LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May reacted on Sunday to an attack that killed seven people in London by saying things could not continue as they were and that the strategy for dealing with terrorism needed to be reviewed in four ways.
Three assailants drove a van at pedestrians on London Bridge late on Saturday night before getting out of the van in the bustling Borough Market area and stabbing a number of people. All three attackers were shot dead by police within eight minutes of the first emergency call to officers.
May mentioned beefing up jail sentences for terrorism offenses and additional cyberspace regulations as possible areas of policy change.
The attack was the third to hit Britain in quick succession after a similar incident on Westminster Bridge in March and a suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a pop concert in Manchester, northern England, less than two weeks ago.
“We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are,” May said in a televised statement in front of her Downing Street office.
“We believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism, and perpetrators are inspired to attack not only on the basis of carefully constructed plots after years of planning and training, and not even as lone attackers radicalized online, but by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack.”
She said campaigning ahead of a national parliamentary election on Thursday was suspended as a mark of respect, but would resume on Monday.
“Violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process, so those campaigns will resume in full tomorrow and the general election will go ahead as planned on Thursday,” said May.
She listed four areas where she said change needed to take place.
The first was the fight against the “evil ideology” inspiring the repeated attacks, which she called a perversion of Islam and of the truth.
The fight could not be won through military intervention alone, she said, adding that there was a need to defend pluralistic British values that were superior to anything offered by the “preachers of hate.”
Secondly, May said, new regulations were needed to reduce the space available to extremists online.
“We cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed. Yet that is precisely what the Internet and the big companies that provide Internet-based services provide,” May said. “We need to work with allied democratic governments to reach international agreements that regulate cyberspace.”
Thirdly, she said, more needed to be done to identify and stamp out extremism across British society.
The fourth area was the counter-terrorism strategy, which May said was robust but needed to be reviewed in light of the changing threat.
She said that if an increase in jail sentences for terrorism-related offenses, even apparently minor ones, were needed, then it would be done.
UK PM May calls for beefed up terror response after London attack
UK PM May calls for beefed up terror response after London attack
Where We Are Going Today: Mr Chow, a Chinese restaurant in Riyadh
If you are a fan of Chinese cuisine, you must check out Mr Chow’s restaurant, which opened in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
Specializing in real Chinese food, Mr Chow is located in the district’s upscale neighborhood, close to Zuma Lounge. Valet parking is available for your convenience.
The smart venue is open daily for dinner and it’s exactly the sort of grand, modern spot you’d expect in the area. The glossy black entrance with neon artwork opens up to two floors of sprawling seats with white tablecloths, a spiral staircase, and staff in immaculate white outfits.
Entering this establishment, you will be greeted with excellent service and a romantic atmosphere.
The appetizers are a taste adventure in and of themselves You can begin your culinary journey with an appetizer of pot stickers, chicken satay, or glazed prawns with walnuts.
Following starters, opt for the Ma Mignon, a traditional tender fillet mignon served with fried rice on the side, or the fresh lobster. For dessert, be sure to try the rich chocolate cake.
The food is presented wonderfully. You will love watching the chef skillfully work the dough live to make noodles. While enjoying your dinner, you can choose to sit outside and take in the stunning view of the financial district’s tall buildings and contemporary architecture.
Who is Mr Chow?
Michael Chow, founder and owner of the Mr Chow restaurant chain, is an actor, interior designer, artist, and British-Chinese restaurateur.
On Valentine’s Day 1968, London saw the opening of the first Mr Chow restaurant, where elite chefs served real Beijing cuisine along with novel creations, including Ma Mignon.
For half a century, clients have enjoyed watching the nightly handmade noodle show at all of the locations, and on the menu is one of the best-prepared Beijing ducks in the world.
For more details, visit @mrchowriyadh.
Saudi, Cypriot foreign ministers discuss relations
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Cypriot counterpart, Dr. Konstantinos Kompos, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.
During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the advanced bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus, and ways to promote them in a variety of fields.
They also discussed ways to increase bilateral coordination on issues of common interest and reviewed international developments.
What We’re Reading Today: Work Life Well-lived
Author: Kelly Mackin
This book will disrupt how you think about creating your best work life and workplace and give you a road map to get you there, says a review published on goodreads.com.
Through years of research and truth-finding, Kelly Mackin and her company, Motives Met, have discovered a completely new mindset and approach around what well-being at work is all about, how to get there, and why it’s so important that we do get there.
This book is a personal guide and a call to action for a shift in our approach to work.
Saudi Vision 2030 changed everything, says CEO of Publicis Communications KSA
- Adel Baraja brought over 2 decades of global experience
- Role includes overseeing the group’s Saudi operations, fostering talent
DUBAI: Advertising and marketing network Publicis Groupe appointed Adel Baraja as CEO of Publicis Communications Saudi Arabia in late February as part of its efforts to strengthen its presence in the Kingdom.
Publicis Communications is the creative communications arm of the network housing agencies such as Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi.
The appointment reinforced Publicis Groupe Middle East’s commitment to accelerating growth within Saudi Arabia while enhancing collaboration and expanding capabilities to deliver transformative work for clients.
