News from the Middle East

[AlbertC]

Revealed: hundreds of migrant workers dying of heat stress in Qatar each year

As construction boom hits its peak ahead of Fifa World Cup, Guardian analysis shows workers toiling in potentially fatal temperatures

Annie Kelly and Niamh McIntyre and Pete Pattisson in Doha

Wed 2 Oct 2019 06.00 BST

Revealed: hundreds of migrant workers dying of heat stress in Qatar each year

As construction boom hits its peak ahead of Fifa World Cup, Guardian analysis shows workers toiling in potentially fatal temperatures

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

World Athletics Championship in Qatar Casts Shadow Over 2022 World Cup

By Simone Foxman
October 2, 2019, 1:32 AM EDT

An event meant to showcase Qatar’s readiness for the 2022 FIFA World Cup has instead raised questions about its ability to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

Rows of empty seats at the temperature-controlled Khalifa Stadium and operational hiccups drew criticism from foreign visitors attending the first events of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-02/marathon-runners-wilt-as-qatar-warms-up-for-2022-world-cup

 

[Johnny Au]

The 2022 FIFA World Cup could end up being the greatest white elephant in the history of professional sports for all the most obvious reasons.

 

[AlbertC]

In Qatar, Track and Field’s Championships Limp to the Finish

Overwhelming heat and underwhelming crowds have created a memorable world championships, but not for the right reasons.

By Tariq Panja

• Oct. 5, 2019

In Qatar, Track and Field’s Championships Limp to the Finish (Published 2019)

Overwhelming heat and underwhelming crowds have created a memorable world championships, but not for the right reasons.

www.nytimes.com

 

[jje1000]

Iraq on fire yet again, that country can't seem to get a break.

New clashes in Iraq see at least 18 people killed and total death toll near 100 as protestors demonstrate over corruption and unemployment
By TERRI-ANN WILLIAMS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:44 EDT, 6 October 2019 | UPDATED: 08:30 EDT, 6 October 2019

New clashes in Iraq see at least 18 people killed

Anti-government protestors in Baghdad were out in force last night as the cabinet tried to appease public anger by offering a new reform plan.(Protestors burning tyres, pictured)

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[jje1000]

And the US prepares to pull out of Syria, leaving the Kurds to Turkey yet again...

 

[AlbertC]

Sudden deaths of hundreds of migrant workers in Qatar not investigated

Exclusive: in majority of cases, authorities do not perform postmortems, despite recommendations from regime’s lawyers

Pete Pattisson in Doha and Kathmandu, Roshan Sedhai in Kathmandu

Mon 7 Oct 2019 12.46 BST

Sudden deaths of hundreds of migrant workers in Qatar not investigated

Exclusive: in majority of cases, authorities do not perform postmortems, despite recommendations from regime’s lawyers

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Donald Trump has handed over Isis fight in Syria, Turkey says, as offensive looms

Ankara says military will cross border ‘shortly’, and claims US president gave green light, contradicting US denials

Julian Borger in Washington and Bethan McKernan in Istanbul
Wed 9 Oct 2019 11.34 BST

Donald Trump has handed over Isis fight in Syria, Turkey says, as offensive looms

Ankara says military will cross border ‘shortly’, and claims US president gave green light, contradicting US denials

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Turkey unleashes airstrikes against Kurds in north-east Syria

Trump offers only mild criticism of Erdoğan offensive as civilians flee bombing

• What is happening in north-eastern Syria?

Bethan McKernan in Istanbul Julian Borger in Washington and Dan Sabbagh defence and security editor

Wed 9 Oct 2019 20.44 BST

Turkey unleashes airstrikes against Kurds in north-east Syria

Trump offers only mild criticism of Erdoğan offensive as civilians flee bombing

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Turkish offensive triggers exodus of aid workers from Syria

EU urges restraint amid warnings that campaign against Kurdish forces will put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk

Peter Beaumont and Martin Chulov
Thu 10 Oct 2019 11.30 BST

Tens of thousands of civilians flee Turkish offensive in Syria

Aid workers also join exodus amid warnings that campaign against Kurdish forces will put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Bloodied clothes and body bags: Kurds mourn dead in Syria

Martin Chulov reports from north-east Syria on the deadliest day yet of the Turkish offensive

Martin Chulov North-east Syria
Fri 11 Oct 2019 18.30 BST

Bloodied clothes and body bags: Kurds mourn dead in Syria

Martin Chulov reports from north-east Syria on the deadliest day yet of the Turkish offensive

www.theguardian.com

 

[Johnny Au]

Sudden deaths of hundreds of migrant workers in Qatar not investigated

Exclusive: in majority of cases, authorities do not perform postmortems, despite recommendations from regime’s lawyers

Pete Pattisson in Doha and Kathmandu, Roshan Sedhai in Kathmandu

Mon 7 Oct 2019 12.46 BST

Sudden deaths of hundreds of migrant workers in Qatar not investigated

Exclusive: in majority of cases, authorities do not perform postmortems, despite recommendations from regime’s lawyers

www.theguardian.com

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is built on the corpses of hundreds of migrant workers.

It would make sense to boycott both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and its sponsors for turning a blind eye.

 

[AlbertC]

Kurdish politician among nine civilians shot dead by pro-Turkey forces in Syria

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says they were killed after being taken from their cars

Martin Chulov and Mohammed Rasool in Qamishli, and agencies

Sun 13 Oct 2019 09.16 BST

Kurdish politician among nine civilians shot dead by pro-Turkey forces in Syria

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says they were summarily executed after being taken from their cars

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Qatar's workers are at risk of heat stress for half the day during summer, finds UN

A third of workers in study experienced dangerously high body temperatures, despite working ban during hottest periods

Pete Pattisson
Tue 15 Oct 2019 11.25 BST Last modified on Tue 15 Oct 2019 11.42 BST

Qatar's workers are at risk of heat stress for half the day during summer, finds UN

A third of workers in study experienced dangerously high body temperatures, despite working ban during hottest periods

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Protests over economy, corruption target Lebanon's elite

Anger at Lebanon's ruling elites is spilling onto streets across the country. For a second day, tens of thousands called for the government to fall over corruption, a collapsing economy and poor services.

Protests over economy, corruption target Lebanon's elite | DW | 18.10.2019

Anger at Lebanon's ruling elites is spilling onto streets across the country. For a second day, tens of thousands called for the government to fall over corruption, a collapsing economy and poor services.

m.dw.com