Latest news with #High-Level


See - Sada Elbalad
29-07-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt, UK FMs Discuss Strategic Partnership, Gaza Crisis
Nada Mustafa Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Abdelatty praised the notable progress in Egyptian-British relations in recent months, which is set to be reflected in the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. He emphasized Egypt's commitment to capitalizing on this positive momentum to further enhance cooperation across various fields, particularly in economic, trade, and investment sectors in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both countries. FM also briefed his British counterpart on the latest developments regarding the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, stressing the need to maintain pressure on Israel to cease its brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip and its use of starvation tactics against civilians, a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law. In this context, he also outlined the ongoing preparations for Egypt's hosting of the Early Recovery and Reconstruction Conference, in coordination with the Palestinian government and the United Nations. Abdelatty reiterated the importance of expanding recognition of the State of Palestine within the framework of the two-state solution as a means to foster peace, justice, and stability in the Middle East. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani


See - Sada Elbalad
29-07-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt, Brazil Urge Ceasefire in Gaza
Nada Mustafa Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Badr Abdelatty, met on Monday with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York. The two ministers discussed the close relations between their friendly countries and emphasized the importance of building on the positive momentum witnessed in bilateral relations in political and economic spheres. This momentum was reflected in the meeting between the President of Egypt and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in November 2024, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, and the signing of the 'Strategic Partnership' document between the two nations. Both ministers expressed their aspiration to expand bilateral cooperation across various fields and explore new opportunities that serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples. The meeting also addressed the developments in the Gaza Strip and Egypt's efforts to reach a ceasefire and halt the blatant crimes and violations committed by Israel against Palestinian civilians, as well as to end the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Moreover, the two ministers stressed the importance of exerting all possible efforts to swiftly reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that would enable the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to the Strip and stop Israel's repeated violations. Abdelatty also reviewed the latest developments regarding Egypt's hosting of the International Conference on Early Recovery and Reconstruction in Gaza, which aims to implement the Arab-Islamic plan for the reconstruction of the Strip. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of continued coordination between the two friendly countries and the need to persist in mobilizing international support for the realization of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani


Scoop
21-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Effective Partnerships Can Stop The Next Pandemic
21 July 2025 Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, a professor of infectious diseases at University College London, issued this warning at a recent meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York. It is not a question of if but when, and Dr. Abubakar believes the answer is sooner than anyone wants in part because the global healthcare system remains drastically siloed. This is a problem because, intrinsically, a pandemic cannot be stopped by one country alone. 'Infectious diseases will not respect borders. Therefore, health systems to ensure equity, dignity and universal access must also be agile to implement policies across borders,' Dr. Abubakar said. Rather, stopping pandemics — and promoting broader global development — requires robust partnerships and consistent investment in multilateral systems as a practice, not just an ideal. 'If we are to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, we must reimagine cooperation, not as a transactional action but as a dynamic, inclusive and future-ready partnership,' said Lok Bahadur Thapa, vice president of ECOSOC. A goal to unite all goals The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is convening at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss progress – or lack thereof – towards the globally agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first 16 SDGs deal with specific aspects of development — such as poverty, gender equality and climate change — but the 17th puts forward a path to achieve the others. And this path lies in embracing global partnerships between State governments, civil society organizations, communities and the private sector. However, with an annual financing gap for the SDGs which exceeds $4 trillion, the partnerships of today are not sufficient to realize the goals for tomorrow. 'We must forge truly transformative partnerships that break traditional silos: governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions all have roles to play in an inclusive coalition for sustainable development,' Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) said at an HLPF event. Prioritize prevention, not reaction Right now, the current health system, which includes pandemic preparedness, is oriented towards halting health emergencies once they emerge as opposed to proactively preventing them, according to Dr. Abubakar. Member States recently adopted a pandemic prevention treaty which endeavours to do just this — limit the likelihood of future pandemics. But for many, this emphasis on prevention extends beyond pandemics to issues like rehabilitation services and primary care, both of which experts say are critical investments not only in human well-being but also in peace and security. Moreover, these types of preventative medicine are cheaper than reactive medicine, according to Mandeep Dhaliwal, the Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). 'It's important to invest in prevention as much as it is in treatment, and it is more cost-effective because … you're turning off the tap,' Ms. Dhaliwal said. However, convincing investors to support preventive care can be difficult because, when done correctly, tangible results are not necessarily visible. Health is in every system Nevertheless, investing in preventive medicine like primary care and the socioeconomic determinants of health — such as climate and nutrition — can help ensure that health systems are holistically supporting people before a crisis begins. 'Health is not a silo… the factors that influence health are often outside the health sector,' Ms. Dhaliwal said, citing the example of air pollution which is a climate problem that inherently influences health. This sort of holistic investment requires robust partnerships which work to ensure that every initiative — no matter how seemingly distanced — considers health implications. 'We have too often treated [health] as a downstream issue, something that improves only if other systems are working. But we now understand that health and well-being is not simply the result of good developments. It's the starting point,' said Tony Ott, a professor of agricultural sciences at the Pennsylvania State University. The weak link in the health system Migrants and displaced people tend to be among those least likely to have access to preventive medicine and often those most impacted by the social determinants of health. 'Migration and displacement, whether it's driven by conflict, climate change or economic factors, are defining factors in terms of our health,' he said. By the end of 2024, 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, a decade-high number which proves that in the 10 years since the SDGs were adopted, the world has regressed in relation to displacements. For Dr. Abubakar, these displaced people — and the millions more voluntary migrants — embody why the health system simply cannot continue to silo itself and must instead embrace cross-border partnerships. 'Health systems must ensure access to essential services regardless of immigration status … Any community without access is that weak link that may mean we are all not protected,' Dr. Abubakar said, referring to the next pandemic. Communities at the centre The idea of partnerships as foundational to achieving the SDGs is logical for many people. After all, the goals are universal in nature and demand global collaboration. But this collaboration, especially for health, must do more than just engage experts — it must engage the people who seek out healthcare. Dr. Abubakar said that all health policies must be culturally appropriate to local contexts, something which can only happen if communities are placed at the centre of healthcare. 'The new future that I see would embrace global partnership, including countries irrespective of income level, public and private sector, academic and civil society. And within this framework, communities must be at the centre… not just as recipients but as co-creators of solutions.'


