Doha Qatar
30 May 2017

Passengers flying on board Qatar Airways who are fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan will be offered a delicious Iftar meal box infused with a traditional Middle Eastern twist to break their fast.

Qatar Airways’ Iftar boxes will feature a creatively-designed Ramadan Kareem logo extending best wishes to all passengers during the Holy Month.

Qatar Airways First and Business Class passengers travelling on selected flights will be offered Iftar boxes containing either a chicken or vegetarian sandwich wrap, hummous, crudités, mini Arabic bread, mixed nuts, baklava, dates, an Alpen fruit and nut bar, fresh laban and water.

Passengers travelling in Economy Class will be offered an Iftar meal box containing a vegetarian sandwich wrap, Walker biscuit, dried fruits, dates, mixed nuts, fresh laban and water.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “This year, we continue our tradition of offering our passengers a delicious way to break their fast while flying. The Holy Month of Ramadan is an important period for a vast number of our passengers, and we continue to offer them the high standards of service they have become accustomed to. We invite our passengers to embrace this special time of year by enjoying our special Iftar boxes. On behalf of Qatar Airways, we extend to all warmest wishes for a Ramadan Kareem.”

This year’s Iftar boxes will be distributed on Qatar Airways flights to Abu Dhabi, Abha, Amman, Alexandria, Bahrain, Basra, Baghdad, Cairo, Dammam, Dubai, Erbil, Gassim, Hofuf, Jeddah, Kuwait, Khartoum, Luxor, Muscat, Medina, Mashad, Najaf, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Salalah, Sulaymaniyah, Sharjah, Shiraz, Taif and Yanbu.

Qatar Airways cabin crew will make an on-board announcement and will serve Iftar boxes at the appropriate time during the flight, alleviating customers from having to calculating the time.

Known for introducing industry firsts, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 199 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.

Doha
(QU)
31 May 2017

Qatar University College of Education (QU-CED) celebrated its achievements for the academic year 2016-2017 in a ceremony attended by CED Dean Dr Ahmed Al-Emadi, CED Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Yahya Al-Nakeeb, and CED Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr Aisha Fakhro, as well as CED faculty, students and staff.

The event included the acknowledgment of departing and promoted faculty members, and those who won awards in research competitions, as well as the students who represented the College in QU Student Representative Board and who won the Best Poster Award in the Open Day for Student Research.

In his remarks, Dr Ahmed Al-Emadi said: “During the 2016-2017 academic year, CED continued its efforts towards success, as part of its commitment to positioning QU as a model national university in Qatar. The College achieved many accomplishments on the academic and research levels on top of which was the visit of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to CED Women Building and the Early Childhood Center.”

He added: “CED was also awarded in 2016 a 7-year accreditation (2016-2023) for its BA in Primary Education, Diploma in Primary Education, Diploma in Special Education, Diploma in Early Childhood Education, Master in Educational Leadership, and Master in Special Education by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The College also improved its strategic plan in line with QU’s new policies and strategic plan.”

Dr Ahmed Al-Emadi also noted that CED relaunched the admission to its BA in Physical Education Program. He highlighted that the College has also signed around four MoUs with local and international institutions to promote its relationship with local and regional partners and to enhance its educational plan.

Doha
31 May 2017 -

With preparations now complete, Aspire Zone Foundation is ready to welcome over 1,300 participants to take part in the two-week Ramadan Sports Festival. The festival will kick off on Thursday evening, marking the start of four simultaneous sporting tournaments: indoor hockey, cricket, volleyball and futsal.

Cricket competition heats up Aspire Zone’s outdoor warm-up track

The three-day cricket tournament will start at 9:30 pm on Thursday, June 1st on Aspire Zone’s warm-up track and will run until Saturday, June 3rd. The tournament will feature two groups of five teams, competing head to head in group stages, before moving ahead to the knock-out stages.

Aspire Dome houses the indoor hockey, futsal and volleyball tournaments

Meanwhile, Aspire Dome’s multi-purpose halls will house the men’s futsal tournament until June 7th, featuring twelve teams across four groups. The indoor hockey tournament, featuring eight teams, will run until June 8th.

Separately, the men’s five-day volleyball tournament will be held in the Dome’s Volleyball Hall until June 07th, featuring eight teams of nine players each.