Baraja brought with him 22 years of global advertising and brand-building experience.
He had started his professional life in engineering before realizing it was not for him.
He told Arab News: “I wanted to be with clients and that’s when I took my first pivot toward client management (and) sales, and I found my calling in marketing.”
He spent his early days working across advertising agencies in Germany, Spain, and Portugal, before returning to Saudi Arabia where he first interacted with Publicis Groupe. At the time he was hoping to find a job at Leo Burnett, but turned out to be a better fit for one of its clients, Saudi Telecom Company.
He then took a break from advertising agencies to work across industries in companies like Dow Chemical and Volkswagen.
And then, he said, came a “critical moment” in his career.
He added: “I never considered (working in) government before, but six months prior Vision 2030 was introduced, and that was everything.
“It was a meticulous plan — a road map towards something that I had never experienced or seen before. So, I got my first role in government in 2017.”
He led the newly established promotion and nation-branding sector at the Saudi Export Development Authority, growing the Saudi Made portfolio of companies from 20 to more than 2,000 companies during his tenure.
He also held the position of deputy minister of investment promotion at the Ministry of Investment before joining Publicis Groupe Middle East.
Communications had always been a “savvy topic” in the Kingdom, but it was heavily focused on and driven by the private sector, he said.
Vision 2030 changed it all, and “the government sector became a big spender in the communication sector and a driver to creativity,” he added.
With these changes, the demand for local talent is higher now than ever before, and fostering that talent is a strong priority for Baraja and Publicis Groupe.
Baraja is tasked with overseeing the integrated growth strategy of Publicis Communications in his new role, as well as working with educational institutions to empower Saudi youth for careers in advertising, media, and digital marketing.
He said that Bassel Kakish, CEO at Publicis Groupe Middle East and Turkiye, told him that the company needs to be developing and fostering local talent, hiring more locally, and ensuring gender equality, training more women in the advertising and creative industries.
Baraja said: “We are competing against other industries to get that share of talent, so we need to promote our industry and our company.”
Looking ahead, the company is investing in the future, which means increased focus on technology through acquisitions such as that of tech company Epsilon in 2020 and e-commerce company Corra in 2023.
Publicis last year announced the acquisition of a full stake in Publicis Sapient AI Labs, an artificial intelligence research and development joint venture launched in 2020 which aims to strengthen Publicis Sapient’s data and AI capabilities.
Baraja added: “That kind of investment shows the focus toward the future and the transformation of the business.”
There is a lot of discussion around AI replacing marketing and agencies, he said, but he believes: “We are well equipped to address this challenge and to prove that we can deliver even better communications, and better and well-designed campaigns and media performances.”
New initiative to train young innovators in nanotechnology
- Program structured in 3 phases for Saudi graduates and entrepreneurs
RIYADH: The Nanotechnology Association, supported by the Misk Foundation, is set to launch the Nanohub Program, aimed at inspiring and equipping the next generation for careers in the sector to help support a brighter future and a thriving economy.
Nanohub, a nonprofit initiative, is structured in three phases to train Saudi graduates and entrepreneurs aged between 20 and 26. It provides workshops and sessions to develop personal skills, gain hands-on experience with nanotechnology, and receive guidance from industry experts.
The program partners with leading local and international organizations to ensure participants are prepared for the workforce.
Nanotechnology is expected to transform business and innovation in various sectors. Understanding its economic impact and the potential benefits of partnerships are of crucial importance for young entrepreneurs.
The program aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in nanotechnology and inspire them to drive innovation in their industries.
The first phase of the program will focus on soft skills and leadership development. It is scheduled for three days, starting on April 28.
The second phase, which starts on May 5, explores applications of nanotechnology. It runs for five days, covering topics like the fundamentals of nanotechnology, its use in medicine, energy, and renewable energy, as well as sustainability.
The third phase, beginning on May 12 and ending on May 16, provides hands-on laboratory experience through a series of sessions called “Shadowing and Lab Tours.” This phase has two key tracks: the Shadowing Track and the Lab Tours Track.
The Lab Tours Track will give participants an in-depth look at cutting-edge nanotechnology research. They will visit world-class laboratories where nanotechnology innovations are being developed.
Participants will observe advanced equipment and complex techniques central to nanotechnology research. They will see live experiments and dynamic processes that reveal the workings of nanotechnology. This track is more than just a tour as it enhances understanding by connecting academic concepts to real-world applications, giving participants a closer look at the research and development process.
The Nanohub Program is “a transformative initiative designed to elevate the skills and competencies of graduates and new hires with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) backgrounds,” said Dr. Turki Almugaiteeb, chairman of the board of the Nanotechnology Association.
“This unique initiative aims to enrich participants’ soft skills and technical expertise through curated activities.”
Almugaiteeb added that participants would “have the opportunity to delve into the intriguing realms of medicine and energy, witnessing firsthand how nanotechnology is revolutionizing these industries.”
He added: “By immersing themselves in this dynamic program, individuals will not only broaden their knowledge but also cultivate the multidisciplinary skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive and rapidly evolving STEM landscape.”
