Halal Expo London 2023 set to unveil lucrative opportunities in sector

The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
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The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
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The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
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The Halal Expo London will be held between Dec. 1-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (File/Supplied)
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Updated 24 November 2023
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Halal Expo London 2023 set to unveil lucrative opportunities in sector

Halal Expo London 2023 set to unveil lucrative opportunities in sector

LONDON: Halal Expo London is set to take center stage once again in the UK capital, promising to be “bigger, better, and more compelling than ever before,” organizers have announced.

They said in a statement: “Building on the successes of Halal Expo London 2022 and Halal Expo Manchester 2023, this event is poised to be a pivotal moment for the halal trade industry.”

The three-day event, between Dec. 1-3, takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The statement added: “Recognized as the UK’s #1 international leading trade and business exhibition, Halal Expo London 2023 is supported by the UK Department for Business and Trade.”

In partnership with the Halal Products Development Company — a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund — the event is strategically designed to bring together halal and non-Muslim suppliers, buyers, manufacturers, consumers, and professionals, fostering a collaborative environment for trade, investment, and networking.

Rajesh Agrawal, the deputy mayor of London for Business, spoke of his enthusiasm for the event, saying: “With London being the capital hub for rich cultural experiences and diverse events, I am pleased to be welcoming Halal Expo to London in December, and celebrate the principles of halal living.”

The event will showcase products and services within the halal industry, and will also introduce The Knowledge Hub — an integral component featuring a series of seminars and podcasts.

Organizers said: “The Knowledge Hub will delve into current and controversial topics, including Islamophobia, spirituality of business, Muslim dating, and much more. Industry experts, globally recognized speakers, well-known artists, influencers, and ambassadors will contribute to these engaging discussions.”

Zara Mohammed, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Halal Expo London showcases the best of the halal industry, providing a platform for Muslims and non-Muslims to not only showcase their products but also to share their areas of expertise at The Knowledge Hub, with educational seminars and podcasts.”

The halal industry is experiencing a boom, from consumerism to food production. It is growing rapidly with the rise in the global Muslim population, which now stands at 1.8 billion.

The statement added: “With countries focusing on the halal industry, businesses and companies are keen to invest in halal-related products to stay relevant in the current economic climate.

“Halal Expo London 2023 is positioned as a key player in promoting the halal economy on an international scale, fostering connections and providing a platform for industry players to thrive.”


Trump says Zelensky ‘should never have let’ Ukraine war start

Trump says Zelensky ‘should never have let’ Ukraine war start
Updated 5 sec ago
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Trump says Zelensky ‘should never have let’ Ukraine war start

Trump says Zelensky ‘should never have let’ Ukraine war start

WASHINGTON: White House candidate Donald Trump on Thursday blamed US ally Ukraine for Russia’s invasion, arguing that President Volodymyr Zelensky had failed in his duty to halt hostilities before they started.
The comments — made in an interview with a podcast supportive of him — sparked an immediate backlash as critics accused the 78-year-old Republican former president of being a “traitor” and an “idiot.”
“Zelensky is one of the greatest salesmen I’ve ever seen. Every time he comes in, we give him $100 billion. Who else got that kind of money in history? There’s never been (anyone),” Trump told the two-million-subscriber PBD Podcast.
“And that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help him, because I feel very badly for those people. He should never have let that war start.”
Trump — who is running against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris — immediately pivoted to criticizing President Joe Biden, accusing him of having “instigated” the Ukraine war.
The Trump campaign told AFP the Republican was “clearly talking about Biden” and not Zelensky when he made his remarks about culpability for the war.
Ukraine communicates little about losses for fear of demoralizing its citizens after more than two years of Russia’s invasion, but the Wall Street Journal reported last month that the war had killed or wounded a million soldiers on both sides.
The United States is one of Ukraine’s main backers, and has disbursed more than $64.1 billion in military assistance to Zelensky’s government since the start of the war.
Although Kyiv is a US ally and Moscow is considered an adversary, Trump touted his good relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky in September.
Trump was impeached for withholding vital weaponry from Ukraine after Russia’s smaller-scale 2014 invasion, as he pushed its government unsuccessfully into announcing investigations into Biden, who was then his election rival.
A federal investigation identified numerous links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, which was found to have interfered in the 2016 US election on the Republican’s behalf.
Criticism over Trump’s apparent closeness to Putin was turbocharged last week by allegations that, while president, he sent the Russian leader Covid tests despite a US shortage and that the Republican and Putin may have been in contact numerous times since 2021.
“What a despicable Traitor,” the Republicans Against Trump lobby group posted on X, alongside footage of Trump’s podcast remarks.
“He’s an idiot, and the whole world wonders why so many Americans don’t see it,” added national security analyst John Sipher, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.
 


