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President Mamnoon Hussain rejected the mercy petitions of more than 50 people convicted of terrorist offences in Pakistan and now they are about to face imminent execution, officials say.

Six people executed have been executed since a moratorium was lifted in the wake of a Taliban school massacre.

Hundreds more executions could follow in the next few months, reports say.

The president’s move denotes that some executions can take place across the country at any time.

The Taliban attack in Peshawar killed 141 people and caused outrage across the country, with renewed calls for convicted terrorists to face capital punishment.

Human rights groups say that Pakistan has the world’s largest number of death row inmates, with more than 8,000 people awaiting execution.

Amnesty International on Monday said that moves to execute 500 people in the coming weeks were “deeply disturbing” and would do nothing to protect civilians from the Taliban.

Rights campaigners in Pakistan claims that many of those on death row are not connected with terrorist groups.

As well as lifting the moratorium on executions, authorities have cut the time between issuing a warrant for hanging and carrying out the sentence to just three days.

“Terrorism and sectarianism are a cancer for this country and now the time has come to root it out,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said.

“The government will not differentiate between terrorists and their facilitators. They both will be taken out,” he said.

The prime minister said that offensives against militants would be launched in rural and urban areas of the country in addition to the operation in North Waziristan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). Thousands of Pakistanis visited the army-run school on Sunday to mourn those killed.

It has accused the authorities of routinely overusing anti-terrorism laws to secure convictions. The human rights organisation Reprieve has warned that innocent people could be executed as a result of the government’s decision to lift its moratorium.

“The group is much stronger and much more dangerous than anyone in the West realizes”

The first Western journalist in the world to be allowed extensive access to Isis territories in Syria and Iraq has returned from the region.

Jürgen Todenhöfer, 74, is a renowned German journalist and publicist who travelled through Turkey to Mosul, the largest city occupied by Isis, after months of negotiations with the group’s leaders.

Todenhöfer revealed that he actually stayed in the same hotel in Benghazi as James Foley, the US journalist who was beheaded on camera by Isis in August.

“Of course, I’ve seen the terrible, brutal video and it was one of my main concerns during the negotiations as to how I can avoid [the same fate],” he said.

Once within Isis territory, Todenhöfer said “that Isis is much stronger than we think here”. He said it now has “dimensions larger than the UK”, and is supported by “an almost ecstatic enthusiasm that I have never encountered in any other warzone”.

“Each day, hundreds of willing fighters arrive from all over the world,” he told.

Todenhöfer claims to have been able to move among Isis fighters, observing their living conditions and equipment. Isis’s fighters themselves sleep, he said, in barracks formed from “the shells of bombed-out houses”. They number around 5,000 in Mosul, and are spread so widely that were the US to bomb them all “they would have to reduce the whole of Mosul to ruins”, he said.

On his Facebook page, he has posted images which he said show German Heckler & Koch MG3 machine guns in the hands of Isis. “Someday this German MG could be directed to us,” he said.

Todenhöfer says that this ultimately means Isis cannot be beaten by Western intervention or air strikes – despite US claims last week that they have proven effective. “With every bomb that is dropped and hits a civilian, the number of terrorists increases,” he said.

Speaking in a TV interview two days after his return to Germany last week, Todenhöfer said Isis has worked hard to establish itself as a functioning state. He said it has “social welfare”, a “school system”, and that he was even surprised to see it has plans to provide education to girls.

Most concerning of all, he said, was Isis fighters’ belief that “all religions who agree with democracy have to die”.

Isis want to “conquer the world”, he repeated throughout and all who do not believe in the group’s interpretation of the Koran will be killed. The only other religions to be spared, Todenhöfer said, were the “people of the book” – Jews and Christians.

“This is the largest religious cleansing strategy that has ever been planned in human history”, he told RTL.

Isis-affiliated social media accounts have already started responding to Todenhöfer’s reports, hailing his comments about the group’s territories being made into functioning societies.

He plans to publish a summary of his “10 days in the Islamic State” on Monday, but in interviews with German-language media outlets has revealed his first impressions of what life is like under Isis. He says on Facebook that he has always “spoken to both sides” in his 50 years reporting from war zones, including interviews with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and al-Qaeda, with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and with leaders of the Taliban.

In his view, Isis will soon come to the West to negotiate a level of co-existence. “The only ones who could stop this now are the moderate Iraqi Sunnis,” he said, adding: “If you want to defeat an opponent, you must know him.”

According to Iraqi police, the latest ISIS-appointed governor of Mosul was killed in coalition airstrikes.

Hassan Hassan Saeed Al-Jabouri, also known as Abu Taluut, was killed 18 miles south of Mosul in the village of Qayyara, according to Maj. Gen. Watheq Al-Hamdani, a senior regional Iraqi police commander who is leading the government’s efforts to retake Mosul from ISIS. Jabouri is the second ISIS-appointed governor of Mosul killed by airstrikes and had been in office for less than 25 days.

Mosul is a key stronghold for ISIS fighters and was taken from Iraqi forces earlier this year. The Pentagon said that it has a strategy to retake the city beginning in January.

Earlier this month, U.S. airstrikes killed one of his predecessors, Radwan Taleb Al-Hamdouni, according to U.S. security officials.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people were injured or killed in six airstrikes by Syrian forces on the ISIS held city of al-Bab and the town of Qbasin in the northeast of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

ISIS captured a Jordanian fighter pilot Wednesday after his plane crashed over Raqqa.

