LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday personally apologized to Caribbean leaders after her government threatened to deport some of the hundreds of thousands of people who emigrated to Britain from the region in the 1950s and 1960s.
At a meeting in Downing Street, May told representatives of the 12 Caribbean members of the Commonwealth that she took the treatment of the so-called Windrush generation “very seriously.”
“I want to apologize to you today. Because we are genuinely sorry for any anxiety that has been caused,” she told the hastily-convened gathering.
She added: “I want to dispel any impression that my government is in some sense clamping down on Commonwealth citizens, particularly those from the Caribbean.”
The government has faced outrage for its treatment of people who came to Britain between 1948 — when the ship Empire Windrush brought over the first group of West Indian immigrants — and the early 1970s.
They and their parents were invited to help rebuild Britain after World War II and with many of them legally British — they were born while their home countries were still colonies — they were given indefinite leave to remain.
But those who failed to get their papers in order are now being treated as illegal, which limits their access to work and health care and puts them at risk of deportation if they cannot provide evidence of their life in Britain.
The row, which one MP called a “national shame,” has been hugely embarrassing as it coincides with this week’s meeting of the 53 Commonwealth heads of government in London.
More than 50,000 people could be affected by the government’s immigration crackdown.
British PM apologizes to Caribbean leaders over deportation row
British PM apologizes to Caribbean leaders over deportation row
Consulate brings a taste of France to Jeddah
- An evening of fine dining hosted by the French consulate general takes place in Jeddah
- French chef Jacques Rolancy is joined by Saudi chef Asma Al-Khan, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris
JEDDAH: Gastronomy met diplomacy in Jeddah on Thursday with an evening of fine dining hosted by the French consulate general.
The event, held at the consulate, was part of this year’s Gout de/Good France. The initiative, launched in 2015 by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and renowned chef Alain Ducasse, aims to promote French cuisine — recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Consul General of France in Jeddah Mohammed Nehad opened the evening with a speech that highlighted the role of gastronomy in fostering cultural cooperation between his country and Saudi Arabia.
The dinner was prepared by chef Jacques Rolancy, a “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” — the title translates as “best craftsman.”
Rolancy has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants and is a member of the French Culinary Academy and Association of Master Chefs of France. He is committed to sharing his expertise and preserving the French culinary heritage.
He was assisted by Saudi chef Asma Al-Khan, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, who helped prepare the special menu.
Al-Khan told Arab News: “I was observing how the chef worked and honestly, he was impressively fast and precise. I assisted with various tasks in the kitchen and took part in preparing and plating the dishes.”
She also explained why she continued to learn about French cuisine.
“I love how they use very minimal spices — often just salt and black pepper. That allows the original flavors of the ingredients, like meat or vegetables, to shine without being overwhelmed by seasoning. You get to taste the true flavor of the food,” she said.
The dinner menu featured foie gras escalope, marinated salmon, white radish and candied ginger with a soy vinaigrette.
Rolancy told Arab News: “This dish is one I created 10 years ago. It’s one of my signature dishes. I love to travel, discover new ingredients and experiment with how different products can complement each other.”
Also served was a traditional French dish of roasted veal fillet with green pea puree, figs, red peppers, strawberries and a touch of wasabi, as well as sliced Camembert — either plain or paired with mashed banana and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a delicate sauce. For dessert, there was a chocolate and coffee tartlet.
The event marked Rolancy’s second visit to the Kingdom. “I really enjoyed it. It’s a country full of culinary expression and creativity,” he said. “I tried different Saudi dishes when I was in Riyadh. Some of the spices felt familiar, like cardamom and clove. We use those in French cooking too.”
The evening highlighted the excellence of French culinary expertise and strengthened cultural and professional ties with Saudi partners.
UN to cut 20 percent of humanitarian staff amid funding shortfall, scale back operations in Pakistan
UN to cut 20 percent of humanitarian staff amid funding shortfall, scale back operations in Pakistan
- UN aid chief Tom Fletcher cites a $58 million shortfall after major funding cuts by the US
- Fletcher says the agency will focus its resources by operating in fewer locations than before
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will cut 20 percent of its staff as it faces a shortfall of $58 million, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher has told staff after OCHA’s largest donor — the United States — cut funding.
“OCHA currently has a workforce of around 2,600 staff in over 60 countries. The funding shortfall means we are looking to regroup to an organization of around 2,100 staff in fewer locations,” Fletcher wrote in a note to staff on Thursday.
