Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

Most recently, Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman announced Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Plan (NTP) in which Vision 2030 maintained a central position. It would radically transform the Kingdom’s economy. Vision 2030 sets out a comprehensive road map to promote more efficient government services and to diversify the Kingdom’s economy by boosting private sector…

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Neither run nor hide

Two terms with the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s prestigious Global Agenda Council (GAC) on “Countering Terrorism” and given the nexus between corruption, organised crime and terrorism made it apparent that without interdicting or eradicating the source of funding of terrorism, this evil could never be rooted out. With my change over to GAC for “Anti-Corruption…

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Is Religion Possible?

IntroductionThe last and the seventh lecture, “Is Religion Possible?” present the conclusions of the series of lectures compiled as “Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam”. Iqbal has categorized religious life into three periods, firstly the ‘Faith’, secondly ‘Thought’ and thirdly, the ‘Discovery’. The first period involves acceptance without rationalism. The second period, he says, is when…

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Afghan peace after Mullah Mansour

The killing of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike is a major setback for the insurgent movement. His death comes barely a year after the disclosure of the death of the Taliban’s founding leader Mullah Omar. Mansour was reportedly targeted by US drones in Ahmedwal town, 20 kilometres from…

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Protecting the Coastal Eco-System

Protecting the coastal and marine environment is not a job simply to be left to governments though they have the prime responsibility. This is the responsibility of all. Local action is critical but so is the social responsibility of corporations and other large institutions and organisations. While environment and wildlife organisations are frequently in the…

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UAE’s National Strategy of Tolerance

The United Arab Emirates recently announced its national strategy of tolerance; this is a giant leap towards further societal cohesion, co-existence, peace and harmony as it will shun any kind of racial, class, sectoral prejudice in the country. While providing equal rights to its citizens it will further strengthen the UAE’s golden traditions of brotherhood,…

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