logo
4th Meeting of India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism

4th Meeting of India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism

Zawya01-05-2025

The 4th Meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held on 30 April 2025 in Cairo. The two delegations were led by Ambassador K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs of India and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and included representatives of various agencies from both countries.
India and Egypt strongly condemned the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam that targeted domestic and international tourists. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country's security and stability. Both sides agreed to strengthen joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides exchanged views on terror threats in their respective countries and regions.
Both sides discussed ways to strengthen areas of cooperation to counter new and emerging challenges such as use of technology for terrorist purposes and financing of terrorism, including crypto currencies, unmanned aerial systems and misuse of cyber space by terrorists for spreading terrorist propaganda.
The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in anti-money laundering efforts, drug trafficking and organized crime. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in training and capacity building, cyber security, use of AI for counter terrorism, exchange of best practices and information sharing.
The two sides also discussed strengthening of multilateral cooperation in counter terrorism including in the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and FATF. In this context, both sides exchanged views on how to enhance effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated the commitment to early finalization and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group shall be held in India on a mutually convenient date.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target
Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target

The National

time8 hours ago

  • The National

Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target

The airline industry's central sustainability goal of net zero emissions by 2050 is at risk from the policies of climate change sceptics, such as US President Donald Trump. The rise of world leaders who support fossil fuels over renewable energy development and the scaling back of environmental regulations are 'obviously a setback', Marie Owens Thomsen, Iata's senior vice president of sustainability and chief economist, said. 'It does imperil success on the 2050 horizon,' she said. 'But I don't think it's going to reverse or halt progress, it will just slow progress. Now that's bad enough ... the 2050 deadline is coming furiously fast.' During its annual meeting in New Delhi last week the International Air Transport Association (Iata) nevertheless remained committed to the 2050 target date, despite airing escalating concerns about the cost, availability and insufficient government incentives for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This is not where we should be in 2025 ... there is no time for delay and no tolerance for government greenwashing and unnecessary cost increases Willie Walsh, director general, Iata Iata member airlines agreed in 2021 to target net zero emissions in 2050 based mainly on a gradual switch to SAF, which is made from waste oil and biomass. The aviation industry accounts for 2.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. But it has come under increasing pressure from environmentalists to curb its carbon footprint amid booming air travel demand. While the amount of SAF produced will double to two million tonnes in 2025, that represents only 0.7 per cent of airlines' jet fuel demand, according to Iata's latest data. The average cost of SAF in 2024 was 3.1 times that of jet fuel, for a total additional cost of $1.6 billion, according to Iata estimates. In 2025, the global average cost for SAF is expected to be 4.2 times that of jet fuel. 'Another problem, which is related, is that oil is so cheap,' Ms Thomsen said. 'I think that also diminishes the sense of urgency that people have.' Oil prices will need to trade above $80 a barrel, or even above $100 a barrel, before there is pressure to create new energy markets, she said. Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's crude, was trading around $66 a barrel on Sunday. Lower oil prices come amid Mr Trump's tariffs scheme, his calls to " drill baby drill" and a decision by Opec to hike crude output quotas. Iata estimates the cost of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to be an enormous $4.7 trillion, or $174 billion a year. However, ramping up the production of SAF is 'entirely achievable' as there is sufficient feedstock and the technology is available to get started, Ms Thomsen said. The required SAF investments are comparable to the money governments had poured into developing previous new energy markets such as wind and solar, she said, adding that the funding can also be found by scrapping subsidies to the world's major oil producing companies. 'The world is subsidising large oil companies to the height of $1 trillion per year. With that money, if it were redirected in its totality, we could solve our energy transition in less than five years,' she said. 'The thing that is really missing is the courage and willingness to take on vested interests.' Sounding the alarm SAF production needs an 'exponential expansion' to meet the demands of the airline industry's commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, said Iata, which represents some 350 airlines, comprising more than 80 per cent of global air traffic. Airlines cannot achieve the target by themselves and require more urgent action from governments, manufacturers, airport operators and fuel suppliers, Willie Walsh, Iata's director general, said. 'These actions must be accompanied by ringing the alarm bells on SAF production,' he said at the Iata meeting in India. Iata's decarbonisation roadmap estimates that SAF will provide 65 per cent of the carbon mitigation needed in 2050. 'This is not where we should be in 2025. We have a quarter-century to get to net zero. There is no time for delay and no tolerance for government greenwashing and unnecessary cost increases,' Mr Walsh said. Top priorities In April Mr Walsh had warned that industry efforts to achieve net zero by 2050 were 'off track', but he said last week that any alteration of the target was no discussed at the airlines' meeting in New Delhi. 'The industry is still obviously targeting net zero in 2050 ... we are concerned about the pace of progress,' he said. The value chain that needs to support airlines' transition to net zero is not making sufficient progress, and 'that's the reason we're calling it out', he added. Poorly co-ordinated government actions are leading to SAF mandates in different countries that have done little to stimulate production but have instead led to additional costs to the airlines without environmental benefits, he said. The Iata boss said there was a narrow window for the industry to meet its goals. 'It is a wake up-call. We still have time to get there, but we do need to see more action on the part of all the partners in the value chain to make sure the industry can get there,' he said. As of 2025, some 81 airlines had signed 170 SAF offtake agreements, signalling to producers that there is strong demand for the green fuel, according to Iata. Many airlines are unable to procure SAF without having to ship it over long distances, which defeats the purpose of reducing emissions, Mr Walsh said. 'Waning enthusiasm' Four years after global carriers committed to net zero by 2050, the Iata meeting marked escalating worry among airline chiefs about tackling climate concerns. 'There's a level of scepticism and perhaps even you could say waning enthusiasm for the overall energy transition,' Patrick Healy, group chair at Cathay Pacific, said during a panel on financing net zero target. 'Everyone's realising it's a lot more complicated than we thought a few years ago ... but it's not a problem we can turn our backs on.' Iata forecasts higher profits for airlines in 2025, with a drop in revenue offset by falling prices for traditional jet fuel. Rob McLeod, head of energy risk solutions at Hartree Partners, called on airlines to use the savings from fuel costs to invest more in SAF to help fund the energy transition. 'Lower fossil fuel prices effectively make renewables seem more expensive, but to flip it on its head: all the airlines in the room are saving so much money on their fossil jet [fuel], you've maybe got a bit more in your budget to invest more in SAF,' he told a panel about the energy transition. Iata also criticised plane manufacturers that have failed to deliver new fuel-efficient jets on time, forcing airlines to keep older planes flying for longer. 'Aircraft and engine manufacturers must make good on their promises to bring greater efficiency and carbon-reducing technologies to market fast,' Mr Walsh said. 'By the time we meet next year, we must be able to show more progress.'