In the village of Abo Qassayed, 30 ISIS militants were killed Tuesday as Syrian Kurdish forces captured that town held by ISIS, according to the observatory. “Evidence clearly indicates” that the terrorist group “did not down the aircraft,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

DOHA: The prices of fresh vegetables, fruits and fish at the government-monitored central markets were stable last week (March 12 to 19).
Figures released by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce suggest that the only vegetable that became slightly dearer in the week was cucumber.

Cucumber is produced in large quantities locally, particularly in this season, and it was on average available in retail at the central market for QR3.5 a kilo in the above week.

The price of Jordanian tomatoes averaged QR3 a kilo while Jordanian capsicum cost QR6 a kilo, according to figures cited by the Ministry’s consumer rights’ watchdog.

Fruit prices were also stable during the week, averaging at QR3.17 per kilo. The popular American apple, for example, was available in retail for QR6.5 a kilo, orange for QR3 a kilo and banana from the Philippines for QR6 a kilo.

The Philippines is the largest exporter of bananas to Qatar.

Fish supplies, their demand and hence their prices were also stable at the Central (fish) Market in the week under review, the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the Ministry said.

Citing highs and lows in the week, the CPD said Qatari Rabees (small) was sold in retail for QR51 a kilo, while the price of the most sought-after fish, Hamour, peaked at QR27.

Even King Fish, Balul and Safi (the bigger variety) at times commanded more prices in retail than Hamour — the rate for King Fish being QR34 a kilo, for Balul QR32 and for Safi QR30.

DOHA: Vaccination against infectious diseases, especially meningitis, has been made mandatory for people travelling to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah, say tour operators based in Qatar.

The health requirements issued by Saudi Arabia for Haj and Umrah pilgrims actually included vaccination against meningococcal meningitis but this rule was not strictly implemented in the case of Umrah.

However, the Saudi authorities are no more allowing in Umrah pilgrims from other countries who have not taken the required vaccination before their departure to the holy lands, say tour organizers.

The new rule follows a recent ban imposed by Saudi authorities on the entry of foreigners to the country in private vehicles for the purpose of performing Umrah.

Representative of a community organisation operating Umrah trips for expatriates said the organizers were in for a shock, when they got information about the new rule just a day before the pilgrims’ departure last week.

“Earlier vaccination was mandatory only for Haj pilgrims. Our Umrah group was all set for departure when we came to know about the new rule. We had to rush to get all of them vaccinated in the last moment so that they will not be turned away at the Saudi border,” he said, adding that many aspiring pilgrims are still not aware of the new rule.

Tour operators say that the number of people travelling from Qatar for Umrah has dropped significantly after a recent decision by the Ministry of Interior banning visitors from going for Umrah. Earlier a number of expatriates used to bring their families and relatives on visit to Qatar for the purpose of performing the pilgrimage.

The Saudi decision banning foreigners from going for Umrah in private cars is expected to further reduce the number of pilgrims, say industry sources.

They believe this decision is intended to reduce the traffic congestion at the holy premises, with massive construction works going on in the area.

Although travelling in private cars has been banned people can still travel by air or by bus. There are many tour operators here conducting Umrah trips by road at affordable prices.

The sources have ruled out the possibility of an immediate rise in the fares due to the relatively low demand. However, the demand would increase manifold in the months to come, especially during Ramadan, which is considered the peak season for Umrah.

The winner at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup in Doha poses with officials of Turkish Airlines at Doha Golf Club. The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup kicked off in Doha with a one-day amateur championship series. Top teams from Doha win place in Grand Final to be held in October in Belek, Turkey, while the World Cup Final winners to play Pro-Am with one of the world’s best golfers.

Doha, Qatar: Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey and Europe’s best airline for the fourth consecutive year, kicked off the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup in Doha with the first round of a global amateur championship that will include qualifying events in 65 destinations worldwide.

Players started at the Doha Golf Club for an individual stableford format with the field being split into two equal divisions, based on handicap.

Maximum handicap limits were 28 for men and 36 for ladies.

The winners of Qatar Golf Tournament are: Claes Byberg, for Best Gross, William Green, Cat 1, Christine Duffailly, Cat 2, Dean Elford for Men’s Nearest the Pin, and Valerie Dalton for Women’s Nearest the Pin. The winners from each team were presented trophies by Mehmed Kursad Caymaz, General Manager of Turkish Airlines in Qatar, at a celebratory dinner with the players.

The prize includes participation in the grand final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, return Business Class flights to/from Antalya with the airline all-inclusive with accommodation at a 5-star hotel.

An exceptional number of amateur golfers are participating in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup globally across 12 qualifying events at the most renowned courses in the 65 participating destinations worldwide. The grand final will take place in October at one of the most prestigious resorts in Belek, Turkey.

Mehmed Kursad Caymaz, General Manager of Turkish Airlines in Qatar, said: “We are delighted with the enthusiastic participation of golfers in Qatar at the first match of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup in Doha. We congratulate the winners and look forward to their participation in the finals later this year.”

The winners of the grand final in Belek this October will get the chance to play the Turkish Open PRO AM with one of the world’s best golfers.

Travellers can take advantage of 10 Turkish Airlines flights from Qatar to Istanbul for connections flights and the carrier’s 263 destinations.

CAIRO – A United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) ship carrying 500,000 litres of fuel for humanitarian operations arrived in Aden today – the first WFP-chartered vessel with fuel to berth in the southern port since conflict erupted in Yemen in late March.

The MV Copenhagen was originally due to dock in Aden in early June but was re-routed to Al Hodeidah when fighting prevented it from approaching Aden. The vessel, ferrying fuel to Yemen for aid organizations, discharged 1 million litres of fuel in Al Hodeida two weeks ago.

