Emirates Press

Gaza: Tragic events unfolded last night and early Tuesday as Israeli raids and artillery shelling targeted various areas of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of Palestinian lives and injuries.

In the early hours of the 130th day of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip, health sources confirmed that five Palestinians were killed and several others injured in the Israeli warplanes’ bombardment of a house in the Nuseirat camp, located in central Gaza.

Additionally, a child lost her life, and at least four Palestinians sustained injuries as a result of the occupation’s bombing of the Brazil neighborhood in Rafah.

Reports from local sources indicated the occurrence of intense explosions in the western areas of Rafah, a city located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the occupation forces targeted both the eastern and western parts of Khan Yunis, leading to a complete power outage at the Nasser Medical Complex in the city.

Seven citizens were martyred and 14 medical staff and displ
aced individuals were injured on Monday by occupation sniper fire in the courtyards of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis.

In Al-Maghazi camp, located in the central Gaza Strip, a number of citizens sustained injuries from airstrikes conducted by the occupation warplanes.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, the current death toll stands at 28,340 deaths, with 67,984 wounded since the initiation of the aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: Austria has realised that attaining digital sovereignty by reducing dependencies on large software companies is crucial to ensure cybersecurity of the country, Florian Tursky, State Secretary for Digitalisation, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

‘Imagine a large software provider decides to shut down its services overnight. Many functions, from e-mails to the creation of text documents, would then no longer be possible and the authorities would be unable to act,’ he said in statements during the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

Within the framework of national digital strategies, Austria has devised Digital Sovereignty for Austria Action Plan to develop concrete measures for ensuring the security and sovereignty of the state, he said.

‘Through this strategy we will reduce dependencies and secures Austria’s autonomous ability and functioning in a digital world.’

Digital sovereignty is crucial

Austria’s digital sovereignty is crucial not only to ensure its national security, but also to protect
the society from potential risks, Tursky emphasised, citing reducing dependencies on large software companies as an example in that direction.

‘With the Digital Action Plan, we are laying the foundations for an autonomous digital future so that these risks are minimised as far as possible.’

A key element of the action plan is the Digital Sovereignty Compass, which serves as an orientation tool for the Austrian administration and critical infrastructure. This enables the evaluation and derivation of short, medium, and long-term measures to strengthen resilience, the Secretary explained.

Identifying dependencies

Various digital dependency areas are divided into levels and classified using a traffic light system. This system critically examines dependencies and applies to public administration to identify the digital risks and minimise them, the official said.

‘Our ‘Digital Action Plan’ will ensure that all Austrians benefit from the opportunities of digitalisation and to make ‘System Austria’ crisis-proof.
‘

As international cooperation in cybersecurity is particularly important, Austria is ready to share its experiences with partners and friends, Tursky said.

Austria-UAE digitalisation cooperation

The UAE is Austria’s primary trading and economic partner in the Arabian Gulf, the official stressed.

The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2021 during the Austria visit of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

We intend to cooperate even closer in energy, in particular on hydrogen, and on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This collaboration is very promising, and we can learn from each other’s experiences.’

In World Bank GovTech working group for m-Gov (mobile-Government), Austria is Co-Chair and the UAE an active participant, offering an opportunity for both countries to support the developing countries, the Secretary pointed out.

While only eleven percent of the world’s population have fixed broadband internet access, even in rural areas of developing countries 88 perc
ent of the population are covered by mobile broadband network, he noted.

By moving to m-Gov, government service delivery has become more effective and efficient in Austria. ‘We hope that our cooperation in this area will help countries evolve their digital public services towards custom-made Mobile-Government services of their own.’

Talking about the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Tursky said the presence of considerable number of leaders and experts from all over the world underlines the significance of this event.

He said he was happy to talk at the Summit about how the Austrian government was adapting its strategies and policies to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology, especially in the field of AI.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza: During the past 24 hours, the Israeli occupation forces committed 16 “massacres” against families in the Gaza Strip, leaving 133 dead and 162 injured, said the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The ministry added on Tuesday that the toll of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,473 deaths and 68,146 injuries since October 7.

