Doha
26 April 2017
(NHRC)

A group of students from Al-Iman Secondary School for Girls visited today offices of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) today on Wednesday. On their visit, they were given two lectures on "Historical Development of National Human Rights Institutions" and "Library of the National Human Rights Commission".

Jaber Al-Huwail in his address to the students said that the United Nations has adopted several international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, including national human rights institutions, which are permanent official institutions aimed at raising awareness and education on humanitarian principles.

He said that the idea of ​​establishing institutions was first introduced in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council, one of the United Nations human rights bodies. He explained that in 1960 the Council encouraged governments to establish national institutions and held several discussions on this subject until 1978 at the Geneva Conference, during which the overall criteria for the conduct and construction of these institutions were approved.

Al Huwail said "These standards were supported by the Council and the Assembly, The Council invited member countries to establish such institutions. He pointed out that following the succession of developments in 1991, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the most important human rights body, organized a workshop with national institutions, the United Nations and governmental and non-governmental organizations to define the role of national institutions and adopt the principles underlying them, It was ratified in October 1991.

Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, Head of the Department of Studies and Research, Program and Education Department, NHRC speaking on topic 'The library of the National Committee for Human Rights and its mechanisms of work', said "Reading is the way of science and science elevates minds, Human resources are rich in references and information, which constitute an important factor in providing human rights and at various levels to those who wish to access the sources of knowledge in both Arabic and English. He said that the Library's activity is not limited to the self-acquisition of books and references related to human rights issues, but also to its cooperation with other libraries in order to exchange information in order to enrich its services.

He told that library facilitates to researchers to get benefit from catalogs and have access to electronic sources and photocopying of documents. Upon leaving their contacts at the NHRC Library, they can be notified on availability of new literature in regards to human rights.

Al-Hammadi briefed on borrowing of the library books and informed to students that NHRC staff has facility to borrow twenty books for two months and may renew once. He told that those serving in government agencies, educational sector and in diplomatic missions may borrow five books for fifteen days and is renewable one time.

He said that the Library is an important tool for NHRC to achieve its mission in raising awareness and education on human rights and provides researchers with access to the relevant sources of knowledge. Al Hammadi said that NHRC plans to expand its relationship with other libraries.

Doha
26 April 2017
(NHRC)

Sultan Bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Executive Director, The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions participated in the consultations of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with the regional stakeholders held today in Beirut to determine the strategic direction of the Office of the High Commissioner from 2018 to 2021.

Sultan Bin Hassan Al-Jamali stressed on the need to come up with a strategy to work with partners and the stakeholders how to urge governments to integrate human rights vision in various sectors such as education and curriculum modernization and to eliminate any type of hate speech and Integrating human rights concepts into curricula, empowering women, updating laws in line with human rights principles, monitoring the implementation of these laws, assessing the extent of respect and conviction of workers to implement their rights and educating them about them.

As well as working with partners to propose draft legislation to protect and promote human rights in relation to the most vulnerable groups, including the multi-continent migration category (such as asylum laws).

He also stressed on the need to promote human rights culture, to educate about economic, social and cultural rights, to educate on human rights, and to expand into new groups, to include various social groups. As well as raising the capacity of national institutions to spread the culture of human rights at the grassroots level and to monitor the discourse of hatred. And raising the capacity of national institutions in the field of work on the objectives of sustainable development, and help them to formulate appropriate indicators according to the data and nature of each country, and workshops to achieve this. As a prelude to the integration of work on the implementation of the objectives and monitoring implementation within the strategy of national institutions for the next five years. As well as seeking to unify the strategies of all actors working in the field of human rights. Jamali said: (to secure the appropriate human and material resources, so that the Commission can work as required on its strategic objectives for the coming years.)

These consultations came out of a vision of the future, addressing major global, regional and local trends affecting human rights as well as identifying challenges and opportunities that these trends may pose in a positive way and exploring the priority map of different stakeholders.

 

Dubai, UAE
26 Apr 2017
(QR)

Qatar Airways plans to introduce a fifth daily non-stop service from Doha to Bangkok from 1st June 2017.

The increased frequency, along with its double-daily Phuket flights and the five-month-old Krabi operations (four flights a week), will take the number of weekly Qatar Airways departures from Thailand to Doha to 53.

In tandem with its expansion into Thailand, Qatar Airways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to come together and boost inbound tourism to Thailand.

The MoU was signed by Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Ehab Amin, in the presence of Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker and TAT’s Deputy Governor for International Marketing, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas, Tanes Petsuwan on day one of the Arabian Travel Market taking place in Dubai. They were joined by Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand; Chalermsak Suranant, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Dubai and Middle East Office; and other high-ranking executives from both organisations.

