BEIJING: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he was counting on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to “bring Russia to its senses” over its war in Ukraine.
The French president, who arrived on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, has made clear he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.
“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table,” the French head of state told Xi during a bilateral meeting in Beijing.
And in a joint statement following those talks, the two leaders reaffirmed their call for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow “as soon as possible.”
The two sides also reaffirmed their opposition to the use of nuclear weapons during the conflict.
To coincide with their meeting, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released a report in which Xi hailed China’s “positive and steady” ties with France as the world undergoes “profound historical changes.”
Macron has said during his trip that Beijing can play a “major role” in finding a path to peace in the conflict and welcomed China’s “willingness to commit to a resolution.”
His visit to China — his first since 2019 — comes as Western pressure mounts on Beijing to help push for peace in Ukraine.
Though Beijing is officially neutral, Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion.
While he recently went to Moscow to reaffirm his alliance with Vladimir Putin — framed as an anti-Western front — Xi has not spoken on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Macron, who is accompanied on his visit by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, said he wants to “be a voice that unites Europe” over Ukraine, and that coming to China with her serves to “underline the consistency of this approach.”
In a Thursday morning meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People, Macron stressed the importance of dialogue between China and France “in these troubled times.”
“The ability to share a common analysis and build a common path is essential,” he said.
And in a separate meeting with Li, von der Leyen told the premier that relations between the EU and China had grown “complex in recent years.”
“It is important that we discuss all aspects of this relationship together today,” she said, especially in the current “volatile geopolitical environment.”
Following Macron’s talks with Xi, the pair will give statements to the press, followed by a meeting with von der Leyen and then a state dinner.
Macron will travel to Guangzhou in southern China to meet students on Friday, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even celebrities, including composer Jean-Michel Jarre.
Macron appeals to China’s Xi to ‘bring Russia to its senses’
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Macron appeals to China’s Xi to ‘bring Russia to its senses’
- French president Emmanuel Macron: ‘We need to find a lasting peace’
- China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, which helps prop up the Kremlin’s revenue in the face of Western sanctions
A top Qatari official urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a ceasefire deal
- There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah
TEL AVIV: A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show “more commitment and more seriousness” in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds on both sides to move toward a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite in the nearly 7-month-long war in Gaza.
The interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and the Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening. They came as Israel still promises to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering there and as the sides are exchanging proposals surrounding a ceasefire deal.
Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary throughout the Israel-Hamas war. Along with the US and Egypt, Qatar was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages.
The sides have held numerous rounds of negotiations since, none of which produced an additional truce. In a sign of its frustration, Qatar last week said it was reassessing its role as mediator.
In the interviews, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari expressed disappointment in both Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made its decisions based on political interests and not with the good of civilians in mind.
“We were hoping to see more commitment and more seriousness on both sides,” he told Haaretz.
He did not reveal details of the current state of the talks, other than to say they have “effectively stopped,” with “both sides entrenched in their positions.”
“If there is a renewed sense of commitment on both sides, I’m sure we can reach a deal,” he said.
The Israeli journalists conducted the interviews in Qatar, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
Relations between Qatar and Israel have been strained throughout the war, as some politicians in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have criticized Qatar for not putting enough pressure on Hamas.
Israeli legislators have also cleared the way for the country to expel Al Jazeera, the Qatar-owned broadcaster.
Al-Ansari’s remarks came after an Egyptian delegation had discussed with Israeli officials a “new vision” for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.
Hamas meanwhile said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire, which came in response to a Hamas proposal from two weeks ago.
Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah.
A letter penned by US President Joe Biden along with 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release the hostages immediately.
Hamas in recent days has released new videos of three hostages it holds, which appear to be meant to push Israel to make concessions.
Israel meanwhile has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles ahead of an expected offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. The planned incursion has raised global alarm because of concerns over potential harm to civilians. The troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in the truce talks.
Israel sees Rafah as Hamas’ last major stronghold and has vowed to attack the militant group there in its bid to destroy its military and governing capabilities.
The war was sparked with Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say.
Israel’s retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally. The Israeli military says it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence to back the claim.
Vision 2030 and the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia embarks on its ambitious journey outlined in Vision 2030, the hospitality industry emerges as a pivotal player in the Kingdom’s economic diversification efforts.