“We hope we can maintain this momentum with deliveries of much needed assistance especially that now all land routes into Aden governorate are cut off,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“We need access to transport routes by both land and sea to ensure that food reaches the people who need it.”

WFP requires 1 million litres of fuel each month for its operations in Yemen. Humanitarian operations overall are estimated to need about 5 million litres per month, including fuel for milling grain as well as keeping the water supply systems pumping throughout the country. To date, WFP-chartered ships have transported more than 2 million litres of fuel to Yemen.

The situation in Aden is particularly dire with most bakeries closed because of shortages of wheat and fuel. According to WFP market monitoring, the price of fuel in Aden has increased by 800 percent compared to pre-crisis levels and the price of wheat flour has more than doubled.

The MV Copenhagen joined the WFP-chartered MV Han Zhi at Aden’s oil port of Al-Buraiqa. The first WFP-chartered ship to reach Aden since fighting broke out in late March, the Han Zhi arrived on Tuesday with 3,000 metric tons of food – enough to feed 180,000 people for a month.

Both ships were forced to wait off Aden port before they could berth safely. Meanwhile another WFP vessel, carrying 3,220 metric tons of food as well as a smaller ship, or dhow, with 390 metric tons of food, will dock in Aden in the coming 24 hours. WFP made repeated attempts to send ships with fuel and food but all were blocked until Tuesday by fierce fighting in the port area.

WFP will continue to send ships carrying humanitarian supplies to all ports in Yemen to meet the deep needs of hundreds of thousands of people for assistance. But humanitarian agencies cannot replace commercial food and fuel imports that are urgently needed to return to pre-crisis levels.

Since April, WFP has reached more than 2 million conflict-affected and severely food insecure people in 13 of Yemen’s governorates, consisting of Abyan, Aden, Dhale, Al Mahwit, Amran, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Lahj, Sana’a, Saada, Shabwa and Taiz.

# # #

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food in emergencies and working with communities to build resilience. In 2013, WFP assisted more than 80 million people in 75 countries.

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Reem Nada, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +201066634522
Dina Elkassaby, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +201015218882

Peter Smerdon, WFP/Rome, Tel. +30 06 6513 2150, Mob. +39 342 878 4107

Gregory Barrow, WFP/London, Tel. +44 20 72409001, Mob. +44 7968 008474

Steve Taravella, WFP/Washington DC, Tel. +1 202 653 1149, Mob. +1 202 770 5993

Doha, Qatar: Under the esteemed patronage of H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Ministry of Transport will host the Qatar Transport Forum 2015 at Sheraton Doha on 15-16 September 2015.The forum will highlight plans, initiatives and projects such as the Hamad Port, Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Ports, Karwa, Civil Aviation College and Qatar Rail.

Organised by MEED, the forum will provide a platform for the Ministry of Transport to have open dialogue with local investors about establishing processing, manufacturing and logistics industries in Qatar in order to cater for the needs of regional and international markets.

The forum will also be a great opportunity for local, regional, and international businesses, project managers, technology providers and industry experts to display their expertise and view investment opportunities in Qatar’s transport sector.

The key topics that will be covered at the foruminclude forecasts, project updates and the future steps of Qatar’s transport sector such as how the ministry plans to streamlineand integrate transport in the country. The forum will also address investment opportunities and development projects such as the Doha Metro, Hamad Port Project, Hamad International Airport, the Bus Operation Plan, Water Taxis, highways, vehicle assembly factories, truck warehouses, parking plans, cruise ships docks, and the Ministry of Transport’s commitments in the lead up to hosting the FIFA 2022World Cup.

The forum will highlight the creation of industries being set up to supply parts and components required by Qatar’s transport sector, public-private partnership opportunities, Qatar’s National Road Safety Strategy, Smart Transport Systems and the important topic of ‘Transport and the Environment’.

The Ministry of Transport and MEEDare engaging with several ministries and government agencies including the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Civil Aviation Authority, Mowasalat (Karwa), Hamad Port Project, Qatar Rail, Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), Qatar Navigation Company (Milaha), Economic Zones Company (Manateq) and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) in addition to Qatar transport operators, automotive dealers, investment banks and Qatar Chamber.

The list of international investors will include regional agents and manufacturing and supply companies related to the transport sector covering industries such as car windshield, tires, seats, upholstery, engines, transmission, pumps, electrical parts, wiring, indicators and lights, painting and trailers, car structures, plastics and car and cruise ship bodies.

Through the forum, the Ministry of Transport aims to showcase international transport systems adopted by Qatar while encouraging local industries to transform Qatar into a regional commercial hub.

Daniel Trachino – GM MEA Acer

Doha, Qatar (July 27, 2015) Acer has announced that its full 2015 Windows-powered product lineup and currently-shipping Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 portfolio will support the free Windows 10 upgrade when it becomes available on July 29, 2015, across the Middle East region.

“We are thrilled to deliver Acer’s diverse range of products designed specifically for Windows 10 to our customers across multiple form factors in the Middle East and Africa region,” said Daniel Trachino, General Manager Middle East & Africa, Acer. “We’re confident that our customers who have already purchased or plan on buying an Acer Windows device in 2015 will transition to Windows 10 seamlessly.”

“It’s fantastic to see Acer continue to deliver new innovation across its portfolio of Windows devices,” said Peter Han, VP Worldwide OEM Marketing, Microsoft. “From Windows 10 devices to a Windows integrated wearable, Acer is delivering one Windows 10 experience across all of these devices for our joint customers.”

