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Sunday, April 28, 2024 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

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Gulf Times
Qatar

Qatar strongly condemns attack on Khor Mor Gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan

The State of Qatar voiced strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack that targeted the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan, leaving Yemeni workers killed and two injured.In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar's firm position rejecting violence, terrorism and criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons; and affirmed full solidarity with the sisterly Republic of Iraq in all the measures it takes to maintain its security and stability.The Ministry expressed the State of Qatar's condolences to families of the victims, and to the government and people of brotherly Yemen, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. (QNA)

Gulf Times
Qatar

Minister of Labor meets Jordanian, Palestinian counterparts

HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri met separately on Sunday with Minister of Labor of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Nadia Abdel Raouf Rawabdeh, and Minister of Labor of Palestine Dr. Enas Hosni Attari, on the sidelines of the 50th Arab Labor Conference in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.The meetings discussed aspects of joint cooperation between the State of Qatar and each of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Palestine, and ways to support and develop them in labor-related topics. (QNA)

Gulf Times
Qatar

Naseem Employees donate One-day Salary to Qatar Charity for Baby Malkha Rouhi

Naseem Healthcare employees donated ‘One-Day Salary’ to Baby Malkha Rouhi’s treatment relief fund, initiated by Qatar Charity. This initiative underscores Naseem Family's unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those in need.At the heart of this campaign lies the story of Malkha Rouhi, a precious child battling against the odds. As a socially responsible organization, the employees too believe that even small actions can create monumental change. It is with this conviction that Naseem employees contributed their One-day Wage towards this noble cause.Mr. Mohammed Miandad VP, Managing Director of Naseem Healthcare and CMD 33 Holdings, expressed gratitude and appreciation towards his teammates, for their dedication to driving meaningful change: "Our ethos at Naseem Family is rooted in compassion and empathy. We understand the profound impact that collective action can have, and that's why our team is rallying to join hands in supporting Malkha Rouhi. I feel extremely grateful and content that our team is aligned to our vision and plays a vital role in transforming lives and spreading hope."The "One-Day Salary Support to Malkha Rouhi" proves that by coming together, individuals can make a tangible difference in the life of a courageous individual facing adversity.About Naseem: Naseem Healthcare is a renowned advocate for social responsibility, dedicated to fostering positive change in communities worldwide. Through various initiatives and partnerships, Naseem strives to empower individuals, promote equality, and build a better future for generations to come.

Gulf Times
International

Russia bombs Ukrainian energy and weapon manufacturing facilities, ammunition depots

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that its forces carried out 35 strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, military equipment factories, railway infrastructure, air defenses, and ammunition stocks.The strikes launched by Moscow during the period from April 20 to 27 came in response to the Kyiv regime's attempts to destroy Russian energy and industrial facilities, the Ministry added in a statement.Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries and other facilities in drone attacks in recent weeks, ignoring US requests not to do so.Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a missile attack on energy facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, to increase pressure on the faltering energy system at a time when the country faces a shortage of air defenses despite the recent breakthrough in efforts to obtain US military aid.The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the strikes were carried out using long-range precision weapons launched from the sea and air, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones.It also bombed formations of Ukrainian forces, in addition to what it described as foreign mercenaries, the Ministry added.For his part, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that the Russian attack on his country's energy sector with up to 34 missiles of various types targeted gas facilities important for European Union supplies."The main target was the energy sector, numerous facilities in the sector, and both electricity and gas transmission facilities... in particular, gas facilities that are essential to ensure supplies to the European Union", Zelenskiy said in his evening video speech. (QNA)

Gulf Times
Qatar

Relatively hot weather expected today

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Sunday will be hazy to misty at places at first, becomes relatively hot during daytime with scattered clouds, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.Offshore, the weather will be hazy to misty, and will see scattered clouds to become partly cloudy at times, the report added.Wind inshore will be mainly easterly- southeasterly at a speed of 5 to 15 knot, gusting to 24 knot at places at times.Offshore, it will be variable at first, becomes mainly northeasterly - southeasterly at a speed of 5 to 15 knot, gusting to 20 knot at times.Visibility inshore will be 5 to 9 km/3 km or less at places at first. Offshore, it will be 4 to 8 km/3 km or less at first.Sea state inshore will be 1 to 2 feet, while offshore, it will be 2 to 4 feet, rising to 6 feet at times.

