New Delhi |November 27, 2016 10:34 pm

Khalistan Liberation Front Chief Harminder Mintoo and five others escaped from Nabha jail in Punjab on Sunday after armed men in police uniform tricked the sentries into opening the gates and bolted out with the inmates firing a hail of bullets. Among the escapees was another terrorist Kashmira Singh, according to Punjab police chief Suresh Arora, Indian media reported.

Sikh militants in Indian held Punjab are struggling for freedom from India.

In November 2014, 47-year-old Harminder Singh Mintoo was arrested by Punjab Police from the Indira Gandhi International airport on his return from Thailand. At the time of his arrest, Mintoo was accused of being involved in 10 terror-related cases.

Mintoo was using Thailand as his base to mobilize funds for the Indian banned organisation. He was using online resources to enlist support for the Khalistan cause and to radicalize youth. Using a fake Malaysian passport and identity card, Mintoo traveled extensively across Europe and South East Asia in order to develop contacts.

Origins of the Khalistan movement can be traced back to the British India when Sikhs started their movement for a separate homeland. The name was coined by Sikh leader, Dr. Vir Singh Bhatti in 1940.

While the demand for Khalistan was not granted, Jawaharlal Nehru assured the Sikhs of a semi-autonomous state in India. When partition took place, majority of the Sikhs from the Pakistani territory moved to India. Despite carving out a separate state for the Sikhs on liguistic lines, they continued to be a minority in the country.

The Operation Blue Star enacted by the Indira Gandhi led government to root out Bhindranwale along with his supporters from the Golden Temple, the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots that followed ripened the Khalistan movement in India.

The immediate effect was a rise in militant activities by those favouring a separate Sikh state. A number of Khalistan militant outfits came into existence in India and abroad which included the Khalistan Commando Force, the All India Sikh Students Federation, the Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF)

The Khalistan Liberation Force was founded in 1986 by Aroor Singh and Sukhwinder Singh Babbar.

In 1995, the KLF was listed as one among four major militant groups in the Khalistan movement. Over the years they have been involved in a number of militant activities and assassinations, particularly in Punjab.

Doha
23 November 2016

Thousands of Policymakers, Academics, and Healthcare Professionals are expected to attend 2016 WISH Summit.

World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) will host its biennial summit from 29 - 30 November at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha.

WISH 2016 will bring together thousands of high-level policymakers, academics, and health professionals to discuss and debate practical, lasting, and innovative solutions to global healthcare challenges.

The 2016 summit will be addressed by four prestigious keynote speakers including Professor Dame Sally Davies, England’s Chief Medical Officer; Lawrence H Summers, the Charles W Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University; Dr Julio Frenk, Mexico’s former Minister of Health; and Mustafa Suleyman, Co-founder and Head of Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) at DeepMind.

Dame Sally’s address will focus on the growing issue of Antimicrobial Resistance worldwide.

Dr Frenk will address the issue of educational innovation in Universal Health Coverage.

Dr Summers will discuss the future of aid with a particular focus on investing in global health.

Mustafa Suleyman will outline how health systems around the world are grappling with the challenge of delivering better patient outcomes and experience with fewer resources.

Commenting on the upcoming summit, Khalifa E. Al Kubaisi, Head of Press Office, Qatar Foundation, said: “Qatar Foundation is delighted to welcome such an esteemed panel of guest speakers to Education City, and to host such a diverse programme of research-based discussion at this year’s WISH Summit.

'WISH constitutes an integral part of Qatar Foundation’s commitment to promoting innovation and to creating solutions that foster productive change regionally and globally. By convening the world’s leading experts and high-level decision makers, WISH aligns with QF’s multifaceted approach to supporting policy innovation for the benefit of populations everywhere.'

The summit will also feature nine research papers that highlight some of the most pressing challenges in global healthcare, including Healthy Populations, Precision Medicine, Investing in Health, Accountable Care, Cardiovascular Disease, Autism, Behavioural Insights, Genomics in the Gulf Region and Islamic Ethics, and Healthcare Workforce.

