Latest news with #Zaman
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The best and worst GPs in your area of Greater Manchester, according to patients
Patients in Greater Manchester have had their say on doctor's surgeries in the region. More than 2.7 million people across the country took part in this year's GP Patient Survey, which finds out how people feel about their GP practice. The annual survey asks people about their last contact, your last appointment and overall experience with their surgery. READ MORE: Man flouts 'no sex' advice after hair transplant and ends up regretting it READ MORE: Child dies in hospital after contracting measles - symptoms to look out for The questionnaire also includes questions about when your GP practice is closed, your health, pharmacy and NHS dentistry services. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The results, published by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, reveal the surgeries in our region with the highest and lowest rating. You can see how your practice has fared in the survey using our interactive. Simply enter the name of the GP surgery in the search box and select it from the dropdown. Marple Bridge Surgery in Stockport came out on top, with 99% of those surveyed saying their overall experience was 'good.' Second was Riddings Family Health Centre in Timperley where 98% agreed. Zaman at Worsley Mesnes Health Centre in Wigan also received 98%, as did the Premier Health Team at Bridgewater Medical Centre, in Leigh. Whilst Milnrow Village Practice received 97%. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Lees Medical Practice in Oldham received the lowest rating, with just 33% of those surveyed describing their overall experience as 'good.' They were followed by Hattersley Group Practice with 41%. Ashton Medical Group in Tameside got 45, as did the Croft Shifa Health Centre in Rochdale. However, some of the results are not based on large sample sizes. For example, the response rate at Zaman and Premier Health, rated highly, was just 36% and 26% respectively. Whilst the response at the lower ranked Lees, Hattersley, Ashton, and Croft Shifa was 24%, 22%, 22% and 11% respectively. Nationally, the majority of people seem happy with the service offered, with 75% rating the overall experience as either 'very good' or 'fairly good.' Only seven percent said 'fairly poor' and five percent said 'very poor.' The overwhelming majority of patients surveyed (93%), said that they had confidence and trust in their GP. Some 86% say their GP treats them with care and concern, and 87% say their GP listens to them. GP practices didn't fare as well though when it comes to being contacted. Only just over half (53%) of those surveyed said that contacting their GP was easy. Satisfaction varies across practices. Lowest ranked GM practices Highest ranked GM practices
Libya Review
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Ankara's Ties with Haftar's Administration Strengthen
Relations between Turkey and the administration of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar have seen significant improvement in recent months, according to a report published by the Turkish daily Zaman. The report highlights a high-level meeting that took place on Sunday between the Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, and Turkish Consul Serkan Kırmanlıoğlu. The meeting, held near the city of Benghazi, was also attended by General Khairy Al-Tamimi, a prominent figure within the LNA leadership. Discussions reportedly focused on the reopening of the Turkish Consulate in Benghazi, with both sides exploring ways to restore consular services for residents of eastern Libya. According to Zaman, this step reflects a new chapter in the evolving relationship between Ankara and Libya's eastern-based authorities. After years of political and military rivalry, diplomatic contacts between the two sides have intensified, signaling a policy shift by Turkey toward engaging all Libyan factions. The report noted that Saddam Haftar's visit to Ankara in April marked a turning point. During his trip, he met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and senior commanders in the Turkish Armed Forces, underscoring a willingness to explore future military and political cooperation. Turkey had closed its Benghazi consulate years ago due to ongoing conflict in the region. Historically, Ankara was considered a strong supporter of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU). However, recent diplomatic initiatives suggest a more balanced Turkish approach aimed at building ties with all sides in Libya. Reopening the consulate in Benghazi is expected to pave the way for broader collaboration and symbolizes a practical and strategic step forward in the Turkey-Haftar relationship. Tags: benghazikhalifa haftarlibyaSaddam HaftarTurkey
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rewiring Sovereign Capital: Europe's structured liquidity revolution