A drone view shows emergency personnel working at the site of damaged buildings in the aftermath of a tornado in Omaha, Nebraska, in this still image obtained from social media.
International

Scores of tornadoes lash central US plains states

Dozens of tornadoes struck the central United States on Friday, razing homes, knocking down power lines and injuring at least three people, authorities said.More than 70 tornadoes were recorded across the country by the National Weather Service (NWS), most of them around Omaha, a transportation hub in Nebraska.Images from storm chasers posted on social networks showed immense black twisters sweeping across the sky, turning over earth, dust and materials in their path.In the Omaha suburb of Elkhorn, the storms razed numerous homes, blew off roofs and stripped trees of leaves.“Emergency personnel continue to check damaged houses and assist any injured citizens,” Omaha police posted on social media platform X.Further south, near the Nebraska state capital of Lincoln, a tornado struck an industrial shed.The 70 or so people inside when the roof collapsed were evacuated, but three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Lancaster County authorities said at a news conference.To the northeast of Lincoln, near Waverly, powerful storm winds toppled a train from its tracks, the officials said.About 11,000 households were without power in Nebraska, according to tracking site Poweroutage.com.The NWS, which issued numerous urgent tornado warnings in several central US states on Friday, warned that powerful storms would continue this weekend in the central plains, extending as far south as Texas.Tornadoes, weather phenomena that are as impressive as they are difficult to predict, are relatively common in the United States, especially in the central and southern parts of the country.

This picture taken in 2020 shows protesters in Denver marching to call for justice for Elijah McClain.
International

US paramedic jailed over death of man during arrest

One of two paramedics who injected a young black man with ketamine as he was put in a chokehold by US police has been sentenced to 14 months in jail with work release and probation, in the final chapter of a case that became a clarion call in the Black Lives Matter movement.Jeremy Cooper had been convicted in December of criminally negligent homicide over the death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old who died several days after a struggle with police in Colorado.He had suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance in the moments after his forceful arrest.At a court in Colorado on Friday, Cooper, 49, was given 14 months in jail with work release, and four years’ probation, US media reported.Work-release programmes typically require convicts to spent nights and weekends in jail, though they are free to leave for work during weekdays.Fellow paramedic Peter Cichuniec was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and assault by drugging.He was sentence last month to five years in prison, the mandatory minimum for the assault conviction.Paramedics rarely face charges in such cases.Sheneen McClain, Elijah’s mother, walked out of the courtroom when a tearful Cooper rose to say he was directing sorrowful comments to her son.She later returned to give her own statement before the court and told Cooper to never invoke her son’s name.She said the law enforcement culture that permits young black men to be killed with greater frequency than their white counterparts will not change until deep shifts take place.“America will never be what it could be because it does not look at all its citizens as one race – the human race,” Sheneen McClain said.She then touched her right hand to her chest and lifted it skyward, choked back tears and concluded: “Long live Elijah McClain, always and forever!”The episode unfolded in August 2019 when police in the city of Aurora responded to reports of a “suspicious” black male “acting weird” in the street and wearing a ski mask.McClain’s family later told media that he had been out buying iced tea, and often wore the mask to stay warm because he suffered from anaemia.One officer said McClain, who was unarmed, had reached for another officer’s gun. No evidence was produced to support this claim.They grappled with him and while they were restraining him Cichuniec and Cooper injected him with ketamine.During the trial, the paramedics’ lawyers argued that their clients had simply followed protocol in administering a drug approved in Colorado for people in an “agitated state”.Prosecutors countered they had ignored their training in handling distressed patients.McClain’s death occurred months before the killing of another black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis in May 2020, but drew renewed attention soon after as protests against police brutality swelled.A celebrity-backed campaign led to a special investigation in which three police officers were ultimately indicted, along with the two paramedics.Two of the police officers were acquitted, while the third officer was sentenced in January to 14 months behind bars.Colorado has undergone significant police reforms since the killing of McClain and the following year’s racial justice protests ignited by the killing of Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Politicians and experts say more must be done.“It should not be the way that we have to make policy, to do so based on someone being murdered, like Elijah McClain,” said Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod. “But when Elijah McClain was murdered, we were able to make a lot of progress in a lot of areas that people wanted to ignore or say did not happen here in Colorado.”Herod said one of the most impactful measures of a sweeping 2020 police reform bill she co-sponsored spelled out that officers have a duty to intervene if they see a colleague committing civil rights violations.Herod said she is now focusing on providing whistleblower protections for police officers, and said new laws are needed to ensure, for example, that independent bodies investigate allegations against police.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was involved in touchline spat with manager Jurgen Klopp  during the Premier League match against West Ham on Saturday. (Reuters)
Sports

