海角直播

Leading the global effort to combat desertification

Leading the global effort to combat desertification

Leading the global effort to combat desertification
The Saudi Green Initiative aims to address desertification via afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture. (NCVC)
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Desertification is a major environmental issue that affects 海角直播 and many other countries worldwide, leaving billions of people at risk of food insecurity and the loss of livelihoods as a result of soil degradation.

In response to these major challenges, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification aims to unite countries and organizations to develop effective measures to combat the problem, with 海角直播 taking the lead.

The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties 鈥 COP16 鈥 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification will take place in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from Dec. 2 to 13, coinciding with the convention鈥檚 30th anniversary.

海角直播鈥檚 Vision 2030 bears the Kingdom鈥檚 environmental goals. Part of this is the Saudi Green Initiative 鈥 a blueprint for addressing desertification through afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture.

The UNCCD has adopted a resolution calling on the international community to enhance efforts to halt and reverse land degradation by sharing information, finances, experience, and technology to help restore affected areas and stop further damage.

海角直播 provided valuable recommendations to the conference and unveiled several steps it intends to take to enhance land reclamation. It also promised to contribute a large amount of money to fight desertification globally.

Desertification is a global environmental challenge that requires sustained global efforts to protect vulnerable ecosystems, food security, lives, and livelihoods.

Majed Al-Qatari

The Kingdom has enlisted the support of several countries, nongovernmental organizations, and international bodies to share expertise. For instance, 海角直播 is working with African and Asian nations to transfer its knowledge of afforestation processes.

In doing so, it effectively addresses factors that contribute to desertification, such as poor farming practices. It has also developed sustainable solutions for various regions and climatic conditions.

海角直播鈥檚 leadership at the UNCCD has set a strong example for other countries in the Middle East and around the world. Its aggressive policymaking and concern for the environment have inspired others to enact solutions.

The large-scale implementation of environmental projects faces many limitations, including a lack of funding and political barriers. However, the UNCCD has resolved that these challenges can be overcome through cooperation, greater investment in research, technology, and knowledge transfer.

Desertification is a global environmental challenge that requires sustained global efforts to protect vulnerable ecosystems, food security, lives, and livelihoods. Countries, stakeholders, and policymakers should commit to continued collaboration to strengthen these initiatives.

Majed Al-Qatari is a sustainability leader, ecological engineer and UN Youth Ambassador who promotes ESG and sustainability goals in business, nonprofits and financial institutions.

 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Japan starts deploying Osprey fleet at a new base to beef up southwestern defense

Japan starts deploying Osprey fleet at a new base to beef up southwestern defense
Updated 5 min 52 sec ago

Japan starts deploying Osprey fleet at a new base to beef up southwestern defense

Japan starts deploying Osprey fleet at a new base to beef up southwestern defense
  • Japan鈥檚 accelerating military buildup, especially in the southwest in recent years, serves as a deterrence to China鈥檚 increasingly assertive maritime actions in the area

HIROSHIMA: The Japanese army on Wednesday began deploying its fleet of V-22 Ospreys on a newly-opened, permanent base in southwestern Japan, the country鈥檚 latest move to beef up its defense amid growing tension in the region.
The first of the fleet of 17 Ospreys safely arrived at its new home base of Camp Saga, Japan鈥檚 Ground Self-Defense Force said Wednesday.
The move is part of Japan鈥檚 accelerating military buildup, especially in the southwest in recent years, as a deterrence to China鈥檚 increasingly assertive maritime actions in the area.
The tilt-rotor aircraft have been temporarily based at Camp Kisarazu, near Tokyo, since 2020 during construction of the base and other necessary facilities. The rest of the fleet is scheduled to complete its relocation in mid-August, the JGSDF officials said.
With the full, permanent deployment at Camp Saga, Japan plans to operate the Ospreys more closely with the country鈥檚 amphibious rapid deployment brigade at Ainoura, in the nearby naval town of Sasebo, as part of the ongoing plan to reinforce the defense of southwestern remote islands, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters Tuesday.
鈥淭he security environment surrounding Japan has been increasingly severe, and it is our pressing task to strengthen our island defense capabilities,鈥 he said.
Camp Saga ground forces also work with 50 helicopters based at another nearby camp, Metabaru, as well as with air force and navy personnel based in the area.
The use of the V-22 remains controversial in Japan, especially in southern Japan, due to a series of accidents involving the aircraft.
In November 2023, a US Air Force Osprey crashed off Japan鈥檚 southern coast, killing eight people. In October 2024, a Japanese army V-22 Osprey tilted and hit the ground while attempting to take off during a joint exercise with the US military, and an investigation has found human error was the cause.