It confirmed that there are still many bodies trapped under the rubble and on the roads, as Israeli occupation forces are preventing ambulance and civil defense crews from reaching them.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), in collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), has launched a special edition of the Arab Region Sustainable Development Index and Dashboards. This initiative comes as part of its role as a knowledge partner of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, which is being held in Dubai under the theme “Shaping Future Governments”.

The data-driven report reveals that seven out of 22 Arab countries have succeeded in completing two-thirds of the journey towards achieving the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. It recommends that all countries in the region need to accelerate efforts while the frontrunners face the challenge of achieving their remaining developmental objectives, which are typically the most challenging in each local context.

The report warns that the Arab region is facing heightened climate change risks that are projected to exacerbate the region’s existing socioeconomic and environmental vul
nerability and urges bold action and proactive policy interventions to hasten just green transitions.

Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, said, ‘The School, from its position as a knowledge partner of the World Governments Summit 2024, seeks to support the platform’s goals and efforts, which include setting the agenda for leaders and policymakers to debate on how the next generation of governments can harness data and evidence to solve the challenges facing humanity.”

He continued, “Over the past 10 years, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government has made a wide-ranging knowledge contribution to the pool of knowledge transferred by the World Governments Summit from the UAE to the world. This has been achieved through more than 15 local and global activities that have had a profound impact on improving outcomes and maximising their effectiveness. Additionally, the School has supported the agenda of the World Governments Summit through numerous
publications, expert participations, and global councils.’

Al Marri emphasised, “This report reflects the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government’s commitment to empowering governments around the world and assisting them in crafting responsive policies that can elevate governmental performance to new horizons. This is achieved through finding data-driven and forward-looking solutions to various challenges.”

The report highlights the various developmental challenges facing the Arab region, especially for the least developed countries. It also provides a practical tool to guide targeted interventions aimed at achieving positive change across the region on all sustainable development goals.

Despite several positive regional initiatives, the report points to the continued existence of significant obstacles across various developmental sectors in the Arab region. It calls for intensified efforts and the adoption of regional strategies to address existing gaps and drive progress towards a more sustainable futur
e.

According to the report, the fifth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (gender equality) stands out as a major regional challenge, with all Arab countries scoring low. At the same time, the effects of conflicts in some Arab countries have posed a significant obstacle to achieving the 16th goal (peace, justice, and strong institutions).

Dr. Fadi Salem, Director of Policy Research Department at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and co-author of the report, stated, “Moving towards just transitions is an urgent, yet challenging, policy direction for all countries in the region. The launch of this special edition of the Index primarily aims to provide a data-driven practical tool for governments and policymakers to enable informed decisions in their aim to implement just transitions and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The index highlights positive trends in some Arab countries regarding the third goal, which is good health and wellbeing. This is especially evident in terms of k
ey health outcomes, such as newborn and under-five mortality rates. The report also observes improvements in some sectors related to the fourth goal, which is quality education.

The report indicates that data availability remains a challenge, hindering the monitoring of progress in certain countries. It highlights significant data gaps in the region, particularly concerning the first goal, which is eradicating poverty, and the 10th goal, which is reducing inequality.

The index consists of 113 indicators covering the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, each of which has a score (0-100) and a colour (green, yellow, orange, or red) to indicate performance. The arrows indicate trends in progress over time. Additionally, the report includes 29 new indicators that fill gaps and capture issues specific to the Arab region.

Lama Zakzak, Principal Researcher at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and co-author of the report, stated, ‘The report utilises data-driven approaches to highlight main challeng
es and opportunities for the Arab region’s pathways towards just transitions by calling for urgent measures to realise climate-related targets, support and protection for workers in sectors adversely affected by green transitions, better economic inclusion for women and youth, increased economic diversification and regional integration as well as better data collection to monitor progress on SDGs.’

The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government has launched important regional research on sustainable development policy measures, which are available on its research website: https://www.mbrsg.ae/Research

The launch of the report stems from the commitment of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, the specialised academic research institution in government administration and public policy at the Arab level, to support the journey of government excellence in the UAE specifically and the Arab world in general. This is achieved through providing an integrated system of educational and training programs, resear
ch, and studies, documenting the distinguished Emirati experience, and reproducing and exchanging knowledge among governmental institutions in the UAE and Arab countries.

