MSF chief: Afghan maternity ward closure 'painful and heart-breaking'
The decision to close a maternity ward in Afghanistan after a militant attack that killed 24 people, including mothers, children and babies, last month has been “painful and heartbreaking’” said the director-general of humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Speaking to The National on Wednesday following the announcement of the ward’s closure, Thierry Allafort-Duverger said the decision was taken to protect its staff, patients and health workers as they see the hospital at high risk of a repeat attack.
On May 12, 24 women, children and babies – including one midwife – were killed when gunmen entered the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in western Kabul and opened fire. Three of the 16 mothers killed were shot in the delivery room, along with their unborn babies.
Despite accusations of blame, it is not yet clear who carried out the attack because no group has claimed responsibility.
“Mothers, babies and health workers were deliberately targeted by unknown assailants with a systematic intent to kill ... Higher perimeter walls or thicker security doors won’t prevent patients and health workers from being brutally killed again,” Mr Allafort-Duverger said.
Read full story here
Daily Update
John Bolton’s new book: former national security advisor has explosive claims about President Donald Trump
Donald Trump pleaded with China's leader Xi Jinping for help to be re-elected and promised Turkey's president that he would intervene in a US judicial case against a major Turkish state lender, a new book claims.
The US president is also alleged to have called former Republican president George W Bush “stupid”. He and other White House officials also laugh about the president behind his back.
These are some of the explosive claims in a coming book by Mr Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton.
Excerpts of the book, The Room Where it Happened, a White House Memoir, were published on Wednesday in US newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Mr Trump met the Chinese premier at a summit last June in Japan.
Mr Bolton writes that he "stunningly turned the conversation to the US presidential election, alluding to China's economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he'd win".
Read more here
Eggstra steady hands
Black Iraqis say George Floyd's death sheds light on their own centuries-long plight
The death of George Floyd during his arrest in the US city of Minneapolis last month has shed light on the plight of another community: Black Iraqis.
They say racial discrimination against them is on par with the racism experienced by African Americans, sometimes even surpassing it, as they not only face a lack of recognition, but also economic, political and social atrocities.
Many of them are descendants of African slaves brought to Iraq and have lived in the southern city of Basra for centuries.
They want recognition as a minority group whose rights should be protected, but some told The National that their demands have been ignored by the Iraqi government.
Many say they are unfairly represented and want to prohibit being called “slaves”, especially as the burdens of their ancestors continue to haunt them.
The killing of Mr Floyd has put the global spotlight on racism, one that Black Iraqis say has been brushed off by authorities.
Read more here
Hell hath no fury: Italian police arrest 20 suspected Mafiosi on tip-off from angry ex-wives
A special task force of 150 Italian police has swooped in on Rome’s notorious Casamonica criminal clan, arresting 20 alleged members and confiscating €20 (Dh82.5m) million in assets after two embittered ex-wives gave information to authorities.
The clan, which operates on the outskirts of the capital and in hill towns near it, is famed for its lavish lifestyle and bling: gold taps and baths and gilded furniture described as Scarface-chic.
In dawn raids on Thursday, officers with drones arrested 20 alleged mob members and found large sums of cash, gold watches, guns and jewellery.
Police sequestered several properties, including villas, a petrol station and a bar, with property amounting to €20m, believed to be funded by revenue from extortion, loan sharking and racketeering.
Read more here
Beyond the Headlines
Cold War chill: Europe faces threat from Russian nukes, says Nato head
Russia is acting in a “dangerous and destabilising” manner by developing nuclear-tipped missiles that could threaten European cities, the head of Nato has said.
Countries across the continent are now taking strong defensive measures by arming themselves with the latest anti-missile systems.
But the alliance does not want to enter into another nuclear arms race with Moscow, said Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary General. "We have also seen a pattern over many years of irresponsible Russian nuclear rhetoric aimed at intimidating and threatening Nato allies," he said. "Russia's behaviour is destabilising and dangerous."
Defence ministers across the 30 member countries raised the issue of Russia’s growing nuclear missile arsenal and its implication for Nato’s security.
Read more here
Prime Minister in fender bender
Britain has ’failed’ its citizens in Iranian prisons
Iran has been encouraged to step up its campaign of hostage-taking because of the “weak and ineffective” attempts by the UK to have its citizens released, the MP for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has claimed.
In a damning indictment of efforts to help British passport holders detained in Iran, Tulip Siddiq called for an overhaul of the “failed approach” of diplomats working to release Britons held on trumped-up charges.
The UK’s ambassador to Iran told Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family that more Britons were unfairly held than any other Western nation, according to Ms Siddiq. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s campaign is aware of about 10 Britons who were held at the start of 2020.
Those known to be held include Anoosheh Ashoori, 66, a British-Iranian engineer jailed for 10 years for spying on Iran, and British resident Aras Amiri, who works for the British Council, which promotes education and cultural programmes.
Read more here
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Squad: Majed Naser, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Khamis Esmail, Habib Fardan, Mohammed Marzouq (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalid Essa, Muhanad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak, Mohammed Jamal, Ahmed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Ahmed Rashid, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Wahda), Tariq Ahmed, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak, Jassim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Yousef Saeed (Sharjah), Suhail Al Nubi (Baniyas)
Company%20profile
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