Liverpool title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield United relegated

Liverpool’s fading Premier League title hopes were dealt a near-fatal blow on Saturday as West Ham rescued a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s men while Sheffield United dropped through the relegation trap door. Manchester United’s push for Europe was dented by Burnley, who salvaged a late draw at Old Trafford, and Everton secured their top-flight status with a 1-0 win at home to Brentford.Klopp’s glittering reign at Anfield appears to be ending on a flat note after they dropped points for the fourth time in five league games at the London Stadium. Just weeks ago Liverpool, who won the League Cup in February, were on course for a quadruple of trophies but that is now a distant memory after FA Cup and Europa League exits and a string of damaging league results.Liverpool would have moved level on points with leaders Arsenal with a victory, at least temporarily, but they failed to make the most of their chances despite a stirring second-half fightback. The Gunners are on 77 points, two clear of Liverpool with a game in hand, while defending champions Manchester City have 76 points with two games in hand on the Reds.Jarrod Bowen put David Moyes’s West Ham ahead shortly before half time but Liverpool looked a different side in the second period, equalising through Andy Robertson before an own goal from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. But West Ham levelled in the 77th minute when Bowen wriggled free down the right and lifted a cross towards Michail Antonio, who headed home to make it 2-2.A downbeat Klopp, in the final weeks of his time at Anfield, refused to talk about his side’s title chances. “I’m not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all,” he said. “We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”Klopp attempted to play down a touchline spat with Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the starting line-up, but the Egypt forward fanned the flames. “There’s going to be a fire today if I speak,” he told reporters.Pep Guardiola’s City, who play relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest today, are hot favourites to secure an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title. Arsenal are firmly in the hunt but face a tough away day at Tottenham, also today.Newcastle’s 5-1 win against basement club Sheffield United strengthened their push for European football next season but sent Chris Wilder’s team down to the Championship after just one season in the top flight. Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the visitors an early lead at St James’ Park but Alexander Isak scored twice as the home side roared back. “We have not been good enough,” Wilder said. “The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.”Newcastle remain in seventh place but are just one point behind Manchester United, who conceded a late penalty in a 1-1 draw against Burnley. Brazilian winger Antony scored his first Premier League goal of the season but Zeki Amdouni levelled from the spot in the 87th minute.United have now won just one of their past six league matches as they limp towards the end of the season. Burnley are two points behind Forest, who are just outside the relegation zone, and one point behind Luton. Ten Hag said his team “gave it away”. “We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment,” said the Dutchman. “We are creating loads of chances by playing good football. it was unnecessary to lose control.”Idrissa Gueye scored in the 60th minute at Goodison Park to make it four wins out of five for Sean Dyche’s Everton, who have survived despite losing eight points this season for breaches of Premier League financial rules.Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes scored as Wolves deepened Luton’s woes with a 2-1 win and Fulham drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.


