Doha. 31 Dec. 2018

Qatar Airways issued today a statement to media announcing celebrating successful year of robust network expansion, new aircraft deliveries and groundbreaking global sports sponsorship agreements, as it looks with anticipation to 2019.

As the first airline in the world to take delivery of the Airbus A350-1000 in February 2018, Qatar Airways proved once again that it leads where other airlines follow in providing passengers with the most technologically advanced aircraft available. As well as receiving the first Airbus A350-1000, the airline received 25 additional aircraft to the fleet throughout the year, increasing the total number in its fleet to 226.

Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO of Qatar Airways said: “Our achievements in 2018 prove that Qatar Airways has not wavered from its strategy and vision of constant growth and development, in order to provide our passengers the finest onboard experience every time they travel. We have demonstrated that we will not rest in our determination to push the boundaries in redefining the travel experience for each and every one of our customers.

“As we conclude 2018, we remain committed to setting the highest standards of excellence and quality in the industry, and look forward to welcoming an exciting 2019.”

A350-1000: In February, the airline took delivery of the world’s first Airbus A350-1000 as the global launch customer of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft. The new A350-1000 went into full commercial service on the airline’s Doha-London route, on which the A350-900, the A380, Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner already operate, offering six flights a day between Qatar and the United Kingdom’s capital to Heathrow Airport and 16 weekly flights to London Gatwick. It is the first Airbus aircraft to be fitted with Qatar Airways’ revolutionary Qsuite Business Class seat. In October, the aircraft was added to the airline’s New York route.

In the same month, the airline announced that it had upgraded five of its current order of A350-900s to the higher-capacity A350-1000. The airline has already taken delivery of 35 A350 aircraft (29 A350-900 and six A350-1000) from the total order of 76 A350 XWBs. 

Route Expansion: One of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, Qatar Airways launched a host of exciting new destinations in 2018, including: Cardiff, United Kingdom; Canberra, Australia; Mombasa; Kenya; Gothenburg, Sweden; Da Nang, Vietnam; and Thessaloniki, Greece. The airline also launched seasonal services to Mykonos, Greece; Bodrum and Antalya, Turkey; and Málaga, Spain

The airline also added a host of new frequencies to several popular destinations including Montreal, Maldives, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Amman, Muscat, Helsinki, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Oslo, Copenhagen, Manchester and Zurich. These additions provided even more flexibility for both business and leisure passengers. 

Qsuite added to routes: In 2018, Qatar Airways added its award-winning, patented Business Class seat, Qsuite, to routes including Shanghai, São Paulo, Chicago, Houston, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Canberra and Sydney. Passengers in these cities now have the opportunity to experience the airline’s renowned Business Class product, named ‘World’s Best Business Class Seat’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.

Cargo: 2018 was a highly successful year for the airline’s Cargo division, with cargo volumes having increased by 10.6 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017. The highlight has been the launch of transpacific services, direct from Macau to Los Angeles and Mexico City. The new freighter service demonstrates the carrier's commitment to customers in helping their business grow, offering them reduced flight times and quicker service without a stopover in Doha.

The cargo carrier bagged two prestigious awards in 2018 - International Cargo Airline of the Year at Air Cargo India Event and Best Air Cargo Carrier - Middle East at the Asian Freight Logistics & Supply Chain Awards. These awards recognise the carrier's continued drive and emphasis in delivering the highest levels of service in the air cargo industry. Two brand new Boeing 777 freighters joined its cargo fleet, bringing up the total freighter fleet to 25.

Sponsorships: The airline signed a record-number of sporting sponsorships with top-tier teams in 2018, further cementing Qatar’s role as a global centre for sport.

Bayern Munich: In March, the airline signed a five-year partnership agreement with leading German football team FC Bayern München AG, further strengthening Qatar’s role as a global leader in sports. Under the agreement, the award-winning airline became an FC Bayern München platinum partner until June 2023. 

