Letters

With reference to the article in last week’s FinTech Focus headlined Intern’s bot brilliance. I just read it and it’s amazing! Thank you so much for your time and effort and for making my day. I really appreciate it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a perfect birthday present.

Shaima Almeer, East Riffa.

 I was disappointed to be unable to do this week’s GulfWeekly crossword. The Down clues were identical to the Across ones. Could you please supply the correct clues?

Charles Price.

 Just thought you should be aware that upon attempting to do last week’s crossword I find that the clues both across and down are identical!  Help please!

M Bowden.

l Editor’s note: Apologies – gremlins in the system!

Please find the crossword corrections.

DOWN

1. Irritate (5)

2. Suspension (8)

3. Cross-beam (6)

4. Be sad (4)

5. Vilify (7)

6. Lethargy (10)

9. Voters (10)

12. Segment (8)

14. Convivial (7)

16. Guard (6)

19. Subject (5)

20. Inactive (4)

l See Time Out on Page 19 for this week’s puzzle delights.

United Nations aid agencies and NGO partners have launched a 2019 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

The appeal seeks to raise $920 million to meet the massive needs of more than 900,000 refugees from Myanmar and over 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in host communities.

Critical aid and services such as food, water, sanitation and shelter represent more than half of the funding needs this year. Other key sectors of the appeal include health, site management, protection activities including child protection and addressing sexual and gender-based violence, education and nutrition.  

More than 745,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Bangladesh since August 2017, escaping violence and joining roughly 200,000 others already displaced in the Cox’s Bazar area by previous cycles of violence.

With the generosity and support of the Bangladeshi authorities and local communities, who were the first to respond to the emergency, critical needs were met and many lives were saved.

Our humanitarian imperative today is to stabilise the situation. We are hoping for timely, predictable and flexible contributions in order to meet the goals of this year’s appeal.

But while we tackle these immediate humanitarian needs we must not lose sight of solutions. I repeat my call to Myanmar to take urgent action to address the root causes of this crisis which have persisted for decades, so that people are no longer forced to flee and can eventually return home in safety and dignity.

We encourage countries in this region and beyond to show solidarity with Bangladesh and to support Myanmar to start creating conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

 THE 12th Annual Jawad Mini Marathon ‘Run OR Walk for a Cause’ will be staged to raise funds and awareness of the Bahrain Autistics Society and funds for children with autism on Friday, March 1, starting from 8.30am from Jawad Dome in Barbar.

It will be staged under the patronage of the governor of Northern Governorate, Ali

Al Shaikh Abdul Hussein Al Asfoor.

It is open to men, women, boys and girls, with two running distances and one walking event to choose from.

The 5km run is open to those aged nine and above, plus an 8km run for those 16 and above, and a wheelchair event too.

First, second and third places in all the runs will be acknowledged.

The 5km walkathon can be enjoyed by families with children from nine years old.

The entry fee is BD2 for those aged 16 and above and BD1 for children between nine and 15. Everyone registered will receive a T-shirt and a raffle ticket. Also, a finishing certificate will be emailed to all participants will a finishing time added for the runners.

The schedule of events on the day:

8km run: start at 8.50am

5km run: start at 9am 

5km walkathon: start at 9.10am

The prize raffle will include 20 Jawad BD10 voucher prizes, airline tickets to Dubai,

32inch TVs and it will be drawn at 10.30am.

The prizes to all the age category run winners will follow at 11am.

 Motorists should be aware that one lane will be closed on Budaiya Highway for the safety of all athletes along the entire race routes.

Medical assistance and support will be provided by Bahrain Specialist Hospital and Bahrain Royal Hospital and include light medical check-ups, such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels with an ambulance and medical team on standby should assistance and support be required.

There will also be six water stations en-route, plus at the start/finish point.

Registration is now open online by visiting www.jawadminimarathon.com

Should you require more information about the event, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Adnan Al Qassab, event director.

Mobile: 39132102, email adnan.alqassab@gmail.com or adnan@adnanevents.org and visit www.adnanevents.org