South Africa’s Akani Simbine (left), finishes ahead of USA’s Christian Coleman (centre) and USA’s Fred Kerley in the men’s 100m in Suzhou. (AFP)
Sports

Barshim settles for second place as Kerr triumphs

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim seemed to be flying in the men’s high jump final of Suzhou Diamond League meeting in China on Saturday until he erred at 2.31m and moved straight to 2.33 before choosing to call it a day and save himself for the Doha leg in preparation for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.The 32-year-old Olympic and world champion Barshim’s decision to settle for second place was a wise call given the bigger goals he’s set for himself.In comparatively cooler conditions to that of the Xiamen meeting last week, Barshim began at 2.20m in the eleven-man competition and went on to also clear 2.24, 2.27 and 2.29 – all in his first attempts.World indoor champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, who emerged winner, began at 2.16 needed a jump extra to clear 2.24 and 2.27, and later 2.31 which set the battle between him and Barshim.Unable to get past 2.31 in two attempts, Barshim moved to 2.33 before calling it a day after one attempt. Kerr too had two attempts at 2.33 but without success.Speaking soon after, Barshim said: “I loving coming back to compete here, and it was a nice week. This is an important season for me and I am really looking forward the next competition. I really love Suzhou and enjoyed it with my wife here. The fans are very supportive and encouraged me a lot.“Compared to the last meeting in Xiamen, the weather is way better. Due to the rain (In Xiamen) I was really concerned and I did not want to push myself too hard because I did not want to be injured and ruin my season. The Olympics is the goal with my next competition in Doha in two weeks,” he added.Kerr, who rebounded after his third place in Xiamen, said, “It was great to get the win. I’ve been working on a few technical things so for that to work out tonight, I’m stoked. It wasn’t perfect through 2.24m, 2.27m tonight but I stayed patient and that is the most pleasing thing. Just to be out there with these who I really look up to like Barshim and to beat them, I still have to pinch myself. This gives me a lot of confidence going into the season ahead.”Turner Vernon of USA was third with a best jump of 2.27.Duplantis sails to victory, Simbine beats ColemanSweden’s Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis dominated the men’s pole vault, going close to bettering his own world record set last week. The reigning Olympic champion, who cleared 6.24m in Xiamen for his eighth world record mark, wrapped up the win in Suzhou with a meet record of 6.00m.The bar was immediately raised to 6.25m, but it proved too much for the US-born Duplantis, who failed three times at the height, albeit going close on his final effort. “There’s always a little bit of a crash after a huge performance like that, like I had last week, but I still felt good today, of course,” Duplantis said. “I knew I was going to have to push a little bit harder, it wasn’t going to come as natural as last week because that’s just kind of the nature of how it feels. I felt a little bit flat today, but still really good. I just feel that conditions have to be perfect for me to jump a world record and I wasn’t quite feeling it off the runway tonight,” he said.World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson suffered another upset in the women’s 200m, with the American coming in third at 23.11 seconds behind Briton Daryll Neita’s winning 22.62 and the USA’s Anavia Battle’s 22.99.South Africa’s Akani Simbine won the men’s 100 metres in 10.01sec ahead of American Christian Coleman. “I expected a better performance but I am fine with today’s result which I achieved my SB today,” said newly-crowned world indoor 60m champion Coleman, who won the blue riband event in Xiamen.Simbine added: “With Coleman, you just need to know that he’s going to come out, (you have to) just stick to the arranged plan, focus on your own race.”Fred Kerley, the 2022 world champion and Olympic silver medallist, rounded out the podium in 10.11sec. Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan was disqualified from the women’s 100m hurdles after a false start, with Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico awarded first place in 12.63sec in a photo finish. Ethiopia’s Mekedes Alemeshete claimed victory in the women’s 5,000m and took the world lead.

