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The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Bill Gates says it's up to Europe to help the developing world after US pulls out of aid deals
BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST Bill Gates has told MEPs that it is up to Europe to fulfil the US' failures in providing aid to the developing world. Speaking in Brussels this evening, he said the poverty, hunger and poor access to services are man-made issues which must be addressed immediately, as deaths among children facing these issues are increasing. Gates, the billionaire owner and founder of Microsoft, said that the abruptness and scale of changes in the US' humanitarian aid policy has already been felt by those on the ground. 'Of course, my country, the United States, has made the biggest cuts. But the United States is not alone,' he said, estimating that roughly €30bn has been cut from humanitarian operations globally this year. Advertisement He said virtually no tuberculosis treatment operations are running in areas such as Ethiopia and Nigeria. Gates added that malaria bed nets and other supplies were dwindling or impacted by supply chain issues. On 24 January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent an internal memo vowing an 'America First' policy of tightly restricting assistance overseas. Gates told MEPs from the European Parliament's Development Committee this evening that sicknesses such as malnutrition and HIV are increasing. 'We also see that the risk of a pandemic is greater when we allow these developing countries' health systems to break down,' Gates said. 'The monitoring of avian flu and Ebola, many of those people have now been let go.' He added: 'I believe we should do everything we can to mitigate this. To drive innovation and, over time, recommit to these areas so that we can get back to the improvements that we've seen over the next 25 years.' Speaking at the event, Fianna Fáil MEP and chair of the committee Barry Andrews said that Gates has completed 'remarkable' work. He described the shortages in funding for development as a global challenge. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
India Gazette
18-06-2025
- India Gazette
Uttar Pradesh: CCTV cameras being installed at 60 locations across Sambhal to boost citywide surveillance and safety
Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh), June 18 (ANI): Municipal Council Executive Officer Mani Bhushan Tiwari on Wednesday said that the city of Sambhal is being equipped with a robust CCTV surveillance network, with over 220 cameras being installed at 60 locations across sensitive and high-traffic locations to enhance public safety and city monitoring. Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, 'The Development Committee meeting chaired by the District Magistrate has already approved a budget of Rs 2 crore for the surveillance initiative. Under this project, Nagar Palika Council Sambhal is installing a total of 227 cameras, including 10 ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, 8 PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, and the rest across areas under Kotwali and Sambhal police stations.' 'All cameras are IP-enabled and fitted with voice recording features. A central control room is being developed at the ASP's office, and this will be connected to monitoring stations at Tehsil, Nagar Palika premises, and other city checkpoints,' he added. Harshit Sharma, associated with Cyber Lens Firm, the agency executing the project, told ANI that cameras are being installed at 60 identified locations, including major roads, traffic intersections, and city entry-exit points. 'These cameras are being installed at sixty identified locations, including major roads, intersections, and entry-exit points. Work has been completed at around thirty sites so far. Once all installations are done, a centralised control room will be set up where feeds from all cameras will be accessible,' he said. He further added, 'Cameras have also been installed around Jama Masjid and other sensitive locations in the city. Of the total 224 cameras, 206 are fixed lens cameras for general surveillance, while 8 are PTZ cameras with wide coverage capability.' Sharma added that the system ensures dual recording--one at the location and another at the control room--enabling better citywide surveillance, efficient traffic regulation, and prompt response in case of emergencies. Tiwari also mentioned that the municipal control room would eventually be integrated with services related to e-governance, solid waste management, flood response, and other civic utilities. 'In special situations, senior officials will be able to access the camera feeds. This will significantly aid in maintaining law and order, as well as improve service delivery across the city,' he said. (ANI)
Zawya
16-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: $11mln infrastructure push to spur South Batinah economy
Muscat – South Batinah governorate has launched a few infrastructure and service projects worth more than RO4.57mn as part of its plans to boost investment, tourism and job opportunities across its wilayats. The projects, overseen by the South Batinah Governorate Development Committee under the Office of the Governor, cover Barka, Musannah, Wadi al Maawil, Al Awabi and Nakhal. Officials say the initiative supports the decentralisation goals set out in Oman's Tenth Five-Year Plan and Vision 2040. 