Akbar Al Baker said “Boosting our Bangkok flight frequency to five daily flights is a significant commitment from us to the Thai market and testament to the strong year-round demand on this iconic Far East route. We are delighted to be able to dedicate additional capacity to Thailand, providing even more flexibility and convenience for our passengers travelling to and from the Land of Smiles.

“Bangkok has long been a hugely popular destination for both business and leisure travelers. The partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand allows us to jointly work together to attract more travelers from secondary cities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to experience the warm and gracious hospitality Thailand is renowned for.”

Under the MoU, Qatar Airways together with TAT will put in place joint marketing strategies and practices to increase visibility and tourism to Thailand.

The new daily flight will be served by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, providing an additional 254 seats per day. Passengers can choose from 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. Across both cabins, passengers can enjoy up to 3,000 entertainment options on the state-of-the-art Oryx One entertainment system and stay connected throughout their journey with WiFi being made available.

For 2017, TAT has set a target of 34.5 million international visitors and some 1.81 trillion baht (USD 50 billion) in international tourism receipts – this represents a 10 per cent year-on-year increase.

Doha
25 April 2017

Ewa Polano, Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar announced today that a number of MOUs were in pipe line to be signed at the forthcoming meetings in Stockholm between Qatar and Sweden. She was addressing a press conference this afternoon on the occasion of Sweden National Day celebrations. Ambassador told that among MOUs to be signed include on Port-management, Education, Health, Urban-planning and Waste management.

She referred to the recent visit by Qatar Education Minister to Sweden and said that an MoU related to enhancing research and innovation cooperation between two countries was ready to be signed. 'Our cooperation in education sector primarily revolves around spirit of engineering and innovation in which we are at number one in the world, ” she said.

Madam Ambassador of Sweden lauded on the strong relations between Qatar and her country and told that bilateral trade between both the countries was over one billion Euro, however, there is much capacity to increase in it. “There was some decline due to fall in oil prices but very soon it will again start growing, she told.

On road safety, Swedish ambassador said that Sweden had set ‘Vision Zero’ to reduce traffic accident deaths and injuries to zero. “Our experts on road safety and traffic congestion are visiting Qatar on periodical basis to help Qatari officials to address road safety issues. General Secretary of National Traffic Safety Committee, Brig Mohamed Al Malki will attend ‘Vision Zero Conference’ in Stockholm in June this year,” she said.

Present on the occasion were representatives of number of Swedish companies operating in Qatar including Volvo, ABB, SAAB, IKEA, Ericsson, NYNAS, GAC, NGT-Partners, Sensys Gatso, Ginger Camel.

Fredrik Bodin, Trade Commissioner for Qatar & UAE also addressed on the occasion.

Later in evening at the official celebrations, Minister of Education and Higher Education Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi was chief guest at the glittering event. The ambassador lauded Qatar’s vision of transformation from oil-based economy to knowledge-based society and diversified-economy.

“Sweden has already become a creative economy and Qatar’s vision makes both countries a perfect partner,” she added.

“Ashghal’s slogan is ‘Qatar deserves the best’ and Sweden is the best in world in technology, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, road safety etc.,” she said, adding Sweden was cooperating with Qatar in its endeavors to achieve goals set in Qatar National Vision 2030.

Earlier in press conference, Saman Naziri, General Manager - Middle East of Sensys Gatso said that his company’s pilot project of vehicle-mounted speed radars had been very successful. “We hope our ongoing negotiations with authorities will take a final shape and these systems will be deployed on traffic police vehicles in Qatar.

On the sideline of press conference, Naziri said that Sensys Gatso had provided 400 systems to France where authorities were using them in civilian vehicles to make speed enforcement campaign more effective. He said those vehicle-mounted cameras could also record images of number plates of violating vehicles.

Dr Prof. Niclas Adler from "Accelerated Innovation" said that under an agreement, likely to be signed soon, Sweden would offer entrepreneurship training to young Qatari nationals. “This cooperation with Qatar will be from the platform of Qatar Science and Technology Park,” he added.

Walid Dowldar, General Manager, Arabian Agencies Company representing Volvo said that his company like all other Swedish companies believed in three things: quality, safety and environment care.

Antonie Azor of Scania said that they had recently provided 32 buses to Qatar Petroleum for school use which were ‘environmentally friendly’.

Doha
25 Apr 2017

Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications opened 4 days long 'Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology Conference (GREAT) 2017 at the Qatar National Convention Center.

Present on the were Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, David Dikter, CEO ATIA, US and Maha Al Mansouri, CEO of MADA. Four days conference and exhibition is organised by Doha based MADA and ATIA (US) as part of ATIA Annual Conference 2018.