AS Roma: In April, Qatar Airways signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Italian football club AS Roma, further strengthening the award-winning airline’s commitment to Italy. The agreement, the largest ever signed by the club, sees Qatar Airways become AS Roma’s Main Global Partner, with the airline’s logo to adorn the team’s shirts through the 2020-21 season.

Boca Juniors: In May, Qatar Airways became the Official Jersey Sponsor of the world-renowned Argentinian football club the Boca Juniors through the 2022/23 season. The new partnership further strengthens Qatar Airways’ global partnership portfolio and will see the airline’s logo proudly appear on the club’s jerseys, allowing the Qatar Airways brand to be seen by millions of football fans around the world.

Barclays: In October, Qatar Airways became the Official Global Airline Partner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the team’s home, Barclays Center, the Brooklyn, New York venue that hosts many of the world’s most exciting entertainment and sporting events. This marks the first major partnership between the airline and an NBA team or venue.

CONMEBOL: In October, Qatar Airways became Official Global Airline Partner of The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), adding another strong sporting partnership to its expanding portfolio. As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways will be the sponsor of CONMEBOL’s professional football club competitions across South America for the next 4.5 years, with immediate effect through 2022, including the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores, South America’s most prestigious football competition, as well as the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana and the CONMEBOL Recopa.

FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia: As the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA, Qatar Airways brought football fans from around the world to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia^TM, one of the most highly-anticipated events on the global sports calendar.

Oryx Kids Club: In March 2018, Qatar Airways launched the Oryx Kids Club, designed to encourage children to explore the world by making their in-flight experience even more fun and inspiring. As part of the club, the airline introduced five new hero characters: Orry the Oryx and his twin sister, Orrah; Kamil the Camel; Faaiz the Falcon, and Farah the Desert Fox. Oryx Kids Club offers an enhanced experience for its youngest travellers by providing them with specially designed plush toys, activity packs, and special meal boxes featuring their favourite super heroes from the Oryx Kids Club.

Awards: Qatar’s national carrier received a host of awards in 2018, including  being named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’

Qatar Airways’ revolutionary Qsuite was named ‘Best Business Class’ in the AirlineRatings’ Airline Excellence Awards 2019. The airline’s renowned dine-on-demand in flight cuisine was also named ‘Best Catering’.

The airline clinched the ‘Best Inflight Service’ Award at the 29^th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2018. The airline was also named the ‘Best Middle Eastern/African Airline’ for the ninth consecutive year at the recent 2018 Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards.

In October, Qatar Airways won 10 new international service awards, including titles by four separate global industry leaders: Business Traveller, Kayak, Condé Nast Traveler and CJ Affiliate. The first three awards for ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’, ‘Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Middle East Airline’, were presented to the airline at the global Business Traveller Awards 2018, held in London on 15 October.

This was followed by a further five awards for the Middle East and Africa region from global travel site, Kayak, including ‘Best Airline’, ‘Best Boarding’, ‘Best Comfort’, ‘Best Crew’ and ‘Best Food’.

The airline also received a High Commendation for the ‘Global Excellence Award’ at the 2018 CJ You Awards, in California, U.S., followed by third place in the ‘Top Airlines – International’ category in the Condé Nast Travelers 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Doha, 31 Dec. 2018

Qatar Petroleum announces the acquisition of United Development Company’s (UDC) 20% interest in SEEF Limited (SEEF), a petrochemical company engaged in the manufacturing of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB). Following this acquisition, SEEF will be fully owned by Qatar Petroleum.

This transaction highlights Qatar Petroleum's pursuit of its strategy of consolidating its operations, as well as UDC's strategy of exiting non-core business.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum,  Qatar said “This transaction allows for the full integration of SEEF Limited into Qatar Petroleum’s Refinery operations in Mesaieed Industrial city. We believe that this will help us achieve greater synergy value and boost our efforts to enhance and consolidate our operations.”