Internationally-renowned experts will chair the discussions. For the first time, WISH will also report on its impact, locally and globally, on issues previously highlighted at the conference, such as diabetes and patient safety.

The conference will also feature Innovation Showcases from around the world that are shaping the design, delivery, and financing of healthcare, as well as a cohort of young innovators - emerging healthcare leaders under the age of 30 - whose contributions to global health deserve wider recognition.

WISH, a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has evolved into a significant platform for the dissemination of healthcare innovation and best practices, aligned with QF’s mission to reinforce Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging center for healthcare innovation and unlocking human potential.

To register for WISH 2016 and to find further information about WISH, please visit www.wish-qatar.org and Twitter @WISHQatar.

26 Nov 2016

Second Batch of local talented Artists moved into Fire Station Studios in last September, thus completed the first ever initiative to nurturing emerging talent and builds on a longer tradition of patronage of the arts, and a passion for supporting the development of artistic talent in Qatar.

Under the guidance of Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, the nine-month program for Qatar based artists are moved into one of the studios, collaborate with fellow creatives and develop their artistic technique. They meet curators, access all Qatar Museums exhibitions and are encouraged to join lectures.

They also benefit from weekly mentoring sessions and meet arts professionals from all over the world, representing Qatar in the international cultural community.

Below are some key features of the Fire Station residency:

• The Artists in Residence Programme
The artists in residence programme perfectly reflects Qatar Museum’s vision of enriching the lives of all those who live in and visit Qatar, as well as inspiring an indigenous culture of creativity and innovation.

The building was re-designed to have 24 studios and a gallery space for exhibition and community interaction.

Twenty studios are open to the artists selected to join the Fire Station; four are reserved for visiting artists.

In this way, the residency involves mentoring sessions as well as support and artistic guidance from established local artists.

It also brings the residents together with some of the international names that QM attracts to Qatar.

Finally, the program provides artists with privileged access to museums, special exhibitions, lectures and curators from across the various museums and gallery spaces represented by Qatar Museums.

• The application and selection process
Artists from a wide range of multi-disciplinary backgrounds including art, photography, design, architecture, etc. and other fields are welcomed onto the programme for a period of nine months.

All artists must go through an application process.

The first residency program was a huge success, with more than 150 applications received. All applications are subject to a carefully managed selection and decision-making process involving an independent jury.

The program is currently open to artists living in Qatar.

Over time, there are plans to extend it to artists from the region. Doing so, supports one of the key objectives of the residency, which is to support cultural dialogue and exchange between artists living in Qatar and the rest of the world.

Amman, Jordan, November 25, 2016. The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has signed a US$1m grant agreement with the United Nations Development Program/Program of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP).

The grant will support Phase II of an initiative aimed at improving the living conditions of low-income Palestinian families in East Jerusalem by providing them with safe and affordable housing.

On the sidelines of the Palestinian Resilience Conference being held 24-25 Nov. 2016, an agreement was signed by Suleiman J Al-Herbish, Director General, OFID and Roberto Valent, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator. The agreement was witnessed by Hussein Al Araj, Palestinian Minister of Local Government.

Al-Herbish said the new agreement underlined OFID’s long-term partnership with UNDP, which spanned on almost 40 years. He spoke of the “remarkable effectiveness and high social impact” of the first phase of the UNDP-PAPP initiative. OFID supported also on renovation of 40 homes in marginalized areas.

OFID also committed for it's support to Phase II, which would ultimately “safeguard beneficiary communities’ existence and reinforce their social capital and cohesion.” Al-Herbish assured of OFID's continued support to UNDP-PAPP joint projects toward their common goal of “improving the livelihoods and prospects of the Palestinian People.”

Roberto Valent lauded the longstanding partnership with OFID on Palestinian cause. “UNDP is implementing OFID funded projects worth over US$ 9m in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

'These projects are critical to improving the livelihoods of the Palestinian people and supporting their resilience. With the new contribution, an additional 60 vulnerable families in East Jerusalem will benefit from enhanced living conditions,” he said.

