Latest news with #NationalStrategy
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
UN: Iraqi Ministry of Interior Successful in Combating Human Trafficking
Baghdad – INA The United Nations confirmed on Thursday that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has succeeded in combating human trafficking crimes, noting that it arrested more than 1,000 suspects during 2024. The organization said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has succeeded in combating human trafficking and arrested more than 1,000 suspects in 2024." The statement added that "the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has implemented anti-drug programs as part of its 2025-2030 National Strategy," indicating that "the ministry has activated hotlines and units to support children who are victims of violence and trafficking." The statement confirmed that "the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has linked the Anti-Human Trafficking Department with the Secret Services Department to enhance the fight against transnational crime." It also indicated that "the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has strengthened the role of the civil police to monitor and address corporal punishment against children."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine's European future is fundamental for an enduring peace
More than three years since Russia's full-scale aggression began, Ukraine continues to keep Moscow's brutal imperialism at bay. The proud and free nation of Ukraine will not surrender to it, for Ukrainians have long since taken their fate in their own hands. Democratic Ukraine must determine its own future, sharing in the freedom and prosperity of Europe. Support for Ukraine is a top priority for my government. When I visited Kyiv in the summer of 2023, I saw the tangible effects of that support. Now, I am visiting Kyiv once again to show Finland's unbreakable commitment to a free and democratic Ukraine. Already in 2023, I visited a Finnish-funded housing project in Irpin accommodating families who had lost their homes to war. Finland has since expanded its support to Ukraine, ranging from education to the environment and to safeguarding energy production. In fact, Ukraine is now our biggest development cooperation partner. A lot of Finland's support originates in the private sector, which is testament to the solidarity felt by Finnish society. Throughout the war years, Finland has offered protection to tens of thousands of Ukrainians, many of whom have since returned to Ukraine as conditions have allowed. They have enriched our society, and we want to help them rebuild their country. Finland and Ukraine have agreed to continue and intensify cooperation on civil defence shelters. Finland will provide technical and strategic support and will lead the shelter coalition together with Ukraine. We call on our international partners to join the coalition and contribute financial support for implementing Ukraine's National Strategy and building shelters in Ukraine. The European Union has mustered its vast economic resources in support of Ukraine: the EU's Ukraine Facility is securing a multiannual economic and financial supply line. It is imperative that we continue to support Ukraine's economy with additional instruments over the coming years, too. My message in the European Council has been consistent and clear: we must sustain our strong macrofinancial support for Ukraine—so the economy can function, defence materiel procurements can continue, and Ukraine can grow stronger in the face of Russian aggression. Ukraine's firm commitment to reform efforts in various sectors of society is a key factor in this arrangement. The European and Western economic base and financial firepower in support of Ukraine is overwhelming when compared to support for Russia. Time is not on Russia's side in this war, as its limited economic resources pose increasing problems and will eventually force Moscow to scale back its ambitions. We will continue to ramp up pressure on Russia's war machine. The EU has just agreed on its 17th sanctions package, targeting the Russian shadow fleet and some of Russia's oil companies. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the EU is already preparing further measures. It is time to move swiftly toward our 18th sanctions package—one that will target Russia's shadow fleet, crack down on circumvention and tighten restrictions on oil. We welcome similar announcements from other partners. In March, my government announced its 28th military aid package to Ukraine. Finland is a top provider of military aid to Ukraine in per capita terms. We have boosted our defence industry and incentivised our defence companies to support Ukraine. With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation by our respective ministers of defence, our bilateral military cooperation is now deepening even further. Looking ahead, we are not only continuing our support for Ukraine but also drawing important lessons on how to strengthen our military preparedness. In our discussions within the EU, we are constantly pushing for more military support. The new SAFE instrument, aimed at boosting Europe's defence industrial capacity through joint procurement, will soon unlock fresh liquidity channels for both EU Member States and Ukraine. We are now taking steps to help integrate the Ukrainian and European defence industries. The EU's military and civilian assistance operations in Ukraine must be further strengthened. Ukraine already has a thriving defence industry and one of the strongest