Precision Touchpads for a Seamless Touch Experience

Acer has widely implemented Precision Touchpads (PTP) on both consumer and commercial notebooks, allowing a unified Windows user experience across the touchpad and touchscreen, providing touchpad gestures and behaviors consistent with those of a touchscreen. Better accuracy is achieved through higher resolution hardware and built-in palm rejection, while all of this quality and functionality is provided right out of the box, with no additional drivers needed and settings easily adjustable through the Windows Control Panel.

Windows 10

Acer and Microsoft have worked tirelessly to develop SMART devices to bring you the most complete Windows 10 experience as soon as it hits the shelves. Products that will support the upgrade range from entry level 2-in-1’s such as the Aspire Switch 10 E, to high end premium convertible devices such as the Aspire R13. With multiple modes for devices that are built for touch, users will be able to take full advantage of the all the powerful new features in Windows 10. Acer will provide simple step-by-step instructions for upgrading the latest software, subject to device eligibility

About Acer

Established in 1976, Acer is a hardware + software + services company dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of innovative products that enhance people’s lives. Acer’s product offerings include PCs, displays, projectors, servers, tablets, smartphones, and wearables. The company is also developing cloud solutions to bring together the Internet of Things. Acer employs 7,000 people and ranks No. 4 for total PCs globally (IDC 2014). Revenues for 2014 reached US$10.39 billion. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

© 2015 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

[1] Some hardware/software limitations may apply and feature availability may vary by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. Your Internet Service Provider may charge you additional fees. Should customers decide to approach an Acer Service Center to perform the upgrade, Acer reserves the right to charge for the service provided. The free upgrade offer is valid only during the first year of Windows 10 availability.

Players and staff of the Paris Saint-Germain Handball team arrived yesterday evening in Doha for the Qatar Handball Tour, their traditional pre-season training camp.

For the third consecutive year, the Parisian players and staff will set up camp at Aspire Zone—the state-of-the-art sports complex in Doha—and will be hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) for a mix of physical preparation and tourism activities.

Each year, as part of its association with Paris Saint-Germain, QTA hosts the club’s various teams in Doha for training camps. Last April, the Paris Saint-Germain Women’s Team came to train in Qatar, the host of the last Men’s Handball World Championship.

“We are delighted to welcome back members of the Paris Saint-Germain Handball team following the global championship held in Doha last January, and hope the team members who are visiting for the first time will enjoy Qatar’s offerings, both as a world-class sports destination and a cultural hub,” commented Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotions Officer at Qatar Tourism Authority.

Increasing costs. Obstacles to streamlined efficiency. Decreasing client loyalty and retention. These are just a few of the many challenges global companies face in the perpetual race to secure supreme market dominance.

PostCy Data Center Limited believes that enhanced communication both internally and with clients is the key to strengthening any business and – as the company pride itself on supporting clients throughout their journey to the pinnacle of success – it has developed its exclusive PostCy SIP Trunking & DID Solutions to help businesses do just that.

PostCy’s international virtual phone numbers (DID), allow clients, partners and associates in other countries to call businesses at the price of a local call, rather than incurring augmented international rates. Though this cheaper and more attractive channel of communication, client relationships may be cultivated, prospective customers may reach out without restriction and international collaborations may be facilitated.

These numbers are offered from more than 40 countries throughout the world, thus allowing the company’s clients to realise even the most ambitious of global expansion strategies.

“Connect with us through your existing PBX, or indeed your mobile phone using a SIP trunk, and we can actually ensure you save up to 90% on traditional long-distance calls,” a PostCy statement expresses. Indeed, as PostCy SIP Trunking requires no additional hardware, deploys promptly and does not affect current infrastructure, cost savings may begin immediately.

“Savings of up to 90%. Enhanced efficiency. Supreme client and partner communication. These are just a few of the vast, unique benefits you will enjoy through the deployment of PostCy Data Center Limited solutions,” an official company statement affirms.

For more details, www.postcy.com

Qatar Navigation (Milaha) Q.S.C. today announced its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Milaha delivered a net profit of QAR 651 million for the first half of 2015, a 26% increase in profitability compared to the first half of 2014.

Key financial highlights:

·Operating revenues increased by 22% to QAR 1.51 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2015, up from QR 1.24 billion for the same period in 2014
·Operating profit increased by 31% to QAR 442 million for the half year ended June 30, 2015, up from QR 337 million for the same period in 2014
·Net profit increased by 26% to QAR 651 million for the half year ended June 30, 2015, up from QR 518 million for the same period in 2014
·Earnings per share increased to QAR 5.73 for the half year ended June 30, 2015, up from QR 4.56 for the same period in 2014

Milaha Maritime & Logistics’ revenue grew by 27% and net profit by 119%, mainly driven by our port and container shipping businesses. The ramp up in project activity in Qatar lead to increased trade volumes continues to positively impact this segment.

Milaha Gas & Petrochem’s revenue grew by 26% and net profit by 29%, on the back of stronger performance from its fully owned and operated product tankers and gas carriers, as well as investments in associates and LNG JVs.

Milaha Offshore’s revenue grew by 41% and net profit by 151% despite weak market conditions driven by the steep decline in oil prices and the cutbacks on capital spending by oil majors. The offshore management team continues to take steps towards a long term strategy of fleet renewal and geographic expansion, while optimizing utilization and operating efficiency under the current difficult conditions.

Milaha Trading’s revenue grew by 24% and net profit by 108% on the back of strong equipment sales driven largely by the ongoing projects in Qatar.

