BERLIN: Germany and the United Nations are bringing together representatives of Libya with powers that have interests in the country at a conference Wednesday which aims for progress toward securing elections in the North African nation and the removal of foreign fighters.
The meeting at the foreign ministry in Berlin, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken among those expected to attend, follows up on a January 2020 conference where leaders agreed to respect an arms embargo and to push the country’s warring parties to reach a full cease-fire. Germany has tried to act as an intermediary.
Countries that have been involved in the process include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Italy, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Ahead of the conference, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas noted that much has been achieved in the past two years. An October cease-fire agreement that included a demand that all foreign fighters and mercenaries leave Libya within 90 days led to a deal on elections that are due to be held on Dec. 24 and a transitional government that took office in February.
But “many challenges still lie ahead of us,” said Maas, who met Libya’s transitional prime minister and foreign minister on Tuesday evening. “For the further stabilization of the country, it is crucial that elections take place as planned and that foreign fighters and mercenaries really do leave Libya.”
He added that Wednesday’s conference launches a new phase “in which we no longer only talk about Libya, but in which we are now speaking with Libyan men and women about the future of their country.”
Libya descended into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and later killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich country was long divided between a UN-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities based in the country’s east, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.
In April 2019, eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar and his forces launched an offensive to try to capture Tripoli. Haftar’s 14-month campaign collapsed after Turkey stepped up its military support of the UN-backed government with hundreds of troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries.
Germany hosts conference to push for progress in Libya
https://arab.news/5v4ce
Germany hosts conference to push for progress in Libya
- The meeting is held at the foreign ministry in Berlin
- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas noted that much has been achieved in the past two years
Algeria’s first KFC restaurant reopens without logo following Gaza protests
- Protesters gathered outside outlet last week in solidarity with Palestinians
- KFC parent company Yum! Brands has faced backlash for its ties with Israel
LONDON: Algeria’s first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet has resumed operations after a temporary closure prompted by a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations last week.
However, the restaurant, situated in the Algiers suburb of Dely Ibrahim, reopened its doors without the familiar Col. Sanders logo on its exterior.
It remains unclear if the outlet has had a change of ownership or remains under the umbrella of Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC.
Demonstrators gathered outside the eatery on April 16, calling for a boycott and expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
Protesters draped in Palestinian flags voiced support for “Palestinian martyrs” while obstructing access to the storefront.
The restaurant has faced a backlash due to its perceived ties to Israel, with Yum! Brands having made investments in Israeli startups, including TicTuk, a company that allows customers to order food on social networks and message apps, and Dragontail, a system software company specializing in food processing.
In response, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement designated KFC’s sister company, Pizza Hut, as an “organic boycott target,” due to the “brands’ complicity in Israel’s genocide and apartheid against Palestinians.”
بعد أيام من افتتاح فرعها الأول، KFC الجزائر تزيل شعار علامتها وتُغلق أبوابها!
— أحمد داود (@AhmadDaoud14) April 17, 2024
منذ افتتاحها تعالت أصوات مقاطعتها، ووقفات احتجاجية أمامها، واستنكارٌ لمنح الترخيص لوكيلها! #الجزائر
pic.twitter.com/rIaOG80xTi
While the temporary closure of the KFC outlet was hailed as a success by demonstrators, its reopening sparked disappointment among some Algerians.
The incident underscores challenges and employment ramifications stemming from boycotts related to the Gaza conflict.
Since the start of the war, regional franchises of McDonald’s, one of the key boycotted brands, have distanced themselves from the parent company, arguing that they are 100 percent local.
The opening of a KFC branch in Algeria was noteworthy given the nation’s historical aversion to Western food chains, as well as its stringent foreign investment regulations, which typically prohibit the establishment of foreign food or beverage franchises.
Previous efforts to establish outlets without official approval, such as the brief appearance of a counterfeit “Starbucks,” have been met with swift action and closure.
