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Best photos of June 2: From a tomato fight to fog over Sydney

Best photos of June 2: From a tomato fight to fog over Sydney

The National02-06-2025
Under the UK government's proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Discusses Future Economic, Trade, and Investment Relations with British Minister for International Development Between The Two Countries
Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Discusses Future Economic, Trade, and Investment Relations with British Minister for International Development Between The Two Countries

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Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Discusses Future Economic, Trade, and Investment Relations with British Minister for International Development Between The Two Countries

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, held a discussion session with Baroness Jenny Chapman, UK Minister of State for International Development, during the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in South Africa. The meetings witnessed extensive discussions on the future of economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries in light of their close partnership, as well as joint coordination in international forums to advance efforts to restructure the global financial system and review proposed efforts to restructure the working mechanisms of the United Nations, as well as discussing the outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville. During the meeting, both sides expressed their anticipation of the upcoming visit to Cairo announced by the UK Prime Minister's Office, which will represent a qualitative shift in bilateral Egyptian-British relations, elevating them to a strategic partnership level, in addition to its role in opening up avenues for cooperation across various levels between the two sides. It is also an extension of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, which was announced in 2024. During the meeting, the two ministers agreed on the need to activate the recommendations issued by various international forums to restructure the global financial system, ensuring a more efficient and fair financial architecture, especially for developing countries, achieving greater transparency in financing mechanisms, and expanding concessional financing. They also discussed proposals for restructuring the working mechanisms of the United Nations system to make it more influential in the global economy, emphasizing the need to adopt comprehensive coordination and follow-up mechanisms to ensure sustainability and enhance national participation in UN efforts. The meeting witnessed extensive discussions on various aspects of the partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Kingdom, particularly in terms of trade exchange, British investments in Egypt, economic relations, and development cooperation. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed Egypt's keenness to develop these relations and build on the pioneering results achieved over the past years, particularly in food security, support for start-ups, and small and medium enterprises. The two sides reviewed frameworks for bilateral cooperation in the field of development finance, the UK's contribution to financing development policies through the World Bank, as well as the role of UK Export Finance (UKEF) which supports project financing in Egypt, and the financing mechanisms provided by British International Investment (BII), which considers Egypt one of its priority markets. In this context, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation reviewed preparations for launching the 'National Narrative for Economic Development,' which is an executive program to promote structural transformation in the Egyptian economy toward tradable sectors, encourage foreign direct investment, industrial development, and support labor market and employment. 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London hosts the Gulf-British Arbitration Forum with participation of prominent international experts
London hosts the Gulf-British Arbitration Forum with participation of prominent international experts

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London hosts the Gulf-British Arbitration Forum with participation of prominent international experts

Dr. Kamal Al-Hamad, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Commercial Arbitration Centre (GCCCAC), inaugurated the Gulf-British Arbitration Forum held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce in the UK capital, London. The forum attracted significant attention, with over 100 distinguished leaders from the Gulf, Arab countries, and the United Kingdom, alongside a number of international legal, judicial, and commercial arbitration experts. The forum addressed several key topics, most notably international commercial arbitration, and introduced the upcoming Second Gulf Law and Arbitration Week, scheduled to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in January next year. The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and the strengthening of legal cooperation among relevant institutions. Mr. Abdullah Al-Omair, Director General of International Agreements at the Saudi Ministry of Investment, delivered a keynote presentation highlighting the legal environment for investment in Saudi Arabia in light of the Ministry's strategies and Vision 2030. The audience praised the Kingdom's achievements in attracting foreign investment and fostering investor confidence. A delegation from the Supreme Judiciary Council of Qatar also participated, presenting the status of commercial courts and investment-related judicial structures in Qatar, with a particular focus on initiatives supporting and empowering women in the legal sector as part of the country's judicial system. On the sidelines of the forum, Dr. Kamal Al-Hamad held a series of coordination meetings with several UK arbitration institutions, accompanied by members of the GCCCAC Advisory Committee. These meetings included discussions on exchanging rosters of arbitrators and experts, as well as exploring cooperation mechanisms for training and certifying legal arbitrators and specialists. These visits are part of a broader series of international Gulf forums organized by the GCCCAC, aimed at enhancing engagement and experience exchange with leading legal and arbitration bodies worldwide. The series began in the United States in May, followed by the UK forum, and will continue in Paris this September, where meetings are scheduled with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Sorbonne University, under the patronage of the Arab-French Chamber of Commerce. The forum concluded with a special tribute to Queen Mary University of London, one of the UK's prestigious academic institutions. Dr. Peter Cameron, Professor of Law at the university, delivered a speech discussing specialized academic programs in legal training and the importance of preparing legal professionals to meet the evolving demands of international arbitration. It is worth noting that the Gulf Cooperation Council Commercial Arbitration Centre is an international regional arbitration body with legal personality, established by a resolution of the GCC heads of state during the 14th GCC Summit in Riyadh in 1993. The centre's operational framework was approved by all GCC Council of Ministers, with the aim of promoting arbitration as an independent system for resolving commercial and investment disputes. The Centre also works to train and certify arbitrators, experts, and case managers across various specialties through high-quality accreditation programs, thereby fostering a culture of justice and fairness in arbitration across the Gulf region.

Political solution without Palestinian statehood is 'cynical and illegal', says ICJ lawyer
Political solution without Palestinian statehood is 'cynical and illegal', says ICJ lawyer

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Political solution without Palestinian statehood is 'cynical and illegal', says ICJ lawyer

With France saying it will recognise Palestine in September, making it the first G7 nation to do so, other countries such as the UK and Germany, which are holding out, have called for a political solution to the Palestine issue. That two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, however, cannot be reached without recognising Palestine as a state, Ardi Imseis, a professor of law at Queen's University in Canada, told The National. Mr Imseis is a former UN official and has represented states before the International Court of Justice, which last year found Israel to be under an obligation to end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and make reparations for the damage caused. "Recognition is a political prerogative of states," he said. They can urge for a political resolution to the problem without recognising one or the other states, Mr Imseis said, although that "does not make sense". "This is because if you have a two-state solution, one would assume you would need to have two states be part of that solution," he said. Under international law, the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination in a state of their own. "This right is peremptory and inalienable," he said. The international community has an obligation to help Palestinians realise that right, he added. "However, if states make the emergence of a Palestinian state contingent on successful negotiations with Israel, then, in effect, that places Israel in a position of holding a veto power over the exercise by the Palestinian people of their right of self-determination," he said. "It's a cyclical, cynical and ultimately illegal policy." Mr Imseis said that Israel was a "bad faith illegal occupier" with no intention to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state. Following France's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron and said that a Palestinian state would create a "launch pad to annihilate Israel". France, the US and the UK are three of the five members of the UN Security Council with veto power, if and when the next vote comes to admit the state of Palestine to UN membership. The US used its veto the last time such a vote took place, on April 18, 2024. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is under increasing pressure from 220 Members of Parliament who wrote to him urging him to recognise a Palestinian state, said he does support the move. But, he said, it should be part of a "wider plan" which results in security for Palestinians and Israelis. At least 140 out of the world's 193 members of the UN General Assembly recognise Palestine as a state. In 2012, the General Assembly gave Palestine non-member observer state status. "That means, that within the UN system, the state of Palestine already exists," Mr Imseis said.

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