‘Walk in the Dome’ Ramadan activity

Aspire Zone Foundation and its member organisation, Aspetar, are organising the ‘Walk in the Dome’ Ramadan activity to engage the residents of Qatar, as part of their "Step into Health" programme. The event encourages people to join their friends and family for a walk around Aspire Dome’s cool and spacious indoor pitches, from 3:00 pm until 5:30 pm before Iftar, and from 8:30 pm until 11:30 pm after Iftar.

Participants will be provided with pedometers to count the number of steps taken inside the Dome. Valuable prizes will be awarded to those who take the most steps by the end of the month.

‘Healthy Ramadan with Aspetar Experts’ initiative

Aspetar, the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in Qatar has also launched the ‘Healthy Ramadan with Aspetar Experts’ campaign for professional and recreational athletes.

Running throughout Ramadan, Aspetar’s multi-disciplinary team of experts will offer guidance for people fasting on a range of topics captured in short videos. These include diet, sleep patterns and optimal exercise times, as well as the importance of scheduling medication doses to avoid complications. This is especially important for people with diabetes.

Aspetar produces a wide range of videos designed to encourage people to be active and healthy year-round, featuring topics such as useful exercises and common diseases related to sedentary lifestyles.

This initiative, as well as the Ramadan Sports Festival, are examples of the annual Ramadan activities organised by Aspire Zone Foundation and its member organisations – Aspire Academy, Aspetar and Aspire Logistics, to encourage people to stay active, maintain a healthy lifestyle and spend quality time with friends and family throughout Ramadan.

Kabul
AlJazeera Network
31 May 2017

A powerful truck bomb blast on Wednesday killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 300 in Kabul, according to Afghan officials.

The explosion, one of the deadliest in the Afghan capital, came at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

It took place in one of Kabul's most secured areas: the diplomatic quarter, which is home to many foreign embassies and government offices.

Al Jazeera spoke to Jawid Kohistani, a security analyst and former official at Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, about the nature of the attack, the failures of the security forces in the country and what comes next.

Al Jazeera: The bombing has been described as "one of the biggest" to have hit the Afghan capital. How did the attacker manage to cause such destruction in a high-level security area?

Kohistani: This is not the first time that insurgents in Afghanistan have managed to attack or hit areas that are under heavy security. This has happened in the past and continues to happen. Of course, it is one of the biggest failures of the security services in Afghanistan, but at the same time, the situation in Afghanistan is very murky as we don't know who is involved with which group or organisation.

There are many insurgent groups actively operating across the country and they have comprehensive knowledge about diplomatic or military areas. It is important to note that when attacks like this happen, there is always an insider linked with the attackers who helps plan an assault that can cause maximum damage.

Al Jazeera: The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, claiming they don't intend to harm civilians. Is this true, and if the Taliban did not do it, can ISIL conduct an attack of such calibre in Afghanistan?

Kohistani: First of all, we don't know whether any of the statements by the Taliban or any other insurgent group in Afghanistan are true. We don't have any evidence of who conducted the attack.

The Taliban immediately denied responsibility, maybe because the number of civilians killed in the attack is big and they don't want people to question their Islamic values and stance. They want to portray their fight as exclusively against the Afghan government and the foreign troops.

Speaking of ISIL, most of the suspected ISIL group members appear to be former Taliban or local militias that want to attract support or attention in the name of the group. They don't have enough capacity, resources or influence in the country to conduct such attacks, but they do claim it in a show of power.

Al Jazeera: What happens next and who is it to blame for the killing of innocent people? Do the government and security services bear any responsibility, or is just the armed groups?

Kohistani: There are simple things that must be fixed. There is no real strategy to identify fighters and arrest them.

The Afghan government seems to be failing citizens and the military and intelligence has long lacked strategic leadership and directives which is why it has become very easy for fighters to conduct such attacks and with that being said, innocent civilians will continue to die.

Yahoo News
The Independent
29 May 2017

President Donald Trump has released his first official statement on the attack in Portland, Oregon, more than 48 hours after the two victims died.

"The violent attacks in Portland on Friday are unacceptable," Mr Trump tweeted. "The victims were standing up to hate and intolerance. Our prayers are w/ them."

Three days earlier, an Oregon man was accused of fatally stabbing two men and injuring one on a Portland commuter train. The victims died attempting to stop the man from screaming hate speech at two women who appeared to be Muslim, Portland police report.

The suspect, 35-year-old Jeremy Joseph Christian, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder – a capital offence in Oregon.