The sector continues to evolve, with a focus on attracting international visitors and enhancing domestic tourism experiences.
In 2023, the Kingdom’s travel industry not only met but exceeded expectations, experiencing a staggering 58 percent growth in passenger arrivals. This prompted a substantial recalibration of its Vision 2030 ambitions.
Last year, Saudi Arabia increased its annual tourism target to 150 million visitors by 2030 after surpassing the original goal of 100 million, seven years ahead of schedule. This achievement was attributed to the country’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, tourism transformation, hospitality, and real estate, aligned with its vision objectives.
Through capital allocation in the tourism framework, promotion of cultural heritage, and encouragement of innovation in the hospitality sector, the nation aims to unleash the Kingdom’s tourism potential and establish the region as a premier global destination.
Since Saudi Arabia opened its doors to non-religious tourists for the first time in 2019, the service and accommodation industry has been infused with new life.
With the announcement of a variety of hotels, resorts, and tourist attractions, the sector is positioning itself to meet the growing demand.
To achieve this, the Kingdom aims to increase its hotel room inventory by 315,000, projecting a development expenditure of around $37.8 billion by 2030. This expansion will bring the overall inventory to nearly 450,000 rooms.
David Vely, the vice president of development for the Middle East and Africa at Club Med, emphasized that experts in the field have witnessed firsthand Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts and investments to fulfill the criteria needed to meet its destination development and tourism targets.
He said: “Firstly, world-class infrastructure, including international airports and an advanced highway network, is crucial to facilitate tourist travel. Secondly, a variety of tourist attractions — from historical sites and beautiful beaches to modern entertainment centers — are needed to attract visitors. Thirdly, quality service and memorable experiences, coupled with professional and warm hospitality, are essential to retain tourists and foster positive word-of-mouth.”
Vely added: “We have observed Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts and investments to successfully fulfill these three criteria and are confident in its ability to achieve — and surpass — the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.”
Alongside investments in tourism infrastructure, which encompass transportation networks, airports, roads, and recreational amenities, initiatives such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya are expected to further bolster the nation’s hospitality sector.
In September, NEOM’s mountains destination, Trojena, revealed plans to host two Marriott hotels — a JW and a W. These establishments are among the numerous international inns set to open at the artificial ski retreat, which is slated to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029. The resort is scheduled to welcome visitors and new residents in late 2026.
Meanwhile, Red Sea Global, the visionary developer wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, boasts a portfolio that includes two world-leading destinations announced by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman: The Red Sea and AMAALA.
Collectively, these developments aim to enhance Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism and hospitality sustainability offerings, with a focus on protecting the natural environment and enhancing it for future generations.
Emphasizing the importance of environmental awareness in the hospitality sector, Shahbaz Tufail, the executive vice president of DAR Engineering, noted that it is “crucial” to incorporate sustainability into new undertakings.
“The ongoing development of new entertainment options, as well as aligning value and service propositions to the international travel palette, clearly demonstrates the intent of Vision 2030. To appeal to a broader audience, providers must align with global hospitality and travel trends such as ecotourism, wellness, smart hotels and sustainability,” he said.
As a cornerstone of the sector’s development, both Vely and Tufail further stressed the importance of training and education in attracting and retaining talent within the hospitality field.
In order for this to happen, the industry needs to offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract skilled professionals into hospitality, and invest in training programs to develop new talent and up-skill existing team members, as noted by Ramine Benham, vice president of development at Minor Hotel EMEA.
“Collaboration with educational institutions to offer internships and graduate training programs, as well as vocational training programs can also help in providing a pipeline of future talent. By implementing these measures, the hospitality industry will be able to ensure that they employ the best talent and furthermore retain these loyal individual,” he added.
The nation has already begun to take strides in this direction, with the announcement of multiple programs and initiatives.
In September of last year, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, declared the opening of the Riyadh School for Tourism and Hospitality during the 2023 UN Tourism “World Tourism Day” celebrations in Riyadh.
Inaugurating the launch, Al-Khateeb said: “This school is a gift from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the world because it will be open to everyone to enjoy the best training in tourism and hospitality.”
This initiative aims to revolutionize industry education by attracting the brightest minds and leveraging cutting-edge technologies in an innovative facility.
Similarly, in April, a partnership was announced between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Tourism and UN Tourism for the launch of a six-month training program tailored for institutions in Saudi Arabia specializing in the sector.