Al-Kaabi also thanked the management and staff of UDC for their valuable efforts towards the successful completion of this transaction.

Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, President & Chief Executive Officer of UDC stressed the importance of this agreement

Doha, 29 Dec. 2018

The government of Qatar opened the second Qatar Visa Center in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, 29 Dec. 2018. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Mishal Mohammed A.A. Al-Ansari, Consul General,  State of Qatar in Pakistan, Maj. Gen. Abdullah Salim Al Ali, Brig. Abdullah Ali Al Muhannadi, Director of Expat Affairs Dept. Ministry of Interior Qatar, Maj. Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi - Director of Visa Support Services Department,  Qatar Ministry of interior and Mohamed Ali Al Meer, Labor Expert, Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs. The event was also attended by Pakistan Government official dignitaries including Nawab Muhammad Taimur Talpur, Minister for Information Technology, Environment and Coastal Development, Sindh Minister for Women Development Syeda Shehla Raza along with a group of officials and businessmen from Pakistan.

Work visa applicants migrating to the State of Qatar will be required to sign work contracts, enroll their bio-metrics data, and undergo medical test at the Qatar Visa Center. The center operates through an integrated electronic system to complete the enrollment of bio-metric data and required medical check-ups.

The application process for work visa applicants requires the applicants to;

1. Get a visa reference number from the Ministry of Interior in the State of Qatar,
2. Book an appointment by visiting www.qatarvisacenter.com and visit on appointment date

Qatar Visa Center no earlier than fifteen minutes before the scheduled time

3. At the reception, the identity of the visa applicant is verified, the list of required documents checked, and a token issued.
4. Once the token is called, visa applicants are required to digitally sign their work contract, enroll biometric data and undergo the required medical tests.
5. Upon completion of the process at the visa center, visa applicants will be able to track the status of the application online or through their employer in the State of Qatar

At this occasion, the Consul General of the State of Qatar to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mishal Mohammed A.A. Al-Ansari said: “In the line of achieving another milestone to strengthen the distinguished relations between the two countries and the keenness of the State of Qatar to furthermore enhance it to high level of confidence to work jointly for the benefits of two countries. The State of Qatar has decided to establish Qatar visa centre in 8 countries to simplify Visa procedures for expatriate workers. In the light of the long standing bilateral ties that exist between Pakistan and Qatar and as two countries that share a common ideological narrative, Pakistan has been selected as one of the first eight countries for establishment of such centers in the cities of Islamabad and Karachi. Through these centers, the Visa related procedures will be complete in the home countries of expatriate workers before their departure to Qatar unlike in the past where they took place in the state.

He added “This is in line with Qatar's pledge to increase the number of Pakistani workers there especially the FIFA 2022 World Cup infrastructure projects that are a huge undertakings, requiring a huge influx of professional and semiprofessional cadres of Pakistani migrant workers”.

The Consul General also said “that It is pertinent to mention the humongous contribution of Pakistani migrant workers to the development of the State of Qatar”.

He also assures that Qatar has always been committed to protecting workers rights. Consequently the United Nations Agency, International Labour Organization has lauded  Qatar's wide ranging reforms in this regard.

Maj. Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said that the inauguration of the Qatar Visa Center in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and in Karachi was part of the plan to implement the Qatar Visa Centers Project abroad, which is being opened in eight different countries in order to facilitate the processing of all visa applications, and procedures for obtaining residence in the State of Qatar, which makes it easier for the expatriate to work in Qatar and start work immediately upon arrival.

He stressed that the opening of the center was a continuation of the stages of the project initiated by the State of Qatar to protect the rights of expatriates and facilitate the work procedures. Qatar visa centers were recently opened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

All medical examinations and signing of employment contracts for expatriates will be completed in their countries before coming to Qatar. This step reflects Qatar's keenness to ensure the protection and safety of expatriates under simplified and efficient recruitment procedures.