Gulf Times
Sports

Al Arabi crowned champion of Qatar Volleyball Cup

Al Arabi was crowned champion of the Qatar Volleyball Cup for the season 2023-2024 after defeating Al Rayyan by 3-1 in their match at the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) hall today, which hosts all the tournament matches.The results of the match were 25-19, 25-27, 28-26, 27-25.Al Arabi won the trophy, gold medals and a financial prize worth QR 250,000, while Al Rayyan received silver medals and a financial prize of QR 150,000.With today's victory, Al Arabi achieved the eighteenth title in the history of its participation in the tournament, as it won its first title in the 1990-1991 season, and its last title was in the 2019-2020 season.Al Rayyan won 12 titles in this tournament, and its last title win was in the 2021-2022 season.President of the Qatari and West Asian Volleyball Associations Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari praised the level of the teams in the tournament as well as the strength of the competition in the semi-final matches, especially today's match, which witnessed strong competition between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan.He stressed that the competitions of the current season were strong and the league which the Arab won its title witnessed matches and advanced levels of teams, indicating that the QVA is now preparing to organize the final rounds of the Amir Cup, which will see the participation of 8 teams in the quarter-finals after strong competitions in the preliminary round. He expected strong matches for the final match to win the most prestigious titles of the QVA tournaments. (QNA)


A family sleeps while taking shelter inside a metro station in Kyiv during a Russian missile strike.
International

Russia hits Ukrainian energy sites in ‘massive’ attack

Russia launched a “massive” missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country’s energy supply, officials in Kyiv said yesterday.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv’s Western partners to supply more air defence systems to protect his country’s skies, as the air force said it shot down 21 of 34 incoming missiles.Moscow has launched some of its biggest ever strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months, knocking out a significant chunk of production, and triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.Ukraine has also said that it targeted two oil refineries and a military air base in southern Russia during its own wave of overnight drone attacks.“Thirty-four Russian missiles overnight. We managed to shoot down some of them. But the world has every opportunity to help (us) shoot down every missile and every drone,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.Energy facilities were hit in at least three regions – including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, hundreds of kilometres from the front line – Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a Facebook post.One of the missiles landed 15km (nine miles) from the Polish-Ukrainian border, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.Kyiv says Moscow is escalating attacks from the air and on land ahead of nationwide celebrations on May 9, when Russia marks victory in World War II, and while Ukraine awaits the arrival of crucial US weapons.The DTEK power operator said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was “severely damaged” in the overnight strikes.State electricity operator Ukrenergo said it had disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.Officials urged people and businesses to limit their power usage.“We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly. Industry is asked to maximise electricity imports and use alternative power sources,” Ukrenergo said in a statement.The head of the western Lviv region called on residents not to use kettles, irons, washing machines and microwaves in peak evening hours.At least two people were killed in separate shelling attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region and southern Kherson region, Ukrainian officials said.The spate of missile and artillery attacks also injured more than a dozen.Russia’s defence ministry said yesterday that over the last week it had carried out 35 “group strikes” against Ukrainian energy sites, military factories, railway facilities, air defence systems and other targets.On Friday the US announced a $6bn package of military supplies to Kyiv to include key air defence munitions and artillery rounds.Ukraine launched its own massive drone attack on Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight.A Ukrainian defence source told AFP that it had hit two oil refineries and a military airfield in the region, just east of the annexed Crimean peninsula.“Ukrainian drones struck the atmospheric distillation columns of the Ilsky and Slovyansky refineries. These are key technological facilities,” the source said.Russian officials in the Krasnodar region reported a fire at an oil refinery in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.The refinery partially suspended operations as a result, Russian state media reported, citing a company representative.Videos and photos on social media showed a large fire raging overnight at the site after a series of blasts.Moscow said Ukraine had launched one of its largest ever attempted drone attacks on the Krasnodar region.“Air defences destroyed and intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region and two over the Crimean peninsula,” the defence ministry said.The governor of Russia’s Belgorod border region said later that five people were injured when a Ukrainian drone fell on a road a few kilometres from the border.Kyiv has hit several oil refineries in western Russia in recent months, despite reports of concern in Washington that the strikes could be seen as escalatory and might drive up global oil prices.Ukraine says targeting Russia’s vital energy sector is legitimate as it is a source of fuel and funds for the Russian army.