Mr Christian has a history of posting anti-Muslim sentiments on social media, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. He has also been filmed yelling racial slurs at a free-speech march by freelance journalist Mike Bivins.

Calls grew over the weekend for Mr Trump to comment, as even Richard Spencer – a known white nationalist – called the attacks "saddening". But the president did not comment on the attack in the ensuing 48 hours, despite tweeting 14 times from his personal account.

In a highly shared Facebook post, journalist Dan Rather urged Mr Trump to say the names of those who died.

"Two Americans have died leaving family and friends behind," Mr Rather wrote. "They are mourned by millions more who are also deeply worried about what might come next. I hope you can find it worthy of your time to take notice."

Mr Trump has previously tweeted about attacks in the UK and in France. He responded within hours to an April shoot-out in Paris that killed two.

As part of the activities of the State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies at Peking University (PKU), established in 2014 during state visit of Emir of State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to China, Qatar University (QU) recently hosted a lecture entitled “China Foreign Policy and the GCC”.

First in series of lecture was Co-chaired by Dr Khaled Almezaini, Gulf Studies Program Coordinator at college of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Qatar University, Dr Imad Mansour, Assistant Professor at CAS Department of International Affairs, Prof Wang Jisi, PKU Boya Chair Professor and Institute of International and President of Strategic Studies (IISS), Prof Wu Bingbing, PKU State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, IISS Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director, Department of Arabic Language and Culture and Director, Institute of Arab-Islamic Studies.

Present on the occassion were Dr Darwish Al-Emadi, QU Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Dr Khalid Al-Khanji, QU VP for Student Affairs, Cesar Wazen, QU Scholarships and Partnerships Office Director and Dr Hani K Findakly, Chairman Clinton Group Inc. and the State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies Oversight Committee member, as well as faculty and students from QU Gulf Studies Program and International Affairs Department.

Dr Darwish Al-Emadi welcomed the audience and the members of the Chair’s Steering Committee. He said: “The establishment of a Chair in Middle Eastern Studies aligns with Qatar University’s ongoing efforts to build collaboration with Peking University. The Chair will enhance links between Qatar and China and will provide a better understanding of Qatar and the region. It will also serve to establish collaboration between QU and PKU in the field of education and research, as well as students and faculty exchange. Other areas of collaboration cover the organization of joint events, conferences and lectures such this one.”

Dr Khaled Almezaini gave a brief introduction on the relations between China and the GCC. He noted that the Gulf states have been looking to diversify their economic and security partners. “The Gulf countries strengthened their cooperation with the United States and European countries. However, it is of great significance for the GCC to enhance their diplomatic relations with their Asian partners such as China in line with their foreign policy to diversify their economies and their security partners”, he said.

Prof Wang Jisi highlighted the relationship between China and the USA. He noted that the USA has not identified China as the major security threat. He said: “China is a challenge at the economic, political and military levels, but it is also an opportunity”. He also noted that two million Chinese tourists travel each year to the USA, and 30,000 Chinese students are now in the United States to pursue their studies. He also spoke on issues related to the current relationship between China and the USA since the presidential election of Donald Trump, the relations between the USA and Korea, and China’s international order.

Prof Wu Bingbing spoke about the “Belt and Road Initiative” noting that it is a development initiative that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily in the Eurasian Continent, which consists of two main components, the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” (SREB) and oceangoing “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” (MSR). “The initiative underlines China’s push to take a bigger role in global affairs, and its need for priority capacity cooperation in areas such as infrastructure construction and manufacturing factor”.

He said "Belt and Road Initiative" is designed for the benefit of the world by driving world economic growth. It is a network of partnership and an initiative for China that includes all markets in Asia and Europe based on dialog and negotiation.”

Prof Wu Bingbing outlined the components of the “Belt and Road Initiative” which are the infrastructure construction, the industrialization and manufacturing, the energy sector, and the financial sector. He noted that infrastructure and industrialization are the key for China’s economic development and are closely related to energy and financing. “The "Belt and Road Initiative" is a road towards peace and friendship by enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and strengthening all-round exchanges”, he said.

He also noted that China has signed several agreements with Qatar and the UAE to establish collaboration for various investments in the region, especially in the field of infrastructure and construction. He also spoke about the relations between China and the Middle East and the relations between the GCC countries and Iran.