He added that the services in these centres include taking fingerprinting for the expatriate worker, registration of vital data, conducting medical examinations, and signing of a contract of employment, in order to ensure the facilitation of these procedures and the preservation and protection of the rights of the expatriate and the employer before travelling to Qatar as well as avoiding the return of the ineligible cases.

On the procedures, he explained that Qatar Visa Centres will enable both the employer and the expatriate worker to perform their role accurately through an integrated recruitment system after employer's registration on the Ministry of Interior website and issuing the reference number for the expatriate to complete his procedures through the visa centre.

Conveniently located at Ground Floor, 37-B / Block 6 Main Shahra-e-Faisal – PECHS, Karachi, the visa center is equipped with state-of-the art biometric enrolment & medical test facility. The visa center is designed in line with international standards ensuring greater transparency, traceability and increased security for the visa applicants.

The center operates between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday. In consideration of facilitating procedures for Pakistani applicants, the first QVC in Pakistan was inaugurate on the 27^th of December 2018 at Islamabad.

Some of the key medical tests to be conducted at the center include blood tests, x-ray, visual assessments, and physical examinations. The operations are backed by a team of highly qualified healthcare professionals with internal systems and processes based on the latest medical standards and best practices.

Qatar Visa Center maintains robust multi-lingual information services for the benefit of visa applicants across multiple touch points. Information on appointment scheduling, requirements and steps at the visa center can be found in English, Urdu and Arabic through its dedicated website

(http://www.qatarvisacenter.com), call center helpline +920 51 843 938 4,

email: Info.pak@qatarvisacenter.com and walk-in at the reception.

 

 

 

Doha,  27 Dec. 2018

The Community Policing Department participated in the ceremony organized by the All Pakistanis Overseas Organization International in Qatar on Tuesday 25 December 2018 at Al Banush Club in Mesaieed Industrial City..

Maj. Mohammed Fahad Al Dosari, of the External Branches Section, said that this participation was intended to strengthen the ties between the police and the members of the communities. He pointed out that the presence of the Ministry of Interior represented by its various departments in the community events would keep many positive impacts, as the Ministry would be able to convey the message of security and awareness to the public directly through these meets. It also strengthens the confidence of the community members in the police, and helps to introduce them to the services they provide to them through their various departments.

He delivered an awareness lecture to introduce the public some aspects related to the services of the Ministry and ways to communicate with the Community Police and the services provided to them. Some of the questions related to this aspect were also addressed to measure the extent of the participants' role in community policing as well as some departments of the Ministry of Interior that are directly related to the public. He presented gifts to those who gave correct answers.

For his part, Amin Motiwala, President of the All Pakistanis Overseas Organization International, thanked the Ministry of Interior noting that the expatriates' participation with the people of Qatar in QND celebration

 

24 Dec. 2018

The Accountability Court, Islamabad on Monday sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, while acquitting him in the Flagship Investment reference.

Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik announced the verdict in the references against the Sharif family, after reserving the decision last week.

In a short verdict announced today, the court said there was concrete evidence against the former premier in the Al-Azizia reference, and that he was unable to provide a money trail in the case.

There was not enough evidence to convict Nawaz in the Flagship reference, thus he has been acquitted, the decision read.

The detailed verdict is expected to be announced later today.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had concluded its final arguments in the Flagship reference against Nawaz on Tuesday – the third and last reference against the PML-N leader. The anti-corruption watchdog had wrapped up its arguments in the Al-Azizia reference earlier this month.

On Friday, the court had accepted the request of Nawaz’s counsel to submit additional documents in the Flagship Investment reference and rejected NAB’s reservations.

On December 7, the Supreme Court had directed the accountability court to conclude the cases by December 24, after previously granting it seven extensions to wrap up the references initiated by NAB.

Security around the Judicial Complex in Islamabad has been tightened ahead of the verdict.

