a chance
in Afghanistan
It is distressing that senseless violence continues unabated in
Afghanistan despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the
Taliban to the negotiating table and ending the 17-year war.
More disturbing is also the fact that civilians continue to bear the
brunt of the war. According to the
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 8,050 civilians died or were
wounded between January and September, with use of suicide bombings and other
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by anti-government elements, accounting for
almost half the casualties.
What will rattle human conscience is the fact that 5,000 children in Afghanistan were either killed or
maimed within the first three-quarters of 2018.
Children there make up 89
per cent of civilian casualties from explosive remnants of war, such as
unexploded shells, mortars or grenades.
On Monday, in the southeastern province of Paktika, eight civilians
were killed and 12 wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a market in
Janikhail district. The militants are said to have left the bomb in a
village square. Among the dead were two brothers aged 10 and 12. A group of
children had been trying to remove the explosive device from the ground when it
exploded.
The war in Afghanistan is
America's longest overseas military intervention. It has cost Washington nearly
a trillion dollars and killed tens of thousands of people.
US President Donald Trump's plan to slash troop
numbers in Afghanistan has also added to the confusion.
While many worry that the
withdrawal of US troops could lead to political instability and give the
Taliban more power, others are hopeful their departure will facilitate peace
talks.
Top Afghan officials
insist that in the past four and a half years, security has been solely in the
hands of Afghans and the final goal as part of those efforts is for Afghan
National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) to stand on their feet and protect
and defend soil on their own.
As per The
Independent, fatalities in Afghanistan have been significantly higher in the
past four years that the ANDSF have spent battling with the Taliban. At least
28,529 Afghan security forces have been killed since 2015, whereas American
fatalities are low in contrast.
Whatever the background, all sides involved in the conflict should now work
earnestly towards reconciliation and see to it that peace returns at the
earliest. The Afghan people have suffered for too long for no mistake of their
own.
