Khaled bin Mohamed: Union Pledge Day renews comm. to UAE's journey
'On this day, the UAE proudly celebrates its exceptional journey and the transformative achievements realised across all sectors. These accomplishments are the result of a leadership that placed human development at the centre of its priorities and upheld the Union as a guiding path towards the future. As the nation marks Union Pledge Day, we renew our commitment to the foundational values of unity and loyalty to the homeland, and reaffirm our collective responsibility to preserve this legacy and advance it with resolve, vision and confidence in a future defined by continued progress and global leadership.'
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Zawya
18 hours ago
- Zawya
Jordan launches green economy programme with EU support
AMMAN — Minister of Environment Muawieh Radaideh said that in light of the environmental and climate challenges facing the world and the region, the green economy emerges as a strategic option for achieving sustainable development through the efficient use of natural resources, reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and preserving biodiversity. Speaking at the launch of the "Advancing towards a Green Economy" programme, Radaideh said that the programme reflects the Kingdom's commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, to advancing towards a green and circular economy capable of delivering sustainable development, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The minister added that the programme also aims at reaching a circular economy that can contribute to protecting natural resources, improving quality of life, creating new jobs, and investing in clean energy, recycling, and sustainable transport. He stressed that building genuine partnerships between the public and private sectors forms the cornerstone for achieving the green transition in a way that ensures economic growth while preserving environmental components. Radaideh pointed out that the programme, funded by the European Union, in partnership with the international NGO SPARK and organised by the Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability in Industry, translates the national vision into action. It aims to develop capacities in green economy fields, empower small and medium-sized industries to adopt more efficient and sustainable production practices, and boost cooperation among all stakeholders in this vital sector. He added that these goals align with the Economic Modernisation Vision, which seeks to build a competitive, innovation-driven productive economy that balances economic growth with environmental and social justice. President of the Jordan and Amman chambers of industry Fathi Jaghbir said that the programme is more than just another initiative; it represents a qualitative shift in empowering the Jordanian industrial sector, enhancing its competitiveness and reducing production costs, while adhering to global environmental standards. Jaghbir noted that the industrial sector is a 'key' pillar of the national economy, contributing around 24 per cent of GDP, employing over 250,000 workers, mostly Jordanians, and accounting for more than 90 per cent of national exports, making it fundamental to economic development. The programme, Jaghbir said, aims to equip factories with the tools, knowledge, and methodologies needed to adopt sustainable production practices, in addition to offering technical training and raising awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and their impact on cost reduction and competitiveness. Director of the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Programme at the EU Delegation to Jordan Omar Abu Eid said that the EU's role as a partner in the programme lies in linking the economy with green action amid global environmental changes. Programme Manager at SPARK Afef Ajengui said that the initiative aims to explore green solutions and circular business models to support a fair and inclusive transition towards sustainable urban development. She noted that the organisation works to bring together local authorities, businesses, and civil society to promote inclusive economic growth and generate employment opportunities for youth. Ajengui added that Jordan holds a strategic position in the region, especially given the challenges it faces, such as water scarcity and economic pressures, which are issues that also affect neighbouring countries and are not limited to Jordan alone. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Abraham Lincoln's empathy is what our divided nation needs
Christi Parsons, Tribune News Service In our era, they might seem like performative gestures for the president. A quiet visit with the wife of a wounded soldier. A conversation with a battlefield nurse or a kitchen worker. A hand extended to a Black woman who had once been enslaved. Abraham Lincoln didn't publicise these moments, though. He prioritised them for personal reasons. Because even as he held the Union together with the force of his will — even as he buried his own child and bore the weight of a nation at war — he made time for mercy. He listened to the voices of those without power, a practice that steeled him for wielding his own. Empathy is getting a bad rap these days. Elon Musk recently declared it the 'fundamental weakness' of Western civilisation, summing up the ethos of the administration he just left. Even those who defend empathy speak of it mainly as a private virtue, not one that compels any particular action by public figures. But in the hands of a great leader, empathy can become a powerful political force. Whenever America has begun to fray — during war, depression, civil upheaval — the country has rallied behind a president who focused on the disenfranchised. If we're to survive our current crisis of division, our civic leaders need to do the same thing. And, as citizens, so do we. Maybe that's why Lincoln's name keeps rising in our conversations, as historians and storytellers nudge us in this direction. Lincoln is a figure in exhibits, podcasts and intellectual festivals this summer. The Metropolitan Opera is working to produce George Saunders' moving novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo,' a deeply empathetic portrayal of the 16th president. New scholarship further reveals a deeply sensitive and heartfelt man. In this modern moment of anxiety, they're showing the way to a better place — or at least the first step toward it. How did Lincoln cultivate the trait of empathy? Partly