Main objective of the conference is to highlight necessity of Computer Technology and Assistive Technology (AT) for educating special needs children in the Gulf Region.

Four experts from US are specially invited to address the participants during conference along with experts from Qatar and the region.

Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications in his opening address said “This conference emphasises our commitment to provide a conformable life for people with disabilities and make them integrate into the community. In Qatar, we have implemented several remarkable initiatives to enhance lives of people with disabilities and it includes of launching the National Autism Plan and a drive to equip 53 school to facilitate students with autism.”

He told that at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, several initiatives have been taken to support people with disabilities including MADA. He stressed 'We need to resort technology to the conventional methods as studies show the use of technology is more helpful for people with disabilities, and make the environment to be friendly and convenient for them.”

Maha Al Mansouri, CEO of MADA said “The conference is discussing about technology, best practices in Assistive Technology and how educational institutions can implement technology for special children. She paid her gratitude to government and related ministries for their full support, however, she stressed on private sector to play their role in the production of various technologies in Arabic language itself.

David Dikter, CEO Assistive Technology Industry Association, US (ATIA) talking with 'asiantelegraphqatar.com' said that since production cost of aids for special needy people is expensive and not required in large quantity which may generate higher revenue commercially, therefore, it is important that GCC states combine their resources in production of necessary tools and aids specially with Arabic language.

Local, regional and international experts at the GREAT conference discuss and exchange information on the best practices in the field of AT. GREAT is taking place in two segments with two days of pre conference discussions and the two-day conference including the opening ceremony, panel discussions and educational workshops for participants.

A number of MOU were also signed on the sidelines of the conference including MADA and Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services of UAE. Another MOU signed between MADA and ATIA (US)

Also several memorandums of understanding were signed between MADA and institutions in the field of communication, information technology and assistive technology, on sidelines of the conference. Agreements were signed with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services from the United Arab Emirates and with the Assistive Technology Industry Association from the United States of America.

MADA and Ministry of Education and Higher Education will be signing an agreement on Wednesday to train 40 professionals from schools on how to use the technology to support students with disabilities.

Manila
24 April 2017
(PNA)

Exemption of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from paying the airport terminal fee will begin on Sunday (April 30).

They just have to declare that they are an OFW to be exempted.

This exemption shall be recognized at any point of sale, whether in the Philippines or abroad.

According to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, the selling agent may or may not ask for a proof of entitlement during transaction.

"If no proof is shown during transaction, the passenger should be able to present one during check-in at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) where same shall be validated," he noted.

Meanwhile, starting July 31, air carriers will start honoring OFW exemptions at any point of sale for tickets purchased online, and through telephone and mobile applications.

Aside from validation measures that may be adopted by the air carriers, OFWs may also be asked to show his/her proof of entitlement upon check-in at the airport.

MIAA said the proof of entitlement has been expanded under the new memorandum of agreement to include documents such as valid employment contract or recent payslip, among others.

With regard to one year validity of airline tickets, MIAA said it would retain the refund counters at NAIA terminals until April 2018.

Beyond that date, refunds may be done at the MIAA Collection Division in the MIAA administration building along MIA Road.

The refund has no expiration and may be done through a representative, but proper authorization must be provided.

"This exemption also serves as a fulfillment of President Rodrigo Duterte's promise to look after the needs of our OFWs," Monreal said.

Kabul, Afghanistan
24 April 2017
(AP)

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived unannounced in Afghanistan on Monday to assess America's longest war as the Trump administration weighs sending more troops.

Kabul was the final stop on a six-nation, week-long tour Mattis said was intended to bolster relations with allies and partners and to get an update on the stalemated conflict in Afghanistan.

He is the first member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to visit Afghanistan.

Mattis was visiting just days after a bloody Taliban attack that killed more than 100 Afghans on a base in the country's north. The Taliban also controls key parts of Helmand province in the south. Officials say nearly a dozen of the attackers wore army uniforms and rode in military vehicles, raising concerns of help from inside the compound.

Afghan officials said earlier that the country's army chief and the defense minister resigned following the weekend Taliban attack. The officials said that President Ashraf Ghani accepted the resignations on Monday. It was not immediately clear who would replace Defense Minister Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim.

Gen. John Nicholson, the top American commander in Kabul, recently told Congress that he needs a few thousand more troops to keep Afghan security forces on track to eventually handling the Taliban insurgency on their own.

As part of the administration's review of Afghan policy, Trump's national security adviser, Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster visited Kabul last week to consult with Nicholson and with Afghan officials.

McMaster said in a TV interview after returning to Washington that the U.S. in recent years has scaled back its military effort against the Taliban. "Our enemy sensed that and they have redoubled their efforts, and it's time for us, alongside our Afghan partners, to respond," he said.