According to Islamabad administration, a thousand police officials and one hundred Rangers have been deployed around the accountability court. All passageways leading to the accountability court have been sealed.

Section 144 has been imposed to maintain law and order in the federal capital.

Only 15 people will be allowed in the courtroom including PML-N leaders and lawyers. Media personnel have been asked to carry an ID with them. Only five reporters have been allowed inside the courtroom.

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison.

Nawaz and Maryam were released from jail on September 19 after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in the Avenfield case.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

Flagship Investment Limited

The charge against the family is that Hassan Nawaz Sharif, the former premier’s youngest son, set up an investment firm in 2001, with an office registered in the United Kingdom. At the time he was 25-years-old.

Nawaz has never accepted any connection with his son’s business, although the Bureau alleges that his name was listed as chairman of the board, further adding that Hasan was under the guardianship of his father till 1995.

Earlier this month, during a hearing, the NAB stated that Nawaz Sharif even received an amount of 0.78 million AED from the investment firm that he claims to have no stake in.

The accountability court had to determine how and from where did Hasan get the funds to set up the investment firm.

Al-Azizia Steel Mills

Hussain Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister’s elder son, claims that he received a sum of $5.4 million from his grandfather to establish the steel conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. The payment was made by a Qatari royal on the request of the elder Sharif. Thereafter, scrap machinery was transported from their Ahli Steel Mills in Dubai to Jeddah to establish Al-Azizia in 2001.

The JIT constituted to investigate the graft allegations insisted that the real owner of the mills was Nawaz Sharif, and it was being operated by his son on his behalf. Hussain was 29-years-old at the time. The JIT also held that Nawaz Sharif received 97 per cent profit as ‘gifts’ from Hill Metals Establishment, another company established by Hussain Nawaz Sharif in 2005, in Saudi Arabia.

Of the amount, Nawaz Sharif transferred 77 percent to his daughter, Maryam  Nawaz Sharif, (Maryam is not accused in this reference). Here as well, the NAB claims that since Sharif received a large profit from Hussain’s companies, he is the real owner and not his son. However, during the proceedings the NAB could not substantiate its claim through documentary evidences and instead placed the burden of proof on the accused.

California, US, 19 Dec. 2018

(Anadolu News)

For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), public diplomacy has always been at the forefront of its foreign affairs. The Wahhabi and Salafi clergy in the KSA have been spreading their interpretation of Islam for decades through a campaign throughout predominantly Muslim nations. Saudi soft power is connected to the Saudi interpretation of Islam and efforts to export the Wahhabi ideology across the globe. As a result, the KSA’s religious diplomacy pits itself against all other interpretations of Islam and other efforts to export religion by other countries. Saudi religious diplomacy has therefore allowed the KSA to exert influence in Muslim countries, predominantly in the Balkans and the broader Middle East. Saudi Arabia remains the largest economy in the Muslim world and is a gravitational center for regional influence.

The relationship between the U.S. and the KSA is a long established economic relationship built on the U.S.’ dependency on oil and Saudi arms purchases from the U.S. Unlike previous U.S. presidents, Barack Obama had a relatively hands-off approach in dealing with Saudis due to the undemocratic nature of the KSA’s internal affairs and its demand to curb Iran’s ambitions. In contrast, President Donald Trump chose Saudi Arabia as his first overseas presidential visit, signaling a major reversal from Obama-era policies towards the KSA and Iran. The Trump administration’s close ties with the KSA and its unwavering support to the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have been guiding the U.S. policy in the Middle East. Both the Obama and Trump administrations were silent to and therefore complicit in the KSA’s war crimes in Yemen as the weapons sales to Saudis skyrocketed during the Obama administration, and the Trump administration went further by lifting the arms sales limitations for the war in Yemen.