Despite outperforming the Qatar Exchange index, the performance of the actively traded investment portfolio of Milaha Capital experienced a decline, resulting in an 8% drop in net profit in comparison to the same period in 2014.

“We continue to execute on our long term strategy and, as a result, we have continued to deliver strong financial performance in a challenging business environment. Our seasoned management team remains focused and committed to growing the various Milaha segments, with a particular emphasis on gas transportation, container shipping, offshore, warehousing and logistics,” said Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Milaha.

He then added, “Over five years ago, Milaha embarked on a transformation that reinvented the way it conducts business. I am pleased that our hard work and unwavering commitment to improvement and growth is paying off and we see that reflected in our financial results as well as in our growing recognition locally, regionally and internationally.”

The company will conduct an investor conference call on Monday, August 3rd, 2015 at 3 pm Doha time, to further discuss its results. The conference call may be accessed by telephone by dialing +44 (0) 1452 569 335 (UK and International) and entering the Conference ID: 87852931. Further information can be found on our website www.milaha.com.

Trainer Richard Hannon feels the drop in grade gives Toormore an excellent chance at winning The Qatar Lennox Stakes.

The first edition of Qatar Goodwood Festival is all set to get underway to a glorious start at the magnificent Goodwood Racecourse in Hampshire, England, today. The five-day festival will witness top class racing action with the best Thoroughbreds in the world competing for top honours.
Qatar signed a 10-year partnership with Goodwood Racecourse, which is the single biggest sponsorship deal ever done for the benefit of British racing. Commencing in 2015, this makes the Qatar Goodwood Festival one of the most significant and valuable meetings in the world.
The partnership results in over £2 million being invested into prize money for eight key races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2015 as well as a commitment to increase this year-on-year. Total prize money on offer for the week now totals £4.5 million, with Qatar once again demonstrating their passion and support for British racing.
The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, has a total prize fund of £1 million cementing its position as one of the most valuable mile races in the world.
The Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, the feature race on the Saturday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is now worth £600,000, making it the most significant mid-summer race for fillies.
Each Group II feature race, the Qatar Lennox Stakes, the Qatar Goodwood Cup and the Qatar King George Stakes are now worth £300,000, recognising their recent records for attracting some of the best horses at their respective distances. In addition, Qatar has guaranteed that if any current Group II race achieves Group I status, the prize money will rise to at least £500,000.
Other races to benefit from increased prize money are the two Group II races for two-year-olds, The Qatar Vintage Stakes and The Qatar Richmond Stakes, each of which will run for £200,000, supporting their status as the proving grounds for future champions.
The Qatar Stewards’ Cup is the headline handicap of the week with prize money now totalling £250,000 and as part of this uplift, the consolation race rises to £75,000. This is a perfect example of how strongly Goodwood and Qatar feel about supporting racing at all levels.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Sussex Stakes, The Qatar Goodwood Cup and The Qatar Nassau Stakes will remain part of the QIPCO British Champion Series.

PURE ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN
The highlight of the race meetings would be the launch of the Triple Crown, which will have the best Pure Arabians in the world matching strides with each other in the first leg of the championship.
The Triple Crown will feature a bonus of USD $1,000,000 for the winner of three of the world’s most prestigious Arabian races, beginning with the inaugural running of the £400,000 Qatar Harwood International Stakes on Saturday, the concluding day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The second leg will be the Qatar Arabian World Cup in Paris in October, followed by HH The Emir’s Sword in Doha in March 2016.
This represents a major development in the global promotion of Arabian racing, linking three major festivals and strengthening the alliance with European racing. With American Pharoah having won the Triple Crown of American racing, one could hope one of the Pure Arabians goes on to win the championship which is quite difficult but not impossible.
The Qatar Lennox Stakes is the feature event of the opening day’s races. The £300,000 prize money event has attracted 10 top class Thoroughbreds. Trainer Richard Hannon has two contenders in Toormore and Tupi, which go into the contest with outstanding chances.
Hannon feels the drop in grade gives Toormore an excellent chance of returning to winning ways. The four-year-old runs in the Godolphin blue for the first time having been sold by Middleham Park Racing earlier this month.
His last three runs have been at Group I level and he has performed creditably each time, most recently when fourth behind Solow in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
With wins in the Richmond Stakes at two and a narrow defeat in this race last year under his belt, he has vital course form in the book.
Hannon also has a strong second string to his bow in Tupi, twice winner at Listed level this season and not far behind Dutch Connection in the Jersey Stakes.
“Toormore has been to Goodwood twice, winning the Vintage Stakes as a two-year-old and being beaten only a neck in this race last year, and previous experience of this track is always a help,” Hannon said.
“The rain won’t be a problem for him either as the ground was very testing when he bounced back to run a blinder in finishing third in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and I have been really pleased how well he has run in his two races this year, a close second in the Lockinge and another good effort in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting, where he was only beaten three lengths by Solow.
“Dropping down a grade must give Toormore an excellent chance here, and it would be great if he could click first time up in the blue of Godolphin.
“However, our other runner Tupi would also be in with a shout. He ran well at Royal Ascot in between winning twice in lesser grade at Newmarket, and remember he did finish second to Highland Reel in the Vintage at this meeting 12 months ago.”
Also running in Godolphin blue is Safety Check for trainer Charlie Appleby, although he faces a stiff task giving away upwards of 4lb to all of his rivals due to two Group II wins in Dubai, where he was unbeaten in three runs and is having his first run since the Carnival.
“He was our flagbearer in Dubai,” said Appleby.
“The positives for him are that he’s handled Goodwood before and seven furlongs is his ideal trip. On the negative side he’s carrying a penalty, though that is for a reason, and the ground is a concern. We will be keeping an eye on it and will see how it rides for the first two races as he likes it quick.”
“After this we’ll be looking towards the Hungerford in a couple of weeks as his penalty there will be less.”

