Latest news with #Adaa
Arab Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Bid to combat corruption, promote good governance
KUWAIT CITY, June 25: Assistant Secretary General for Prevention at Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Eng. Abrar Al-Hamad has underscored the importance of activating job codes as a requirement of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Al-Hamad made the statement at the opening of the introductory workshops for the 'Adaa' initiative, held by Nazaha for the third consecutive year, with 118 participants from 27 government agencies. According to Al-Hamad, 'Adaa' is an initiative that aligns with the strategy of Kuwait to enhance integrity, combat corruption and promote good governance. Meanwhile, Yasmine Al-Sharhan -- Civil Society Cooperation Monitor at Nazaha and Director of 'Adaa' initiative to implement codes of conduct in the public sector -- talked about the general objectives and the implementation mechanism for various phases of the project. She pointed out that the code of conduct is an essential tool in promoting integrity and transparency, ensuring a fair work environment that consolidates the principles of accountability and equal opportunities, and preventing the risks of corruption, as stipulated in Chapter II of the UNCAC. She revealed that the initiative has benefited more than 24,000 employees since its launch, indicating the number of entities joining the 'Adaa has reached 27, including five entities at the gold level, eight at the silver level, and 14 entities at the bronze level. She added that the project requirements include administrative, institutional awareness, training and development, and measuring behavior and impact. On the other hand, Awareness and Education Supervisor at Nazaha Dr. Hassan Al-Sabbagha stated that 'Adaa' aims to raise awareness on the Code of Professional Conduct, in cooperation with the Civil Service Commission. He added the initiative focuses on achieving three basic levels: bronze, silver and gold. He disclosed that the educational workshops included in the project are considered a roadmap for the entities joining 'Adaa', so that they have an action plan to follow in the current year to fully implement the project.
Egypt Today
18-06-2025
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egyptian parliament approves of new national budget plan, gov't seeks 4.5% growth next year
Cairo – June 18, 2025: Egypt's House of Representatives has endorsed the national budget and economic development framework for FY2025/2026, setting a target for real GDP growth of 4.5 percent. This represents a significant increase from the 2.4 percent growth recorded in FY2023/2024. Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat presented the plan amid ongoing regional uncertainties, noting that preliminary indicators from the first nine months of the current fiscal year signal improving economic performance. She highlighted that the plan focuses on structural reforms and concentrated investment to navigate these complex conditions. Public investment in the upcoming fiscal year is projected at approximately LE 1.158 trillion, up from about LE 1 trillion allocated in FY2024/2025. Nearly 28 percent of this amount—LE 327 billion—is dedicated to human development sectors, including health, education, and social services. The state budget will contribute LE 219 billion toward these areas. The government reiterated its commitment to the Haya Karima (Decent Life) initiative aimed at rural development, with phase one receiving LE 350 billion to improve living conditions for 18 million residents in over 1,400 villages across 20 governorates. The second phase allocates funds for essential infrastructure and expanding universal health insurance. In line with its reform agenda, the government plans to reduce direct state involvement in the economy. A new State Ownership Policy Law, recently passed by parliament, encourages greater private sector participation. Meanwhile, a review is underway to restructure 59 economic authorities, determining their future status through a committee supported by technical expertise. To enhance governance and investment management, the Adaa system—tracking 4,000 performance metrics across 36 ministries and agencies—will be further expanded. Training is ongoing to help public entities utilize a centralized digital platform covering 270 state-owned companies, aiming to improve transparency and efficiency. Funding for land compensation related to national projects has increased to LE 16 billion for the combined fiscal years FY2024/2025 and FY2025/2026, with more than LE 3.4 billion allocated to projects in Giza. Additionally, the government plans to conduct a new economic census via the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) to better capture informal economic activity and inform policy decisions. Minister Al-Mashat stressed that the plan's formulation took place amid 'delicate circumstances' worsened by rapid regional developments. She called for flexible planning and continuous monitoring to adapt to evolving conditions, while expressing gratitude for parliament's thorough review and constructive input.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-06-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt targets 4.5% growth amid regional uncertainty, boosts public investment to EGP 1.15 tln - Economy
Egypt's parliament has approved the national budget for fiscal year 2025/26, which begins on 1 July. The budget sets a real GDP growth target of 4.5 percent, nearly double the 2.4 percent growth recorded in FY2023/24. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation (MOPEDIC) stated that growth in the first nine months of the current fiscal year has also improved, based on preliminary data. Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat presented the government's economic and social development plan to address regional instability and economic challenges through structural reforms and targeted investment. Public investment priorities The new plan allocates EGP 1.158 trillion in public investment — up from about EGP 1 trillion in FY2024/25 — with a focus on human development sectors such as health, education, and public services, which will receive EGP 327 billion or 28 percent of the total. Of this, EGP 219 billion will come directly from the state budget. Sectoral allocations include: EGP 85.6 billion for health EGP 63.4 billion for education EGP 178 billion for other social services Rural development and Decent Life initiative The government reaffirmed its support for the Haya Karima (Decent Life) programme, which targets rural development. Phase one has received EGP 350 billion to serve 18 million people in 1,477 villages across 20 governorates. Phase two includes EGP 25 billion for water, sewage, and utilities infrastructure and EGP 20 billion for expanding universal health insurance. State ownership and public sector reform The budget also reflects the government's ongoing push to reduce its footprint in economic activities. A new State Ownership Policy Law, approved by parliament, aims to increase private sector participation — part of a broader reform agenda endorsed by the Supreme Council for Investment. A review is underway to restructure 59 economic authorities, with assessments to determine whether entities should be merged, dissolved, or reclassified. A high-level committee with technical support oversees the process. Governance and investment efficiency Al-Mashat said the government would continue to cap public investment to support macroeconomic stability and encourage foreign investment. Efforts include training public bodies to manage investment data through a centralized digital platform covering 270 state-owned companies. The government has also expanded the Adaa performance evaluation system, which now tracks 4,000 performance indicators across 36 ministries and public bodies. The system allows for quarterly evaluations aligned with sustainable development and fiscal goals. Land compensation and economic data Funding for land compensation related to national projects has increased to EGP 16 billion for FY2024/25 and FY2025/26 — up from EGP 12.35 billion in the previous year. Over EGP 3.4 billion of these funds will serve projects in Giza. Egypt plans to launch a new economic census via the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) to improve policymaking and better understand the informal economy. The census will map economic activity and the contribution of unregistered enterprises. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Adaa Khan on if she gets locked inside Bigg Boss house; says ‘It's not my cup of tea'
Television actress Adaa Khan, known for her strong performances in shows like Naagin, has often been asked if she would ever take up a reality show like Bigg Boss. While many actors consider the show a big opportunity, Adaa has a clear perspective — it's not something she sees herself doing anytime soon. In a recent conversation on Sardul Pandit's podcast, Adaa candidly admitted, 'It's not my cup of tea. I don't think I am yet prepared for that show. You need guts for that. I don't know about talent but now reality shows have become very different. The only reality show I did was Khatron Ke Khiladi and it was a dream reality show. It was a lifetime experience for me. People do get fame with Bigg Boss but I don't think I am ready for it. ' Adaa believes that an actor should maintain a certain level of mystery about their personal life. 'As an actor, I feel there should be some part of mystery. We would want to know about how an actor is behind the camera but now due to social media, everything is available. I am not ready for those fights. Even for love, I don't know who is real. But also, never say never.' Sharing her thoughts on the growing impact of social media on the acting profession, Adaa added, 'You cannot be stuck in that whole circle of social media fame. People have got confused between influencers and actors. I have friends who are very talented actors, but they are just not getting work because of their social media.' Though she's keeping her distance from Bigg Boss for now, Adaa remains open to future possibilities while staying true to her own comfort zone and principles.
Arab Times
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
‘Check and balance crucial for better public sector services'
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 19: Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Director Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim has stressed that 'anticorruption efforts are not limited to a specific entity; as they are part of a participatory process in which each entity plays its role as per its ethical, professional and national responsibilities, and under a vision for a just society free of corruption, where ethical practices are supported and public trust is of utmost importance.' Al-Ibrahim made the statement in the Second Adaa Conference on the Code of Professional Conduct held Tuesday at the Nazaha Theater with Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Dr. Issam Al-Rubaian and many State officials in attendance. He said the conference activates the initiatives of the national strategy to enhance integrity and combat corruption. He revealed the 'Adaa' project is based on the Code of Professional Conduct issued by the CSC as a reference for the rules of professional conduct that the program aims to develop, indicating it is an important step to improve the quality and integrity of public sector services. He added the conference documents the conclusion of a phase of the project after 14 participating entities completed the requirements of the second phase, coinciding with the success in reaching more than 25,000 employees. He explained that the project was designed to assess the extent of commitment to the Code of Conduct for employees and classify public sector entities into four levels of accreditation: bronze, silver, gold and diamond, according to a system characterized by gradation. He then emphasized the belief of Nazaha and its partners in the necessity of raising awareness on the risks of corruption and ways to prevent it. On the other hand, Al-Rubaian clarified that the Code of Conduct is not just a regulatory document, as it is rather an ethical and professional charter that reflects the values of distinguished institutional performance. He asserted that 'the partnership between CSC and Nazaha is the cornerstone in building an integrated system to improve professional behavior, consolidate the principles of corporate governance, and confront everything that violates the principles of integrity and transparency. Combating corruption is not limited to control procedures, as it begins with awareness and qualification, as well as consolidating the culture of responsibility and accountability within the government work environment.' He stressed that activating the code requires serious cooperation between all government agencies and involving employees in understanding their responsibilities and rights through intensified training programs and continuous awareness.