Throughout the many decades of the Saudi-U.S. relationship, the KSA poured in billions of dollars into public relations campaigns and lobbying. One of the most troubling times for the Saudi-U.S. relationship came after the 9/11 terrorist attacks as fifteen Saudis were involved in the incident. Soon after Saudi links were unveiled, the KSA launched a campaign to improve its image. [1] The KSA hired a U.S.-based public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, which was the very firm behind the Blackwater and Ceausescu image campaigns, amongst other notorious ones. Burson-Marsteller ran print ads in American newspapers and scheduled TV appearances for Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz. The KSA then hired Qorvis, another Washington-based PR company, to do polling and lobbying. The first major Saudi image campaign came in 2002 with the Saudi Peace Initiative, which was later named the Arab Peace Initiative. This campaign aimed to offer a peace plan for the Middle East conflict between Israel and Arab nations. Prior to its official announcement, the Saudi Peace Initiative received significant global media coverage. The Saudi charm offensive in an effort to reframe the discussion on Saudi support for terrorism was assisted by radio and TV spots.[2] The Saudi messaging, for the most part, did not sit well with the American audience because of the discrepancy between the values the KSA represented and those embraced by Americans.

To be sure, Saudi Arabia still suffers from an unfavorable image due to its reputation for its treatment of women, its aggressive posture toward Iran and its repressive internal policies. Despite numerous public relations campaigns, Saudi Arabia has not been able to gain a favorable public opinion in the U.S. The ascendance of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the political scene, however, changed the course of Saudi publicity. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS -- his popular moniker -- is the de facto ruler of the KSA and has been on a charm offensive tour in the West, trying to rebrand Saudi Arabia as a leading moderate voice in the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia, with the leadership of the crown prince, is trying to change the perception of the country and to create an image of a young leader in tune with global trends. Saudi propaganda frames Mohammed bin Salman as someone who is driving social change. He launched a campaign to modernize Saudi Arabia by lifting a 35-year cinema ban, granting women the right to drive, and curbing the power of the unpopular religious police. These changes were accompanied with Saudi Arabia opening itself to tourism and visitors, and embracing arts as its public diplomacy strategy. Mohammed bin Salman established the Misk Art Institute in 2017 ‘to encourage grassroots artistic production in Saudi Arabia, nurture the appreciation of Saudi and Arab art, and enable international cultural diplomacy and exchange.’[3] The Misk Art Institute launched its international programs at Dubai, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Paris’s Institut du Monde Arabe, and at both the Los Angeles and New York Museum of Modern Art. The Misk Art Institute supported two Saudi artists to curate Saudi Arabia’s first ever participation in the Venice Biennale of Architecture in the summer of 2018.

Aside from arts and culture, Mohammed bin Salman launched plans to curb the KSA’s oil dependency by building a futuristic city. At the same time, he promoted religious tolerance and dialogue through the World Muslim League. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman dubbed the Saudi charm offensive the “Saudi Spring”.

During his two-and-a-half-week trip to the U.S., American journalists and policy experts hailed the crown prince and his efforts to modernize Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman wooed the executives of Silicon Valley, the Wall Street, and Hollywood. He met with celebrities, such as Oprah, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the Clintons, and the Obamas, and the CBS even aired an exclusive interview with the crown prince.[4] Promotional booklets that praised Saudi modernization efforts were printed and distributed in rural America. The U.S. media was enamored of the Saudi charm offensive for about a year until he began to show signs that he was, in reality, no reformer. First, he locked up dozens of princes and public figures in a luxury hotel last year, charging them with corruption. He detained Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri and forced him to resign, and continued to detain dissidents and lock up female activists. Mohammed bin Salman got in a diplomatic row with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the Saudi human rights record and ended up damaging the Saudi diplomatic ties with Canada. Even then, the U.S. stayed idle and Saudi Arabia continued to receive unwavering support from most U.S. policymakers citing the KSA’s support for the U.S.

