Latest news with #FM
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt FM delivers El-Sisi's message to Niger president on strengthening ties - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty delivered a written message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani on Wednesday, affirming strong bilateral ties, and exploring broader cooperation across various fields. During a meeting in Niamey, Abdelatty and Tchiani discussed several issues of mutual concern, foremost among them the developments in the Sahel and West Africa, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry. Both sides also addressed the escalating security challenges in Africa associated with the spread of terrorist organisations and armed groups. They also discussed the situation in neighbouring African countries and its impact on regional security and stability. The Egyptian FM emphasised the strategic importance of Niger's stability to Egypt's national security, considering the African Sahel region a natural extension of Egypt's strategic neighbourhood. Furthermore, Abdelatty shed light on the growing terrorist threats and the increasing number of armed groups across Africa and the necessity of enhancing security cooperation between Egypt and Niger. The meeting also addressed ongoing cooperation in combating terrorism and extremist ideologies, where Abdelatty highlighted the vital role of Al-Azhar as a beacon of moderation, tolerance, and the promotion of Islam's centrist approach. For his part, the Nigerien president conveyed his greetings to President El-Sisi, expressing his country's gratitude for Egypt's supportive stance toward the Nigerien people and its consistent efforts to stand by Niger in facing its security and development challenges. Tchiani also praised Egypt's leading role in the region and globally. He lauded Al-Azhar's valuable support of religious and cultural education in Niger. Meeting Nigerien FM During his visit to Niamey, the Egyptian FM also met with his Nigerien counterpart Yaou Sangaré Bakary, where they discussed the security challenges in Africa linked to the spread of terrorism and organised crime. Abdelatty outlined Egypt's pioneering experience in combating terrorism through a comprehensive approach that considers security, development, and cultural aspects. He affirmed Cairo's readiness to share its expertise with Niger and the countries of the Sahel. During the meeting, both sides also addressed the situation in the Sahel and West Africa, stressing the need to strengthen joint African action to confront security and development challenges. Abdelatty and Bakary further emphasised the importance of continued consultation and coordination on regional developments of mutual concern. For his part, the Nigerien FM expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt's ongoing support, praising Cairo's active role in championing African issues . He looked forward to deepening cooperation with Egypt in various fields to serve the interests of both peoples. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a political consultation mechanism to strengthen institutional coordination and broaden the prospects for bilateral ties and cooperation. Abdelatty also held a meeting with the Egyptian community in Niger. The Egyptian FM's visit to Niamey marks his third stop in his five-leg West African tour that includes Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Senegal. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Asia News Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Pakistan FM Dar in New York to attend high-level UNSC events, including conference on Palestine
ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday stated that Pakistan is targeting using 60 per cent renewable energy by 2030 during his address to the General Debate of the Ministerial Segment of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, according to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO). Pakistan assumed the UNSC Presidency for the month of July 2025, making it the country's eighth term on the Security Council as a non-permanent member. Islamabad began its current two-year term as a non-permanent member in January 2025 and will serve through the end of 2026. The presidency involves a focus on multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and regional cooperation. According to the FO, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and outlined key policy measures driving growth, climate resilience and economic reform in his address. 'The compounding effects of the pandemic, the food, fuel, and finance crises, as well as intensifying climate impacts, have reversed hard-won development gains and deepened inequalities,' the FM said in his speech. 'Despite these challenges, Pakistan remains fully committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda. Our national development strategies, such as Uraan Pakistan, are aligned with the SDGs.' The FM also highlighted initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Programme and the 'Living Indus' and 'Recharge Pakistan' initiatives for climate adaptation and renewable energy, the FO's statement read. Dar also 'emphasised the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in aligning foreign direct investment with Pakistan's development priorities, particularly in sectors critical to sustainable growth'. 