by surrounding himself with compassionate people. That's according to 'Loving Lincoln,' a new biography examining his story through the lives of the women who, despite their lack of franchise, were his key influencers. By his female relatives, Lincoln was nurtured into what his stepmother called 'the best boy I ever saw,' historian Stacy Lynn writes. Their stories 'offer evidence of Lincoln's kindness and sensitivity, his patience, his moral center, his social and political virtues, the breadth of his compassion, and his inspirational legacy.' By far, the deepest relationship of his life was with his wife, Mary, whose steely resolve helped bolster his commitment to freeing enslaved people. She was in favor of emancipation very early on, and she pressed her husband on the issue. The Lincoln White House became a place of mercy and goodwill, in no small part because of the compassion the president showed for his wife in her grief. He welcomed Black people to the White House. Mary Dines, who worked in the kitchen, urged Lincoln to visit the camps where newly freed families lived, and he went. Elizabeth Keckley, a formerly enslaved woman who became Mary Lincoln's dressmaker and confidante, called him 'kind and generous by nature.' Lincoln also welcomed Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. 'I never was treated by any one with more kindness and cordiality than were shown to me by that great and good man, Abraham Lincoln,' Truth said later. To meet the gaze of all these people, to shake their hands, to give them audience — these were not symbolic gestures. They were radical acts of inclusion by the leader who kept the Union intact. This is meaningful for us today, in our moment of deep national division. For those in office, the life of Lincoln is a guideline. He spoke publicly of the need for love and compassion. He surrounded himself with confidantes who embraced it. And he took action on it, ultimately assisting the emancipation of 4 million people from bondage. Elected officials today can do likewise. They can reject the dogma of hatred in discussing immigration. They can surround themselves with advisers who, even if they favor downsising government, hold respect for public service and public servants. They can vote and act with care for those on the margins of society. But the work of public compassion isn't all on their shoulders. Each of us can train ourselves individually for compassion. A good first step is the one Lincoln modeled all his life. We can start today by using compassionate language, a practice that can lead to feeling it in the heart. Research shows language doesn't just express emotion — it can help shape it. Certain practices can actually increase activity in the neural networks that enhance empathy and emotional regulation. Showing empathy to others feels good, too. Compassion, as with charity, begins at home. Ultimately, though, we have a compassionate responsibility to one another. So what can we as individuals do to fulfill it? We can reach out to friends and family members with differing perspectives. We can try to talk, understand and share. We can reward kindness in those who seek our votes — this fall, next year and the two after that. We can help change the national tenor by changing our own.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Philippines President accorded ceremonial welcome, calls India visit reaffirmation of strengthening ties
Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr on Tuesday was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which, he said that this State Visit reaffirms the growing partnership between India and the Philippines. The Philippines President arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a five-day State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to the reporters, Marcos said, "This visit is the reaffirmation of the alliance and the partnership that we are strengthening. We used to be referred to as the Asia-Pacific region, now we are referred to as the Indo-Pacific region, which is a correct evolution of that understanding because of the global nature of the politics, trade and economy." "We are here to build upon what we (India and the Philippines) already have and certainly to explore the many opportunities that have arisen in the past few years because of the new technologies and the changing stake of the global economy and geopolitics around us," he added. Following this, the Philippines President will also pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Indian President Droupadi Murmu, and Philippines first lady Louise Marcos, pose for photographs during a ceremonial reception at the Indian presidential palace in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. AP On Monday, Union Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) Pabitra Margherita welcomed Ferdinand R Marcos Jr at the airport. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and stated that his visit will further strengthen ties between India and the Philippines. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also called on Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr in New Delhi on Monday, expressing confidence that the visiting leader's talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday will significantly deepen the ties between the two nations. In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar stated, "Delighted to call on President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership." The Philippines President is accompanied by First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos. Ferdinand R Marcos Jr will meet Prime Minister Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Tuesday. He is scheduled to hold other engagements in the capital on Wednesday and will travel to Bengaluru on Thursday before returning to the Philippines. The diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Since then, both nations have developed a strong partnership across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. "India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation, and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest," the MEA stated. PM Modi and President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr had met briefly on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos in 2024. The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta in 2023. In 2017, PM Modi travelled to the Philippines for the 15th ASEAN-India Summit and the 12th East Asia Summit. Indo-Asian News Service