IMF鈥檚 $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan鈥檚 return to global bonds 鈥 analysts

IMF鈥檚 $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan鈥檚 return to global bonds 鈥 analysts
Updated 15 min 4 sec ago

IMF鈥檚 $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan鈥檚 return to global bonds 鈥 analysts

IMF鈥檚 $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan鈥檚 return to global bonds 鈥 analysts
  • The IMF country representative to Pakistan says the government鈥檚 program implementation remains strong
  • Analysts say IMF support was crucial during default scare and will remain vital until economic stabilization

KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to receive about $2.5 billion in financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the current fiscal year (FY26), which analysts say will support the country鈥檚 bid to re-enter the international bonds market through instruments such as sukuk or Panda bonds.

The funding will be part of the IMF鈥檚 $7 billion commitment to Pakistan over the next two years, comprising $5.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $1.4 billion through the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), aimed at strengthening the country鈥檚 foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF鈥檚 latest country report.

鈥淭he first review under the RSF, if on schedule, would go to the Executive Board for approval sometime in late 2025, along with the second EFF review,鈥 IMF鈥檚 resident representative Mahir Binici told Arab News in a text message.

The Fund鈥檚 second review of Pakistan鈥檚 economy and end-June 2025 performance criteria is scheduled for September 15. If completed successfully, it would lead to the release of approximately $1.04 billion under the EFF and $211 million through the RSF. A third review is scheduled for March 2026 and would entitle Pakistan to the same amount of funding, if cleared.

鈥淭his would be the earliest time at which Pakistan could access RSF-related financing,鈥 said Mahir, referring to the $1.4 billion climate resilience loan the lender approved earlier this year in May. The RSF will be disbursed in equal tranches of about $211 million over the next 28 months.

Pakistan is consistently ranked among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. The country suffered its worst floods in 2022, which killed over 1,700 people, displaced millions and caused infrastructure damage worth an estimated $30 billion. Even this monsoon season, flash floods have already killed more than 60 people, mostly in the country鈥檚 northwest and central regions.

The climate funding will be disbursed 鈥渨ith each joint EFF and RSF review,鈥 Mahir said.

鈥淭he first EFF review and RSF request were recently concluded, and the program implementation has been strong,鈥 he said in response to a question about Pakistan鈥檚 performance in terms of compliance with the loan鈥檚 conditions.

Sana Tawfik, a Karachi-based economist and head of research at Arif Habib Ltd., said the IMF鈥檚 financial support was a key factor behind Pakistan鈥檚 improving macroeconomic indicators and would keep the government on track to secure funding from both bilateral and commercial lenders.

鈥淭he bilateral lenders like China, 海角直播 and other countries, as well as Pakistan鈥檚 commercial lenders closely observe whether or not the IMF is onboard,鈥 she said.

Tawfik maintained Pakistan was aiming to return to the international bonds market, potentially through a sukuk issue or Panda bonds.

In March, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said his government aimed to raise about $200 million through Panda bonds by December 2025 to diversify funding sources, reduce dependence on Western markets, and boost foreign exchange reserves.

The move came after an improvement in Pakistan鈥檚 sovereign credit rating by three major agencies, with the government targeting a 鈥渟ingle-B鈥 rating to regain access to global debt markets.

鈥淭he IMF staying on board is very important for this,鈥 Tawfik said, adding that continued dollar inflows were also critical to repaying Pakistan鈥檚 external debt.

In FY26 alone, the country is expected to repay around $17 billion in foreign loans, excluding the current account deficit, according to IMF data.

鈥淭he significance of this 37-month loan program is that it came as a medium-term support for Pakistan and that鈥檚 why we are seeing improvement in our macroeconomic indicators,鈥 she told Arab News.

Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., said participation in the IMF program served as a crucial policy anchor, supporting structural reforms aimed at stabilizing Pakistan鈥檚 fragile economy.

While the country looks to tap global capital markets, Ghani said 鈥渁ssociation with the Fund is essential for enhancing confidence among both local and international investors.鈥

He added that continued IMF backing was key to unlocking further multilateral and bilateral support.

Tawfik agreed.

鈥淭he IMF support was important for Pakistan at the time [it came close to] default [in 2023] and it will remain important until we properly stabilize as an economy,鈥 she said.