Egypt Today
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Middle East tensions highlight fragile regional stability, say UN conference leaders
CAIRO – 17 June 29025: The co-chairs of the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (France and Saudi Arabia), along with the chairs of the conference's working groups (Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Qatar, Senegal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the Arab League), said in a joint statement that recent events validate earlier warnings about the region's fragility and underscore the urgent need to restore calm, uphold international law, and strengthen diplomatic engagement. The joint statement expressed deep concern over the ongoing escalation and recent developments that have led to the suspension of the High-Level UN Conference. "At this critical juncture, we can only reaffirm our full commitment to the conference's goals and to ensuring that its work continues and its objectives are met," the statement read. The co-chairs announced that they would soon set new dates for the conference's roundtable discussions to incorporate the input of the working groups and work toward coordinated and clear international commitments that reflect a shared determination to implement the two-state solution. The statement emphasized that the current situation demands more than ever a renewed push to uphold international law, respect the sovereignty of states, and promote peace, freedom, and dignity for all peoples in the region. It reiterated unwavering support for all efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza and achieving a just and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian question through the implementation of the two-state solution, ensuring security and stability for all countries in the region.


Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan violated Indus Water Treaty: India at Glacier Conference in Tajikistan
New Delhi: India strongly objects and condemns Pakistan's attempt to use the International Glacier Conference in Tajikistan 'to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum,' said Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state for environment, forest and climate change during his address at the Plenary Session of the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation on Saturday. This is the first time India and Pakistan exchanged their views on the Indus Water Treaty at an international forum after India on April 23 decided to keep the treaty in abeyance following a terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. 'These Himalayan glaciers feed our critical rivers - such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus. It is undeniable fact that there have been fundamental changes in the circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was executed and that requires a reassessment of the obligations under the Treaty,' Singh said while adding that the changes include technological advancement, demographic changes, climate change, and the threat of persistent cross border terrorism. 'The treaty in its preamble says that it is concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship. The obligation to honour the treaty in the good faith is fundamental to it. However, the unrelenting cross border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame of the breach of the treaty on India,' Singh said during his address. At the International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said his country would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains. 'India's unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basin's water, is deeply regrettable,' Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted Sharif as saying. HT had reported on May 3 that the Indus river basin, among the most vulnerable regions globally to climate change, is experiencing dramatically different impacts across its eastern and western tributaries, recent scientific research has shown, potentially making previous agreements on sharing of waters between India and Pakistan irrelevant. Recent papers have now found that western tributaries like the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum and Chenab are fed by glaciers with more stored water, while eastern tributaries including the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej draw from significantly lower glacier stored water reserves. Crucially, the pace of glacial melt is higher in the Western Himalayas that feed eastern rivers compared to the Upper Indus basin. This east-west disparity challenges the fundamental assumptions of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which allocated rivers based on historically stable flow patterns. 'From an entirely scientific perspective, the water sharing practices need to be revisited in view of climate change that can alter flow and increase disasters downstream,' Anil Kulkarni, distinguished visiting scientist and glaciologist from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had said. India also emphasised that retreat of glaciers is not only a warning but an immediate reality with far-reaching implications for water security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of billions of people. Kirti Vardhan Singh addressed the Plenary Session of the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation on Saturday. Highlighting the global and regional consequences of glacial retreat, the minister underscored that the phenomenon is accelerating, with disproportionate impacts on mountain regions such as the Himalayas. He reiterated India's deep-rooted concern, as a country intrinsically connected to the Himalayan ecosystem, and outlined a series of ongoing initiatives aimed at glacial monitoring and climate adaptation, a statement from the environment ministry said. Singh highlighted that India is undertaking strategic actions under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) - a key component of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) - as well as the establishment of a Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies, designed to advance research and monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region. 'India is leveraging advanced Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to systematically monitor changes in glacier mass, extent, and dynamics. These efforts are further strengthened through coordinated research by key national institutions, including the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE),' Singh said. These initiatives are crucial to advancing scientific understanding of glacier systems and supporting data-driven policy formulation for the sustainable management of India's water resources, he added. 'India has strengthened disaster preparedness in the Himalayan region through improved early warning systems and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk mapping, coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Regional cooperation was underscored as vital for strengthening resilience, improving data-sharing frameworks, and fostering coordinated responses to the challenges facing mountain ecosystems,' Singh informed. Singh stressed India's commitment to equity and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC) in international climate action. He emphasised that while South Asia contributes minimally to global cumulative emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.