Phase II will rehabilitate houses in the areas of Al-Bustan, Al-Musrara, Al-Thouri, Silwan and Wadi Hilwe. Activities will focus on lower cost but high impact interventions in order to broaden the project’s scope and benefit additional households.

OFID’s previous grant support to UNDP-PAPP has helped:
• enhance care treatments at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem
• develop irrigation systems and water resources in the West Bank
• provide renewable energy systems for St Joseph’s Hospital in East Jerusalem
• upgrade maternity centers in Gaza
• establish a neurology department at Al-Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem
• create short- and medium-term employment opportunities
• construct solar energy facilities for social infrastructure in Gaza

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has confirmed plans to introduce a new addition to Qatar’s calendar of festivals and tourism events during 2017. The new festival is part of QTA’s strategy to grow and diversify Qatar’s tourism offering, particularly in the area of family and urban entertainment.

The festival will be organised by QTA, in collaboration with public and private sector partners, to reinforce Qatar’s position as a preferred family vacation destination within the GCC region.

The new festival to be announced in December will focus on Qatar’s burgeoning retail sector, which has proven to be an important part of tourism spending in Qatar.

According to figures from Qatar’s Tourism Satellite Account – a system approved the United Nations for establishing the impact of tourism on a country’s economy - shopping represented a bigger portion of tourism spending in 2014 than hotel bookings or food and beverage, bringing 6 billion QAR to the country’s economy.

QTA organizes a number of country-wide events including Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) and Qatar Summer Festival (QSF). Figures for March and August 2016, when these events were held this year, showed an increase in visitor arrivals, encouraging QTA officials to explore new events that support the performance of the country’s tourism sector.

25 Nov 2016

Cuba mourns death of it's revolutionary leader and World's longest ruler Fidel Castro dies in age 90 (13 August 1926 - 25th Nov. 2016).

He ruled Cuba 49 years as Prime Minister (1959 to 1976), as President (1976 to 2008).

Son of a wealthy Spanish farmer also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011.

Castro was decorated with various international awards, and was lauded as a champion of socialism, anti-imperialism, and humanitarianism, whose revolutionary regime secured Cuba's independence from American imperialism.

In Latin America, Castro was inspirational for leaders like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales.

In Africa, he was viewed as an inspiration by leaders like Nelson Mandela.

He was also regarded highly in Asia; the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Castro as "one of the greatest men of our times".

In the United States, critics alleged that he was a dictator whose administration oversaw human-rights abuses in Cuba.

Through his actions and his writings, he significantly influenced the politics of various individuals and groups across the world.

AlJazeera Tv Channel reports ' Fidel Castro, a titan of the Cold War who defied 10 American presidents and thrust Cuba onto the world stage.'

' US government spent more than $1bn trying to kill, undermine or otherwise force Castro from power, but he endured unscathed before old age and disease finally took him.'

'The US had tried for years to topple the Cuban government. Cuba stumbled along even after the collapse of its chief sponsor, the former Soviet Union.

The CIA plotted to assassinate Castro using everything from exploding seashells to lethal fungus.

'American officials cut off almost all trade to Cuba and they financed dissidents and pro-democracy activists. But nothing worked during 11 successive administrations, from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama.'

On December 17, 2014, Obama announced that the US planned to renew diplomatic ties with Cuba and loosen some trade and travel restrictions.

Obama's critics were enraged, saying he was throwing a lifeline to the socialist government and undermining the work of democracy activists who were regularly arrested and beaten.

Obama vowed to continue supporting democracy activists in Cuba, but said the US embargo hadn't worked and lawmakers should lift it.

'His supporters in Havana described him as a tireless defender of the poor.'

Castro was "a giant of the Third World", said Agustin Diaz Cartaya, 85, who joined Castro in the 1953 attack in eastern Cuba that launched the revolution. "No one has done more for the Third World than Fidel Castro."

Critics say Castro drove the country into economic ruin, denied basic freedoms to 11 million Cubans at home and forced more than a million others into exile.