When founder Taimour Zaman of AltFunds Global launched the advisory firm, he wasn't looking to tweak existing financial systems, he was aiming to transform them. Working with sovereign institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, his mission was clear: unlock capital faster, smarter, and with less reliance on traditional debt. 'I started AltFunds Global because I saw a challenge with traditional sources of capital - banks, private equity, etc,' he says. 'They were sitting on valuable assets, land, carbon credits, infrastructure revenue but couldn't access liquidity fast enough to make meaningful change. Traditional capital models are too slow, too risk-averse, and in many cases, too rigid to adapt to the pace of today's geopolitical, climate, and technological disruptions.' From that diagnosis came a thesis: sovereign financing needs a new toolkit. And increasingly, sovereigns are listening. He adds: 'Across regions, I've noticed a common pattern: the desire for debt-light capital models. In the Middle East, sovereigns are turning to carbon-backed instruments to meet both climate and commercial goals. In Asia, especially Singapore and South Korea, there's growing experimentation with tokenised cash flows and digital sovereign bonds. And in Europe, the appetite is growing for structured liquidity tools that can bridge political timelines with infrastructure urgency.' Across the Middle East, sovereign wealth funds and government entities are leaning into carbon-backed instruments that align with climate commitments without triggering public debt ceilings. Zaman points out, 'UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched sovereign climate funds and development banks that don't wait on multilateral coordination, they move.' In Asia, countries like Singapore and South Korea are at the forefront of digital asset innovation, exploring tokenised sovereign bonds, programmable finance, and blockchain-backed infrastructure funding. 'From Asia, particularly Singapore, the lesson is on governance-led innovation. Singapore has clear digital asset rules, tokenisation pilots, and programmable finance experiments underway, all with government backing.,' he says. Europe, by contrast, is playing catch-up, still reliant on rigid financial systems shaped by centralised bureaucracy and cautious regulatory frameworks. Describing Europe's sovereign capital ecosystem as 'slow, restrictive, and politically encumbered,' the founder points to three key structural barriers: Overregulation: Basel IV constraints make banks overly conservative, even when sovereign guarantees are involved. Fragmented governance: Each EU member state has its own politics and rules, making cross-border capital projects painfully slow. Procurement complexity: Many sovereign infrastructure projects are delayed not because of funding gaps, but because of procurement bureaucracy. To bypass these constraints, AltFunds Global advocates for what it calls a "structured liquidity toolkit." At its core is the monetisation of Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs). 'In sovereign infrastructure, this tool becomes powerful when a government-owned utility or agency say, a water authority - issues an SBLC from a top-rated bank. That SBLC can then be monetised, meaning it's converted into liquid capital for project use - without booking new public debt.' This approach is already in motion. Several Eastern European transit projects have reportedly used SBLC-backed bridge financing to meet critical timelines. 'Why now? Because rating agencies penalise overt debt issuance, and public debt ceilings are politically toxic. SBLC-backed capital is off-balance-sheet, discrete, and can often be deployed in weeks, not years.' And while critics raise concerns about transparency and risk, Zaman is quick to clarify: 'These instruments are new, yes. But many are being structured with third-party verification, independent trustees, and regulatory sandbox frameworks already in place (see the EU's DLT Pilot Regime). Transparency comes from architecture, not intention.' AltFunds is also championing the next evolution of ESG finance: carbon-linked securities. Unlike traditional green bonds, which raise funds based on intended use, these newer instruments are tied to verified emissions reductions or carbon credit performance. 'This difference matters. Investors want proof, not promises.' As ESG scepticism rises and regulatory scrutiny tightens, performance-based climate finance is gaining momentum. He says, 'Green bonds raise capital based on intended use, usually a promise to fund sustainable projects. Carbon-linked securities, on the other hand, are tied to actual verified emission reductions or measurable carbon credit performance.' With public debt reaching politically and fiscally sensitive levels across Europe and multilateral funding facing chronic delays, governments are increasingly open to alternative capital pathways. Zaman shares: 'Governments will always need traditional debt markets, but when time-sensitive projects can't wait for bond market windows or multilateral approvals, structured liquidity will fill the gap.' By 2030, the founder expects these tools to make up 10-15% of sovereign infrastructure finance, particularly in emerging markets and sectors like climate adaptation, digital infrastructure, and energy transition. To truly scale, Europe needs a coherent policy environment for structured liquidity markets. According to Zaman, it means doing three things fast: Define eligibility – Which sovereign entities can issue these instruments? Under what caps? Mandate audits – Independent ESG or financial audits tied to every instrument class. Standardise risk frameworks – Just like credit ratings evolved, these tools need their own risk matrices. Zaman is clear that these instruments deserve legitimacy, not limbo. He adds: 'If these instruments are helping bridge a €1trn funding gap in Europe by 2030, they deserve a proper regulatory lane (European Commission estimates, 2024).' Financing Europe's Trilemma The Zaman explains the assembly on how structured liquidity could help solve Europe's threefold challenge: Energy independence, climate resilience, and industrial retooling. Energy: 'Tokenised LNG storage revenues can bring forward capital for grid upgrades.' Climate: 'Carbon-linked securities fund projects based on verified climate action.' Industry: 'SBLC-backed loans can fund equipment upgrades without breaching debt ceilings.' 