TedQual, a certification system designed by the body to evaluate a series of universally applicable criteria, will help further enhance the quality and training of relevant organizations in Saudi Arabia.
The UN-backed tourism education scheme is poised to elevate the training of Saudi workers, enabling them to deliver the best international standards in the Kingdom.
As the nation gears up to host Expo 2030 in its capital, talent retention becomes imperative to meet the anticipated surge in hotel occupancy rates, with both international and domestic travelers seeking accommodation during the bustling period.
Furthermore, the forum represents a transformative opportunity for Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector, driving growth and investment.
“Investors are drawn to opportunities in hotel development and resort projects due to the sector’s potential for substantial returns on investment,” Vely said.
“Moreover, a thriving hospitality industry enhances the country’s overall attractiveness as an investment destination, strengthening confidence among foreign investors and contributing to the country’s economic growth and diversification efforts,” he added.
To support the sector’s growth, investment, and attractiveness, Riyadh is poised to host the Future Hospitality Summit, which will focus on the future of successful hotel and destination development in the Kingdom as part of the event’s agenda.
The forum, scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 1, will discuss key factors affecting tourism development and explore strategies for overcoming potential challenges to ensure government targets are met.
WEF forum in Riyadh: Geopolitical threats top risk for global economy, says Saudi minister of finance
- Mohammed Al-Jadaan: Conflicts such as in Gaza put a lot of pressure on economic mood, and economies are impacted by sentiments
- For years Saudi Arabia has made it a specific objective to de-escalate in the region
RIYADH: Geopolitical threats, such as the Gaza war and conflict in Ukraine, are the foremost risk for the global economy nowadays, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of finance, told a panel of the special two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Riyadh.
“Geopolitical threats, which unfortunately are increasing instead of decreasing, are possibly the number one risk today if you look at the global economy at large. Geopolitical tensions bring other things that are directly impacting economies,” Al-Jadaan said.
The roiling Gaza war along with conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere put “a lot of pressure on the economic emotion” such that “economies are impacted by sentiments,” the minister added.
“It is very unfortunate to see loss of lives. Civilian lives are important whether in Ukraine, or in Palestine.
“Cool-headed countries and leaders need to prevail, you need to make sure you de-escalate.”
The Saudi official has emphasized that the Kingdom in years has made it ‘a specific objective to de-escalate in the region.’
“The region needs to focus on its people, its growth, its economy rather than focus on politics and conflict.”
The conflict in Gaza spiralled with a surprise attack on October 7 by the militant group Hamas in southern Israel, which resulted into the death of 1,170 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s devastating retaliatory offensive meanwhile has killed at least 34,388 Gaza residents, mostly women and children.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, in a separate panel, said that “110,000 people have been killed or wounded in Gaza since October 7” and “75 percent of the territory” has been destroyed by the devastating Israeli military action.
“What happened in Gaza has not happened in Germany during the Second World War and other European countries. The fighting in Gaza must stop immediately and we warn against any plans for displacement,” Abbas said in his remarks.
Geopolitical maneuverings that weigh on the global economy, according to Al-Jadaan, could include ‘fragmentation, protectionism and using economy as a serious tool to achieve objectives in terms of limitations on trade, technology.’
“Policymakers need to be agile in dealing with these,” Al-Jadaan emphasized.
Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of International Monetary Fund, agreed, noting that ‘fragmentation in the world economy was certainly bad for the prospect of growth.’
“The mmediate priorities for countries are to get inflation rates within targets; focus on rebuilding fiscal buffers and find ways to cooperate more,” Georgieva said in the opening panel.
“In economic planning, it is OK to change… to adjust on new circumstances. And that to me is the advice I would give to everyone. You need a long term plan, like Saudi Vision 2030, and doubling down on the implementation but also you need to make sure you adjust,” Al-Jadaan meanwhile said.
“In the longer term, regardless of what is happening today, you need to focus on your own people, your human capital. This is the longer term play that is critical.
“I can say this, Saudi Arabia and the region has the means to do it, but there are a lot of countries who wil find it difficult to provide quality education, quality healthcare for their people,” he said.
Around 1,000 thought leaders from 92 countries are in Riyadh for the World Economic Forum’s Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development to “promote forward-thinking approaches to interconnected crises, while remaining realistic about shorter-term trade-offs” and “work to bridge the growing North-South divide on issues such as emerging economic policies, the energy transition and geopolitical shocks.”