'While national efforts are essential, these cannot succeed in isolation. As the Secretary-General has rightly emphasised, deep reform of the international financial architecture is critical for implementing the SDGs,' the FM continued. 'Developing countries need scaled-up access to concessional and grant-based resources, meaningful debt relief, and scaled-up climate finance in order to bridge the SDG Financing Gap.' Dar meets UN chief, affirms Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism During his visit, Dar met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters, according to a statement from the FO. During the meeting, the FM reaffirmed Pakistan's 'unwavering and resolute commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the UN in addressing the most pressing global challenges', the statement read. According to the FO, the secretary general appreciated Pakistan's presence and initiatives at the UNSC. Dar emphasised that Pakistan was fully committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially the need to advance peace through dialogue and diplomacy. He further stated Pakistan's commitment to peace was underscored by the high-level debate on multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes and the meeting on UN-OIC cooperation, under Pakistan's Presidency of the UNSC. 'The deputy prime minister/foreign minister emphasised issues of critical national and regional importance to Pakistan, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, violation of the Indus Waters Treaty and externally sponsored terrorism in Pakistan,' the FO stated. 'He stressed the imperative of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council. The DPM/FM lauded the secretary general's leadership and sincere efforts for de-escalation of recent tensions between Pakistan and India.' Dar also reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and firm opposition to Israeli plans for annexation in the occupied West Bank. The two men also exchanged views on the need for promoting concessional financing to support development and climate goals, especially for developing countries and mobilising enhanced international support for debt relief and liquidity solutions for the Global South. 'The DPM/FM emphasised that the secretary general's 'UN80' initiative offered a critical opportunity to strengthen the three pillars of the United Nations to promote international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights worldwide,' the statement read, referring to the UN marking its 80th anniversary this year. According to the statement, Dar welcomed the appointment of a UN special envoy on Islamophobia and expressed readiness to support global efforts to combat religious intolerance. Earlier, the FO reported that Dar arrived in New York to attend high-level signature events of Pakistan's UN Security Council (UNSC) Presidency, including a conference on Palestine. 'During the visit, he will lead high-level signature events under Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, hold bilateral and multilateral meetings in New York and Washington, DC, and represent Pakistan at the International Conference on the two-state solution, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France,' the FO said. 'Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, arrived in New York for an official visit from 21 to 28 July 2025,' the FO announced in a post on X. 'During the visit, he will lead high-level signature events under Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, hold bilateral and multilateral meetings in New York and Washington, DC, and represent Pakistan at the International Conference on the two-state solution, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.' It added that upon his arrival, FM Dar was received by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar, and the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. According to a July 19 statement issued by the FO, Dar will attend a high-level conference on the 'Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution', to express Pakistan's strong commitment and unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. The conference was originally planned for June but was postponed due to the Iran-Israel war, which also led to the rescheduling of Dar's visit. According to The Guardian, the moot will now be held on July 28 and 29. Since October 8, Israeli strikes have killed more than 58,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Pakistan has consistently raised its voice for the people of Palestine, calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Earlier this month, Pakistan urged the UNSC not to remain 'a bystander' amid the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Aside from the Palestine conference, Dar is also set to chair a high-level briefing of the UNSC, focused on enhancing cooperation between the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). 'The meeting is being held as part of Pakistan's efforts to strengthen collaboration between the OIC and the UN for maintenance of international peace and security,' the FO statement said. Dar is expected to have several other bilateral engagements with his counterparts, as well as senior UN officials, during his stay. He will also meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on July 25.
ITV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
First Minister Eluned Morgan faces farmers after controversial SFS comments
The FM faced a frosty reception at the first day of the Royal Welsh Show after leaving farmers feeling 'devalued'.
