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Long-range artillery ammo deals for Ukraine gain EU traction


European Union members may agree to pool ammunition purchases as early as next month in a push to secure badly needed firepower for Ukraine.

A proposal circulated by Estonia this week to invest around €4 billion ($4.3 billion) to jointly procure a million rounds of ammunition won tentative support from the Netherlands and Romania. EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the plan when they meet in Brussels on Monday and a final decision could come when the bloc’s leaders meet in March.

“As a thought, it’s very good because ammunition is an issue — Ukraine needs a large amount and we also need to get our stockpiles up, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “Right now we’re doing it on a national basis, and to do that on a larger scale is something that I would also support and promote.

Dwindling ammunition supplies are a big concern, with Ukrainian and Russian forces burning through tens of thousands of artillery shells each day. And while Ukraine is firing ammunition at a more efficient rate, it’s still using up shells faster than Europe can produce them, officials say.

US and European governments have sought to boost production as a result, both to supply Ukraine and to replenish their own stocks. EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the Estonian plan when they meet in Brussels on Monday, though a decision is not expected until the bloc’s leaders meet in March.

The mechanics of a joint-purchase mechanism can be discussed, but there was little alternative to a common approach to investments and purchases since the market alone wouldn’t be able to sustain a massive scaling up without state assurances, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said at the conference.

“They need to have a certain stability, Reinsalu said in an interview, adding that a number of companies welcomed the proposal. He compared the effort with the EU’s joint vaccine procurement during the pandemic and green investments.

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, also in Munich, called the idea “interesting, though said he would need to study the details.

“It’s more efficient to have a joint effort, Aurescu said in an interview.

The effort won backing elsewhere. French President Emmanuel Macron is also considering joint ammunition purchases as part of his call to accelerate weapons deliveries to Kyiv, according to an aide.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters in Munich that Poland is organizing a coalition, which includes Estonia, to finance the production of munitions for Ukraine.

Opening the conference on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made clear in a live-streamed speech that speeding up deliveries took priority in the nation’s effort to fend of renewed Russian attacks in the country’s east and south.

“It’s up to us to ensure they get an increasing flow, Ollongren said. “The goal cannot be that we continue in the pace that we are now, speed is really of the essence — both for Ukraine and for us.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas raised the need to boost the capacity of the European defense industry.

“Russia is producing in three shifts. Why isn’t the European defense industry doing the same? she asked at an event in Munich. “And they say that this is because of the lack of orders. ‘If we don’t have orders, we cannot make investments’, they say.

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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