Supporters gather and wave flags during a demonstration called in support of the Spanish prime minister, in front of the PSOE party headquarters in Madrid.
International

Spanish prime minister’s supporters turn out and beg him to stay

Thousands of supporters of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rallied at the headquarters of his Socialist party imploring him not to step down over a graft investigation against his wife.The 52-year-old premier, who has been in office since 2018, stunned Spain on Wednesday when he put his resignation on the line after a Madrid court opened a preliminary investigation into suspected influence peddling and corruption against his spouse Begona Gomez.Sanchez said he would suspend all public duties until he announces his decision tomorrow.The normally hyperactive premier has since remained out of sight and silent.According to Madrid city authorities, the crowd rallying yesterday to beg Sanchez to stay on numbered around 12,500.Supporters held up placards saying “Spain needs you”, “Pedro don’t abandon us’, and shouted slogans such as “Pedro leader”.“I hope that Sanchez will say on Monday that he will stay,” said Sara Dominguez, a consultant in her 30’s, adding that his government had “taken good steps for women, and the minorities”.Jose María Diez, a 44-year-old government official who came from Valladolid in northern Spain to express his support, said there is a real possibility that the far-right could take power if Sanchez quit.“This will mean a step backwards for our rights and liberties,” he warned.“I hope he continues, because Spain has to continue with him. If not, it scares me. We are afraid of what could come,” Leonor Romero, 56, a councillor from Huelva, southern Spain, told Reuters.“He must continue. I think he is not going to resign. He will leave us orphans,” Jose Luis Trigo, 74, a pensioner, said.Inside the party headquarters, there were similar passionate appeals.“Pedro stay. We are together and together we can ... take the country forward, Spain can’t step back,” said Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero, the government number two.“Today all democrats, all progressives, are summoned to Madrid against a pack whose only aim is to overthrow a democratic and legitimate government,” said Felix Bolanos, the minister of the presidency, justice and parliamentary relations.At one point, Socialist leaders took to the streets to thank those gathered.“They won’t succeed,” government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria told the crowd.The court opened the investigation into Sanchez’s wife in response to a complaint from anti-corruption pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), whose leader is linked to the far-right.The group, which has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past, said on Wednesday that its complaint was based on media reports and could not vouch for their veracity.While the court did not give details of the case, online news site El Confidencial said it focused on links Gomez had to Spanish tourism group Globalia when carrier Air Europa was in talks with the government to secure a huge bailout.The airline sought the bailout after it was badly hit by plunging passenger numbers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.At the time, Gomez was running IE Africa Centre, a foundation linked to Madrid’s Instituto de Empresa (IE) business school, which had signed a sponsorship agreement with Globalia in 2020.Spain’s public prosecutor’s office on Thursday requested the dismissal of the investigation, which Sanchez said was part of a campaign of “harassment” against him and his wife waged by “media heavily influenced by the right and far-right”.If Sanchez decides to remain in office, he could choose to file a confidence motion in parliament to show that he and his minority government are still supported by a majority of lawmakers.If he resigns, an early election could be called from July – year after the last one – with or without Sanchez at the helm of the Socialist party.The right-wing opposition has accused the prime minister of being irresponsible for putting the country on hold while he mulls his decision.“I ask all citizens not to be fooled. Spain does not have a problem, the one who has a judicial problem is Sánchez, his government, his party and his circle. Let them solve it,” Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP), told a meeting in Tarragona in Catalonia.A survey, carried out for the PP by the polling company Sigmados, found 54.1% believed Sanchez’s period of reflection was a “political strategy” to gain support before the Catalan elections on May 12 and European Parliamentary elections in June.Some 56.4% of the 1,527 people questioned, said they believe Sanchez will not resign tomorrow while 21.2% said they thought the prime minister will call for a motion of confidence in parliament.