Latest news with #HighCommissioner
Zawya
7 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
New Bangladeshi High-Commissioner Presents Credentials to President Ramkalawan
His Excellency Mr. Zokey Ahad, the newly appointed High Commissioner designate of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the Republic of Seychelles, formally presented his letters of credence to President Wavel Ramkalawan during a ceremonial reception at State House this morning. President Ramkalawan extended his congratulations to High Commissioner Ahad upon his appointment, acknowledging the enduring diplomatic partnership between Seychelles and Bangladesh that has flourished and strengthened over four decades of sustained collaboration. On behalf of the Government and People of Seychelles, the Head of State conveyed the country's deepest condolences and solidarity to the People and Government of Bangladesh following the tragic plane crash. 'Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and all those affected during this difficult time. Seychelles stands with Bangladesh in this moment of sorrow.' His Excellency Ahad expressed profound honour and appreciation for his new diplomatic role, conveying the warm felicitations and best wishes of His Excellency Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh, to the Government and people of the Republic of Seychelles. Discussions between the two leaders centred on strengthening existing frameworks of cooperation across key strategic sectors, including agriculture, climate change mitigation, fisheries development, tourism, and marine security. Both dignitaries also explored innovative avenues for collaboration aimed at further enhancing the longstanding and robust bilateral partnership between the two island nations. Addressing members of the press following the accreditation ceremony, High Commissioner Ahad underscored the unwavering commitment of both governments to deepening and diversifying their bilateral relationship across multiple sectors of mutual strategic interest and benefit. The Republic of Seychelles and the People's Republic of Bangladesh established formal diplomatic relations in February 1983, marking over four decades of sustained cooperation, friendship, and mutual understanding. His Excellency Mr. Zokey Ahad succeeds his distinguished predecessor, Her Excellency Rezina Ahmed, and will conduct his diplomatic mission from the High Commission's regional headquarters in Port Louis, Mauritius. Present for the ceremony were the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, Director General Bilateral Affairs, Ms Lindy Ernesta and Second Secretary, Mr Davis Mathiot. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
UN criticises Starmer's welfare reforms and warns measures will 'increase poverty rates'
A UN committee on disability rights has criticised the UK government's welfare reforms, saying they will "increase poverty rates". In an intervention likely to be seized on by MPs seeking to further water down the measures, the committee asks ministers for answers on 10 issues surrounding the benefit changes - and says the reforms risk "regression" for disabled people. The committee, which reports to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, asks about British politicians suggesting people are defrauding the benefits system. One point on which it wants clarification is: "Public statements by politicians and authorities portraying persons with disabilities as making profit of social benefits, making false statements to get social and disability benefits or being a burden to society." Other questions are on the impact the measures will have on "young persons, new claimants of disability benefits, women with disabilities, persons with disabilities with high level supports" and others. They ask ministers about what measures they have taken to address "the foreseeable risk of increasing poverty rates amongst persons with disabilities if cuts are approved" and claim the welfare bill has had "limited scrutiny". The letter claims that the committee has "received credible information" that the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill"will deepen the signs of regression" that the committee warned about in a report last year on the cost of living crisis and its impact on disabled people. An intervention by the UN will be an embarrassment to the government, which has promised its welfare reforms will help disabled people into work. 4:31 Liz Kendall, the welfare secretary, was criticised heavily earlier in the year for saying some people on benefits were "taking the mickey". After a chaotic first vote in Parliament on 1 July, in which MPs succeeded in watering down the reforms significantly, the government now says its reforms will lift 50,000 people out of poverty. The bill was backed by 335 MPs, with 260 against - a majority of 75. The first version of the reforms would have - the government's assessment said - pushed 250,000 people into poverty. Charities are urging MPs to continue to push for further changes - including on cuts to Universal Credit sickness payments. 1:08 A different UN committee heavily criticised benefit changes made by the Conservatives in 2016 and called on the UK to take "corrective measures" when Labour came into office. The UN's committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) concluded that "welfare reform" measures introduced by Conservative-led governments in 2012 and 2016 had disproportionately affected disabled people, low-income families, and workers in "precarious employment". The committee said this had led to "severe economic hardship, increased reliance on food banks, homelessness, negative impacts on mental health, and the stigmatisation of benefit claimants". The Department for Work and Pensions has been contacted for comment. Mikey Erhardt, policy lead at Disability Rights UK, said: "The fact that the UN has yet again felt it needs to write to the UK government about our cruel and punitive social security system should be a national shame. "We hope this letter is a wake-up call for MPs. Despite all the chaos of the last-minute climbdowns and concessions, the Universal Credit bill remains broken. "There are still billions of cuts on the table, and we urge MPs to approach tomorrow's proceedings with caution as their vote will have serious implications for disabled people across the country. "If disabled people feel unable to trust the government's promises on co-production and the UN needed to raise concerns over the bill's impact, how can MPs vote this bill through?"
National Post
19-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall can repair relations with India, say premiers
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe agree that Moe's predecessor Brad Wall is the right man to repair Canada-India relations, amidst news that Canada will soon be sending a new high commissioner to New Delhi. Article content 'I'd be supportive of that,' said Smith when asked on Wednesday about the prospect of Wall becoming Canada's next high commissioner to India. Article content Article content 'I think that Saskatchewan has done incredibly impressive work on expanding its footprint internationally through its trade offices, in particular India,' she added. Article content Moe was quick to echo Smith's sentiments, hinting that Wall could possibly aim even higher than being Canada's envoy to the emerging Asian superpower. Article content 'I would also be a proponent for (Wall) to be not only high commissioner to India but essentially the face and the voice for many of Canada's foreign relations,' said Moe. Article content 'We'll see what his answer is to that,' Moe joked. The two Prairie premiers were speaking at a joint press conference in Lloydminister, Sask., after a joint caucus meeting. Article content Moe praised Wall for building inroads to India and other emerging markets during his tenure as Saskatchewan's premier, between 2007 and 2018. Article content 'Why I would be a proponent of (Wall's) to be high commissioner to India is because of the effort and focus that he provided … to those province to nation relations, and province to industry relations in not just India but in many countries around the world,' said Moe. Article content Moe also commended Prime Minister Mark Carney for taking steps to mend Canada's strained bilateral relationship with India. Article content Wall became the province's first premier to visit India in 2011 and led a second trade mission in 2014. Article content Saskatchewan's exports to India were valued at $1.3 billion in 2023, a 52 per cent jump from the midpoint of Wall's tenure in 2013. Article content The province now produces more than a quarter of Canada's total exports to India, while being home to just three per cent of the country's population. Article content It is the top supplier globally of lentils and potash to India. Article content Carney and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly announced at this week's G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., that they'd be designating new high commissioners for the first time since 2023, when the murder of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar caused a rupture in bilateral relations.
CTV News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
British PM arriving in Ottawa ahead of G7 Summit
Watch Former high commissioner for Canada in the U.K. Mel Cappe speaks about the upcoming meeting between PM Carney and British PM Starmer.
Bloomberg
03-06-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
UN Says 4 Million People Have Fled Sudan's Civil War Since 2023
Four million people have fled Sudan since civil war broke out in 2023, the UN refugee agency said, warning that the influx of refugees was straining neighboring countries and posed a risk to regional and global security. The emergency response to the crisis remains 'dangerously underfunded,' the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement Tuesday. It said only 14% of needs are being met and tens of thousands of people are left exposed to extreme weather and insecurity.