Move aims to promote awareness about empowering women

Manama: Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) and the United Nation’s Population Fund, the Arab States Regional Office (UNFPA-ASRO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate collaboration in addressing Arab family issues.

The two organisations aim to achieve further progress in the region through the collaboration and engagement of civil society in raising awareness on the importance of family and empowering women, involving men and powerful stakeholders through advocacy and policy dialogue, and rejecting unacceptable practices such as gender based violence (GBV), child or early marriage.

“The MoU will provide opportunities for capacity building, exchange and transfer of best practice and research and studies,” Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, DIFI Executive Director, said. “It will also provide a framework for working with UNFPA on joint projects and advocacy activities that will enhance the role of both organisations in attaining human and sustainable development goals in the region.”

Said Mohammad Abdul Ahad, UNFPA Regional Director of Arab States said the partnership would utilise UNFPA’s international experience and DIFI’s research capacity and regional outreach to technically support DIFI’s flagship report on the ‘State of Arab Family’.

DIFI, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), was founded in 2006 to support family, parental and child rights and dignity, with the mission of encouraging, supporting, and promoting the implementation of the Doha Declaration, and to reaffirm international commitments to strengthen the family.

UNFPA-ASRO assists and cooperates with governments in the formulation, adoption, and implementation of their population policies and development strategies. The organisation has in-depth expertise in the field of development and cooperation in reproductive health, gender issues including, Arab family GBV, population and development integrating a human rights based and culturally sensitive approach.

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Former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, known as the father of the country’s military missile program, died on Monday after collapsing while delivering a lecture, a top state official said. He was 83.

The president from 2002 until 2007, he was a scientist and science administrator for four decades before that, mainly at the state-run Defense Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Space Research Organisation. He played a key organisational and technical role in India’s nuclear program.

He also served as a scientific adviser to the prime minister.

Kalam fell sick on Monday while addressing the students of the Indian Institute of Management in the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong, said PB Warjri, chief secretary of the state. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead after doctors could not revive him, Warjri said.

The federal government would declare national mourning for seven days for him, said federal home secretary LC Goyal.

Kalam’s body will be flown to New Delhi on Tuesday for burial.

India’s president Pranab Mukherjee said “Kalam would be long remembered for his passion for science and innovation and his contribution as an eminent scientist, administrator, educationist and writer.”

The prime minister, Narendra Modi, said “his death is a great loss to the scientific community. He took India to great heights. He showed the way.”

“He was an inspiration to an entire generation,” home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Sonia Gandhi, the president of the opposition Congress party, described Kalam as “one of the greatest scientific minds, a scholar statesman and a true patriot who inspired millions of young and old alike by his works and deeds”.

After his presidential term ended, Kalam traveled to remote schools and colleges, speaking to students and inspiring them to follow their dreams.

Even after he left office, he received hundreds of emails each day from high-school students and other young people seeking his advice. He would reply to most of the children who wrote to him.

Kalam received several prestigious awards, including Bharat Ratna, India’s top civil honor conferred by the government.

He played a crucial role when India tested its nuclear weapons in 1998.

He also authored several books, notably Wings of Fire, India 2020 and Ignited Minds.

Kalam had a humble beginning. His father owned boats which he rented out to local fishermen. Kalam used to describe himself as “Made in India,” as he never trained abroad.

Conference & Exhibition was opened by Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain
Opening remarks made by both Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain and H.E. Shaikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive, nogaholding

The 3^rd Middle East Process Engineering Conference and Exhibition (MEPEC) 2015 opened today in style in Manama, Bahrain. During the conference opening, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, mentioned that MEPEC was “the definitive process engineering event… that brought together industry professionals to one hub to exchange ideas” and mentioned that “the large number of delegates and exhibitors is proof of the growing popularity of MEPEC”.

His Excellency Dr Mirza also urged conference delegates to view the “exciting” Industry Initiatives, highlighting the Innovation and Commercialization Zone and the ChemME Student program as particular highlights. Additionally, Dr. Mirza lauded the work that went into creating and adjudicating the LEWA Awards, saying that “it is wonderful to see eminent women engineers being honoured in such a male dominated world”.

H.E. Shaikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also highlighted MEPEC’s “close association with AIChE” in his opening address, and in addition to further praising the work surrounding the LEWA Awards, also indentified the AIChE Middle East Regional Chem-E-Car Competition®, taking place in the region for the very first time, as one of the events for MEPEC participants to watch.

The opening morning of the conference saw impressive Keynote presentations from His Royal Highness Prince Saud K. Al Faisal, Executive Director for Investment Policy,Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Abdallah S. Jum’ah, Former CEO, Saudi Aramco, Awadh Al-Maker, Executive Vice President, Technology & Innovation, SABIC and June Wispelwey, Executive Director, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), in a panel on the Energy Outlook for a Growing World, moderated by His Excellency Dr. Alaa Nassif, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Commission at Yanbu and Dr. Dawood Nassif, Board Director, BAPCO; Advisor, nogaholding; Chairman, BAPCO Modernization Project (BMP) Steering Committee.

The MEPEC Exhibition was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain, with thousands in attendance at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Manama. Featuring 8,000 square meters of exhibition space and 150 exhibiting companies from across the region and beyond, with participants including Sabic (and affiliates), Saudi Aramco (and JVs), Bapco, Sadara, Petro Rabigh, GPIC, Banagas, Sipchem and Alba amongst others.