'These tools enable modular financing, meaning capital can flow faster to where it's most needed without waiting for EU-wide approval processes,' he adds. Ultimately, AltFunds Global sees a new era of sovereign finance, more decentralised, data-driven, and programmable. He states: 'Capital won't just come from Frankfurt, Brussels, or Paris, it'll come from blockchain-based marketplaces, carbon offset exchanges, and infrastructure tokenisation hubs.' So where should Europe look for inspiration? Zaman concludes: 'From the Middle East, Europe can learn the value of flexibility and sovereign agility. UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched sovereign climate funds and development banks that don't wait on multilateral coordination, they move.' "Rewiring Sovereign Capital: Europe's structured liquidity revolution" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
PHF welcomes reports of India allowing Pak for Asia Cup
Pakistan has expressed hope that sporting ties with India could begin to improve very soon. PHOTO: AFP Pakistan hockey officials and team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt have welcomed reports from India suggesting their national team will be allowed to compete in the upcoming Asia Cup, but stressed that any participation will hinge on approval from Islamabad. Indian media, citing sports ministry sources, reported that Pakistan's hockey team will face no hurdles in travelling to India for the tournament, scheduled in Rajgir, Bihar from August 29 to September 7. According to the Press Trust of India, the Indian sports ministry has already secured permissions from both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, Telecom Asia Sport ( learnt on Friday. The Asia Cup is a crucial event for Pakistan hockey, serving as a qualifying tournament for next year's World Cup to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid struck a cautiously optimistic note when speaking to Telecom Asia Sport. "We have to wait and see to ascertain the credibility, but surely these are positive developments," Mujahid said. "However, let me make it clearour participation will depend on clearance from the government." Given this context, PHF officials had already written to the Asian Hockey Federation and the International Hockey Federation, seeking guarantees that players would receive the necessary visas not only for the Asia Cup but also for the FIH Junior World Cup, which India's Tamil Nadu state will host in November. Pakistan head coach Tahir Zaman said he was encouraged by the developments. "This is good news for not only Pakistan hockey but also for the international game," Zaman told Telecom Asia Sport. "Our participation will still depend on government clearance, and we look forward to that." Zaman added that players have been instructed to stay ready despite the uncertainty. "We are planning to hold a preparation camp for the Asia Cup, and even at this stage, players have been told to keep working on their fitness at home." Team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt also welcomed the reports and expressed hope that sporting ties between the two nations could begin to improve. "We welcome this and hope to get ready for the event as and when we get the permission," Butt said. Last month, he publicly appealed for the restoration of sporting ties between India and Pakistan.
Al Bawaba
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Amal Hijazi removes hijab sparking fury
Published July 2nd, 2025 - 08:10 GMT ALBAWABA - Lebanese artist Amal Hijazi topped social media searches after sharing her first photo without a hijab since wearing it in 2017. Amal Hijazi appeared in a bold and different look, showing her curly hair and accompanying the photo with a caption in English, reading: "Hello life," which some considered a sign of the beginning of a new phase in her life. The appearance sparked widespread interaction and controversy among followers, with opinions divided between supporters who viewed her action as a matter of personal freedom. Amal Hijazi removes her hijab and posts new photos. (Instagram) On the other hand, other people considered her move a contradiction to her previous declarations of adherence to religious and spiritual values. Who is Amal Hijazi? Amal Hijazi is a Lebanese singer who first shared a musical album in 2001 and made her breakthrough a year later with her second album. In 2017, the BBC said that her 2002 album Zaman was "one of the best-selling Arabic pop records of all time". Old image of Amal Hijazi with her hijab. (Instagram) © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