Notwithstanding all the previous U.S. backing, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi violated all diplomatic norms and exposed the Saudi reality. A CIA investigation concluded that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of Khashoggi. After all, Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms were nothing more than window dressing. For the first time, the U.S. Senate voted to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen and public opinion of Saudi Arabia remains unfavorable. Whether or not the senate awakening was motivated to defy President Trump and to rebuke Trump administration for its ties with the KSA, this time the pressure on Saudi Arabia is for real.

[Senem Cevik is a lecturer in International Studies at the University of California, Irvine. She is the co-editor of Turkey's Public Diplomacy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015)]

* Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu Agency.

[1] Zhang, J. & Benoit W. (2004). "Message Strategies of Saudi Arabia’s Image Restoration Campaign After 9/11," Public Relations Review, 35, pp. 240-246.

[2] Burnham, C.R. (2011). "Public Diplomacy Following 9/11: The Saudi Peace Initiative and 'Allies' Media Campaign," Exchange: The Journal of Public Diplomacy, Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 7. Available at: https://surface.syr.edu/exchange/vol2/iss1/7

[3] Misk Art Institute, https://miskartinstitute.org/

[4] Saudi ‘prince of PR’ arrives in U.S., unleashing a royal media spin, https://www.france24.com/en/20180320-saudi-arabia-usa-mbs-prince-public-relations-trump

Jakarta, 23 Dec. 2018

(Anadolu News)

Death toll from the tsunami which hit Indonesia's Sunda Strait Saturday night has risen to 222, according to the country’s national disaster agency.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency, said in a statement that the number of injured increased to 843 in the tsunami -- likely triggered by a volcanic eruption.

Nugroho said that 28 people remain missing, adding that a total of 556 houses and many buildings were damaged after the tsunami -- which mostly affected the Pandenglang, South Lampung and Serang areas. In an earlier statement Nugroho said that the death toll may still increase as not all affected areas were recorded.

"The affected areas are settlements and tourist areas along the coast such as Tanjung Lesung Beach, Sumur, Teluk Lada, Penimbang and Carita. The time of many tourists visit the beach along Pandeglang," the statement read.

According to the country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, the tsunami could have been triggered by undersea landslides after the eruption of Anak Krakatau. The agency said the tsunami struck around 24 minutes after the volcanic eruption.

Emergency teams are dispatched to the disaster-hit area while heavy equipment is also deployed to assist evacuation and emergency repairs, Nugroho said.

Indonesia lies within the Pacific Ocean’s "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Last September, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake had struck the country's Sulawesi Island, which triggered a tsunami in the cities of Donggala and Palu that towered up to 10 feet (3 meters) high, killing over 2,000 people.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sumatra, triggering a tsunami that killed around 230,000 people as it tore along the coasts of Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Islamabad, 23 Dec. 2018

(Media Reports)

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of Mohammad Nawaz sahrif, former three times Prime Minister of Pakistan and architect of modern Pakistan has broken her silence exact after five months by sending out a tweet praying for her father on the eve of corruption cases in Accountability Court in Pakistan. Al-Azizia Flagship case verdict is expected to be announced on Monday 24th of December, a day before his birth day.

Maryam tweeted sharing pictures of her parents Nawaz Sharif and late Kulsoom Nawaz. “The last time I saw HER was in the coffin. The last time I saw HIM smile was with HER. May Allah have mercy on both of you. Ameen,”

Kulsoom Nawaz passed away in London on 11th September after battling long with cancer, then, both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Pakistani leading TV Channel 'Geo News" reported today that Maryam Nawaz Sharif intends to play her role as a PML-N’s worker in order to raise her voice for Nawaz Sharif. Thee channel reported that Maryam Nawaz met her father Nawaz Sharif on Sunday and decided to play an active part in the party’s future politics. She was quoted as saying that the accountability court's decisions that were meant to distance her father from the masses were grounded in baseless assumptions.

