GENEVA: Two senior Libyan officials began two days of talks Tuesday on constitutional arrangements for elections, the latest UN effort to bridge gaps between the country’s rivals.
Aguila Saleh, the influential speaker of the country’s east-based parliament, and Khaled Al-Meshri, head of the government’s Supreme Council of State, based in the west, in the capital of Tripoli, met at the UN headquarters in Geneva.
According to the United Nations, the talks will focus on a draft constitutional framework for elections after Libya’s rival factions failed to reach an agreement in their last round of talks in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.
Stephanie Williams, the UN special adviser on Libya, said they would discuss “timelines, modalities and milestones to guarantee a clear path to the holding of national elections as soon possible.”
“It is now the time to make a final and courageous effort to ensure that this historic compromise takes place, for the sake of Libya, the Libyan people and the credibility of its institutions,” she said.
The criteria for a presidential candidacy were a contentious point in the talks, according to Libyan media. The Tripoli-based council insisted on banning military personal from running for the country’s top post — apparently a move directed at the divisive commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are loyal to the east-based administration.
Haftar had announced his bid in elections slated for last December but the vote was not held because of myriad issues, including controversial hopefuls who had announced bids and disputes about election laws.
There are growing tensions on the ground, and sporadic clashes between rival militias recently erupted in Tripoli. Living conditions have also deteriorated, mainly because of fuel shortages in the oil-rich nation. Tribal leaders have shut down many oil facilities, including the country’s largest field.
The blockade was largely meant to cut off key state revenues to the incumbent Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who has refused to step down even though the vote was not held in December.
Now, Dbeibah and another prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, appointed by the east-based parliament to lead a transitional government, are claiming power. The rivalry has sparked fears the oil-rich country could slide back to fighting after tentative steps toward unity last year.
Libya has been wrecked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The country was then for years split between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different militias and foreign governments.
Libyan rival officials meet for UN-led talks on elections
https://arab.news/pzgj3
Libyan rival officials meet for UN-led talks on elections
- Two senior Libyan officials from the country's rival camps have begun talks on constitutional arrangements for elections
KSrelief concludes medical camps in Sindh, aiding Pakistan’s fight against blindness, eye diseases
- The Saudi humanitarian organization periodically sets up such camps in Pakistan, providing free medical services to people
- It successfully completed more than 23,356 medical examinations and over 1,656 surgeries throughout the program duration
ISLAMABAD: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Tuesday announced the successful conclusion of its sponsorship of four medical camps in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, saying the initiative was part of its efforts to combat blindness and eye diseases in the South Asian country.
The camps, organized in collaboration with the Al-Basar International Foundation and Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital Karachi, aimed to provide advanced eye care facilities to individuals who lack access to specialized treatment or face financial constraints.
KSrelief periodically sets up medical camps to provide free medical services in remote and underprivileged areas of Pakistan, offering treatments and surgeries to those in need.
The Saudi humanitarian organization has also contributed to the country’s health care sector by donating medicines, medical equipment and ambulances, and by supporting health projects that aim to improve the overall health conditions of the local population.
“The primary objective of this outreach program was to detect and address eye-related issues at an early stage, thereby combating blindness and improving the quality of life for thousands of individuals,” KSrelief said in a statement.
“Throughout the duration of the program, more than 23,356 medical examinations and over 1,656 surgeries were successfully completed,” it continues. “Additionally, 3,788 pairs of glasses for vision correction were distributed, alongside the medications prescribed by doctors.”
The initiative ensured that individuals not only received essential treatment but also had access to the necessary eyewear to enhance their visual capabilities.
The camps were held in the cities of Karachi, Matli, Kundairo and Shikarpur, allowing residents from these areas to benefit from specialized eye care services and regain their vision.
KSrelief said the campaign reflected the kingdom’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian causes and dedication to improving the lives of individuals affected by blindness.
It added that its teams had made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of patients through these medical camps, restoring their sight and providing hope for a brighter future.
Riyad Mahrez asks to be left out of Algeria squad for friendlies against Bolivia, South Africa
- Coach Vladimir Petkovic confirmed player’s decision as Al-Ahli captain assess international future
Riyadh: Al-Ahli captain Riyad Mahrez has been left out of the Algerian national team squad announced by Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic ahead of the upcoming friendlies against Bolivia and South Africa on March 22 and 26, Arriyadiyah reported.
Petkovic confirmed that Mahrez was the one who asked not to be summoned to the mini tournament taking place in Algeria, the player explaining that he was currently assessing his international future after the recent exit in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.
Mahrez’s career with the national team has witnessed success and disappointment since he was given his debut by Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic in 2014.
He played against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Algeria failed to qualify for Russia 2018.
After the arrival of Djamel Belmadi as national team coach, Mahrez led Algeria to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title, scoring three decisive goals, including a last-minute winner in the semi-final against Nigeria. The Desert Warriors went on to claim the title by beating Senegal 2-1 in the final.
During his career with the national team, Mahrez has scored 31 goals and made 40 assists in 93 official matches.
Despite his brilliance between 2018 and 2021, the national team declined significantly after that, exiting the group stage twice in the Africa Cup of Nations, in 2021 and 2023, and also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
Australia scraps Afghanistan T20s, citing worsening women’s rights
- Cricket has surged in popularity in Afghanistan in recent years but women are effectively barred from the game
- It is third time since 2021 that Australia has refused to play Afghanistan outside of international tournaments
Australia on Tuesday scrapped a T20 men’s cricket series against Afghanistan later this year, saying the situation for women in the Taliban-ruled country was deteriorating.