Britain ‘will not mourn’ Sinwar’s death, says Starmer

Britain ‘will not mourn’ Sinwar’s death, says Starmer
Updated 8 min 37 sec ago
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Britain ‘will not mourn’ Sinwar’s death, says Starmer

Britain ‘will not mourn’ Sinwar’s death, says Starmer

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called for the release of all hostages in Gaza and said his country “will not mourn” the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Starmer said that Sinwar was the “mastermind behind the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust” when Hamas launched the October 7, 2023 attacks. “Today my thoughts are with the families of those victims. The UK will not mourn his death,” he said in a statement.


Italy’s Meloni says Sinwar death opens ‘new phase’ in Gaza conflict

Italy’s Meloni says Sinwar death opens ‘new phase’ in Gaza conflict
Updated 20 min 18 sec ago
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Italy’s Meloni says Sinwar death opens ‘new phase’ in Gaza conflict

Italy’s Meloni says Sinwar death opens ‘new phase’ in Gaza conflict

ROME: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Thursday that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar cleared the way for a “new phase” in the deadly conflict in Gaza.
“With the death of Yahya Sinwar, the person principally responsible for the October 7 attacks no longer exists,” Meloni said in a statement.
“I am convinced that a new phase should be launched: it is time for all the hostages to be released, for a ceasefire to be immediately proclaimed and for the reconstruction of Gaza to begin.”


UNIFIL has vital role, mission must be strengthened, Italy says

UNIFIL has vital role, mission must be strengthened, Italy says
Updated 45 min 26 sec ago
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UNIFIL has vital role, mission must be strengthened, Italy says

UNIFIL has vital role, mission must be strengthened, Italy says

ROME: The UN peacekeeping mission to Lebanon is vital to ending war in the region and needs to be strengthened, not withdrawn from combat zones as Israel has demanded, Italy’s defense minister said on Thursday.

The UN mission known as UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel — an area that has seen fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

Israel has said the UN forces are providing a human shield for Hezbollah and has fired at the UNIFIL bases repeatedly over the past week, injuring several peacekeepers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says UNIFIL should temporarily “get out of harm’s way.”

Italy has long been a major contributor to the multi-national operation and has denounced Israel for its actions, straining relations between two nations, which have been very close under Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s leadership.

“Israel needs to understand that these (UN) soldiers are not working for any one side. They are there to help maintain peace and promote regional stability,” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament on Thursday.

He said the resolution establishing the UNIFIL mandate was last revised in 2006 and needed updating.

“UNIFIL is a complex mission with a mandate that is difficult to implement, has inadequate rules of engagement and forces that are not equipped for the current conflict,” he said.


World leaders press Hamas to free hostages after Sinwar’s death

World leaders press Hamas to free hostages after Sinwar’s death
Updated 17 October 2024
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World leaders press Hamas to free hostages after Sinwar’s death

World leaders press Hamas to free hostages after Sinwar’s death
  • Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock branded Sinwar “a cruel murderer and a terrorist“
  • French President Emmanuel Macron demanded the release of “all hostages” held by Hamas

PARIS: Global leaders urged Hamas to free its remaining Israeli hostages following the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar, considered the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
Israel’s military said Thursday that its forces had killed Sinwar in southern Gaza on Wednesday “after a year-long pursuit.”
Hamas militants seized 251 hostages during the October 2023 attack. Israeli officials say 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 said to be dead.
US President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed Sinwar’s death as marking a “good day” for the world, saying it also removed a key obstacle to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
“There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Biden said.
US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is seeking the presidency in a vote less than three weeks away, welcomed “an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza.”
“And it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends,” she said.
Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock branded Sinwar “a cruel murderer and a terrorist” while urging Hamas to “immediately release all the hostages and lay down its arms.”
French President Emmanuel Macron demanded the release of “all hostages” held by Hamas, saying: “Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7.”