Dr Imad Mansour presented on “Chinese Foreign Policy from a Gulf Cooperation Council Perspective”. He explained why GCC diversification objectives and developmental goals would be served by collaboration with China, directly via bilateral relations, and indirectly through the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank. Common potential areas for collaboration include technology transfer, alternate sources of sustainable energy; securing maritime routes; training human resources; tourism in the GCC; connectivity; and consumption markets for GCC exports. He explained how these ongoing projects can position GCC capabilities in an emerging new global architecture. He also briefly reflected on how people-to-people on the historic Silk Roads greatly benefited the Gulf around a millennium ago, and how there is promise today in the various student exchange programs between QU and PKU.

Commenting on the State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, Dr Hani K Findakly said: “During his visit to China in 2014, His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced the establishment of the State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies at PKU. The Chair aims to provide a better understanding of the Arabic and Chinese cultures through the exchange of studies, faculty, and students. It will also serve to expand the Department of Arabic Language and Culture at PKU through the establishment of new social, business and finance programs.”

In the ensuing Q&A, the audience fielded questions on issues related to China’s role in the Middle East, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and China foreign policy towards Syria, among others.

Doha
28 May 2017

In its drive to promote local companies, from across diverse sectors, in regional and global markets, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) participated along with 9 Qatari design companies at the INDEX Design Series, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 22 to 25 May 2017. INDEX Design Series is considered as the largest interior design exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, and notably, this year it received an attendance of thousands of visitors, architects, designers, project managers and suppliers over a span of four days, in which over 800 participants from design industries around the world were involved.

This year, Tasdeer promoted 9 Qatari entities, involved in various aspects of design manufacturing and service provision, at the 27th edition of exhibition series: Al-bayan for Electronics and LED Technologies, Alida Interiors, Almuftah Carpentry, Al-Sada Plastic Profiles, Dar Al Naseej, Doha Linens, Specialized Qatar Windows & Doors Systems, Raha Poly Products, and Qatar Industrial Foam & Furnishing Company (Qatar Foam).

Notably, renowned Qatari artist, Jameela Al-Shraim, was invited to participate in the INDEX exhibition this year. Furthermore, QDB also gave opportunities to graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar to participate at the exhibition to gain experience of the private sector as well as benefit from networking experience.

Commenting on QDB’s participation in the latest INDEX exhibition, Executive Director of Export Development & Promotion, Hassan Khalifa Al-Mansoori said: "INDEX is the largest platform in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region for those involved in the commercial interior design industry. Naturally, then, the exhibition served as a great opportunity for Qatari companies to network with interested customers, enter into partnerships and sign deals that will bear significance for them in their respective futures.

"Our latest participation at INDEX is in line with both our organizational strategy as well as the national strategic development plan, Qatar National Vision 2030—through introducing Qatari design companies to foreign markets, we promote Brand Qatar by helping our companies achieve international commercial success, and thereby, offer our contribution to the diversification of our export economy.”

This year, the INDEX Design Series exhibition offered visitors 19 international pavilions and covered eight sectors: Furniture & Furnishings, Kitchen & Bathrooms, Lighting, Objets (décor), Sleep, Textiles, Middle East Covering, and Workspace at INDEX. The exhibition also hosted some of the world's most renowned designers at the Design Innovation Forum and the Index Design Talks as well as during two interactive educational programs held at the 4-day event.

Additionally, with more than 720 international brands and suppliers on exhibit from more than 50 countries, INDEX Design Series’ latest installment presented a unique opportunity for architects, creatives, designers, hoteliers, retailers, and wholesalers to network with one another as well as source products for their residential, commercial, hospitality, educational and medical industry-related projects.

The participation of Tasdeer, at INDEX Design Series, comes as the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by QDB’s export arm to promote Qatari companies abroad. Other events in which Tasdeer has promoted local manufacturers regionally this year include ‘Middle East Electricity 2017’, ‘Gulfood 2017’, ‘Plast Expo 2017’, and the ‘Big 5’.

Since its launch in 2011, QDB’s export program, Tasdeer, has contributed greatly to promoting the presence of Qatari exports in foreign markets through a wide range of activities and events, such as participation at international exhibitions, bilateral trade cooperation programs and training workshops. Through its marketing and promotional efforts rendered to Qatari companies, QDB keeps itself at the forefront of the nation’s drive to reduce its level of dependence on imported products, and, instead, promote its own skilled local manufacturers across the globe, as envisioned in Qatar National Vision 2030.

