So far the debate has been quite interesting and informative. The question being posed – “is the Arab world betraying its youth?” – focuses on one of my favorite subjects. From unemployment to our youth leaving their countries in search of better education, work and freedoms, it is a very complex topic. The debate is [...]

You know how they say actions speak louder than words? And you know how they say money talks. After a 20 minutes speech on the condition of our region, focusing primarily on education and our youth as well as our inability to develop any sense of research and development and innovation, going so far as [...]

So day two has started here at the World Economic Forum and the session I’m currently attending is entitled “Stability in the Broader Middle East: Who is taking the lead”. A few meters away, on the stage, is Hamid Karzai (Pres. of Afghanistan), Shaukat Aziz (PM of Pakistan), Marouf Bakhit (PM of Jordan), H.H. Sheikh [...]

Less than three hours ago HM King Abdullah II took the stage at the World Economic Forum. Less than 30 seconds into his opening statement the King brought up the Palestinian issue. Calling it a “year of opportunity”, the conflict took center stage here at the WEF and I was not entirely surprised. With the [...]

The press room is not the most glorious place to be in such events; this much I’ve discovered. Around me are people from all over the world. In fact right next to me is an AP reporter who has not used deodorant since 1975. Luckily the place is air conditioned so the heat of the [...]

It seems Jordan has become fully immersed in the conference business. Every month there’s at least one conference and more than half the time they’re a waste of time. From the ground level, most people look at conferences with a cynical view because they feel that they don’t accomplish anything; and most people are right. [...]