OCHA works to mobilize aid, share information, support aid efforts, and advocate for those in need during a crisis. It relies heavily on voluntary contributions.
“The US alone has been the largest humanitarian donor for decades, and the biggest contributor to OCHA’s program budget,” Fletcher said, noting that its annual contribution of $63 million would have accounted for 20 percent of OCHA’s extrabudgetary resources in 2025.
Since returning to office in January for a second term, US President Donald Trump’s administration has slashed billions of dollars in foreign assistance in a review that aimed to ensure programs align with his “America First” foreign policy.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month announced a new initiative to improve efficiency and cut costs as the world body turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis.
Fletcher said OCHA would “focus more of our resources in the countries where we work,” but would work in fewer places.
“OCHA will scale back our presence and operations in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Gaziantep (in Turkiye) and Zimbabwe,” Fletcher said.
“As we all know, these exercises are driven by funding cuts announced by Member States and not by a reduction of needs,” he said. “Humanitarian needs are on the rise and have perhaps never been higher, driven by conflicts, climate crises, disease, and the lack of respect of international humanitarian law.”
Sandstorm clouds Riyadh skyline reducing visibility on roads
- Authorities warn motorists to take precautions during storm
RIYADH: An enormous sandstorm enveloped the city skyline when dust-stirring winds hit Riyadh and its outskirts on Friday, covering the capital region with heavy dust.
As the sandstorm enveloped the skyline in dust clouds, hampering visibility, the road safety authority and Saudi Highway Security warned motorists to exercise caution due to poor visibility caused by the storm.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense advised residents to avoid going to sandy outskirts to avoid accidents during the sandstorm, calling for caution and for people to follow instructions issued because of the weather.
Mohammed Serajuddin, a Riyadh resident, told Arab News: “Since it was a week off, we have planned for an outing with family in the evening, but due to the sandstorm we have decided to remain indoors. It’s not good to venture out in such inclement weather. The local civic bodies have also advised people to avoid going out amid the dust storm.”
Basheer Saleh, another Riyadh resident, agreed, saying the local authorities have warned of inclement weather in various regions and advised residents to avoid going to picnic spots at the weekend because of the possibility of the inclement weather continuing.
“It’s good to take precautions amid such inclement weather,” he said.
Because sandstorms can cause breathing ailments, people with respiratory problems were advised to avoid going outside where possible, he added.
Widespread dust storms were predicted in several parts of the Kingdom. The National Center for Meteorology forecast on Friday said thunderstorms accompanied by hail and dust-stirring winds were expected in parts of Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Eastern, and Northern Borders regions.
The NCM expects lower temperatures in northern parts of the Kingdom.
Although not infrequent at this time of the year, the sandstorm created warm conditions, with the maximum temperature recorded in the capital at 35 degrees Celsius and minimum of 26 degrees Celsius.
As per the forecast, wind over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of 25-50 km per hour in the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southwesterly at speeds of 20-40 kph in the south.
Waves may reach from 1.5 m to 3 m; the sea will be calm to choppy, the NCM said.
In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northeasterly to northwesterly at speeds of 15-30 kph, with waves ranging from 0.5 m to 1.5 m, while the sea will be relatively calm, it added.
Thousands rally across Pakistan against Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, urge Muslim states to act
- Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s key religio-political party, called the protest across Pakistan
- JI chief urges building a strong pro-Palestine movement and preparing for a nationwide strike
KARACHI: Thousands of supporters of a prominent Pakistani religio-political party poured into the streets of Lahore and other major cities on Friday to protest Israel’s military strikes in Gaza, with their leaders demanding urgent action from Muslim states to stop the bloodshed.
The call for nationwide demonstrations came from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) after intensified conflict in Gaza, which began in October 2023. International efforts for a ceasefire have not held, with reports indicating the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 50,000, with a significant number of women and children among the casualties.
Pakistan has long advocated for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital and does not recognize Israel.
Addressing a large gathering in Lahore, the JI chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, urged Muslim leaders to get united.
“Liberating this occupied land is the duty of every Muslim,” he said. “When our paths are blocked [as individuals], it becomes the responsibility of [Muslim] rulers and their armies. Even a small step forward can lead to a ceasefire.”
In his speech, Rehman emphasized the historical and ideological connections between Pakistan and Palestine, remembering how his country's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made them clear.
“When Israel was imposed as an illegitimate entity [over Palestinian territory and people] in 1948, Quaid-e-Azam [Jinnah] said that Israel was the illegitimate child of the West, a tool created for their use,” he continued.