European intelligence officials warn that a Russian sabotage campaign is escalating

European intelligence officials warn that a Russian sabotage campaign is escalating
Updated 46 min 10 sec ago

European intelligence officials warn that a Russian sabotage campaign is escalating

European intelligence officials warn that a Russian sabotage campaign is escalating
  • Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said the Kremlin has never been shown 鈥渁ny proofs鈥 supporting accusations Russia is running a sabotage campaign and said 鈥渃ertainly we definitely reject any allegations鈥

LONDON: It was almost midnight when a truck driver resting in his cab heard the crackling of flames at a warehouse in east London storing equipment for Ukraine. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and leapt out 鈥 but realized the blaze was too big and retreated.
When police arrived, they banged on the doors of a nearby apartment building, shouting at residents to evacuate. Parents grabbed children and ran into the street.
About 30 minutes after the fire started, Dylan Earl, a British man who admitted to organizing the arson, received a message from a man UK authorities say was his Russian handler.
鈥淓xcellent,鈥 it read in Russian.
On Tuesday, a British court found three men guilty of arson in the March 2024 plot that prosecutors said was masterminded by Russia鈥檚 intelligence services 鈥 part of a campaign of disruption across Europe that Western officials blame on Moscow and its proxies. Two other men, including Earl, previously pleaded guilty to organizing the arson.
The fire is one of more than 70 incidents linked to Russia that The Associated Press has documented since Moscow鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Four European intelligence officials told AP they鈥檙e worried the risk of serious injury or even death is rising as untrained saboteurs set fires near homes and businesses, plant explosives or build bombs. AP鈥檚 tracking shows 12 incidents of arson or serious sabotage last year compared with two in 2023 and none in 2022.
鈥淲hen you start a campaign, it creates its own dynamic and gets more and more violent over time,鈥 said one of the officials, who holds a senior position at a European intelligence agency. The official, like two others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters.
The Kremlin did not reply to a request for comment on the British case. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said the Kremlin has never been shown 鈥渁ny proofs鈥 supporting accusations Russia is running a sabotage campaign and said 鈥渃ertainly we definitely reject any allegations.鈥
Recruiting young amateurs
Most of the saboteurs accused of working on behalf of Russia are foreign, including Ukrainians. They include young people with no criminal records who are frequently hired for a few thousand dollars, the intelligence officials said.
The senior official said Russia has been forced to rely increasingly on such amateurs since hundreds of Moscow鈥檚 spies were expelled from Western countries following an operation to poison former Russian intelligence officer Sergey Skripal in the UK in 2018. That led to the death of a British woman 鈥 and a major response from the West.
Russia 鈥渉ad to change the modus operandi, from using cadre officers to using proxies, making a more flexible, deniable system,鈥 the official said.
Documents shared during the London warehouse trial offered a rare glimpse into how young men are recruited.
Among those were transcripts of messages between a man prosecutors said was a Russian intelligence operative and his recruit, Earl, who was active on Telegram channels associated with the Wagner group 鈥 a mercenary organization whose operations were taken over by Russia鈥檚 Defense Ministry in 2023.
Russian military intelligence 鈥 acting through Wagner 鈥 was likely behind the plot, said Kevin Riehle, a lecturer in Intelligence and National Security at Brunel University in London.
The recruiter 鈥 who used the handle Privet Bot 鈥 posted multiple times in a Telegram channel asking for people to join the battle against the West, Riehle told the court.
Once connected, the recruiter and Earl communicated predominantly in Russian with Earl using Google to translate, according to screenshots on his phone. Their messages ranged from the deadly serious to the almost comic.
The recruiter told Earl, 21, that he was 鈥渨ise and clever despite being young,鈥 and suggested he watch the television show 鈥淭he Americans鈥 鈥 about Soviet KGB intelligence officers undercover in the US
鈥淚t will be your manual,鈥 the recruiter wrote.
In one message, Earl boasted of 鈥 unproven 鈥 ties to the Irish Republican Army, to 鈥渕urderers, kidnappers, soldiers, drug dealers, fraudsters, car thieves,鈥 promising to be 鈥渢he best spy you have ever seen.鈥
Potential for injuries
Earl and another man eventually recruited others who went to the warehouse the night of the fire. Earl never met the men, according to messages shared in court, and it鈥檚 unclear whether he ever visited the site himself.
Once at the warehouse, one of the men poured out a jerrycan of gasoline before igniting a rag and throwing it on the fuel. Another recorded the arson on his phone. It was also captured on CCTV.
The warehouse was the site of a mail order company that sent supplies to Ukraine, including StarLink devices that provide Internet by satellite and are used by the country鈥檚 military.
Around half the warehouse鈥檚 contents were destroyed in the fire, which burned just meters (yards) from Yevhen Harasym, the truck driver, and a short distance from an outbuilding in the yard of a home and the apartment block.
More than 60 firefighters responded.
鈥淚 started knocking on everyone鈥檚 doors screaming and shouting at the top of my lungs, 鈥楾here鈥檚 a fire, there鈥檚 a fire, get out!鈥欌 Tessa Ribera Fernandez, who lives in the block with her 2-year-old son, told the court.
A campaign grows more dangerous
When Russia鈥檚 disruption campaign started following the Ukraine invasion, vandalism 鈥 including defacing monuments or graffiti 鈥 was more common, said the senior European intelligence official.
鈥淥ver the last year, it has developed to arson and assassination,鈥 the official said.
Other incidents linked to Russia with the potential to cause serious injury or death include a plot to put explosive devices on cargo planes 鈥 the packages ignited on the ground 鈥 and plots to set fire to shopping centers in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Lithuanian prosecutors said a Ukrainian teenager was part of a plan to plant a bomb in an IKEA store just outside the capital of Vilnius last year.
It sparked a massive fire in the early hours of the morning. No one was injured.
More fires and a kidnapping plot
Shortly after the fire in London, Earl and his co-conspirators discussed what they would do next, according to messages shared with the court.
They talked about burning down London businesses owned by Evgeny Chichvarkin 鈥 a Russian tycoon who delivered supplies to Ukraine.
Hedonism Wines and the restaurant Hide should be turned to 鈥渁shes,鈥 Earl said.
In the messages, Earl vacillated between saying they didn鈥檛 鈥渘eed鈥 any casualties and that if they 鈥渨anted to hurt someone,鈥 they could put nails in a homemade explosive device. He noted there were homes above the wine shop.
That reflects a phenomenon the senior intelligence official noted: Middlemen sometimes suggest ideas 鈥 each one a 鈥渓ittle better鈥 and more dangerous.
While Russia鈥檚 intelligence services try to keep 鈥渟trict operational control鈥 鈥 giving targets, deciding on devices and demanding recruits record the sabotage 鈥 sometimes 鈥渃ontrol does not hold,鈥 said Lotta Hakala, a senior analyst at the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.
That appears to be what happened in London.
After the fire, the Russian recruiter told Earl he 鈥渞ushed into burning these warehouses without my approval.鈥
Because of that, he said, 鈥渋t will be impossible to pay for this arson.鈥
Still, the recruiter told Earl he wanted to target more businesses with links to Ukraine.
鈥淵ou are our dagger in Europe and we will be sharpening you carefully,鈥 the recruiter wrote. 鈥淭hen we will start using you in serious battles.鈥


