Latest news with #Sharafi
Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Protesters rally downtown to say 'No War On Iran'
Susan Etscovitz from Brookline holds a sign as she sits with other at a noontime rally. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff 'I'm an Over the past two weeks, decades-old tensions between Israel and Iran once again erupted into warfare. On June 13, Israel struck nuclear facilities across Iran. Advertisement According to Iran's health ministry, this and subsequent strikes reportedly Kimia Kahalzadeh, a 19-year-old UMass Amherst student and Iranian American who immigrated to the United States when she was 6, said she boarded a flight out of Tehran just hours before the bombing began on the evening of June 13. While in the air, she received frantic messages from family members following the attacks in real-time. 'My heart sank,' she said. Her great-grandmother, who lived just two houses down from a bombed building in Tehran, fell during the blast and tore her ACL. Advertisement 'She hasn't been able to walk,' Kahalzadeh said. 'Thankfully, her son was able to get her out of Tehran.' Kahalzadeh said she hardly could believe she had walked through the same streets that were bombed just days later. 'These weren't military targets. There were homes. There were neighborhoods, communities, people,' she said. In the following days, both countries exchanged further strikes until the conflict escalated on Saturday, when the US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. A tentative ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced early on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to halt offensive operations. But many protesters do not 'actually trust the ceasefire will hold' and continue to worry about an escalated conflict, Sharafi said. Iranian-American organizer Ziba Cranmer said successive US administrations have failed to reckon with the country's role in shaping Iran's current circumstances. '[The United States] got rid of a democratically elected leader that was wildly popular and very social justice oriented in the '50s,' Cranmer said, referencing former Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh,who was overthrown in a US-backed military coup that cemented the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. 'We've spent trillions of dollars in the last two decades around war in the Middle East,' she added. 'People cannot afford to live in this city. I want them to fund housing vouchers, schools, and hospitals. I don't want to fund weapons.' State Senator Jamie Eldridge,who represents the Middlesex and Worcester districts, urged Congress to 'pass the War Powers resolution and stop Donald Trump from taking us into another war in the Middle East.' Advertisement 'It is absolutely critical that the American people rise up and say, 'Not in our name,'' said Eldridge. Staffers from both Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Edward Markey's offices also spoke at the rally, voicing their bosses' opposition to what they called President Trump's 'unconstitutional' attack on Iran and expressing support for the War Powers resolution aimed at limiting further military action. Sharafi said organizers plan to keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire. She sees a need for a 'robust anti-war movement' in the US. 'There's a lot of stress and trauma of not knowing what is going to happen. It's been great that we have allies here,' she said, pointing to the crowd of protesters. 'People in the [Middle East] don't deserve to constantly be bombed or threatened.' Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
Mid East Info
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Ministry of Finance Organises Awareness Session in the United Kingdom as Part of the 'UAE Global Cadres' Initiative
Highlighting career opportunities in international financial organisations for Emirate students The Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in the UK and the Education and Technology Sciences Attaché Office, hosted an awareness session for Emirati students studying in the UK. The event was held as part of the Ministry's 'UAE Global Cadres', an initiative that seeks to empower Emirati youth and broaden their exposure to professional and training opportunities within major international financial institutions. Building Professional Relationships: Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations at the Ministry of Finance, stressed that the UAE Global Cadres programme plays a key role in opening up new horizons for young Emirati talents, adding that the programme is designed to raise awareness among Emirati youth about the work environment within international financial institutions and prepare them for internships, secondments, and employment opportunities with these entities. Sharafi added that the initiative aims to help students build international networks and enable them to contribute to global decision-making platforms. Meanwhile, Sheikh Khalid Saud Al Qasimi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the UAE Embassy in London, reaffirmed the country's commitment to supporting its students overseas. 'We firmly believe in the importance of preparing a generation of young Emiratis who are empowered, well-informed about international systems, and capable of representing the UAE on the global stage,' he said. He noted that the session has provided a platform for promoting dialogue and forging long-term professional relationships that extend well beyond graduation. For his part, Abdulrahman Al Dhaheri, Acting Education Attaché at the Office of Education and Technology Affairs at the UAE Embassy in the UK, stated: 'The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's participation in the UAE Global Cadres initiative reaffirms its commitment to empowering students on scholarship by equipping them with the skills and experiences necessary to excel in international work environments, particularly in the financial, economic, and political sectors. 'We truly believe it's important to prepare a generation of confident, capable Emiratis who can represent the UAE proudly in global organisations and play an active role in shaping decisions on the international stage,' Al Dhaheri said. He added: 'What's really exciting about this session is how it brings different parts of the government together to support students in a practical way. It's an opportunity for strengthening dialogue, networking, and building relationships that can help students both during their studies and as they start their careers. It also aligns closely with the UAE's aspirations for leadership and global competitiveness.' Presentations: The gathering featured presentations by representatives from leading international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Speakers outlined recruitment pathways and professional development opportunities at their respective organisations, detailing flagship programmes for emerging talent, application procedures, eligibility criteria, and high-demand areas of specialisation. The event also included an interactive session, providing students the opportunity to engage directly with representatives. Many participants voiced interest in learning how to navigate multicultural work environments and advance their careers on a global scale. This session is part of a series of awareness-raising activities organised by the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, across key global capitals that host major international financial institutions. These sessions seek to familiarise Emirati students with the training and career opportunities available within these global entities. Earlier last month (April), the Ministry of Finance officially launched the ' UAE Global Cadres', an initiative designed to introduce Emirati students and professionals to opportunities available in international financial organisations. The initiative aims to empower young people by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to launch successful international careers, in line with the aspirations of the UAE's wise leadership and its vision. Through this programme, the Ministry seeks to strengthen the UAE's presence within international financial institutions and increase the contribution of national talent to advancing global sustainable development goals. The initiative also seeks to build a strategic network of relationships that will enhance the competitiveness and capabilities of Emirati professionals in key sectors.