armies in Europe. We must build fully integrated defence industrial cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, based on shared standards and joint operations between our companies. Rapidly scaling up defence production and output using every available tool is our top priority. Ukraine has applied for membership in the European Union. The EU has welcomed the application and promptly opened negotiations. Europeans have been astonished by Ukraine's drive for reforms even under conditions of war. This speaks volumes about Ukraine's determination. It is the responsibility of the EU to respond by facilitating Ukraine's path towards membership. Finland supports the opening of all negotiation clusters soon. Our assistance to Ukraine is closely aligned with the goal of supporting Ukraine on its path to EU accession. We have been working closely with the Ukrainian government, providing both negotiation expertise and targeted technical assistance across specific clusters—and we stand ready to continue and deepen this support. Finland joined the EU in 1995, together with Austria and Sweden. It was a crucial step, but our centuries-old affiliation with Europe certainly did not start there. We had built up the famed Nordic model through decades of hard work and economic integration before EU membership. From 1995 to 2023, Finland remained outside of NATO but was a regional security provider with a strong national defence. If anyone had misgivings about Finland's place on the European political and security policy map during that period, these have proven unwarranted. When Finland joined the EU, and later NATO, we purported to be at the "top of the class", ready to contribute and show our value to our partners and allies. The Finnish story is one example of belonging to Europe and becoming integrated into its institutions. Joining the EU will be one chapter in Ukraine's story. Ukraine is already defending the freedom of Europe and deserves our full solidarity. Increasing trade and mobility, and gradual accession to EU programmes, must not wait for the formal conclusion of the enlargement negotiations. Efforts continue to bring the war to end and achieve a just and lasting peace that guarantees the security of Ukraine. Achieving a sustained ceasefire would be the first step, as it could make it possible to start full negotiations on ending the war. Unfortunately, Russia seems reluctant to end its aggression or withdraw from its maximalist goals. So far, President Putin has been playing for time in an effort to undermine President Trump's quest for peace. Ukraine, by contrast, has shown a principled readiness to enter negotiations. Throughout the war, President Zelenskyy has been an advocate for a just peace based on the UN Charter and the core principles of the international law, as reinforced in Ukraine's Peace Formula. Ukraine has expressed its willingness to join NATO, as this would help provide the strongest security guarantees against future aggression. Finland shares this view and continues to support the right of all countries to choose their own defensive security arrangements. Ukraine will always take the lion's share of responsibility for its own security. So it is for Finland, and for other nations, too. But Ukraine is not alone, not anymore. The EU and Ukraine already agreed to long-term security commitments last year, and most Member States, along with the United States and many others, have signed their respective national commitments with Ukraine. The recent minerals agreement between the United States and Ukraine will hopefully serve to sustain the United States' commitment to Ukraine's security. The Europeans are currently working on enhanced contributions to Ukraine's future security arrangements while liaising with the United States. Our common goal is to play a robust and positive role in the future security of Ukraine and to pre-empt the threat of renewed Russian aggression. Ultimately, enduring peace and security will depend on collective commitments and contributions from all sides. Some commentators have hastened to write off Europe in the peace efforts. In fact, the Europeans have quickly regrouped and upped their game to support Ukraine in all situations, to increase pressure on Russia and to secure close coordination with the new US administration. The outcome of the war will not be decided over the heads of Europe and Ukraine. The West will put pressure on Russia to bring it to a negotiated settlement. Russia's sovereign assets in Europe must remain immobilised until Russia fully compensates for the damage it has caused. The proceeds from these frozen assets are already being used to finance Ukraine's war efforts. Finland supports using the assets themselves to compensate for Ukraine's losses and finance reconstruction. Russia must be held accountable for the war of aggression and for the damages it has caused Russia's full-scale invasion is the most severe challenge to the European security order since the end of the Cold War. Putin has not managed to break that order, only Russia's own part in it. Whatever his initial designs, Russia has lost its chance to draw Ukraine and its people closer. The rest of Europe has not abandoned the European security order. We stand firm on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and we call on all free nations to stand with us. This collective commitment was once again palpable when the leaders of almost 50 European nations and institutions met for the Summit of the European Political Community on 16 May in Tirana. Achieving peace will be a future challenge for Ukraine. Wars leave deep scars and long shadows. Society will need to heal and rebuild. The patience of the nation will be tested again once the fighting winds down. Europe must make good on its promise: to support Ukraine for as long as needed. This includes taking part in the long reconstruction process and helping Ukraine move forward on its path to European integration.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Over 35mln passengers used Saudi trains in 2025
