• Chinese President Xi Jinping with members of the Gulf Co-operation Council in Riyadh. SPA / AP
    Chinese President Xi Jinping with members of the Gulf Co-operation Council in Riyadh. SPA / AP
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi at the Riyadh Arab-China Summit for Co-operation and Development at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh. Photo: Twitter
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi at the Riyadh Arab-China Summit for Co-operation and Development at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh. Photo: Twitter
  • China's President Xi Jinping next to Prince Mohammed at the Arab-China summit in Riyadh. Photo: Twitter
    China's President Xi Jinping next to Prince Mohammed at the Arab-China summit in Riyadh. Photo: Twitter
  • Prince Mohammed greets Jordan's King Abdullah II at the summit. Photo: Twitter
    Prince Mohammed greets Jordan's King Abdullah II at the summit. Photo: Twitter
  • Leaders attending the China-Arab summit. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court
    Leaders attending the China-Arab summit. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court
  • Gulf leaders in discussions during the 43rd session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
    Gulf leaders in discussions during the 43rd session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the summit. SPA / AFP
    Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the summit. SPA / AFP
  • Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said at the GCC summit. SPA / AFP
    Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said at the GCC summit. SPA / AFP
  • Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim at the GCC session. SPA / AFP
    Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim at the GCC session. SPA / AFP
  • GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah Al Hajraf attending the group's 43rd session. SPA / AFP
    GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah Al Hajraf attending the group's 43rd session. SPA / AFP
  • Bahraini King Hamad at the summit. SPA / AFP
    Bahraini King Hamad at the summit. SPA / AFP
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the GCC session. SPA / AFP
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the GCC session. SPA / AFP
  • The 43rd session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
    The 43rd session of the GCC in Riyadh. SPA / AFP
  • Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani is welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province, ahead of the Gulf Arab Chinese summits. AFP
    Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani is welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province, ahead of the Gulf Arab Chinese summits. AFP
  • Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Riyadh with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, December 8, 2022. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace
    Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Riyadh with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, December 8, 2022. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace
  • Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, left, is welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh ahead of the Gulf Arab Chinese Summits. AFP
    Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, left, is welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh ahead of the Gulf Arab Chinese Summits. AFP
  • Tunisian President Kais Saied with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh. AFP
    Tunisian President Kais Saied with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh. AFP
  • Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, centre, arrives in Riyadh for the Gulf Arab Chinese Summits. AFP
    Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, centre, arrives in Riyadh for the Gulf Arab Chinese Summits. AFP
  • Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, arrives in Riyadh. SPA
    Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, arrives in Riyadh. SPA
  • Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, in Riyadh. SPA
    Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, in Riyadh. SPA
  • Azali Assoumani. President of the United Comoros Republic, on arrival in Riyadh. SPA
    Azali Assoumani. President of the United Comoros Republic, on arrival in Riyadh. SPA
  • Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani,Prime Minister of Iraq, arrives in Riyadh. SPA
    Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani,Prime Minister of Iraq, arrives in Riyadh. SPA
  • Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine. SPA
    Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine. SPA
  • Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, is welcomed to Riyadh. SPA
    Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, is welcomed to Riyadh. SPA
  • Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait. SPA
    Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait. SPA
  • Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, arrives in Madinah. SPA
    Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, arrives in Madinah. SPA
  • Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, arrives in Madinah. SPA
    Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, arrives in Madinah. SPA

China and Arab states agree to co-operate on energy and technology at inaugural summit


Nada AlTaher
  • English
  • Arabic

Countries taking part in the first Arab-China summit in Riyadh have agreed to co-operate in eight broad sectors, including energy, security, healthcare, technology and humanitarian assistance.

Speaking at the summit, China's President Xi Jinping praised the "brotherly ties" that link the nations.

The event has become the highest-level diplomatic gathering of Arab state leaders with China.

President Xi renounced Islamophobia and urged the international community to fight terrorism, while ensuring that terrorism is not "tied to any single ethnicity or religion".

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the Arab-China and GCC-China summits represented a "historic start" for the relationship between Gulf and Arab states and China.

"We aim to deepen co-operation with China in all fields and co-ordinate views on regional and international issues," Crown Prince Mohammed said.

President Xi also expressed his continued support for Iraq's economic reconstruction and national sovereignty.

Iraq's President Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said the summit presented an opportunity to benefit from "Chinese expertise in various fields, without forgetting the experiences of combating poverty and epidemics, developing agriculture in salt water, and efforts to combat desertification."

He added relations had been growing between the two states for a number of years.

During his speech, President Xi said China supports the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and Palestine's full participation in the UN.

Mr Xi also pledged further donations to the UN's Palestinian refugee relief agency, UNRWA.

Present at the meeting were leaders from Egypt, Algeria, Palestine, Djibouti, Sudan and Mauritania among others.

China is the largest trading partner for Arab states with trade surging from $239.8 billion in 2020 to $330.3 billion in 2021 and an estimated $319.3 billion this year, according to figures by the China-Arab States Co-operation Forum, Chinese National Bureau of Statistics and the Chinese General Administration of Customs as well as its Ministry of Commerce.

Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh12 million

Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto

Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm

Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds

Top speed 420 kph (governed)

Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20edge%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity-O%2C%203088%20x%201440%2C%20500ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%2F1TB%20(only%20128GB%20has%20an%208GB%20RAM%20option)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%20%2B%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20f%2F4.9%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%3B%203x%2F10x%20optical%20zoom%2C%20Space%20Zoom%20up%20to%20100x%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060fps%2C%20HD%4030fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.2%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20single%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20cream%2C%20green%2C%20lavender%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%3A%20graphite%2C%20lime%2C%20red%2C%20sky%20blue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh4%2C949%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C449%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C449%20for%201TB%3B%20128GB%20unavailable%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20Profile
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What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km

Price: from Dh285,000

On sale: from January 2022 

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Three-day coronation

Royal purification

The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.

The crown

Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.

The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.

The audience

On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.

The procession

The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.

Meet the people

On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.

Profile of Udrive

Date started: March 2016

Founder: Hasib Khan

Based: Dubai

Employees: 40

Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

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

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Updated: December 09, 2022, 6:52 PM