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and supported by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the 3^rd edition of MEPEC takes place from 15 to 17 September 2015 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

Conference Chairman, Audah Al Ahmadi, was quoted at the opening as saying, “MEPEC continues to develop as a truly world-class event and this 3^rd edition has combined a strong technical focus with our Industry Initiatives program, which helps us to look to the future of process engineering through strategic initiatives.”

MEPEC’s Industry Initiatives include the 1st AIChE Middle East Regional Chem-E-Car Competition®. Designed to ignite the spirit of innovation in young minds, this activity challenges undergraduate students to develop and construct a car powered by a chemical or biochemical energy source. The AIChE Middle East Regional Chem-E-Car Competition® is ‘powered by’ OGN, who have helped provide strong media coverage for this inaugural event.

Other Industry Initiatives include:

The Leadership Excellence for Women Awards – LEWA is a celebration of innovation, leadership, achievement and talent as demonstrated by women in the academic and business sectors of the industry. The 9 LEWA nominees will be recognised at the MEPEC Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner that takes place on 15 September.

ChemME – the dedicated Student Program at MEPEC will allow hundreds of Engineering Undergraduates to access the conference to learn and network with industry professionals, in addition to taking part in activities designed to foster new ideas about the industry such as the Debate Competition and the Simulation Challenge.

Innovation and Commercialization Zone – this is a unique platform exclusively devoted to innovations in the Process Industry. Industrial and commercial companies, universities, inventors and researchers will present their inventions, the results of their research and new products and processes. Participants include Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Dhahran Techno Valley Company.

Live event updates and conference and exhibition information is available at www.mepec.org

-Ends-

For any enquiries, contact james@mee-events.com

Young Thomas stays in contention for maiden win on the MENA Golf Tour

DUBAI, Sept 15 – Joshua White shot a sparkling five-under 66 to surge to the top of the leaderboard as young Rayhan Thomas kept his hopes alive of becoming the first amateur to win a MENA Golf Tour event, going into the final round of the Dubai Creek Open on Tuesday.

Playing in the day’s very first group, White took advantage of slightly more receptive conditions at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, going bogey-free to reach eight-under, one ahead of Austria’s Florian Praegant and three off Englishman Jake Shepherd and overnight leader Thomas.

Defending champion Luke Joy, who carded a second-round 70, was a further shot adrift on four under as Spain’s Xavier Puig and Scotland’s Daniel Kay shared the sixth on three under.

Thomas, the 15-year-old Dubai-based prodigy from India, three-putted the 18th to return a level-par 71, but fancies his chances of going the full distance on Wednesday.

“I struck the ball really well, especially with my irons, and created many birdie opportunities, but didn’t putt well as I did in the first round. And that made the difference,” said Thomas, who opened with a 66.

“You never know what tomorrow holds, but the way I have played in the first two rounds has given my enough confidence. I think I can win,” said Thomas, the current winner of the Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit title.

New pacesetter White was equally upbeat about his chances of winning of his second title on the tour following his success at the 2014 Royal D’Anfa Open in Morocco.

“Overall, I am very pleased with my efforts. I needed to avoid bogeys on my card to ensure every birdie is counted and I did exactly that. I gave myself plenty of scoring opportunities and, more importantly, converted them which was the key,” said White, who reeled off three birdies in each half.

“The greens are just fantastic. I think the first 13 holes here offer good scoring chances, but coming down the stretch you need to have a good strategy to round off a good round.

“I feel like I’m in great position and look forward to playing the final round,” said Joshua, the 2014 MENA Golf Tour champion.

“He made it look really easy,” complimented Malcolm Mackenzie, White’s playing partner. And this shows the tour has many good players.

“This is my first event on the tour and all I can is that it’s geared for expansion. The organization is excellent and so is the communication with the players,” said the seasoned golfer, who won the French Open in 2002.

On a moving day, as the penultimate round in golf is often referred to, Gary King of England made the biggest move, matching the day’s best score of a 66 to dip into red figures.

Rising Moroccan amateur Ayoub Lguirati led the MENA Division on three over after a second round 70, one ahead of compatriots Younes El Hassani, Faycal Serghini, Amine Joudar and Mustapha El Maouas, raising the prospects of a tense finish for the Shaikh Maktoum Foundation Award that honours top performers from the region.

The cut was made at five over and, among the notables, who missed out on playing the final round included the English duo of Miles Tunnicliff, Yasin Ali.

Leading second round scores (par-71)

134 – Joshua White (England) 68 66

135 – Florian Praegant (Austria) 68 67

137 – Jake Shepherd (England) 67 70, Rayhan Thomas (India-AM) 66 71

138 – Luke Joy (England) 68 70

139 – Xavier Puig (Spain) 70 69, Daniel Kay (Scotland) 70 69

140 – Zane Scotland (England) 69 71; Carlos Balmaseda (Spain) 69 71

141 – Manish Goel (India) 71 70; Edward Kent (England) 70 71; Gary King (England) 75 66

Dubai/Athens, 15 September 2015 – The UPS Foundation has coordinated flights from across the Middle East region to deliver relief supplies to Europe. The UN refugee agency UNHCR worked with UPS and the World Food Program (WFP) to fly 86 tons of high energy biscuits from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai, UAE to Athens, Greece last week. From Amman, Jordan, UNHCR and UPS organized a flight carrying relief supplies for 30,000 refugees in Greece, including 30,000 blankets, 25,000 sleeping mats and 1,000 solar lanterns. From Athens airport, UPS facilitated the transport to refugees on the border of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As UNHCR‘s emergency standby partner, UPS works closely with UNHCR to airlift core relief items for lifesaving support.