RIYADH — The rail transport sector in Saudi Arabia achieved exceptional figures in the first quarter of 2025, with more than 35 million passengers traveling by train, according to a statement issued by the Transport General Authority (TGA). TGA explained that the intercity rail transport sector witnessed remarkable growth, with more than 3.4 million passengers traveling on intercity trains during the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the significant demand over the past few months. Regarding intra-city trains, statistics published by TGA showed that more than 32.3 million passengers traveled on intra-city trains. The Riyadh train topped the list of trains with the highest number of passengers (more than 25 million). The automated shuttle at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah recorded more than 6 million passengers, while the automated shuttle at Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh carried more than 900,000 passengers. Regarding the transport of goods and minerals, the Transport General Authority stated that more than 3.8 million tons and over 239,000 containers were shipped via railways, reflecting the vital role of trains in supporting the Saudi economy and contributing to strengthening supply chains, particularly in the industrial and mining sectors, as part of its contribution to achieving the goals of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services. Train traffic facilitates the movement of passengers and goods, providing safe and convenient means of transportation, which in turn helps reduce carbon emissions. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Al Etihad
16-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Presight, AIQ to spotlight their UAE-made AI products, solutions at 'Make it in the Emirates'
17 May 2025 00:22 ABU DHABI (WAM) Presight, a leading global big data analytics company powered by AI, on Friday announced its participation in Make it in the Emirates 2025, taking place from May 19-22 at the ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi. In partnership with AIQ (majority owned by Presight), both companies will jointly showcase their cutting-edge, UAE-developed AI solutions that are driving national resilience and global the UAE's national champion in AI and a homegrown success story, Presight is enabling digital sovereignty and economic diversification through world-class AI platforms developed and deployed in the Emirates. These platforms deliver strategic outcomes across critical sectors, including energy, finance, logistics, mobility, and public and AIQ's participation aligns closely with the UAE's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, supporting the country's position as a global leader in advanced industry and technology. Presight solutions deployed across the Emirates are estimated to have already achieved over Dh 1 billion in annual efficiency gains, more than two million labour-hours saved, and 100% automated data Pramotedham, CEO of Presight and Board Member of AIQ, shared, 'This event is a celebration of what's possible when local innovation meets national vision. At Presight and AIQ, we're proud to deliver world-class AI solutions made in the UAE, securing our national AI sovereignty, and positioning the UAE as a global leader in AI solutions."Presight technologies are helping to optimise industries, protect data, and drive smarter outcomes, while AIQ is setting new benchmarks for smarter, cleaner, and more resilient global energy systems. Presight and AIQ are building world-class AI solutions made in the Emirates — securing our data, optimising critical industries, and future-proofing national resilience.'Presight will showcase its full suite of AI products at Make it in the Emirates, including the recently launched:• Presight AI-Policing Suite – a home-grown, modular solution designed to transform public safety and law enforcement operations using the power of Generative AI and advanced analytics.• Presight LifeSaver – a groundbreaking end-to-end emergency and crisis management platform which combines leading-edge AI, big data analytics, and real-time insights into a single unified solution that addresses the full emergency lifecycle.• Presight Synergy – a next-generation, home-grown data and AI platform designed to future-proof AI adoption and simplify the implementation of various industry-specific use AIQ will showcase its full suite of solutions, including:• ENERGYai – Agentic AI for Energy ENERGYai is the world's first agentic AI platform built specifically for the energy sector. It fuses a 70-billion-parameter large language model (LLM) with 50+ years of ADNOC's operational expertise and petabytes of proprietary data to drive system-wide optimisation, intelligence, and efficiency. • RoboWell – Autonomous Well Control RoboWell stabilises production in the most economically efficient way possible. It eliminates the need for constant manual monitoring and adjustment, autonomously maintaining stable operating conditions while optimising output and minimising gas lift consumption.