The JI chief also highlighted the engagement of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet-philosopher, with the Palestinian issue, mentioning his attendance at a conference in Palestine in 1931.
“That is the foundation of Pakistan’s connection with Palestine, and it was a stated policy of our country that we promised never to recognize Israel,” he added. “So, if anyone talks about a two-state solution, or speaks in favor of Israel in secrecy, we want to make it clear that there is only one state — the state of Palestine — and it is under occupation.”
Rehman called for sustained public pressure on governments around the world, hoping it would force them to address the issue.
“Pressurize your government through public protest,” he said. “Protests have erupted in Bangladesh, in India and across Europe and America — people are rising. Don’t let this flame of resistance die. Be ready for the struggle.”
He maintained he would consult religious scholars and speak with other parties to unite for a powerful movement.
“We are already in communication with the Palestinian leadership. One day, we will call for a complete nationwide strike across Pakistan,” he said, appealing to traders and the general public to prepare for future mobilization and boycott of Israeli and Western products.
“We do not stand with the oppressors,” he continued. “The Palestinian resistance is legitimate under the UN Charter.”
Meanwhile, in Karachi, hundreds gathered outside the Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood, where the city’s JI chief, Munem Zafar, addressed the protesters.
“The massacre in Gaza continues unabated. Zionist forces are committing genocide. Over 60,000 people have been martyred in the last 18 months,” he said, adding that 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure had been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.
Zafar announced a “Solidarity with Gaza March” to be held in Karachi on April 13 along Sharah-e-Faisal, to be led by Rehman, the party’s central chief.
“We want to awaken the conscience of the Muslim rulers,” he said. “We urge families — children, elders, women — to join in large numbers.”
The party also called for a boycott of goods produced by companies supporting Israel.
Hundreds of protests were also held outside various mosques after the Friday prayer congregations in Karachi and other Pakistani cities on JI’s call.
Syria extends deadline for probe into killings of Alawites
- President Ahmed Al-Sharaa grants fact-finding committee three month extension to identify perpetrators
- Human rights groups say more than 1,000 civilians — mostly Alawites were killed in violence last month
BEIRUT: Syria’s presidency announced on Friday that it would extend a probe into the killings of Alawite civilians in coastal areas that left hundreds dead after clashes between government forces and armed groups loyal to former President Bashar Assad spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks.
The violence erupted on March 6 after Assad loyalists ambushed patrols of the new government, prompting Islamist-led groups to launch coordinated assaults on Latakia, Baniyas, and other coastal areas.
According to human rights groups, more than 1,000 civilians — mostly Alawites, an Islamic minority to which Assad belongs — were killed in retaliatory attacks, including home raids, executions, and arson, displacing thousands.
The sectarian violence was possibly among the bloodiest 72 hours in Syria’s modern history, including the 14 years of civil war from which the country is now emerging. The violence brought fear of a renewed civil war and threatened to open an endless cycle of vengeance, driving thousands of Alawites to flee their homes, with an estimated 30,000 seeking refuge in northern Lebanon.
On March 9, President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the former leader of an Islamist insurgent group, formed a fact-finding committee and gave it 30 days to report its findings and identify perpetrators. In a decree published late Thursday, Sharaa said the committee had requested more time and was granted a three-month non-renewable extension.
The committee’s spokesperson, Yasser Farhan, said in a statement on Friday that the committee has recorded 41 sites where killings took place, each forming the basis for a separate case and requiring more time to gather evidence. He said some areas remained inaccessible due to time constraints, but that residents had cooperated, despite threats from pro-Assad remnants.
In a report published on April 3, Amnesty International said its probe into the killings concluded that at least 32 of more than 100 people killed in the town of Baniyas were deliberately targeted on sectarian grounds — a potential war crime.
The rights organization welcomed the committee’s formation but stressed it must be independent, properly resourced, and granted full access to burial sites and witnesses to conduct a credible investigation. It also said the committee should be granted “adequate time to complete the investigation.”
Witnesses to the killings identified the attackers as hard-line Sunni Islamists, including Syria-based jihadi foreign fighters and members of former rebel factions that took part in the offensive that overthrew Assad. However, many were also local Sunnis, seeking revenge for past atrocities blamed on Alawites loyal to Assad.
While some Sunnis hold the Alawite community responsible for Assad’s brutal crackdowns, Alawites themselves say they also suffered under his rule.