Watch: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh gets engaged to MP Priya Saroj in private ceremony
Watch: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh gets engaged to MP Priya Saroj in private ceremony

Khaleej Times

time11 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Watch: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh gets engaged to MP Priya Saroj in private ceremony

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh and Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj marked the beginning of their journey together with a private yet glamorous engagement celebration on Sunday, June 8, at The Centrum, a luxury hotel in Lucknow, as reported by Indian media. The private yet glamorous event marked the joining of two influential worlds — sports and politics. Indian media reported the couple arriving at the venue in coordinated white and pink outfits, radiating joy. The venue itself was beautifully decorated with floral arrangements and soft lighting, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for the celebration. The ceremony was attended by over 300 guests, including former cricketers like Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla, UP Ranji captain Aryan Juyal, and several prominent political figures such as SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, MPs Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Yadav, and Iqra Hasan. Congress leader Rajeev Shukla and veteran politician Ram Gopal Yadav also graced the occasion. Watch the videos below: ð��´BREAKING | 'सिà¤�à¥�सर à¤�िà¤�à¤�' नà¥� रहनà¥� रिà¤�à¤� à¤�à¥�रिà¤�à¥�à¤�र रिà¤�à¤�à¥� सिà¤�ह à¤�र साà¤�सद रà¥�रिया सरà¥�à¤� à¤�à¥� हà¥�à¤� सà¤�ाà¤�, दà¥�à¤�à¥�à¤� वà¥�डियà¥� #RinkuSingh | #PriyaSaroj #Engagement #UttarPradesh | #Lucknow — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) June 8, 2025 Their wedding, scheduled for November 2025 in Varanasi, will mark a new chapter in both their personal and professional lives. About the couple Rinku Singh, 26, is a prominent cricketer for the Kolkata Knight Riders and has represented India in ODIs. Priya Saroj, also 26, is a first-time Member of Parliament representing Machhlishahr constituency and is the daughter of the influential Samajwadi Party MLA Tufani Saroj. The couple's wedding is set for November 2025 in Varanasi. Priya's father, Tufani Saroj, also mentioned that the marriage was arranged with mutual consent after a meeting between both families in Aligarh. 'Rinku and Priya have known each other for some time. They met through Priya's friend's father, who is a cricketer himself. With the blessings of both families, they decided to get married,' the would-be-bride's father told Indian media.

Pakistan PM Sharif pays tribute to 'brave soldiers' on Eid Al Adha
Pakistan PM Sharif pays tribute to 'brave soldiers' on Eid Al Adha

Khaleej Times

timea day ago

  • Khaleej Times

Pakistan PM Sharif pays tribute to 'brave soldiers' on Eid Al Adha

As Pakistan celebrated Eid Al Adha on Saturday, June 7, its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the opportunity to honour the sacrifices of the "brave soldiers of our Armed Forces." "As we offer the symbolic sacrifice today, let us also honour the sacrifices of our valiant sons of the soil, especially the brave soldiers of our Armed Forces, who have once again proven their unmatched courage, professionalism, and resolve in the successful conduct of Operation Bunyan Um Marsoos," the Pakistan premier said in a post on X. After tensions escalated between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir in April, India launched its military campaign 'Operation Sindoor.' Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan Um Marsoos. After four days of conflict, US President Donald Trump brokered a "full and immediate ceasefire". "Their steadfast defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity during the recent military aggression by India has written a new and glorious chapter in our nation's history. The entire country salutes their selfless service as well as the sacrifice of our innocent civilians," he further said. The 73-year-old also took the moment to reflect on the suffering of Palestinian "brothers and sisters." "This Eid also reinforces the values of empathy and compassion. We must remember and reach out to those in need, particularly our Palestinian brothers and sisters who continue to suffer from inhumane atrocities and hunger under a ruthless blockade," Sharif said. "Let us also draw inspiration from this Eid day to promote peace, justice, and compassion in our society and beyond," he added. Eid greetings to world leaders Sharif also had telephonic conversations with several leaders from around the world and wished them on the blessed occasion of Eid Al Adha. Sharif wished Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the occasion and expressed his gratitude for Cairo's constructive role during the recent Pakistan-India crisis. Sharif also spoke to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store