Arabian Business
08-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
A bold step towards global leadership in financial crime prevention
If the world is to win the fight against financial crime, nations must be willing to evolve — adapting their legal frameworks and enforcement networks to keep pace with ever-more sophisticated criminal enterprises. Organised financial criminals do not stand still. They constantly exploit new technologies, vulnerabilities, and global markets, requiring an equally dynamic response from governments and regulators. The latest publication of the UAE's National Risk Assessment (NRA) provides a critical, data-driven understanding of the threats we face and the systemic weaknesses they seek to exploit. Crucially, the NRA does more than diagnose risks—it lays out actionable solutions. Its findings have directly shaped the UAE's second National Strategy for AML/CTF/CFP (2024-27), a proactive and forward-thinking roadmap designed to strengthen our defenses, reinforce global cooperation, and ensure that economic crime has no safe haven within our borders or beyond. An indication of just how seriously we take financial crime, and how it is prioritised, comes from the fact that this Strategy has been pored over and agreed at the highest levels of our society, starting at the top with the entire UAE Cabinet and the Higher Committee Overseeing the National Strategy for AML/CFT, chaired by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Following the reconstitution of key AML committees in the UAE, which has centralised efforts, the responsibility for implementing the National Strategy 2024-27 has been charged to the General Secretariat for the National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing and Illegal Organisations. The General Secretariat's operations are run by the employees of the now defunct Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing, and has taken over its rights and obligations. We don't believe in talking but doing, in making an impact. Consequently, ours is a risk-based strategy and resources are concentrated where they can have the most effect. It's a 'whole-of-government' approach, involving numerous offices of our public service, targeting complex financial crimes including fraud, those involving virtual assets, new technologies like AI, cash-related products and services, remittances and incomplete company documentation. The UAE National AML/CFT/CFP Committee through its General Secretariat coordinates the activities of more than 90 domestic stakeholders to ensure compliance with international standards and successful implementation of our AML/CFT drive. To assist them, digital tools have been adopted and adapted, including statistics and performance monitoring platforms and case management system. We're expanding and raising the profile of the fight against economic crime: We will continue to expand by integrating local, Emirati talents and increasing the number of AML/CFT professionals, ensuring a robust and globally competitive workforce capable of tackling financial crime at every level We've signed 48 mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) and there are plans for the signing of new MLATs in 2025 and 2026 UAE supervisory authorities are raising awareness about AML/CTF and increasing their own visibility. The six supervisory authorities made a combined 828 on-site visits in 2022 and 4,190 in 2023 Our 2024-27 Strategy extends beyond paying mere lip-service to international standards. It's a clear statement of our ambition to further enhance the country's status as a center of financial excellence and a leading partner for trade and investment. It lays the groundwork for a secure national economy, in which both citizens and companies are protected from crime and are able to flourish. In November 2021, the Ministry of Economy announced a UAE-wide Good Delivery Standard to incentivise market participants to align with international best practices. These measures are already showing positive results: from 2021, suspicious activity reports or SARs increased from 223 to 6,432, indicating heightened vigilance; inspections have increased by 37,025 per cent; and we have taken clear, decisive enforcement action, including the imposition of AED 78,650,000 fines. While these accomplishments are noteworthy, the journey has come with its set of complexities. Navigating geopolitical trends and shifts, especially in a dynamic and globalised economy like the UAE's, presents both challenges and opportunities for growth. Misunderstandings about our approach to sanctions regimes persist. We are determined to combat financial crime. We've achieved positive results. For instance for 2024: International cooperation remained a cornerstone of the UAE's strategy, with the number of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) increasing from 36 in 2021 to 48 in 2024. The country also maintained a high 83 per cent response rate for extradition requests, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted global partner. Confiscated assets more than doubled, reaching AED 5.2 billion in 2024. In 2023, the UAE seized assets worth over AED 2.348 billion related to AML breaches, showcasing the country's enhanced enforcement capabilities. Regulatory supervision intensified, with field inspections rising by 11 per cent from 2023 and an overall 409 per cent increase since 2022. Authorities exceeded planned inspection targets, ensuring higher levels of compliance across regulated entities. In August 2024, the UAE Ministry of Economy suspended 32 local gold refineries for failing to follow AML rules and charged them with 256 violations. The suspensions ran between July – October 2024, with the 32 refineries accounting for 5 per cent of the UAE's gold sector. The UAE also regards the private sector as a key partner in the fight against financial crime and maintains a strategic dialogue with financial institutions and non-financial professions and businesses. At the heart of this conversation is the national public-private partnership initiative, which is the first of its kind in the MENA region. The country's aspirations are not limited to its own borders. The Strategy is a bold declaration of our aim to play a more prominent role within international bodies dedicated to fighting financial crime, and we were delighted to have the honour as an observer at the APG of hosting its annual meeting in Abu Dhabi in September last year. By positioning itself as a model for other advanced countries, the UAE is not only making financial activity in the nation more secure it is also contributing to international efforts to combat economic crime. We have joined the Eurasia Group and Asia/Pacific Group as an observer nation, and are holding the co-presidency of MENAFATF with the Kingdom of Jordan for 2025-27. Our Strategy 2024-27 is testament to the nation's unwavering commitment to battling financial crime and protecting the integrity of the global financial system. It is a strategic, forward-looking plan that builds on past successes while addressing the complex challenges of the future. We're not only safeguarding our own financial system but following our aspiration to be a global leader in the fight against financial crime. As other nations grapple with the ever-evolving nature of financial threats, the UAE serves as a beacon of best practices, underscoring the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and sustained commitment in this vital, never-ending, constantly evolving struggle.