“The flights from Dubai and Jordan will provide vital aid to the unprecedented numbers of refugees in Europe,” said Rami Suleiman, UPS Vice President Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa District.

Over the last decade, Dubai has developed into a vital logistics hub, connecting East Africa with South Asia. The Emirate hosts the Dubai International Humanitarian City (IHC), the world’s largest and busiest logistics hub for humanitarian aid, with nine UN agencies and nearly 50 NGOs and commercial entities as members. Last year UPS signed a memorandum of understanding with IHC to provide support when required.

The UPS Foundation’s Humanitarian Relief and Resilience program provides communities with crisis recovery support, from disaster preparation to urgent relief following an event through to post-crisis rehabilitation, most recently providing aid flights to Nepal following the devastating earthquakes this year. In 2014, the UPS Foundation assisted with more than 263 shipments to 43 different countries to help with disaster response efforts.

For more information about the UPS Foundation’s Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program, visit UPS.com/Foundation.

About The UPS Foundation

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2014, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $104 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

LJ Miller Gold Digger

17 September 2015: Racing and gadget enthusiasts worldwide will be watching the 2015 edition of Big Boys Toys as exhibitors prepare to unveil the ultimate in luxury gadgets and machines including high speed drones, customised bikes and more.

Leading the line-up of avant-garde products making their international debut includes the ‘Gold Digger’, a customised bike with a 120R” HD motor priced at USD 250,000. Especially built to premiere at the Big Boys Toys 2015 show, the Gold Digger is the latest custom made bike by internationally renowned up market motorcycle manufacturers, L.J Miller, an award winning engineer with a passion for customising cars and bikes.

Set to whiz through the show to make its first public appearance is the USD 1 million
high-speed drone by Wingcopter. Visitors at the 2015 show will be among the first in the world to not only discover the speed and details about this state of the art drone but will also be the first to see it in action.

Culminating 10 years of doctorate research, David Wickett’s design of the Aeroline will also make its global launch at Big Boys Toys 2015. An exclusive recliner chair using patent pending technology derived from kinematics, Aeroline solves the problem of gravity, offering an innovative way to relax in motion – the result is a unique experience of weightlessness and wellbeing.

The Wakejet Cruise, Concept Design

“Today, Big Boys Toys is recognised platform where inventors and designers worldwide choose to launch their cutting edge innovations and world class creations,” said Biju Jayaraaj, Chief Executive Officer, Artaaj Events, the company that owns and organises Big Boys Toys. “The show’s phenomenal growth and calibre of clientele offers creators and exhibitors an unprecedented platform for on-site sales, priceless marketing and untapped avenues of potential for business’s to expand…while connecting with a melting pot of audiences.”

Running 18 – 21 November at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Big Boys Toys 2015 will feature a diverse collection of more than 200 local, regional and international exhibitors from over 17 countries.

Big Boys Toys 2015 has the wow factor as inventions such as the levitating lightbulb, intelligent zipper-less luggage and more will enter the region for the first time at the show.

Trunkster gps back

FLYTE, is a levitating light bulb, which hovers by magnetic levitation and is powered through the air.

Trunkster’s crown jewel is a sliding roll top door, representing the first major update to the core industrial design of luggage since wheels. Durable and water resistant, the roll top entry is this region’s affluent traveller’s best friend and is specifically engineered to endure the hazards of baggage handling while providing an enhanced level of theft protection, unlike vulnerable zippers.

The treasure trove of toys will also include record holding creations like the world’s first electric powered wakeboard, the longest production motorcycle and the world’s costliest champagne cooler made out of 20 carat solid gold and priced at
USD 726,500.

Radinn’s Wakejet’s electronic powered wakeboard is priced at approx. USD 23,000 and combines the agility and speed of wakeboarding with the freedom of surfing and allows for riding in the ocean, sea, lake – or even up a rapid. The Wakejet is powered by the latest in lithium-ion battery technology and its speed controlled by a wireless and water proof remote.

Touted to be the most expensive champagne cooler in the world since it was first introduced, the Van Perckens nr.8 Champagne Cooler is not only the world’s costliest champagne cooler but is part pf a designer collection of exclusive, distinctive and limited edition items. Luxuriously serving six, the cooler is also available in sterling silver and silver/gold plated variants, with some precious stones thrown in for good measure – for roughly an extra $270,000, a couple of diamonds can be included to the design rounding up the figure to USD 1 million.

To cater for the diversity of its audiences, Big Boys Toys 2015 will feature an array of tickets categories with early bird discounts available on all ticket options up to 30 September 2015.

Big Boys Toys 2015 opens with an exclusive preview for ‘invite only’ guests on Wednesday 18 November 2015. The show is open to all other visitors from 12pm to 10pm from 19 – 21 November 2015.

To purchase tickets or find out more about Big Boys Toys 2015, visit www.bigboystoysuae.com or the event’s dedicated social media pages:

Facebook: facebook.com/BigBoysToysOfficialPage

Instagram: @bigboystoysuae

Twitter: @bigboystoys_uae

Trunkster usb

Zero – Gravity Chair

Conference & Exhibition was opened by Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain
Opening remarks made by both Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain and H.E. Shaikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive, nogaholding

Other Industry Initiatives include:

Live event updates and conference and exhibition information is available at www.mepec.org