"In 55 years, the Cuban government has not done anything to help the Cuban people in terms of human rights," said Hector Maseda, 72, a former political prisoner who lives in Havana. "I don't believe in this regime. I don't trust it."

Doubtlessly, Castro leaves a legacy that will be hotly debated for years to come.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as termed today Kashmir an unfinished agenda of sub-continent’s partition. He said said that Pakistan would never abandon Kashmiris in their freedom struggle.

“The world in general and India in particular should know that Pakistani nation would never abandon their Kashmiri brethren and would continue to support them in their just and UN-mandated freedom struggle, the Prime Minister said while chairing a meeting on the incident of firing at passenger bus by Indian security forces near Neelum valley.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had exercised maximum restraint despite the continuing ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along Line of Control (LoC).

He urged upon the international community to take note of deliberate targeting of civilians and said the intentional targeting of innocent civilians particularly children and women, ambulances and civilian transport could not be tolerated.

The Prime Minister emphasized that international community needed to play its active role in diffusing deteriorating security situation along the LoC.

The Prime Minister was briefed today on Kashmir Line of Control situation. It was attended by Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs, Lt.Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence, Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Lt.Gen.(Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, National Security Advisor.
Prime Minister was briefed particularly on unprovoked ceasefire violations on November 23 by the Indian occupation forces in Dhudnial sector.

The meeting reiterated its condemnation of the bus massacre and re-affirmed its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just and legitimate struggle for their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

The meeting paid rich tributes to country’s armed forces personnel who laid down their lives yesterday while defending their motherland.

The meeting deplored the belligerent targeting of the ambulance which was rescuing the victims of the bus attack, as a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law.

The meeting agreed that India was deliberately trying to divert the attention of the international community from the grave human rights violations, massacres and atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces against the innocent and defenseless Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and other senior government officials also attended the meeting.

24 Nov 2016
Doha

Ambassador Yevhen Mykytenko of Ukraine said ' diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the State of Qatar go back to year 1993 when a relevant Memorandum was signed by the two states here in Doha in Sheraton hotel. Over the last 23 years both countries enjoyed a quite intensive political dialogue. Three times the ministers of foreign affairs of Ukraine visited Qatar.' He was addressing at a reception hosted by him celebrating National Day at Hotel Grand Hyatt, Doha

'Ambassador said that Two Ukrainian Presidents and two Ukrainian Prime-ministers paid official visits to Doha during these 23 years.

'In October 2011 the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani paid an official visit to the Ukrainian capital. That visit was an important milestone in the bilateral ties which had laid a solid foundation to the future development of relations in all spheres.'

Ambassador said 'At the beginning of 2013 Ukraine has opened its embassy in Doha, the Qatari side established its Embassy in Kyiv in September 2013.' He told that in February 2016 the Foreign ministers of Ukraine and the State of Qatar held a meeting in the framework of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

'A month ago a summit between the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the 71-st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We have common promising plans for the future!'

'The trade and economic relations between our countries are developing sustainably. In 2015 the volume of annual turnover reached 25 mln. USD, while during the first nine months of the current year it has already hit 33 mln. USD. Despite that we realize clearly that these figures are still far enough from the real potential of both countries, he said.

'Qatar remains an important energy partner for Ukraine and a potential LNG supplier. Currently both countries are paying much attention to this issue to figure out the most effective ways and routes of delivering Qatari gas to Ukraine,' Ukrainian ambassador to State of Qatar said in his address.

Ambassador highlighted successful role of Ukrainian Steel Pipe Producers in the Gulf Market “Interpipe”, as well as it's significant contribution towards Ukrainian economy. 'Interpipe' is the sponsor of the event also.

It is to note that 'Interpipe' is the biggest private domestic investor in Ukraine, having invested about 1 bln. USD in the sphere of construction.

Ambassador It is also important to stress up the substantial intensification of the Inter-parliamentary contacts between the two states which has been achieved after the establishment back in February 2015 of the Inter-parliamentary Group of Friendship with the State of Qatar in the Parliament of Ukraine.