Pakistan’s defense minister rejects claim ex-PM Khan being pressurized to accept ‘deal’
- Chairman of Khan’s party this week said cricketer-turned-politician was being kept in jail so he would agree to a “deal” with the government
- Khan, who has been in jail since August last year after multiple convictions, has vowed not to agree to a “deal” with his political adversaries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Thursday rejected claims that former prime minister Imran Khan was being pressurized to accept a “deal” and come to the negotiating table with the government.
Khan, who was prime minister from 2018-2022, remains jailed in multiple cases, including a 14-year jail sentence for him and his wife for the illegal sale of state gifts. Khan fell out with Pakistan’s powerful military after he was ousted from office via a parliamentary vote in Apr. 2022.
Asif was responding to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan’s interaction with reporters on Tuesday when he said that the way the former prime minister and his wife were being kept in jail, “these are all [forms of] pressure that Khan somehow agrees to a deal.”
Speaking exclusively to Independent Urdu, Asif rejected claims Khan was being pressurized to come to the negotiating table.
“There is no such thing,” Asif said, claiming that PTI leaders were issuing such statements to stay relevant. “That is why these statements are being issued. There is no truth to them.”
Asif said senior members of the PTI had given statements recently rejecting the possibility of a deal with the government.
“Now if their leadership is issuing contradictory statements themselves, then what comment do we give on it,” he said. “I think their contradictory statements are validating our point.”
Khan’s multiple convictions mean he is banned from holding public office and ruled the 71-year-old out of general elections earlier this year. Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan says all cases against him are motivated to keep him out of politics.
Saudi Yoga Committee speaks to Arab representatives to discuss establishment of federation
- Committee president stresses importance of move
- Meeting aimed to support, increase participation
JEDDAH: The Saudi Yoga Committee has held a meeting to discuss the potential of a proposed Arab Yoga Federation.
The meeting, which was held via video conference on April 24, looked at the development of yoga among people across the Arab world and the need for an official Arab umbrella to be constituted at regional level to promote it in the correct way in all its forms, whether the traditional yoga for health and well-being or as a discipline to participate in future competitions and tournaments.
The meeting was attended by representatives of federations and committees from eight countries: hosts Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, Palestine, Mauritania, and Syria.
The President of the Kingdom’s Yoga Committee Nouf Al-Marwaai spoke of the importance of establishing an Arab federation to include all Arab countries.
The meeting looked at supporting the spread of yoga and increasing participation to create a supportive environment which strengthened the Arab presence on the international scene.
The Saudi Yoga Committee stressed its desire to lead the initiative following its progress in organization and governance.
Date confirmed for Health Tourism Future Forum in Riyadh
- Event will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health
- Aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala
RIYADH: The Health Tourism Association has revealed what is in store at its future forum, which will be held in Riyadh from April 28-30.
The event, which is being organized by the Health Tourism Club and the Health Tourism Association in partnership with the Global Healthcare Travel Council, will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health tourism, presenting investment opportunities in the tourism and healthcare sectors, along with new destinations, while hoping to establish a new annual global platform for the industry in Riyadh.
The aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala, in an effort to make the Kingdom an attractive destination for safe, high-quality healthcare with international accreditation.
The press conference preceding the event spoke of patients seeking healthcare benefiting from the advanced system in the country and the extensive network of distinguished, high-quality hospitals and medical centers throughout the Kingdom.
Scent of success as Saudi Arabia aims for 2bn roses
- Reef Saudi, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year
- Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources
RIYADH: Reef Saudi, a sustainable agricultural rural development program, has almost doubled rose production in the past four years, increasing from 500 million roses in 2020 to 960 million roses, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year, and said it aims to reach a figure of 2 billion roses by 2026.
Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources.
As part of the program, plant nurseries have been established around the Kingdom, with mobile clinics to diagnose plant diseases.
The Reef program aims to raise the living standard of farmers and rural families, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve food security.
It has developed six sectors: fruit, coffee, honey, rose, rainfed agriculture, and a support program for rural families in agriculture.