'These projects aim to create an attractive and competitive environment for investment and sustainable growth,' said Saud bin Said al Maawali, Deputy Head of the Municipal Council and chairman of the committee. Among the largest projects is the Musannah Waterfront Development, a 2km site in the Al Uwaid area, now 35% complete. The RO1.7mn project will include restaurants, shops, play areas, sports facilities and beach activities. In Wadi al Maawil, a new commercial souq covering 16,000sqm is nearly finished. The RO319,000 project has 27 retail units, which is expected to boost local trade and tourism. The Al Awabi Souq is more than 70% complete. Built at a cost of RO200,000, it will have 16 shops across 1,200sqm, supporting small businesses in the wilayat. Nakhal's public park development is 70% complete. The RO452,000 project includes spaces for small and medium enterprises and productive families. In Barka, work continues on a waterfront project in the Al Muraisi area, now 55% done. The 2km development, costing RO1.9mn, will feature tourism and investment zones, sports and leisure facilities, and services for tour operators. 'These projects upgrade infrastructure and support SMEs, jobseekers and entrepreneurs in the region,' Maawali said. 'We aim to align our development priorities with the needs of citizens and sustainable growth principles.' The initiatives are expected to raise the quality of life and strengthen the local economy of South Batinah. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
15-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
RO 4.5 million in development projects in Al Batinah South
AL RUSTAQ: Al Batinah South Governorate is pressing ahead with a series of infrastructure and development projects worth RO 4.5 million, aimed at stimulating investment, trade and tourism across its wilayats. The projects are being overseen by the Governor's Office through its Development Committee, which plays a key role in advancing the governorate's strategic growth agenda. According to Saud bin Said al Maawali, Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council and Head of the Development Committee, the projects reflect broader efforts to strengthen the local economy, support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), generate employment for youth and enhance infrastructure and tourism offerings. Al Maawali said the projects are aligned with Oman's decentralisation policy and form part of the national economic transformation strategy under the Tenth Five-Year Plan and Oman Vision 2040. 'We are focusing on initiatives that not only enhance public services and amenities but also promote economic vibrancy and community well-being,' he added. Among the major undertakings is the Barka Waterfront Development Project in Al Muraisi, which stretches over two kilometres and is designed to become a major recreational and tourism hub. With an investment of RO 1.9 million and 55% of construction completed, the project will feature sports and entertainment facilities, support services for tourists and designated investment zones aimed at creating jobs for locals. In Al Musannah, a similar waterfront development is underway in Al Awaid at a cost of RO 1.7 million. Currently 35% complete, the project spans two kilometres and includes plans for restaurants, commercial outlets, children's play areas and sports facilities to enhance the area's appeal for residents and visitors alike. Other key initiatives include the Wadi Al Maawil Commercial Market, which is nearly complete with a 95% construction rate. Covering 16,000 square metres and comprising 27 shops, the RO 319,000 project is expected to become a focal point for commerce and tourism in the wilayat. Meanwhile, the Al Awabi Commercial Market, built over 1,200 square metres with an investment of RO 200,000, has reached 70% completion. The project will house 16 shops and is part of ongoing efforts to revitalise economic and social activity in Al Awabi. Another significant development is the upgrade of Nakhal Public Park, which is 70% complete at a cost of RO 452,000. Enhancements include new recreational facilities and improved infrastructure to transform the park into a major family and tourism destination. The project also includes three dedicated spaces for SMEs and local family businesses, offering fresh investment opportunities in Nakhal and surrounding areas.— ONA
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘For poor, populous states like Bihar, MSMEs key to job creation': N K Singh
In a recent report of its Development Committee, the World Bank laid out the global challenge of job creation, particularly in the developing world. Noting that 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries, the report said these economies may not be able to generate enough jobs for even 300 million. In an interview with The Indian Express, former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh said for India to bridge this employment gap, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are crucial. Singh, a BJP member and former JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP, spoke about India's efforts to boost MSMEs, the challenges faced by the sector, and how poll-bound Bihar in particular could benefit from an MSME-centric model. Excerpts: * How do you view the World Bank jobs report? In the Indian context, I feel jobs and MSMEs are central to many of our quests – for adoption of technology, for increasing the use of digital stack on which we have developed a mastery, for harmonising the adoption of high technology with high-quality jobs, and to really integrate the very large informal, unorganised sector. We have roughly 63 million MSMEs – 99% of that is micro. (On April 1, the Centre revised the micro classification, which now involves an investment cap of Rs 2.5 crore and turnover cap of Rs 10 crore)… The bulk of these micro enterprises are in the informal sector and their formalisation is one of the big challenges. Currently, micro enterprises employ at least 150 million people, which is 40% of our labour force, and constitute 30% of India's GDP and 45% of our exports. So it is a very significant part of the economy. * What are some of the challenges facing MSMEs? The definition and the challenges of MSMEs have kept evolving… A Reserve Bank of India committee