LeBron stars as Lakers stay alive with win over Nuggets
- Eastern Conference top seeds Boston rebounded from a shock home loss to the eighth-seeded Heat with a 104-84 victory in Miami that put the Celtics up 2-1
- Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 to level their Eastern Conference series at two games apiece
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 30 points from superstar LeBron James, stayed alive in the NBA playoffs on Saturday with a 119-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Down 3-0 to the defending champions and facing elimination, the Lakers stood firm on their home floor, weathering a triple-double from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to send the series back to Denver for game five on Monday.
After the Lakers let double-digit leads evaporate in losing each of the first three games, James scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to ensure it didn’t happen again.
“I love the fourth quarter,” James said. “I understand it is close-out time and we haven’t been able to do that versus this team through three games.
“So tonight I had an opportunity to do that and I wanted to deliver,” added the 39-year-old, who connected on six of eight shots in the final period, drew a charge and came up with a steal that he parlayed into a dunk at the other end.
But the four-time NBA champion wasn’t ready to celebrate the Lakers’ first win over Denver in 12 contests, since December of 2022, knowing that no NBA team has rallied from 3-0 down to win a playoff series.
“We’re still down 3-1,” he said. “So each and every game will be its own challenge. We took care of business tonight to extend the series, but we’ve got to be even better.”
Anthony Davis added 25 points and a whopping 23 rebounds for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell scored 21 points apiece.
Russell repaid the faith of coach Darvin Ham, who kept him in the starting lineup after he went scoreless in game three.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 33 points with 14 rebounds and 14 assists.
Michael Porter Jr. added 25 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray added 16 for the Nuggets in defeat.
Saturday’s other three games were lopsided affairs, as Eastern Conference top seeds Boston rebounded from a shock home loss to the eighth-seeded Heat with a 104-84 victory in Miami that put the Celtics up 2-1.
The Thunder, winners of their first two games against the
Orlando, Franz Wagner scored 32 points and the Magic dominated Cleveland in Pelicans in Oklahoma City, pressed their advantage in New Orleans with a 106-85 thrashing that gave them a 3-0 stranglehold on their Western Conference series.
And the Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 to level their Eastern Conference series at two games apiece.
In Miami, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 22 points apiece, Tatum adding 11 rebounds and six assists as the Celtics led from start to finish.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 18 points and Derrick White chipped in 16 for the Celtics, who allowed the Heat the fewest points of any Celtics opponent this season.
“Once they got up double digits, their pressure started to pick up,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They were the more physical team, they bodied us, bullied us.”
Boston led 21-12 after the first quarter and erupted for 42 points in the second period.
They were up by 24 points at halftime and pushed the lead to as many as 29 in the second half.
Miami, who had just nine three-pointers after raining 23 treys in their game two victory, will try to regroup when they host Game 4 on Monday.
That’s when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will have a chance to close out the Pelicans in New Orleans.
With Zion Williamson sidelined with a hamstring strain, the Pels have had no answer for the young Thunder team led by Most Valuable Player award finalist Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Thunder on Saturday with 24 points five rebounds and eight assists.
The Thunder drained 17 three-pointers and after taking a 60-46 lead into halftime pushed their advantage to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey scored 21 points apiece for the Thunder.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 19 and CJ McCollum added 16, but New Orleans made just nine of their 32 three-point attempts and turned the ball over 21 times.
In Orlando, Franz Wagner scored 32 points and the Magic dominated Cleveland in the second half.
The Cavs scored just 10 points in the third quarter and 29 in the second half, going more than six minutes without scoring.
Muse to perform in Abu Dhabi this year
DUBAI: British rock veterans Muse are headed to Abu Dhabi for the second time as they get ready to perform at the 2024 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-party concert series.
Running from Dec. 5 - 8, Muse is the first the band to be announced as part of the concert series. Access to all concerts is exclusive for Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix ticket holders.
“Catch the Grammy Award winning rock icons electrifying the stage at @etihadpark this December at the #F1Finale Yasalam After-Race Concerts,” read a social media post on the official Instagram account of Abu Dhabu Grand Prix.
A date has not yet been announced for the concert.
This is the second time the “Starlight” rockers are performing as part of the concert series, having made their debut in the UAE capital in 2013.