Nawaz arrived in Islamabad from Lahore ahead of the court's verdicts in the remaining two corruption references against the Sharif family: Flagship investment and Al-Azizia steel mills.

He is scheduled to meet with senior party representatives and legal aides today. Three times former premier will be present at the accountability court to hear the verdict on Monday.

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017. On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (R) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison. Capt (R) Safdar was charged for not cooperating with the court.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers holding British nationality are based in London are declared as absconder by the Pakistani Accountability Court, since the proceedings began last year. Both are declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

 

 

Doha, 23 Dec. 2018

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced today that the 7th Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare will take place in Doha from 22 to 24 March, 2019.

This is the seventh year in a row that the premier quality improvement conference for healthcare professionals in the Arab World is being held in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). IHI is an independent not-for-profit organization that works with healthcare professionals and healthcare systems to promote quality and patient safety enhancement efforts using the latest and best models for improvement.

The annual Forum has become a widely recognized and highly sought after platform for healthcare improvement learning and knowledge exchange, with the active participation of renowned improvement science experts from around the world.

Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and a Co-Chair of the Forum, explained the reasoning behind the selection of the theme for this year’s conference, which is ‘Patient Safety First’.

“While healthcare organizations across the globe have made great strides in gaining a better understanding of the science of improvement, including patient safety enhancements, there is still a significant amount of work that healthcare professionals and healthcare systems must do to develop measurable and sustainable highly safe clinical care environments at both inpatient and outpatient levels. With this Forum we wanted to shine a spotlight on the importance of focusing on patient safety and acknowledging that, despite good intentions, patient harm can occur as we try to deliver care.  The key areas that will be covered during the conference include: Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Population Health, Workplace Effectiveness and Value, and Flow and Access,” said Dr. Al Khal.

Under each of the five areas, there will be many sessions and tracks addressing their different aspects. The Middle East Forum provides doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and students with a unique opportunity to learn and collaborate on a large scale. There will be over 50 lectures and workshop sessions delivered by local and leading international experts with many years of experience in applying the model for improvement. The 2019 Forum will include plenaries by renowned quality and safety experts addressing the latest innovations in the field. Both those who have attended previous Forums and those who are attending for the first time, will find the conference very interesting and engaging.

Nasser Al Naimi, Deputy Chief Quality Officer, Director of Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute, and Middle East Forum Co-Chair said: “The educational conference is now in its seventh year and each year we build upon the strengths and successes from previous years. This Forum is designed to support the strategic outlook on healthcare in both Qatar and the region with the aim of helping to build an integrated healthcare system that improves and sustains the well-being of current and future generations. We look forward to an exciting and dynamic conference which will be even more successful with the active engagement of all participants.”

To receive the early bird discount, participants can register online at MEF2019.hamad.qa. The full Forum program will soon be announced so delegates can choose which workshop sessions and speaker presentations they would like to attend.

Washington, 21 Dec. 2018

(Anadolu News)

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning a "substantial" drawdown of American forces from Afghanistan, The Wall Street Journal said Thursday.

The Journal reported that over 7,000 American troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan, around half of the size of the U.S. presence in the country.

The U.S. currently has roughly 14,000 troops in Afghanistan and has been in the country since it invaded in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Journal noted the drawdown could begin in the coming weeks.

The potential move comes a day after Trump made a surprise announcement that the U.S. would be withdrawing completely from Syria, where it had ground forces working to fight Daesh since 2015, and on the same day that Defense Secretary James Mattis announced his resignation, saying his views are not "aligned" with those of the president.

The decisions to pull troops from both countries align with the president's "America First" agenda promised on the campaign trail back in 2016, signaling a shift away from a U.S. military presence in overseas conflicts.

 The potential troop withdrawal from Afghanistan also comes as the U.S. has begun voicing with greater confidence negotiating with the Taliban to put an end to the conflict, with U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad making multiple trips to the country in the past few months to meet with Afghan officials.