Tahawul Tech
3 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
AI moves from buzz to backbone in real estate operations, says Facilio founder
Facilio's CEO, Prabhu Ramachandran, on how AI is transforming compliance, visibility, and performance across building portfolios. Artificial intelligence is redefining real estate operations by addressing the everyday challenges faced by facility managers—missed SLAs, compliance gaps, and delayed issue resolution. Facilio is harnessing AI and IoT to unify disconnected systems, enabling smarter, faster decision-making across entire portfolios. Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder and CEO of Facilio, explains how the company is helping real estate and FM firms achieve measurable impact through a connected operational platform, with the Middle East emerging as a key region for success. Interview Excerpts: AI in real estate has moved beyond buzz—how is Facilio enabling measurable impact across compliance, issue resolution, and operational visibility? AI is finally delivering on its promise in real estate—not as a futuristic idea, but as a hands-on tool to solve the everyday bottlenecks that facility teams deal with. Facilio brings AI into the heart of building operations, where the pain is real: delayed resolutions, missed SLAs, compliance scrambling, and a lack of real-time visibility. We are building AI capabilities to help facility managers prioritise work orders, assign the right technician instantly, surface hidden patterns in compliance failures, and spot risks before they escalate. Instead of hunting through spreadsheets or chasing teams for updates, managers can now see exactly where things stand—and more importantly, what actions will move the needle. The result? Problems are resolved faster, audits become routine instead of stressful, and teams stay ahead of issues rather than reacting to them. This is how AI becomes a daily operational advantage, not just a buzzword. You often say leaders don't need more tech, but connected tech—how does Facilio bridge people, processes, and systems using AI and IoT? Facility management has no shortage of tools—just a shortage of connected intelligence. Teams juggle a mix of apps, vendor systems, emails, and spreadsheets. The problem isn't lack of technology; it's that the systems don't talk to each other, and people are left bridging the gaps manually. Facilio changes that. Our platform brings AI and IoT together to stitch those silos into a single operational brain. Work orders, technician skills, asset health, energy usage, vendor response—all of it flows into one connected layer. AI then steps in to make sense of it, recommend actions, or trigger workflows in real time. This gives every team member—from a technician in the field to a regional ops lead—the ability to act faster, smarter, and with full context. It's not about automating tasks in isolation, but about orchestrating operations with intelligence. As cost-cutting hits its limits, where do you see the biggest opportunities for AI to unlock long-term value in real estate portfolios? Most portfolios have already squeezed the easy cost levers—cutting headcount, renegotiating contracts, deferring maintenance. But that's not sustainable. The next frontier is performance at scale—and that's where AI shines. AI helps shift from managing buildings to optimising them. Think: predicting which equipment is likely to fail next week, identifying which vendors are underperforming, spotting which sites have hidden compliance risks or missed revenue. It transforms operations from reactive to precision-led. The biggest long-term value? Visibility and control at the portfolio level. Instead of managing one building at a time, you can steer dozens—or hundreds of sites with the same clarity and consistency. 'AI isn't just helping teams do more with less—it's helping them do better with what they already have.' Why is a unified operations platform the missing piece in facilities management, and how is Facilio filling that gap? Facilities management has been stuck in fragmented workflows for too long. One app for work orders. Another for energy. A third for compliance. The result? Gaps, delays, and missed opportunities. What's missing is a single operating layer that ties it all together. Facilio was built to be that layer—a real-time platform where operations, maintenance, sustainability, and compliance come together, guided by live data and AI. This unified model doesn't just reduce tool sprawl. It unlocks a new way of operating—where every decision is informed by context, every process can adapt in real time, and every stakeholder (internal or external) works from the same source of truth. That's how we help teams stay ahead, not just keep up. In the Middle East, AI is already driving results—can you share examples of how Facilio is helping FM firms exceed compliance without added overhead? The Middle East is leading the charge in modern FM, especially in high-performance portfolios. We've seen forward-thinking customers embrace AI not just for innovation's sake, but to solve everyday pains—especially around compliance and reporting. Instead of manually tracking SLA breaches or scrambling to compile ESG data, teams using Facilio now get live dashboards that show exactly where they stand. Faults are flagged before they become failures. Reports are generated automatically. Technicians know what to fix and where to go—before someone escalates the issue. The impact? Compliance becomes built-in, not bolted on. Teams improve performance without needing more people or firefighting more problems. In one case, a leading commercial development in Dubai unified all their building systems—from HVAC to lifts—under a single pane of glass. Another cut reporting time by 70% and rolled out energy programs portfolio-wide in weeks, not months. As for the third – an FM service provider in the UAE digitised its end-to-end workflows with Facilio—resulting in a 13% boost in workforce productivity, improved SLA adherence, and fully embedded compliance practices. By enabling real-time reporting and empowering mobile teams, they eliminated the need for manual audits across more than 300 buildings. These aren't pilots or ideas—they're results already happening, and they show what's possible when FM leaders choose a platform built for continuous improvement, not just digital record-keeping.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
You can't change the world without upsetting people
