Libyan coast guards train in Greece under plan to stem migrant flows
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Al Arabiya
14 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Ethiopia's national tree campaign underway with aim to plant 700 million seedlings in one day
Ethiopia launched a national campaign on Thursday to plant 700 million trees in one day as part of an ambitious conservation initiative that aims to plant 50 billion trees by 2026. The reforestation campaign has been a personal project of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2019. Tesfahun Gobezay, state minister for the Ethiopian Government Communication Services, told reporters before 6 a.m. local time that some 355 million seedlings had already been planted by 14.9 million Ethiopians. It was not possible to verify the government's figures. Ethiopia has a population of more than 120 million people. 'We kicked off this year's one-day green Legacy planting early this morning,' Abiy said on social media platform X. 'Our goal for the 7th year is 700 million seedlings. Let's achieve it together.' Authorities say some 40 billion tree seedlings have been planted since 2019. The target for 2025 is 7.5 billion trees. Abiy took power in 2018 as a reformist. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for making peace with neighboring Eritrea but a war that erupted shortly afterward in the Ethiopian region of Tigray damaged his reputation as a peacemaker. He now faces another rebellious uprising in the Amhara region. Many public offices are closed Thursday to make time for tree planting. Thousands of public servants have been dispatched across the east African nation to help plant seedlings made available through the official bureaucracy. At the break of dawn, many were seen planting trees in the capital Addis Ababa. At a site in Jifara Ber, dozens of people were involved, including children. Almaz Tadu, a 72-year-old grandmother, brought her grandchildren to a tree planting event she said reunites her with neighbors. 'I have come with my mother and this is my third time planting trees,' said 13-year-old student Nathenael Behailu. 'I dream of seeing a green environment for my country.' Another Addis Ababa resident, Ayanaw Asrat, said he has heeded the call for the last three years. 'I came early and I have so far planted 15 seedlings. I am very happy to contribute to creating greener areas across Addis,' he said. Abiy himself was active in Jimma, the largest city in the southwestern region of Oromia. Cabinet ministers were sent to other regions to support local officials. But there are critics. Kitessa Hundera, a forest ecologist at Jimma University, told The Associated Press that a noble reforestation initiative was being carried out by non-experts who could not define conservation objectives regarding site selection and other technical issues. He cited concern over mixing exotic species with indigenous ones and the apparent failure to report the survival rate of seedlings planted over the years. He also doubted it was possible to plant 700 million seedlings in one day. 'Planting 700 million seedlings in one day needs the participation of about 35 million people each planting 20 seedlings which is practically impossible,' he said.
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
Lithuania Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas steps down after investigations and protests
VILNIUS: Lithuania Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down on Thursday following investigations into his business dealings that prompted protests in the Baltic country 's capital calling for his resignation. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced Paluckas' resignation to the media on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Paluckas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Paluckas, a newly established leader of the center-left Social Democrats, ascended to the role late last year after a three-party coalition formed following parliamentary elections in October. His entire cabinet is now expected also to resign, potentially leaving the country without an effective government weeks before Russia holds joint military exercises with neighboring Belarus. Lithuanian foreign policy is unlikely to change as a result of the government shakeup. Nausėda, who was elected separately, is the country's face on the world stage and has been one of the most stalwart supporters of Ukraine in its fight against invading Russian forces. Paluckas has recently been dogged by media investigations into his business and financial dealings. Several media outlets published investigations in July regarding Paluckas' past and present ventures and alleged mishandlings, including ones more than a decade ago. The Baltic country 's anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies subsequently launched their own probes. In a devastating blow to his reputation, the media also revealed that Paluckas never paid a significant part of a 16,500 euro fine ($19,039) in connection with a 2012 criminal case dubbed the 'rat poison scandal.' Paluckas was convicted of mishandling the bidding process for Vilnius' rat extermination services while serving as the capital city's municipality administration director. Judges for the country's top court in 2012 ruled that he abused his official position by illegally granting privileges to the company that offered the highest price in the bid. He was also sentenced to two years behind bars, but the sentence was suspended for one year and he ultimately was never imprisoned. The Social Democratic party leader denied any wrongdoing regarding his business affairs, labeling the criticism as part of a 'coordinated attack' by political opponents. He resigned before the opposition could formally launch impeachment proceedings. New coalition talks are expected to start shortly to form a new cabinet.
Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Lithuania Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas steps down after investigations and protests
Lithuania Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down on Thursday following investigations into his business dealings that prompted protests in the Baltic country's capital calling for his resignation. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced Paluckas's resignation to the media on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Paluckas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Paluckas, a newly established leader of the center-left Social Democrats, ascended to the role late last year after a three-party coalition formed following parliamentary elections in October. His entire cabinet is now expected also to resign, potentially leaving the country without an effective government weeks before Russia holds joint military exercises with neighboring Belarus. Lithuanian foreign policy is unlikely to change as a result of the government shakeup. Nauseda, who was elected separately, is the country's face on the world stage and has been one of the most stalwart supporters of Ukraine in its fight against invading Russian forces. Paluckas has recently been dogged by media investigations into his business and financial dealings. Several media outlets published investigations in July regarding Paluckas's past and present ventures and alleged mishandlings including ones more than a decade ago. The Baltic country's anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies subsequently launched their own probes. In a devastating blow to his reputation, the media also revealed that Paluckas never paid a significant part of a 16,500 euro fine (19,039) in connection with a 2012 criminal case dubbed the 'rat poison scandal.' Paluckas was convicted of mishandling the bidding process for Vilnius rat extermination services while serving as the capital city's municipality administration director. Judges for the country's top court in 2012 ruled that he abused his official position by illegally granting privileges to the company that offered the highest price in the bid. He was also sentenced to two years behind bars, but the sentence was suspended for one year and he ultimately was never imprisoned. The Social Democratic party leader denied any wrongdoing regarding his business affairs, labeling the criticism as part of a coordinated attack by political opponents. He resigned before the opposition could formally launch impeachment proceedings. New coalition talks are expected to start shortly to form a new cabinet.