identified the credit gap for meeting the needs of this sector at Rs 25 lakh crore. Only 14% of India's MSMEs have access to formal credit – in China, it is 37%, and in the US, it is 50%. So part of the problem arises over whether you would give credit in an unsecured way. The Union Finance Ministry has taken a number of initiatives, including that up to Rs 10 lakh can be unsecured loans. MSMEs are an important focus both for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister. There are, of course, several other issues. One is to have much greater registration on online portals. The other is the inclusion of higher benefits through unsecured loans, through revamping of the credit line guarantee scheme, (and) access to digital technology becoming mainstreamed in the procurement policies of the government. Another major factor here is the compliance culture. The PM's own concern was a committee under the Cabinet Secretary which will look into the issues of simplifying compliance – what may be called 'deregulating' government… MSMEs are hardly in a position to be burdened with the whole framework of intricate and complex regulation. Then, of course, the usual issues of infrastructure and marketing access. Forget about the global value-added chain, how do you integrate MSMEs with the Indian value-added chain, and tap the huge potential they have via exports? Compared to global averages of women's participation at an average of 23%, India's is much lower. So how do we get more women involved in the MSME programme?… How do we substantially improve the number of women entrepreneurs? * What is India doing to address these challenges? Some labour-intensive industries – toys, textiles, garments – can create millions of jobs… Among the best international examples is Kenya's M-Pesa, a mobile-phone based payments and micro-financing portal. Our technology stack – the Jan-Dhan (Yojana), Aadhaar and mobile trinity – is a very credible response. On the credit guarantee scheme (too), we have done very significantly, as well as with the Skill India Mission… We have the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and a cluster-based employment drive, but we can significantly improve on that. For instance, Vietnam is a great example of building clusters… Hosiery is a very important cluster in Tamil Nadu 's Tiruppur, there are auto parts clusters in Punjab. When it comes to some of these initiatives, not only do we have to learn, but the world has a lot to learn from us. In terms of financing, I think the world perhaps has taught us much more. For instance, the South African example of blended finance – we have introduced it but we can do so much more in conjunction with the private sector. The World Bank report focusing on jobs is an area where we have done a lot but as we look to provide gainful employment, the MSME sector is a very important sector… particularly in respect of some very endemically poor and populous states, one of which is Bihar, where I come from. * Would an MSME-centric model work in Bihar? Bihar now has about 125 million people. Per capita income is only Rs 59,000. Poverty numbers are 33%, compared to a national average of 14%. Unemployment rate is 17%, far in excess of the national average. And it has huge migratory pressures. So Bihar has a great deal to benefit from MSMEs. As the (Assembly) elections approach, the issues of Bihar's developmental deficit, and how to overcome them would attract focus… * What sectors should an MSME-led model focus on in Bihar? One is a cluster-based approach where Bihar has a comparative advantage in terms of a fairly talented human resource. Second is harnessing the great latent potential of Bihar entrepreneurs, particularly women. To saturate the total credit needs and upgrade skills, the cluster-based approach would be best utilised in the tourism and service sectors, small and medium industries, along with better integration with large industries. New efforts have been made to develop Bihar's latent tourism potential through the Buddhist and other tourist circuits. North Bihar is full of these, what may be called 'soft power' hubs… The fact that the Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) for her Budget speech decided to wear a Madhubani saree shows the enormous artistic and cultural talent of Mithila and Bihar… People tend to forget that Tussar silk was a global quest before the colonial period destroyed the silk industry in Bhagalpur… A recent big announcement was the Makhana Board. Who would have realised that the makhana has this huge potential? This is only one example. * There is, however, a huge demand in Bihar for government jobs. Several initiatives can be undertaken. One is the initiative of effectively harnessing technology for upgrading education and educational pedagogy. A focus on its health parameters will in turn lead to better education for girls, which will further have a dramatic impact on Bihar's own GDP and per capita income as more women join the labour force. All of which would also bring down the migratory pressures from Bihar… These initiatives have commenced and hopefully will be deepened. * How do you view the performance of the JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar? I really believe it's best designed to suit Bihar's developmental needs.. Bihar needs a continuation of this constellation of policies, deepening this process further by continuing with a government that is stable, that guarantees security of life and property… That this government focuses on development and not identity politics, I think is the path forward… There is a very famous phrase that would be very applicable for Bihar – guaranteeing what is known as a 'peace dividend'. Parties that are designed to give a peace dividend are also likely to be better placed to give development. The current leadership of the BJP and Nitish Kumar is well designed for this.