Beijing
27 May 2017
(Xinhua)

China held a high-ranking symposium Saturday morning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of implementing the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Addressing the symposium, which was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, top legislator Zhang Dejiang called for comprehensive and precise implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), called the HKSAR Basic Law an extraordinary creation in a great era, which embodies the common will of all Chinese including Hong Kong compatriots and has demonstrated powerful vitality.

The Basic Law is a sound law which accords the actual conditions of the nation and the HKSAR and is able to provide a fundamental guarantee for the great cause of "one country, two systems" and withstand the test of practice, Zhang said.

The practice of the Basic Law over the past 20 years shows the fundamental purposes of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability must be adhered to in order to advance the cause of "one country, two systems," Zhang noted.

HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said at the symposium that the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law are the best constitutional arrangements for both the HKSAR and the country.

With the combined advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong can participate in the country's major development strategies including the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, while serving as a "super-connector" between the mainland and the rest of the world at the same time, Leung said.

The coordinated and joint development of the HKSAR and the mainland would not only improve their overall competitiveness, but provide the world new experiences of cooperation between regions of different systems, thus enriching "one country, two systems," he said.

Enacted in accordance with China's Constitution, the Basic Law specifies the guidelines of "one country, two systems", and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy.

Elsie Leung, deputy director of the Commission for the HKSAR Basic Law of the NPC Standing Committee, said the implementation of the Basic Law has helped to realize the "one country, two systems" concept, stabilize the relationship between the central government and Hong Kong, and clarify the legal status of the HKSAR.

As the Basic Law was well received by Hong Kong citizens, a seamless and stable transition has been achieved with Hong Kong's capitalist system and life styles unchanged, its legal system improved, judicial independence ensured, democracy developing step by step, and external affairs in sound shape, she said.

Islamabad
27 May 2017
(APP)

Following are the highlights of Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s post budget press conference:

• One million youth will be imparted IT training.
• Rs 120 billion new taxation proposed, while relief measures will cost Rs 33 billion.
• Refund for textile sector will be cleared by August 14.
• Tax refunds upto Rs 1 million to be cleared by July 15.
• All other tax refunds to be cleared by April 30, 2018.

• A new housing sector will be set up for overseas Pakistanis, Foreign Currency proceeds will go to State Bank of Pakistan, while its Rupee component will be given to CDA.

• Current expenditures will not be allowed to exceed the inflation rate.
• More than two million small farmers will be given special concessional loans.
• Adhoc relief of 2009-10 will be merged in basic salaries of federal government employees, and on the merged basic 10 percent adhoc relief will be given to employees

• Concessions given to poultry sector in taxation are clear
• On tubwells and other machinery there will be no tax
• There will be privileged rate saving schemes for Shuhada and the disabled
• Allocation for Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal increased
• Rs 180 billion package for textile sector to continue

• Allocation for Higher Education Commission doubled from Rs 35 billion to Rs 70 billion

• All stakeholders were involved and given patient hearings before finalizing the budget plan
• Need stressed to evolve consensus on the vision (2018-23)

• 10,000 additional MW electricity will be added to the national grid next year
• No new taxation for common man in the budget

• Defence sector received special attention

• No new tax on milk

• Agriculture credit increased to Rs 1,001 billion

Islamabad
27 May 2017
(APP)

The first round of China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral Practical Cooperation Dialogue held today on Saturday 27th May 2017 in Beijing.

The three sides exchanged in-depth views on trilateral cooperation in a friendly atmosphere and agreed to promote practical measures for cooperation,said a press released.

The Dialogue was co-chaired by Director General (DG) Mansoor Ahmad Khan of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General Xiao Qian from Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director General Khalid Payenda of Afghan Ministry of Finance.

The three sides noted that trilateral cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan and China is conducive to peace, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region. The three countries appreciated the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its benefits for promoting regional connectivity.

They agreed to advance practical cooperation in various areas so as to promote mutual benefit and regional economic integration under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The three sides agreed to organize workshops, seminars and different forums.

China and Pakistan will explore trilateral cooperation in areas of infrastructure, energy, education, health, agriculture, human resource training and capacity building based on the needs of Afghanistan and according to China and Pakistan’s respective assistance programmes for Afghanistan.

The three sides highly appreciated the outcome of discussions and agreed to make the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Practical Cooperation Dialogue a regular forum.