Among the questions facing the administration is how to maintain pressure on a resilient Taliban and keep up counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan without prolonging a stalemate that is costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars a year.

Two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The president's official Twitter account also confirmed the resignations.

In addition to the Taliban insurgency, Afghanistan also is fighting to extinguish a small but troublesome presence in Nangarhar province of militants affiliated with the Islamic State group.

Two weeks ago, Nicholson created a stir by ordering an attack on an IS stronghold in Nangarhar using the military's most powerful non-nuclear bomb, the so-called "mother of all bombs.

"Mattis has declined to disclose details of damage done by that bombing, which former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called an "atrocity."

News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN)
24 April 2017

Afghanistan’s Defence Minister General Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff General Qadam Shah Shahim, have resigned in the wake of a Taliban attack that left scores of soldiers dead, the presidential palace says.

The attack happened on Friday at an army base near Mazar-e Sharif.

Insurgents targeted troops leaving Friday prayers at the base’s masjid and in a canteen, the army said.

It was the Taliban’s deadliest attack on the armed forces since it was removed from power in 2001.

The resignations coincided with the arrival of U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on an unannounced visit to Kabul. He is due to meet both Afghan officials and U.S. troops.

A group of Taliban insurgents dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles made their way into the base in the northern city and opened fire.

Many of those who died were young recruits training at the base. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the young soldiers struggled to work out who was friend or foe.

The attackers were armed with guns, grenades and some were wearing suicide vests, reports said.

The defence ministry said the attackers were all killed.

It is not clear exactly how many soldiers died. The Afghan Defence Ministry has not released firm casualty figures, only saying more than 100 people were killed or injured.

Other officials have told BBC that at least 136 people died but 124 coffins had been sent out to different parts of the country and 12 soldiers had not yet been identified, they said.

But some sources say the toll was even higher. One eyewitness told the BBC he counted 165 bodies.

Doha
24 april 2017

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani inaugurated the Kahramaa Awareness Park in Doha this evening.

Opening ceremony was coincided with the celebration of 5th anniversary of 'Tarsheed', a national campaign for Conservation of water and electricity being held under 'One Promise, One Journey', the event was organised by the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa).

Present on the occasions were Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry, Eng Essa bin Hilal al Kuwari, President of Kahamaa and a number of dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corp.

Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al Sada said that Tarsheed campaign succeeded in reducing per capita consumption of electricity and water in Qatar by 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively as of 2016.

Eng Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari in his address announced the commencement of the second phase (2017- 2022) of Tarsheed in order to achieve its objectives. He said "During this period, Tarsheed will strive to reduce the per capita consumption of electricity and water by 8 percent and 15 percent, respectively."

Prime Minister & Interior Minister of State of Qatar felicitated the winners of different categories of contests organised by Kahramaa's Conservation and Energy department to raise awareness about the importance of rationalization.

A short documentary film was also screened on the culture of rationalization on the occasion.

Later, Prime Minister along with other ministers and dignitaries toured the park where they were briefed about its facilities, programmes and services as a centre of science and knowledge and entertainment.

. (Photographs by Hanson K Joseph)

Seoul
24 April 2017
(Yahoo News/Reuters)

North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country, bringing the total number of Americans held to three.

Korean-American Tony Kim had spent a month teaching an accounting course at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the university's chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told Reuters on Sunday.

The arrest took place on Saturday morning local time, a statement by the university said, and was "related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST".

Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk and is in his fifties, was detained by North Korean officials at Pyongyang International Airport as he attempted to leave the country, Park said.

"The cause of his arrest is not known but some officials at PUST told me his arrest was not related to his work at PUST. He had been involved with some other activities outside PUST such as helping an orphanage," Park said.

"I sincerely hope and pray that he will be released soon".

An official at South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was not aware of the reported arrest.

In Washington, the State Department said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea but had no further comment because of privacy considerations.

Kim is listed as an accounting professor on the website of PUST's sister institution in neighboring China, the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST). Calls to YUST were not answered.

PUST was founded by evangelical Christians and opened in 2010, with students generally the children of the country's elite.

Its volunteer faculty, many of whom are evangelical Christians, has a curriculum that includes subjects once considered taboo in North Korea, such as capitalism.

North Korea, which has been criticized for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea was already holding two Americans.

Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, was detained in January last year and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor by a North Korean court for attempting to steal a propaganda banner.

In March 2016, Kim Dong Chul, a 62-year-old Korean-American missionary, was sentenced to 10 years hard labor for subversion. There have been no public appearances of either man since.

The reclusive state is also holding Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim. He was charged with subversion and given a hard labor life sentence in 2015.

Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for crimes against the state. He was released two years later.