250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today

250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today
Updated 55 min 52 sec ago

250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today

250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today
  • Applicants can choose between government and private Hajj schemes after registering
  • Registration is mandatory for all intending pilgrims, though no fee is required at this stage

ISLAMABAD: Some 250,000 Pakistanis have signed up to perform Hajj in 2026 as the deadline for mandatory registration ends today, Wednesday, state media reported.

Last month, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the launch of the Hajj registration process, which would remain open until July 9. After the deadline, applicants will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes.

Intending pilgrims can register through 15 designated banks, and only those who complete the process will be eligible to perform Hajj next year. No fee is required at the registration stage.

鈥淲ith just one day remaining for the mandatory registration of Hajj 2026, as many as 250,000 Pakistanis have completed the process,鈥 the Associated Press of Pakistan said in a report on Tuesday.

鈥淚t is noteworthy to mention that Wednesday, July 9, is the final date for intending pilgrims to register for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.鈥

People may also submit their applications online, it said, adding that the expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy.

Registration is mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year, as well as for Pakistanis residing abroad.

Pakistan had received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from 海角直播 for Hajj 2025, evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.

However, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators blamed the situation on technical glitches such as payment issues and communication breakdowns.


Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home 鈥 police

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home 鈥 police
Updated 09 July 2025

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home 鈥 police

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home 鈥 police
  • Ali鈥檚 body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at her rented flat to get it vacated
  • The actress appeared on ARY鈥檚 reality TV show 鈥楾amasha鈥 as well as in a 2015 film 鈥楯alaibee鈥

KARACHI: Humaira Asghar Ali, a Pakistani actor and model, was found dead at an apartment in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, police said late Tuesday.

Ali鈥檚 body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at the rented apartment to get it vacated on court orders on a complaint filed by the landlord, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mehroz Ali.

鈥淭he landlord had filed a court case to have the premises vacated. Today, when the bailiff arrived with a court-issued break-and-enter order and forced open the door, the woman鈥檚 body was found inside,鈥 SSP Ali told Arab News.

鈥淭he woman has been identified as Humaira Asghar Ali who was a TV actress. It has been learned that she was originally from Lahore.鈥

The deceased actor was best known for her appearances on ARY鈥檚 reality TV show 鈥楾amasha鈥 as well as a 2015 action thriller, 鈥楯alaibee.鈥

Following post-mortem, Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said, the deceased鈥檚 body was in a 鈥渧ery advanced stage of decomposition,鈥 which suggested that she died around a month ago.

鈥淲e have collected all relevant samples for analysis. Cause of death reserved,鈥 Syed said.

Ali鈥檚 death comes just weeks after renowned actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her apartment in Karachi鈥檚 Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, according to police.

Her neighbors reported a foul smell emitting out of her apartment that led to the discovery of the 84-year-old鈥檚 body.