Since Ukraine is becoming more famous and popular European destination among the nationals and residents of Qatar, both countries are sparing no effort to finalize the formalities to launch a direct flight between Doha and Kyiv as soon as possible.

I would like also to emphasize the fact that every year more and more Qataris are visiting Ukraine for tourism, business and even for medical treatment in various health centers of Ukraine including the International clinic for Rehabilitation headed by Prof. Koziavkin.

I express also special thanks to Ali Bin Ali Group and Ukrainian Confectionary Factory for their support in organizing this event.
I am also delighted to invite you to visit KATARA Cultural Village to attend the Ukrainian Art Exhibition, which is open until October 30th,Building No. 18.

Given this opportunity, I would like to congratulate all Ukrainian citizens and all the supporters of Ukraine in Qatar on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine.

'Three years ago there were not more than 300 Ukrainians in Qatar, nowadays – more than 1 thousand.'

A cake cutting ceremony took place after Ukrainian ambassador's speech

Doha
November 23, 2016:

RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) has delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to the Dunkerque LNG Regasification Terminal, located in France. The cargo, aboard RasGas’ Maran Gas Asclepius, was delivered to the EDF Group on November 22, 2016.

Hamad Mubarak Al Muhannadi, Chief Executive Officer, RasGas said on the occasion “RasGas is proud to support the start-up operations of this important new LNG Regasification Terminal in France through the delivery of this cargo,” “We look forward to the successful start-up of commercial operations at the terminal and commencing deliveries in 2017 under our recently executed medium-term Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA).”

Marc Benayoun, Executive Vice President, CEO, Gas and Italy of EDF Group and Edison said ' EDF is very satisfied with the smooth delivery of the RasGas cargo which is necessary to perform the final stage of the commissioning tests of the Dunkerque LNG Regasification Terminal. This is another example of the excellent relationship between RasGas and the EDF Group.'

'This long term partnership started thirteen years ago with the signing of a Long Term LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement with Edison and the construction of the offshore Adriatic LNG regasification terminal in Italy,” Benayoun said.

Doha
23 November 2016

The official opening of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Communicable Disease Center (CDC) last week marked the start of the largest expansion phase in HMC’s history.

The addition of this latest facility to HMC’s portfolio brings the total number of hospitals to nine at present, with three more hospitals set to open over the next six months.

“We have begun the largest expansion program in HMC’s history,” said Ali Abdulla Al Khater, Chief Communications Officer at HMC. “Four new hospitals - the Communicable Disease Center, Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, Ambulatory Care Center and Women’s Wellness and Research Center will significantly increase capacity across our system and provide state-of-the-art environments in which our expert teams can provide care for their patients,” he explained.

HMC was established by Emiri decree in 1979. However, its oldest facility, Rumailah Hospital, has been caring for patients since 1957 – more than half a century ago.

“As Qatar has grown and developed over the past 50 plus years, so too has HMC. This long history of caring for the residents of Qatar ensures HMC is uniquely positioned to understand the specific cultural and healthcare needs of the population and provide the best possible care,” Al Khater said.

'The scale of the current expansion phase underway at HMC is vast. When all services have relocated to the new hospitals, between 9,000 and 10,000 patients per week will use the services and the total floor space across HMC will increase by 65 percent following the full opening of the new hospitals.'

“For several years now, we have talked about how the new hospitals will benefit patients greatly when they open, but we no longer need to talk about it as being in the future. It is happening now,” said Hamad Al Khalifa, HMC’s Chief of Facilities Development.

“Our patients are already benefiting from the advanced facilities and care they receive at the CDC and the upcoming opening of the three additional hospitals will again strengthen our range of specialist healthcare services and increase our capacity,” Al Khalifa said.

The upcoming plans build on the capacity increase that has already taken place across HMC over the past year.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Women’s Hospital, Pediatric Emergency Center Al Sadd and Bone and Joint Center have all been expanded, while the Enaya Continuing Care Center and a new surgical services facility have both opened.