It was, instead, a mantle I had to take on as my life progressed. The more I saw of the world – and most especially what Margaret Thatcher was trying to do way back in the early 1980s – the more I realised how unfair it was. I noticed that some people were unfairly rewarded for their efforts in life and, that by dismantling trade unions, Thatcher was intent on maintaining that status quo. I realised that the world was not made up of equals. As the eighties progressed, it became ever more obvious that who your parents were and where you were born had a massive impact on your life chances. It was clear that she was intent on exacerbating rather than addressing that injustice. READ MORE: Westminster will never feel any heat from the FM's hot air and bluff In addition, and very clearly, not all countries in the UK were treated as equal, and as a person with an Irish background, I was angry about that. Moreover, not all work was valued equally. In Thatcher's world, those who produced, laboured, cared, taught, and served were inferior to those who fleeced us of our money, and there was nothing that could be remotely justified about that. Seeing all this, I was radicalised by what Thatcher (below) and the Tory party did between 1979 and 1997. (Image: PA Archive/PA Images) I have been as angered by the fact that ever since then the Labour Party has been a profound disappointment, as it has perpetuated her legacy by promoting ever more inequality and prejudice of the sort that she had made acceptable. That is why in 2000, I gave up my safe and secure income stream as a senior partner in a firm of accountants and became a campaigner for tax and economic justice. The realisation had dawned on me that the security I enjoyed in the position I had was not the place from which to change the world. If the world was going to be changed, I had to take a risk. Lesley Riddoch kindly mentioned some of the things I have achieved as a consequence in a column she wrote for this paper last week. The worlds of international tax, green politics, and the understanding of how tax can be used to shape the societies we live in are all different because of what I've done so far, and I am hoping that my career has a long way to go yet. READ MORE: 'It's just wrong': Musicians rally behind bid for folk legend to own his life's work There is, however, one essential point I have to make, which I wish our politicians would take note of. What I learned very soon after becoming a campaigner was that I would upset people. I could not have attacked tax havens as I did without upsetting those who ran them, and I most certainly achieved that. I even enjoyed the privilege of having a ritual foot-stomping at the mention of my name in the States of Jersey, which is its parliament, meaning that I was considered to be an enemy of the state in that place. Then the Big Four firms of accountants lined up against me when I proposed that multinational corporations disclose their use of tax havens to tax authorities and the public, using a system I had created called country-by-country reporting, which they claimed would be impossible to implement. Despite their determined opposition, it became a legal requirement for tax reporting in most countries worldwide in 2017. In addition, I recall a meeting in 2009 at the UK Treasury when I was told that securing data from tax havens on the identities of UK residents who used those places would not happen in my lifetime. I put my mind to the problem, along with a few others, and this information has now been supplied by most of the world's tax havens for over seven years now. I make no claim that this has made me popular. Even some in the tax justice world will no longer speak to me because they claim that John Christensen, with whom I co-founded the Tax Justice Network, and I sold out to the OECD to achieve these goals. They would, apparently, have sacrificed the gains we made for the sake of their own political purity. We think that to be absurd. What I have learned is one simple lesson – to make an omelette, you have to crack an egg, and to create political change, you have to upset someone. You cannot be in favour of Scottish independence without upsetting the Unionists. My message is simple: don't worry about it. You won't change the minds of those in their hardcore. All you have to do is work out how you will accommodate them in an independent Scotland. Likewise, you will not create a fair tax system without upsetting the wealthy. There is, quite simply, no way on earth that you can do so. It is not possible. So, get on with it anyway, and deal with all the consequences, including the fact that a tiny proportion of them will leave, because you will get a better world anyway. And don't be frightened to redistribute both income and wealth. There is, quite literally, no other way in which the massively unfair burden now imposed upon working people can be managed except by doing so. We must use the tax system to achieve this, but we must also be willing to tackle the excesses of big corporations and large landlords, as well as the Bank of England and our banks, all of whom extract unearned income from us, leaving far too many struggling from month to month to pay their bills. My message is that everyone has a choice. Not everyone might want to be a contrarian in the way that I am, but everyone can decide whether they accept the situation as it now is, and the gross injustice within it, or they can declare themselves in favour of change. Most particularly, politicians have to make that choice. What we know is that Labour, the Tories, Reform and, most probably, the Liberal Democrats all favour the status quo. READ MORE: Farage wrecked Britain and risks Aberdeen's future, Flynn warns The Greens say they want change, but they must still make their offer both plausible and acceptable to those who share that objective. And the SNP has to learn what courage is, which they are a long way from doing at present. We live in a world where almost everyone (except the very wealthy, some elected politicians, and large corporations) believes that the world we inhabit is unsustainable, both politically and environmentally. It's not contrarian to say this. Anyone with any sense realises it. Just talk to your neighbours, look at your bank balance, and observe reality to appreciate this fact. So, what we need are politicians willing to break the eggs. We need a new omelette. We need a new political system. We need a new country. Nothing less will do. Please, then, be a contrarian, and say so – loud and clear – because that is essential now.