Cricket Australia said it had received advice “that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse” and so had postponed the three-match series scheduled in August at a neutral venue.
Cricket has surged in popularity inside Afghanistan in recent years, fueled by triumphs over bigger nations on the international stage.
But under the Taliban’s brand of Islamic rule, women are effectively barred from the game.
Australia’s cricket governing body said its stance continued a “strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world.”
It is the third time since 2021 that Australia has refused to play Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.
Cricket Australia canceled a one-off Test in 2021, months after the Taliban swept back into power.
“If recent media reports that women’s cricket will not be supported in Afghanistan are substantiated, Cricket Australia would have no alternative but to not host Afghanistan,” officials said at the time.
In 2023, Australia pulled out of a three-match one-day international series in the UAE, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in Kabul describing the decision as “pathetic.”
Afghanistan’s best known cricketer, leg-spinner Rashid Khan, threatened to boycott Australia’s Big Bash League as a result.
Before the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s cricket board was slowly making progress growing the game among women — even contracting a small number of semi-professional players in 2020.
Most of those players would eventually flee to Australia.
The Taliban took control of the country in August 2021, renaming it the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and installing an interim government they said would rule according to sharia.
Teenage girls have been banned from attending most secondary schools and women from universities.
In November 2022 women were prohibited from entering parks, funfairs, gyms and public baths.
Women are also barred from traveling without a male relative and have been told they must cover up, with a veil or burqa, when outside.
The two countries last played at the 50-over World Cup in India last year when Australia won by three wickets en route to lifting the trophy.
‘The Zone of Interest’ director’s Oscars speech slammed by hundreds of Jewish stars, creators in open letter
DUBAI: More than 450 Jewish stars and other Hollywood professionals have slammed “The Zone of Interest” writer-director Jonathan Glazer’s speech at the 2024 Academy Awards, in an open letter published by Variety.
While accepting the award for best international feature, Glazer connected his Holocaust film with the attack on Gaza and said: “Our film shows where dehumanization leads at its worst. It’s shaped all of our past and present.
“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.
“Whether the victims of October — whether the victims of Oct. 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
In the open letter, movie industry figures said: “We refute our Jewishness being hijacked for the purpose of drawing a moral equivalence between a Nazi regime that sought to exterminate a race of people, and an Israeli nation that seeks to avert its own extermination.”
US actors Debra Messing, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Julianna Margulies, and Brett Gelman, director Eli Roth, writer Amy Sherman-Palladino, and producer Amy Pascal were some of the Hollywood stars who signed, as did many other creatives, executives, and Hollywood professionals.
The letter added: “The use of words like ‘occupation’ to describe an indigenous Jewish people defending a homeland that dates back thousands of years and has been recognized as a state by the United Nations, distorts history.
“It gives credence to the modern blood libel that fuels a growing anti-Jewish hatred around the world, in the United States, and in Hollywood.
“The current climate of growing antisemitism only underscores the need for the Jewish state of Israel, a place which will always take us in, as no state did during the Holocaust depicted in Mr. Glazer’s film.”
Islamabad United beat Multan Sultans in last-ball thriller to clinch third PSL title
- All-rounder Imad Wasim returns figures of 5/23 to guide Islamabad to victory over Multan by 2 wickets
- United skipper Shadab Khan bags Player of the Tournament award for scoring 305 runs, taking 14 wickets
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad United became the most successful Pakistan Super League franchise on Monday night after clinching their third PSL title, edging out former champions Multan Sultans by two wickets in a last-ball thriller.
The Sultans, batting first, finished at 159/9 from their 20 overs. Skipper Muhammad Rizwan’s side were restricted to the total by clinical allrounder Imad Wasim, who returned figures of 5/23. United skipper Shadab Khan pitched in with figures of 3/32 and spectacular fielding at regular intervals to ensure the Sultans did not post a huge total.
From the Sultans, Usman Khan top-scored with 57 runs from 40 balls while Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 20 balls. United chased the target on the final ball of the innings, with Hunain Shah hitting a boundary off the last ball to send the stadium into a frenzy.
“We did it! Champions once again! Huge praise to our boys for holding their nerves in a nail-biter of a finale,” United wrote on social media platform X.
United got off to a solid start in their chase with opener Martin Guptill scoring 50 runs from 32 balls. Colin Munro and Salman Ali Agha scored 17 and 10 runs, respectively, while Khan managed to make only four before he was bowled by Ahmed.
Azam Khan scored 30 runs from 22 before Wasim and Shah held their nerves to ensure the United win off the last ball. For the Sultans, Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2/19 while Khushdil Shah ended up with 2/21. David Willey, Mohammad Ali and Usama Mir took a single wicket each.
“Believed in staying calm at the crease, focused on tapping and running,” Shah said at the end of the match. “Imad Wasim advised to keep it easy and just make contact. Beyond words right now, just overwhelmed with happiness.”
Wasim bagged the Player of the Match award for his fifer while Khan was given the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 305 runs and taking 14 wickets. The Karachi Kings’ batter Muhammad Irfan Khan was named Emerging Player of the Tournament for scoring 171 runs while Peshawar Zalmi’s Saim Ayub bagged the All-Rounder of the Tournament award for scoring 345 runs and taking eight wickets.
The Sultans’ spinner Mir bagged the Bowler of the Tournament award for his 24 wickets while their batter Usman Khan won the Batter of the Tournament award for scoring 430 runs.
Former champions Peshawar Zalmi won the Spirit of Cricket Award.