More than 4,000 participants from the public and private sectors will participate in 110 interactive sessions at WGS 2024, including 200 speakers from 80 international, regional and intergovernmental organisations including the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Arab League. It will also welcome eight Nobel prize winners, and provide a platform for 23 ministerial meetings in the presence of more than 300 ministers. In partnership with a select group of knowledge partners, the Summit will launch more than 25 strategic reports, focusing on the most important practices and trends in vital sectors.

Source: Emirates News Agency

For his part, President Biden said the Israeli military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than 1 million people sheltering there, including many who have been displaced multiple time fleeing the violence in the north, and now they are exposed and they need to be protected.

“We’ve also been clear from the start, we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” Biden said.

The US president said many of the over 27,000 Palestinians killed in this conflict are innocent civilians and thousands of children, noting that hundreds of thousands have no access to food, water or other basic services.

“Many families have lost not just one but many relatives; cannot mourn for them, or even bury them, because it is not safe to do so,” the president continued.

The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would bring an immediate and sustained period of cease-fire to Gaza for at least six weeks, which cou
ld then lead to build something more enduring with a two-state solution for two peoples, the president added.

“We’re working to create the conditions for lasting peace,” President Biden said, noting that the discussions with His Majesty addressed efforts to guarantee Israeli security as well as ensure that Palestinian aspirations for their own state fulfilled.

“That’s the only path that guarantees Israel security for the long term. To achieve it, the Palestinians must also seize the opportunity,” he said, noting that “not only do we pray for peace, we’re actively working for peace, security, and dignity for both the Palestinian people and the Israelis.”

The US president said his discussions with the King also covered “how to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza”, adding that “from the very beginning, my team and I have relentlessly worked to get more aid” into the Strip.

President Biden said that he has spoken repeatedly of partners across the region, including the King, to facilitate the flow of aid into
Gaza as much as possible and get to the people in need, pointing to efforts to open Rafah crossing and to open other routes as well.

He lauded His Majesty’s efforts to support the humanitarian response in Gaza and facilitate the delivery of vital medical supplied, adding that Jordan’s leadership and humanitarian commitment are commendable.

“We’ve known each other for many years and His Majesty has been a good friend all those years, a steadfast partner, alongside the Queen and a beloved leader to their people. The partnership between the United States and our ally Jordan is strong and it is enduring,” President Biden said.

“I’m grateful to him for his friendship, including his and Jordan’s unique role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.,” the president added.

“We’re grateful to our partners and allies like the King who will work with us every single day to advance security stability across the region and beyond. It’s difficult times like these where the bond between nations are more important tha
n ever, and Jill and I are pleased to welcome him and the Queen and the Crown Prince to the White House today,” President Biden concluded.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar, as well as a number of senior US officials attended the meeting.

Earlier, Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II had been received by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden upon arrival at the White House.

Her Majesty Queen Rania also met with First Lady Jill Biden at the White House on the sidelines of the visit.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, called on world governments participating in the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024 in Dubai to work together and build international cooperation to think innovatively to develop sustainable solutions that benefit African societies.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during his participation in the second day of the summit held in Dubai, Prof. Murwira praised the agenda of the summit, which is managed by the UAE, for thinking about a sustainable future and working together to keep pace with technological countries in the fourth industrial revolution, digital transformation and the move towards artificial intelligence.

He added that the summit is an important platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge between governments and international organisations, and for discussing the most important challenges facing the world today, such as climate change, poverty and food se
curity.

He stressed the importance of African countries’ participation in the summit to benefit from the experiences of other countries and to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing the continent.

Prof. Murwira also praised the UAE’s efforts in hosting the WGS and for its leading role in promoting international cooperation and sustainable development. He affirmed that his country is working on many projects and initiatives to keep pace with modern technology in various sectors.

He expressed his thanks to the UAE for participating in such international forums that provide an opportunity for African countries, including Zimbabwe, to work for a sustainable future.

The World Governments Summit 2024 is currently on its second day and will run until February 14 in Dubai under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’. It has gathered 120 government delegations, over 85 international and regional organizations and global institutions, as well as numerous thought leaders and experts from around the world
, with over 4000 participants taking part.

Source: Emirates News Agency